Governor's Prayer Breakfast draws more than 800

Retiring head football coach Mel Tjeerdsma turns to Gov. and Mrs. Jay Nixon during his remarks as the keynote speaker at the annual Governor's Prayer Breakfast. He is in his 17th year as coach at Northwest Missouri State University, and led his team to the Division II national championship in 2009 and to the semi-finals in 2010. He also serves as a deacon at First Baptist Church in Maryville.
Retiring head football coach Mel Tjeerdsma turns to Gov. and Mrs. Jay Nixon during his remarks as the keynote speaker at the annual Governor's Prayer Breakfast. He is in his 17th year as coach at Northwest Missouri State University, and led his team to the Division II national championship in 2009 and to the semi-finals in 2010. He also serves as a deacon at First Baptist Church in Maryville.

Missouri is a stronger state because people of faith have learned to work together, Gov. Jay Nixon said Wednesday morning during his remarks to the annual Governor's Prayer Breakfast.

Just in the last few days, when tornadoes slashed their way across the state, Nixon noted, "People of faith rose to the occasion ... working with local and state emergency responders to find shelter, food and warm clothes for those in need."

And faith has played a key role in the nation's history.