Together 16:2016 United In WA DC

Prayer can change a nation as Christians gather together in unity.

Prayer Gathering

As I looked out on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. this past Saturday my heart was filled with joy as thousands upon thousands of people gathered together in one place, in one accord, for one purpose, and that was to bring prayer and praise to Jesus Christ. Yes, fields of people were petitioning Jesus with a unified sound for our nation. On my right, I noticed the flags surrounding the Washington Monument were flying at half-staff as a mark of respect for the victims of the attack perpetrated on July 14, 2016, in Nice, France. It was a somber reminder that in deed our country needs to pause and reset.

In the tumultuous wake of international terrorist attacks, racial divide, assaults on individuals because of their sexuality or color or religion, outbreaks of unnecessary violence by and against police, ‘we the people’ must hold ourselves to a higher standard to bring forth love in the midst of hatred. Let’s not merely tolerate one another, but choose love and prayer to combat these atrocities knowing indeed Jesus has the power to change everything.

People were encouraged not only to pray with those around them but also to reach out on social media sending tweets with the hash tag #JesusChangesEverything. At one point the audience was informed the hash tag was the third highest tweet with over 30,000 sent. Yet, Nick Hill, Together’s visionary, urged participants to continue the call for unity as a nation by staying connected using the easily downloaded Together Application which will continue to be a great resource connecting Local Ministries, Global Missions, Workplace Internships as well as Prayer for Schools.

All Praise To Jesus!

Our diverse nation was well represented by those of the Christian faith on 2016:16 as people from every generation and ethnicity gathered. I was pleasantly surprised to hear Nick Hill read a message from President Barack Obama encouraging the momentum of unity throughout our country. Inspirational leaders and top Christian artists joined forces to create an atmosphere of hope beckoning an explosion of hearts compelled to fan the flame for peace. Throughout the event, there was a common thread of repentance as well as a celebration as individuals crossed barrier lines reaching out first to those who were around them. Stepping outside comfort zones people were encouraged to pray with strangers. Personally, I look forward to the day when people from every faith come together to contend in prayer for our nation and world.

Hash Tag

While the event was scheduled to go until 9 PM​, authorities requested the event be shut down early as over 400 people suffered from heat related issues. Many of the event organizers as well as participants may have been disappointed because the schedule was shortened, yet, the message of unity touched millions not only by those attending ​but also those who watched it through live stream. The event may have even received more publicity because the extreme heat made for a “good news story” for the local and national press. Perhaps a testimony that God does make all things work together for good for those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose.

The most quoted scripture used throughout the event was “And if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). In this time of uncertainty in our world, ​I believe that we are truly blessed to have a God who loves us and desires to heal our land. Let’s all do our part to humble ourselves and pray for resetting the atmosphere in our homes, country, and a ​world. Clearly, ​this past weekend’s event in DC showed me that together we can make a difference.