House Speaker Mike Johnson, also known for being an outspoken Southern Baptist, stood before a crowd of thousands on the National Mall on Sunday (May 17), closed his eyes, bowed his head and prayed.
As Johnson began speaking, he made clear this particular prayer was meant to hold more weight than usual.
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“Just as we in the beginning dedicated this land to your most holy name, today, here, Lord, in this 250th year of American independence, we hereby rededicate the United States of America as one nation under God,” said Johnson, a Republican, to cheers.
It was one of many such moments at the daylong event, titled “Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee Of Prayer, Praise & Thanksgiving.” The effort was one of several projects overseen by Freedom 250, an organization partnering with the White House and other branches of the federal government to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Like Johnson, speakers shared that the U.S. has a religious — and particularly Christian — founding and that its future success depends on prayer.
The event featured a video of President Donald Trump reading from 2 Corinthians, which he prepared for a separate event two weeks ago.
After the clip ended, pastor Lou Engle led the crowd in chanting “Revival! Revival! Revival!”
‘God is not done with America’
The Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference and longtime adviser to President Trump, formally opened the event in prayer, declaring “America is not done with God and God is not done with America.”
Rodriguez’s remarks kicked off an hourslong lineup of religious leaders, government officials, musical acts and media personalities who stood on top of a massive stage that featured towering columns and video screens that simulated stained-glass windows. The sprawling multiracial crowd held arms high and sang along with the worship music featured throughout the event.
Most of those who spoke from the stage, either in person or on video, were evangelical Christians. Among them were pastor Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Church in Dallas and pastor Jack Graham of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas.
“America has become morally wrong, completely sick with sin,” the Rev. Franklin Graham, son of famed evangelist Billy Graham, said in a video. “We have an insatiable appetite for violence, and I believe this grieves the heart of God and will bring his judgment if we don’t repent as a nation.”
Chris Tomlin, Christian music singer, songwriter and worship leader, closed the event with with a performance, singing songs that included “Great are you Lord” and “How Great is our God.”
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EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Jack Jenkins, Aleja Hertzler-McCain and Adelle M. Banks and originally published by Religion News Service. The Baptist Paper contributed to this article.
