President Martin Shafer introduced his good friend Russell Biven to some 70 people who attended the 25th Annual Union County Business & Professional Prayer Breakfast on April 15.
Biven had already shared his heartwarming smile as he greeted nearly every attendee. The former moderator for Channel 10 Live at Five, Russell is currently the marketing director for the H. T. Hackney Brand.
He shared his mother's favorite maxim: If you aren’t living for others, you are not really living. He said that he had always tried to put others first and that he has tried to be guided by his faith.
Mayor Bailey gave an energetic welcome and Pastor Corey Carroll made everyone feel they were always welcome at First Baptist Church as he referenced John 3:16 and delivered the invocation and the benediction.
The Cox Sisters, Allison Cox Smith and April Cox Headrick, inspired everyone with their musical arrangement of “And Then There Was Jesus.”
Elizabeth Tindell's home-cooked breakfast of biscuits and gravy with scrambled eggs, sausage and bacon was truly a morning feast.
There were also fresh baked muffins from Tindell’s Farmhouse Bakery. The family business included Elizabeth's three teenagers as servers.
Emily Falardeau from Ridge and Valley Coffee House provided the beverages of fresh brewed coffee, orange juice and water.
Other sponsors included Allison Cox Smith for Union County Register of Deeds, Barbara Williams Union County Sessions Court Clerk, Commercial Bank, Corum Bookkeeping, Inc., First Century Bank, Tammie Hill, Union County Farmers Market, Wayne & Marilyn Toppins and Zienlinski Excavating. Flowers by Bob donated all of the table decorations.
Thank you to the sponsors and everyone who rejoiced in the fellowship for the Lord. The proceeds will help Union County 4H, Union County Children's Charities Under the Tree, Union County Lions Club, Friends of Maynardville Library and Union County Schools music program.