As I sit down to write this, I am rejoicing as I reflect back upon the unmistakable God-story: the many glory stories that we witnessed the Lord accomplish this last year, and the countless ways that He lavishly poured out His love, life, and liberty upon our nation. Even as our culture wrestled with darkness and division, and hopelessness and fear appeared to gained footholds, we were constantly reminded of this TRUTH – our God is ALMIGHTY, and He is ABLE. The National Day of Prayer was NOT cancelled or countermanded, the President DID by public law issue a proclamation calling for a National Day of Prayer, and the 70th annual observance of the National Day of Prayer went on as planned and was celebrated in person in Washington D.C.!
From coast to coast, community to community, thousands upon thousands gathered in person, in government buildings, schools and businesses to lift up our nation, and call for God to pour our His love, life, and liberty. From living rooms to auditoriums, from the east coast to the Pacific Islands, our National Broadcast aired by GodTV and Daystar, along with Bott, Salem and Moody radio networks, reached record numbers and brought tens of millions together to pray in UNITY, praising God and crying out to Him in one voice. The National Day of Prayer was NOT stopped and no matter what the enemy of our souls tried to do, no matter what false information he put forth or lies he told, the National Day of Prayer WAS celebrated across our nation. Rejoice with us in the truth that our God is still on HIS throne commanding HIS heavenly army of angels as He WILLS! He got the VICTORY and we got to PRAY!
I’ve recently been reminding our staff and our network of volunteer leaders that we have the tremendous privilege of getting up every day and contending for the soul of our nation in prayer. Our mission hasn’t changed. Three hundred and sixty-five days a year, we “get to” mobilize unified public prayer for America. From coast to coast, state to state, and community to community, millions of men and women just like you and me are spending time on their knees, interceding and travailing in fervent prayer for our nation and its leaders. As 2 Chronicles 7:14 reminds us, when we ‘humble ourselves and pray, and seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways’, then, He will ‘hear from heaven, forgive our sins, and heal our land’. Friends, that’s still our promise today!
In fact, on the National Day of Prayer, in the Congressional Cemetery in Washington D.C., we saw a wonderful example of this type of prayer lived out. Ambassador Sam Brownback reminded us of this verse and read aloud the legislation that was passed but never delivered to our Native American leaders in 2009, asking for forgiveness. The apology was graciously received by the Native American leaders who were present, representing the 574 Native American tribes, and forgiveness was released! He encouraged us to watch expectantly for what God will do next in bringing healing to relationships as well as to our land. Like you, I want to see God forgive our sins and heal our land in response to His people’s prayers!
Friends, we are continuing to experience the Holy Spirit’s conviction for the need of prayer, repentance, and revival. As I’ve shared in the past, before every major outpouring and awakening of God, prayer has preceded and paved the path for revival – and God is using the National Day of Prayer Task Force to mobilize prayer and multiply collaboration; growing even stronger in the days of isolation during the pandemic.
Over the past year, we have brought hundreds of ministries together whose missions are focused on praying, caring, and sharing the gospel through our initiative, United in Love. Kanita Benson-Rutley, our Director of Intercultural Prayer & Missions summed up United in Love with these words, “Love looks like Jesus. While the natural response to the issues we encounter everyday would be to escape, God is calling His Church to engage.” Jesus taught us to pray, commanded us to love, and commissioned us make disciples. Join us in our mission to follow Jesus’ model and mandate as we unite the Church to live a prayer, care, share lifestyle! Strengthened in these key strategic partnerships, we continue to invest heavily into the thousands of volunteers who engage, encourage, and equip prayer leaders around the nation, year-round.
In fact, as you read this, we have just finished with our National Leadership Summit in St. Louis, Missouri to pray and prepare for 2022. A highlight of this event is the revealing of our new theme for the next year. With our new theme in hand and heart, we can all run ahead in joyful expectation that our God will do ‘exceeding, abundantly’ above all that we have ever asked or thought. Running into the darkness is what we do! We are bringing the light and life of Jesus and biblical truth through our National Observance broadcast from Washington D.C., our volunteer mobilization and training efforts, and our United in Love initiative – and telling the ‘glory stories’ of what we see God doing! As we’ve prayed for God’s direction, I’m rejoicing because He has provided us with NEW WAYS to engage the Church, disciple our culture in prayer, and mobilize millions MORE to pray!
Our upcoming National Day of Prayer Daily Prayer Minutes on national radio have the potential to reach over 11 million listeners each day. A proposed weekly National Day of Prayer Television Program – 40 million viewers through NRB TV. A new Weekly Internet Radio broadcast on Pray.com and Podcast – over 7 million listeners. We’ve also been approached to introduce an accredited, collegiate level curriculum on prayer for colleges, universities, and seminaries to bridge the gap in prayer training, and give students around the world – future Church and ministry leaders – access to this critical training in prayer. Will you join us in reaching millions more to pray for America?
In each of these opportunities and efforts our focus never changes, we are contending in prayer for our nation, not only for today but for generations to come. In order to see fruit in the future, we need to keep fighting now. To do that, we are partnering with Alliance Defending Freedom to promote the Generational Wins Prayer Initiative. Our goal together is to mobilize and equip Christians to consistently and fervently pray and protect precious freedoms NOW and preserve them for the over 74 million children currently in America. We do this for our children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and neighbors, as well as the future generations. Friends, a Generational Win achieves a significant victory changing the law and culture of the nation for a generation and is sustained by deliberate action so that the victory endures for generations to come. The Five Generational Wins are to Safeguard Life, Restore Religious Freedom, Secure Free Speech, Protect Marriage and Family, and Guarantee Parental Rights. With your faithful action, financial support and fervent prayers, we CAN experience victory in ALL of these things!
Let me leave you with this. I want to personally thank you for all that you do to make this, the year-round work of the National Day of Prayer and all our efforts, including these new ones, possible! We depend upon ministry partners like you – we are praying for you as we covet your prayers, and we are extremely grateful for your faithful participation and your generous financial support. To help with this, one of our generous partners has offered to match every gift given through this letter up to $10,000. That means if you give $25, your $25 will become $50, your $50 will become $100, and your $500 gift will become $1000! Let me ask you this … will you prayerfully consider partnering with us financially in this critical season to accomplish this important Kingdom work? Will you give a generous one-time gift today or commit to regular monthly giving to see prayer offered up, our nation healed, and the Gospel go forth?
Serving Him with gladness,
Kathy Branzell
President
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2022 NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER THEME
‘EXALT THE LORD, WHO HAS ESTABLISHED US’ based on Colossians 2:6-7 NASB
This theme is set against the backdrop of an inspiring painting created exclusively for the National Day of Prayer by renowned Christian artist, Ron DiCianni. The image illustrates God’s people joining His angels in EXALTING Him as we pray, because He is God Almighty. We have bold access to His throne and passionate confidence as we pray – because HE HAS ESTABLISHED US in this nation and is working in the heavenlies to accomplish all that He has purposed – as we PRAY FOR AMERICA!
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