|Photo by Eric Ayres| Wheeling Mayor Denny Magruder addresses the crowd gathered Wednesday morning in the Capitol Theatre Ballroom for the inaugural Mayor's Leadership Prayer Breakfast.

Community leaders from throughout Wheeling congregated Wednesday at the Capitol Theatre Ballroom for the inaugural Mayor’s Leadership Prayer Breakfast, presented by the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce. As attendees dined, they heard from several speakers about the strength that faith can add to one’s ability to lead.

Among the speakers was Wheeling Mayor Denny Magruder, who noted that leaning on faith can provide people with strength to face the challenges of everyday life. Each city council meeting begins with a prayer, Magruder said, adding that those who pray do so not only to seek guidance from a higher power but also to express gratitude

“There’s something deeply powerful about coming together in prayer,” Magruder said. “It’s a reminder that we’re not alone, that we share each other’s joys and challenges, and that together – with faith – we can overcome anything.”

Guest speaker Mike Hatch, a graduate of St. Clairsville High School, now works and resides in the Pittsburgh area. He is the founder and president of Redemptive Economics LLC. An executive coach and chapter president for Truth At Work, Hatch was schooled and trained in theology. A pastor at large, he is a podcaster and an author whose lead role today is guiding executive roundtables for Christian business owners, entrepreneurs and executives.

“If you are in leadership, you’re in a very tenuous, vulnerable position,” Hatch said. “You’re susceptible to compromise, to greed, to lust. This is of course why you would want someone with integrity and strong character to take on leadership roles. But that’s not always the case.”

Pointing to the 2012 book “Antifragile: Things That Gain From Disorder” by author Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Hatch suggested that sometimes strength is the product of disorder. He openly shared his history as a recovering addict and encouraged everyone to be open about their weaknesses, embrace accountability and seek redemption. This practice through faith-based leadership will help bolster the strength of a person’s foundation and diminish exposure to their vulnerabilities, he indicated.