The fourth-annual “National Gathering for Prayer and Repentance” was held Wednesday at the Museum of the Bible.
The event, sponsored by the Family Research Council, included House Speaker Mike Johnson as well other lawmakers, church pastors, and lay leaders.
Reflecting on the event, church pastor Rodney Lord told “Washington Watch” it was an “amazing” event because congressmen and senators poured out their hearts.
“You think about their legislation, then the pressures that they have,” he observed, “and then to see them step up and pray heartfelt prayers is very encouraging.”
Tim Echols, an FRC staff member, told the program he didn’t hear “token prayers” from attendees.
“I was really surprised at just how honest they were,” he said, “and how some of them were in tears praying about personal things that they had done in their life long ago.”
Tony Perkins, the show host and FRC president, pivoted to Echols and his FRC role to establish a “Pray, Vote, Stand” chapter in all 50 states in coming months.
The goal, Perkins also shared, is for FRC to start at least one chapter in every U.S. county within the next decade.
“That's really at the heart of the 'Pray, Vote, Stand' chapters: to create that spiritual awareness, bringing elected leaders alongside our pastors,” Perkins said.
Acknowledging the chapters represent a mix of biblical faith and secular politics, Perkins warned there is “tension” within political conservatism over biblical beliefs and worldviews.
“Where biblical truth is being replaced with libertarianism,” he warned.
Political parties exist to win elections and keep a majority, and then to hold on to power, Perkins said, “but that’s not what we’re interested in doing.
“The main thing,” he continued, “is to pray, understand the spiritual battle that we're in, and the responsibility we have. Vote, engage as Christian citizens, and stand.”
