Christians gather in downtown DC to invoke God’s blessing on US

A group of Christians gathered at a church in downtown Washington, D.C., earlier this week to entreat God for His blessing on the nation amid a new presidential administration.

The Inauguration Praise and Prayer Convocation, which was put on by the Family Research Council at Greater New Hope Baptist Church on Sunday, featured speakers including FRC President Tony Perkins, evangelist Alveda King, jailed Canadian Pastor Artur Pawlowski, Father Frank Pavone and others.

The event was held just blocks from Capital One Arena, where President Donald Trump would deliver an address to supporters hours later.

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King, the niece of Martin Luther King Jr., sang and appealed to her uncle’s legacy on the eve of his birthday, praying for unity amid a divided nation.

“We repent of the sin of racism in our hearts and our nation and in this world where we have misunderstood or intentionally overlooked Acts 17:26, when you say, ‘Of one blood, you created all people to live together on this earth that is only one human race in need of our Savior and the blood of Jesus Christ.”

“Let us truly learn to live together as brothers and sisters and not perish together as fools,” she continued. “You said in John 17, Lord Jesus, praying, that we all would be one. Lord, teach us to unify and come together and truly obey your word. Let righteousness roll down as waters and justice as a mighty stream.”

Also in attendance was Pawlowski, the Polish-Canadian pastor who made international headlines for being repeatedly arrested after continuing to hold in-person church services in Calgary, Alberta, during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.

“I guess we are in good company with your rightful president, Donald J. Trump,” said Pawlowski, whose comments prompted applause. “We are just good felons in good company of the lions.”

Pawlowski, who spent 51 days in prison for delivering a sermon to truckers blocking the U.S.-Canada border in 2022, said he believes God had given him a message for “the remnant church” and urged them to be courageous and avoid shirking from the enemy. 

“Instead of running away from the fire, the Lord says we are to run toward the fire,” he said. “In the fire, God will deal with our enemies. In the fire, we have a testimony. And in the fire, God is setting us free. In the fire is also our promotion.”

“So this is the message for the remnant church: Do not, do not, do not run away from difficulties, because God is using what the enemy meant for evil, He’s using for good.”

Pawlowski entreated the Lord that His “perfect will be manifested in your church in the mighty name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.”

“God is raising up Joshuas and Calebs and Davids, His champions. It’s time for His people to rise up, stand up and push this great evil away. Be blessed in the mighty name of Jesus.”

The event, which can be watched on YouTube, also featured guests from Armenia, Ukraine and Israel speaking about the troubles afflicting those countries. The two-hour event was replete with many other guests who spoke about the various spiritual issues facing the country, and attendees were encouraged to pray into them.

In his closing remarks, Perkins emphasized the need for the church not to seek the approval of those in power, but to serve as the conscience in government. Noting how Inauguration Day fell on Martin Luther King Jr. Day this year, Perkins read a quote from the late civil rights leader.

“The church must be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state. It must be the guide and the critic of the state, and never its tool. If the church does not recapture its prophetic zeal, it will become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority,” Perkins read.

“We cannot speak prophetically to those to whom we’re seeking approval,” Perkins said. “We do not need the approval of government. We are called as a prophetic voice of God.”

Perkins added that “the church must understand its authority and its purpose rooted in the power and the calling of God if it is to rediscover its prophetic voice in our time. Church, stand firm in Christ, pray for our leaders and boldly speak the truth of God.”