1 Million Americans Pledge to Pray for U.S. on July 3
One million American Christians have pledged to join an annual event this Sunday, the day before Independence Day, to pray for the nation and ask God for forgiveness of sins.
The third annual “Call2Fall” event, founded by Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, claims nearly 1.1 million people and churches will pray for the United States this July 3, according to the Call2Fall website. Participants represent all 50 states.
“One thing about this passage (2 Chronicles 7:14) that really struck me is that it is a recipe. It is a recipe for revival. It is a recipe for awakening,” said Pastor Gary Simons of High Point Church in Arlington, Texas, on Washington Watch Weekly radio with host Tony Perkins this week.
Simons and his church have participated in Call2Fall since its inception in 2009. But instead of asking congregants to pray for only five minutes on their knees like other participating churches, High Point will spend the entire one-and-a-half hour service on Sunday in prayer.
“We (High Point Church) are not just praying for a great awakening, we are praying for the greatest awakening,” said Simons.
Last year, more than 600,000 people joined the FRC prayer event on the first Sunday of July. The event is based on 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
“Our nation’s journey back to God begins on our knees in humility and repentant prayer,” said Perkins in a statement Friday. “America is at a crossroads no less critical than when our nation’s founders bowed together in humble prayer before Almighty God.
“Like our great Founding Fathers, we will declare our dependence on God, even as we celebrate our independence.”
Call2Fall is different from another prayer event for the nation this Sunday. Pastor Steven Andrew, author of “Making a Strong Christian Nation,” is also calling on churches to include a prayer for the nation during their Sunday service.
"As the USA draws near to God, God will draw near to the USA,” declared Andrew.