The 34th annual Suffolk Leadership Prayer Breakfast will be held at 7 a.m. May 3 at the Suffolk National Guard Armory. Tickets go on sale this week.

This event is being held concurrently with the National Day of Prayer. The Suffolk event, always a sellout, was originally held in October during Peanut Fest but was moved to the first Thursday in May to coincide with the National Day of Prayer.

The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives Breakfast Group inaugurated the National Prayer Breakfast 66 years ago to seek God’s guidance as well as to reaffirm their faith in God, His plan and purposes. It continues to be held annually in Washington, D.C., hosted by members of Congress and each year is attended by the president of the United States, who is always a participant on the program. Every U.S. president since Dwight D. Eisenhower has participated in the annual event.

The speaker and music for the Suffolk Leadership Prayer Breakfast are not announced ahead, as is tradition. Speakers have included such notables as Virginia governors, lieutenant governors and attorneys general; Millard Fuller, founder of Habitat for Humanity; Steve Saint, of the movie “End of the Spear”; Lt. General Jerry Boykins, undersecretary of defense for intelligence; film producer Holly McClure; U.S. Olympic boxing coach Maurice Watkins; heroes from the war in Iraq; New York firefighters who responded to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks; Lt. Jeffrey R. Vignery, the co-pilot of EP-3 plane downed in China; NASCAR driver Bobby Hillin Jr.; and PGA champion Paul Azinger, just to name a few.  The 2018 audience is sure not to be disappointed with this year’s selection.

Musicians who have participated have included Grammy winners, Miss Virginias and Miss Americas. Last year’s selection was the extraordinary blind singer-songwriter Marlana VanHoose, who brought the 2017 Leadership Prayer Breakfast to its feet in applause.

Tickets for the Suffolk Leadership Prayer Breakfast will be available starting Monday at the Suffolk Visitor Center, 524 N. Main St., open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Visitor Center may be reached by phone for questions at 514-4130.

Businesses may purchase a table of eight seats for $160 for customers or employees. Individual tickets may be purchased for $20 per person. Tickets will not be available at the door.