Christians from all over the U.S. are being encouraged to head to the National Mall in Washington, DC, later this month for an event focused on prayer and fasting for the nation. The October event is organized by Virginia-based "America for Jesus" and targets Christians who are concerned about the moral direction of America.
John Blanchard is with the group America for Jesus (AFJ). He says God was directing believers to be bold in their prayers for the land when the Lord said in II Chronicles 7:14, "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray .... I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and will hear their land."
In that scriptural passage, Blanchard notes, "God is not calling the heathen to pray, He's calling the believers to pray; so we're encouraging believers from all over America to stand with us. We believe only the power of prayer can save the nation."
While "America for Jesus" is not a political rally, an effort is being made through the event to encourage Christians to be politically aware and involved and to vote, exercising their right to voice their values. Nevertheless, the AFJ spokesman contends that the focus of the event is intercessory prayer.
The moral redirection and salvation of America will not come about because of a protest or a political movement, Blanchard asserts. "All those things are important," he says, "and they have legitimate aspects, but we believe prayer is the most important and the most significant thing that we can do as believers."
The "America for Jesus" event begins October 22 at 6 a.m. and will run until midnight. The group's spokesman says after the 18-hour rally, believers should "continue in prayer as believers," because he contends "something is going to happen" in Washington, DC -- something important that will only be a beginning.
Blanchard and the other AFJ organizers have great faith and great expectations for the rally. "We're trusting God for a historical, significant event that would be a catalyst similar to the kinds of revivals and awakenings that we read about in American history to take place after this prayer event," he says.
Rally planners are expecting tens of thousands of people to attend the "America for Jesus" rally, which has been intentionally set to take place less than two weeks before the national elections. AFJ's president, Bishop John Gimenez of Rock Church International in Virginia Beach, says the prayer-focused gathering is attracting Christians from many denominations and geographic regions around the country -- all of them concerned about the direction America is headed.
America for Jesus (
http://www.americaforjesus.org)
