On May 17, 1776, our Founding Fathers gathered for the Second Continental Congress in the midst of an impending war for freedom from British rule. The odds were against them, yet they had the biggest weapon in their arsenal: prayer. On that day, they called upon the thirteen colonies to dedicate a day to humiliation, fasting, and prayer. Exactly 250 years later, faith leaders, elected officials, and thousands of Americans came together in our nation’s capital to once again rededicate the United States of America back to God. The Rededicate 250 National Prayer Jubilee showcased God’s favor on our land and implored His blessings for the years to come.
In an impressive feat, believers in God, regardless of denomination, united to worship our Creator. Pastors, priests, and rabbis joined musicians, lawmakers, and cultural influencers to lead people in worship. As actor Jonathan Roumie pointed out, the day also coincided with the Feast of the Ascension which is a remembrance of Jesus’s bodily ascension into Heaven. Speaker after speaker highlighted the threads of faith intertwined throughout U.S. history, affirming the words of King David in Psalm 33:12, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance.”
Sadie Robertson Huff was one of the first speakers to address the crowd. She told the story of her grandfather, Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson, rededication to God after nearly throwing his life away to alcohol abuse and affairs. Sadie recalled his comments saying that if his conversion only touched the lives of his own family, it was worth it. Two generations later, his granddaughter stood onstage and encouraged the American people to not only remember the history that brought us here, but that the decisions we make now impact generations to come. She said, “What a blessing it is we get to stand in our nation’s capital, and I get to hold up a Bible in the air… to live with that kind of freedom.”
Others highlighted the references to faith in the documents and battles leading up to our independence. Cornerstone Chapel Pastor Gary Hamrick pointed out that our Declaration of Independence mentions God as the creator of nature, unalienable rights, and judgement. In fact, all 56 signers supported the principles of this document “with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence,” as they pledged their “lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.” Pastor Hamrick reminded the crowd that “Thomas Jefferson once said, ‘God who gave us life gave us liberty.’ . . If we forget God, we will lose that liberty.”
Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth joined the crowd by video reflecting on General Washington’s letters explaining the conditions of soldiers marching to Valley Forge during the Revolutionary War. They were barefoot, starving, and sick. Many were defecting. Washington’s own pastor urged him to surrender and negotiate with the enemy. Instead of giving up, he petitioned the Lord in prayer. As we know now, the war for independence was successful. The iconic painting by Arnold Friberg of George Washington kneeling in the snow is a reminder of our nation’s hard-earned victories — achieved only by the grace of God.
Out of those hardships birthed a nation that was rooted in Biblical principles. Vice President JD Vance noted that the values that make us Americans come from faith alone. He said, “From our religious inheritance comes many of the virtues and institutions we most cherish as a people. Our system of justice, our generosity to neighbors, our respect for conscience, and the moral discipline necessary for liberty itself.” As Cardinal Timothy Dolan said, “…our deepest values as a country have always been rooted in our identity as a people of God and anchored in the reality that we are not only American citizens (you bet we are and grateful for it) but we are bound someday to be citizens of Heaven. Our Founders knew that… we are children of God first.”
Perhaps one of the greatest principles that this Great American Experiment has explored is the value of human life. New Life Church International Bishop Kelvin Cobaris spoke on the abolition of slavery – highlighting the incredible work of Harriett Beecher Stowe and Harriett Tubman. He stated, “These women and countless others understood a truth as old as creation itself- every human being is a child of the same God.” Bishop Cobaris went on to implore the American people to continue to fight for good in our country. He said, “Comfort will not correct injustice; only courage will. We cannot rewrite the past, but we must learn from it. Ignoring history only invites repetition. Remembering it demands responsibility.”
Other significant leaders spoke at the event as well. President Donald Trump read from 2 Chronicles 7:11-22 where God appeared to King Solomon calling the people of the land back to him. Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Dr. Ben Carson reminded everyone that America is the “only nation defined by a dream.” Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard recalled that our founders knew that they could not rely on their own strength but instead knelt and asked for God’s mercy.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) spoke a beautiful prayer of rededication back to God. He recognized that we are not only in a battle over the ideologies that seek to harm America, but there is a spiritual war waging against future generations. He prayed:
In recent years, we’ve seen sinister ideologies sow confusion and discord among our people. We’ve witnessed attacks on our history, on our heroes, and on the cherished moral and spiritual identity of this great nation. These voices insist to the young and impressionable that our story — the American story — is one of oppression and hypocrisy and failure, and that this story can only be understood through the lens of our sins. But Father, we reject that. We rebuke it in your name.
He also highlighted the American family upon which the nation is built. He continued:
Give every American parent the grace they need to raise and protect the next generation of freedom-loving children. Father, we pray for marriages across this land. That husbands and wives have the patience to love one another in all the days of their lives. Heal the wounds of broken hearts God, and the battles that we do not see.
The Rededication 250 Jubilee was one of many celebrations that will take place this year honoring faith, family, and freedom. To watch the entire event, visit CBN News’s broadcast here. Eagle Forum is participating in many America 250 events throughout the year. Visit our website here to see our initiatives and join our email list to stay up to date on the latest activities.
