For the past dozen or so years, I have had the privilege of being involved with the Metal Construction Association, an organization which just celebrated its 25th anniversary with a gala dinner last week. I have served on its board since 1999.

It was really neat to spend some time reflecting on what all MCA has accomplished over the years, thanks to a visionary few. We have shaped and built an industry that employs thousands and provides environmentally friendly building materials. It is a group that respects and values relationships over all else, allowing us to accomplish things that less cooperative industries could never accomplish. It is a pleasure to be involved with MCA.

Following is the invocation which I had the privilege of giving at our anniversary dinner.

I stand up here this evening as a very privileged man to be able to deliver the invocation on such a night of celebration.

Please join with me in prayer …

Dear most gracious and heavenly Father,

We are here tonight as a celebration point. As an industry, we thank you for 25 years of being able to serve. 25 years of using the resources, ingenuity and wisdom that you have given us for the purpose of building a better world and providing worthwhile and meaningful employment to tens of thousands. In all of that, we celebrate what a privilege it is to be a part of your plan for this world.

But please, Lord, do not allow us to be an industry nor individuals who rest on our laurels. Provide us with direction and encouragement to always push ahead … to always strive for advancements and changes that better this world, that advance the people in it, and that honor you. Help us to remain steadfast in our determination to continually protect the planet and world with which you have richly blessed us.

Lord, we know that these are troubled and turbulent times. But we also know that you are the one we can turn to most in leading us through these times. In Jeremiah, you assure us that you have plans to prosper us. May we, during these times, be an organization that continues to step boldly forward not as an organization of fear but as an organization living in your promise and discovering prosperity, in whatever form that might be, even in these difficult times.

While we honor and give thanks for the heritage of leaders who went before them, we pray for our new leadership both of the United States and of Metal Construction Association. Please watch closely over the new presidents of both our country and our organization. May they know your strength and your presence as decisions are made and directions are taken which forever change history.

Be with us this evening. Bless the food we’re about to eat. May this be an evening of celebration, an evening of memories, and, most importantly, an evening of looking ahead and beginning to live into our next 25 years and beyond.

In Jesus’ name we most humbly pray,

Amen