The 2008 Cleburne Christian Leadership Prayer Breakfast, set for March 3, may be well on its way to a sell-out as word spreads about the guest speakers — Ron Hall and Denver Moore, authors of the book, “Same Kind of Different as Me.”

“We issued tickets to this year’s committee less than two weeks ago, and several of the members sold all they were given in one day,” said Lonnie Holliday, founder and chairman of the Cleburne Christian Leadership Prayer Breakfast. “I’ve sold more than 30 tickets myself.

“I think the tickets will go quickly, and while that’s great, I’m also afraid we are going to have people who are disappointed because they didn’t get theirs in time.”

“Same Kind of Different as Me,” the true story of a homeless man, a wealthy businessman who had his eye on what he thought was the prize, and the woman who brought the two of them together, has been flying off the shelves since its publication.

Words such as “touching,” “powerful” and “amazing” have been used to the describe the story, which has been adopted by the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce as their One Waco, One Book community selection for 2008.

“I think everyone is in for a real treat,” Holliday said. “I always have such a high anticipation for each of these prayer breakfasts we have had. They’ve all had things everyone could identify with and I think everyone has been touched in a special way. And this year will be no exception.”

Moore and Hall’s scheduled appearance in Waco the same day as Cleburne’s prayer breakfast was a factor in Holliday’s ability to land the authors — but it wasn’t the only factor.

“You could say it was divine intervention, that it was meant to be,” Holliday said. “Initially the doors weren’t opening for them to come to Cleburne. But as time went on, I was still convinced that these were the men to speak.”

You could also say it was perseverance on Holliday’s part. He gave it one final shot in late November, when he mailed one more letter of invitation, outlining the plans for this year’s event and programs from the past two prayer breakfasts, which featured Marine veteran and author Clebe McClary and football pro-turned-pastor, Neal Jeffrey.

Shortly before Christmas, Holliday received word from Moore’s secretary that the authors and characters in the book — Hall, the art dealer, well on his way to fortune and fame, and Moore, who found surviving on the streets of Fort Worth to be a step up in his life — had accepted his invitation to speak.

“Same Kind of Different as Me” came into Holliday’s life as a gift from a friend, who read the book and told Holliday he needed to read it.

“He loaned it to me, and I never put it down,” Holliday said. “Several people told me they couldn’t either. They’d stay up until 2:30 in the morning reading. After reading the book, I had the idea that both of them would be great speakers for the prayer breakfast but didn’t know how to get in touch with Ron Hall.”

But Holliday met Hall and Moore in person in October, when they came to speak at his alma mater, Texas Christian University. He said that once he heard them, he knew they were the speakers Cleburne needed.

During a private reception after their presentation, Holliday extended an invitation to Hall to speak at the prayer breakfast. As he waited for the author to sign his copy of the book, Holliday also shared that they had mutual friends.

“Kristi Kretzschmar Miller, whose parents Wileta and Ken Kretzschmar, live in Cleburne, is close friends with Hall’s daughter,” Holliday said. “Ron Hall was very nice when I asked him to come, but he also shared that Denver Moore was quite tired from their numerous appearances on the road, and they were going to be taking a break.”

Not quite ready to take that remark as Hall’s final answer, Holliday, through the help of the Kretzschmars, was able to get a phone number for the author’s ranch. The phone was answered by Hall’s secretary. Moved by Holliday’s dedication to the prayer breakfast and his not-ready-to-give-up attitude to bring the story behind “Same Kind of Different as Me” to Cleburne, she suggested he send Hall additional information about the prayer breakfast.

Only a few days before Christmas, Holliday received an early present — word from Hall that he and Moore would accept his invitation to speak.

“I was so excited,” Holliday said. “It truly was an answer to prayers. When they speak, you will hear things that weren’t included in the book but add strength to their story, which is already so strong. It’s also very moving to hear what those who have read the book have shared with Ron and Denver.”



Meet the characters

A strong thread that runs through the story is the courageous battle with cancer fought by Hall’s wife, Debbie, who brought her husband and Moore together — two men who couldn’t be any farther apart in lifestyles and life experiences.

The story of her courage is another reason the book has had such an impact. Cleburne High School Principal Monte Pritchett keeps the book displayed in his office.

“It was given to me by Roxy Sherwood, one of our teachers here at the high school,” Pritchett said. “At that time, I had someone in my family diagnosed with cancer. It really helped me in dealing with things. It’s a great book.”

Sherwood received the book from a friend who told her it was the “most inspiring story ever.” The English teacher started it on a trip to San Antonio. She began reading after breakfast and had it finished before lunch the next day.

“What [intrigued] me first was the location — Fort Worth,” Sherwood said. “And the story was so captivating. I ordered several copies for friends to share, just like Marilyn King had shared with me. I later told Mr. Pritchett about the book. He seemed interested, and I just wanted to do something special for him because he’s done so much for us here at high school.”

Donna Boles and nearly everyone in her family has read “Same Kind of Different as Me.”

“My daughter, Jennifer, called me and said, ‘You have to read this; it’s just the best,’” said Boles, a member of the Cleburne ISD school board. “I’ve read it; Jennifer’s husband has read it; my daughter-in-law, whose father had a long battle with cancer, has read it.

“It’s just so inspiring, the amount of love that’s woven through it,” Boles said. “Debbie Hall had so much faith and believed so strongly about what she was doing, against such great odds. This book demonstrates what love and faith can do if you just let God lead.”

Holliday said people at several Cleburne businesses and churches are reading the book. He bought copies for everyone on the prayer breakfast committee, and they are reading it.

“Everyone who has read it just wants to share about the book and the things in it that have related to their lives,” Holliday said. “I think the tickets to the breakfast are going to go quickly this year because those who have read the book, or want to read the book, will want to come. I have no doubt we will be full. But we are limited with how many we can seat — 500. We will be selling no tickets at the door.”

Doors for the March 3 event open at 6:30 a.m., with the program beginning at 6:50 a.m. in time for an 8 a.m. dismissal.

The featured musicians will be Burleson’s Quebe Sisters Band, which Holliday said is another miracle booking. Two individuals will also be honored for their leadership and service, former Texas Secretary of State Roger Williams and 1971 Cleburne High School valedictorian Mike McCall, a retired FBI agent who continues to work with the bureau as a Russian interpreter.

Tickets are $5 and may be purchased at the Cleburne Chamber of Commerce office on West Henderson Street or from prayer breakfast committee members Bob King, Frances Hafford, Lisa Magers, Ben and Linda Hall, Lonnie Watson, Joe Stephens, Max Marsh, Dale Hannah, Mildred Townsend, Jerry Webber, Pat Culpepper, Pete Hobby, Louelda Robichaux, Pat McCall, Carol Cooper, Alton Flynn, E.J. and Larue Barnes, Wilma Reed and Vance Castles.