For the first time since its inception in 1980, youth representatives from several inner-city communities will be invited to attend the 29th annual staging of the National Leadership Prayer Breakfast (NLPB).

The event is to be held on January 15 at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston at 7:30 a.m. under the theme 'No Transformation Without Reconciliation'.

Guest speaker at this year's breakfast will be the Reverend Dr Roderick Hewitt of the Hope United Church, Mona.

"In its deliberations, the committee has sensed the need to touch communities impacted by crime and savagery," the Reverend Alston Henry, chairman of the NLPB committee, told journalists during a press briefing held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston last week.

As such, the decision was made to extend invitations to various youths from some of the most affected communities across the island.

Special prayer session

"They will join us for a special prayer session in the morning's programme when we will focus on prayer for the nation," he said.

More than 70 children were killed in 2008, many of whom were abducted and then murdered.

Henry said, this year, the breakfast would focus on the nation's children, particularly those who have been traumatised by crime and violence.

Offering collected at the event will also be shared between the Mustard Seed Communities and Missionaries of the Poor for children living with HIV/AIDS and the Peace Management Initiative for the counselling of children affected by crime.

The NLPB is held under the patronage of Governor General Sir Kenneth Hall and Lady Hall.

The committee said it was anticipating a gathering of 450 guests, including Prime Minister Bruce Golding and Leader of the Opposition, Portia Simpson Miller.