MLK Prayer Breakfast
January 19th, 2026
Image courtesy of www.lakejunaluska.com
Get ready to honor the legacy of MLK in 2026 with a powerful in-person event celebrating equality, justice, and the dream of a better world.
Date: Monday, January 19, 2026
Time: 8AM-10AM, Doors open at 7:30AM
Location: The Terrace Hotel, Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center (689 N. Lakeshore Dr. Lake Junaluska, NC 28745)
Tickets: $25 Adults, $10 Students, Children 8 & Under FREE
Join us for an unforgettable in-person event at the Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center in beautiful Lake Junaluska, NC, USA. Celebrate and honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the annual Haywood County MLK Prayer Breakfast. This event is a unique opportunity to come together as a community and reflect on the importance of equality, justice, and love. Don't miss out on this incredible experience at the MLK 2026 event!
MLK Breakfast Keynote Speaker
Micheal Woods
Micheal Woods is a seasoned senior executive with extensive experience in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors. With a career spanning over three decades, Micheal has demonstrated dynamic leadership in financial services, ministry, and social service administration.
He began his professional journey in banking with Heritage Federal Bank before founding Jireh Services, Inc., a fee-based financial planning firm. In 1999, after selling the financial planning division, Micheal transitioned into investment banking, building a mid-size firm specializing in the healthcare lodging sector.
An ordained minister for 25 years, Micheal has served in various pastoral roles for over 15 of those years. In 2007, he and his family relocated to Asheville, North Carolina. After volunteering at Western Carolina Rescue Ministries (WCRM), he accepted a management position, quickly rising to Chief Operating Officer and later being appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2009. Under his leadership, WCRM experienced significant programmatic growth, expanded community partnerships, and increased donor and volunteer engagement—becoming one of the most respected social service organizations in North Carolina.
Today, Micheal serves as the CEO of both Western Carolina Rescue Ministries in Asheville, NC and Cleveland County Rescue Mission in Shelby, NC. Collectively, these organizations serve over 220,000 meals annually and provide safe shelter to 180 men, women, and children each day. He oversees two award-winning drug and alcohol recovery programs, two workforce development initiatives, four transitional housing programs, and an afterschool program serving 155 at-risk children.
In 2008 Micheal was instrumental in creating an innovative cold weather sheltering program known as Cold Purple that continues to ensure no individual is left without shelter during life-threatening weather events. Most recently, during a major hurricane, he led efforts to launch and manage The Refuge, a temporary shelter for displaced families in collaboration with the City of Asheville and Buncombe County—reducing occupancy from 105 to 52 in just two weeks through strategic planning and rapid response.
Beyond his executive roles, Micheal is a respected community leader, basketball coach, and sought-after speaker. He serves on multiple local and national boards, where he continues to influence policy and practice in social service delivery.
Micheal holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Corporate Finance and Investments from East Tennessee State University (ETSU) and an Executive MBA from the Quantic School of Business and Technology. A former Division I basketball player at ETSU, he was a three-time conference champion and NCAA tournament participant. Above all, Micheal is passionate about mentoring emerging leaders and cherishes time with his family—especially his two grandchildren.