Last week in the capital city of Lansing, 15 legislators from the Michigan Legislative Prayer Caucus, organized and hosted a truly remarkable event. Two hundred pastors answered their invitation to join them at a local church, where these government leaders facilitated a powerful and inspiring program around the PrayUSA: Government Leaders Calling the Nation to Prayer Initiative.

Representative Lee Chatfield, offered a historic overview regarding our rich, Judeo-Christian heritage and the important role of prayer in America. The 3-minute PrayUSA video was played, then Michigan Prayer Caucus chairmen, Senator Mike Shirkey and Representative Ed McBroom, invited the pastors to join them in this unprecedented Call to Prayer movement. Everyone present signed the Proclamation, and many of the pastors committed to hosting a similar meeting at their church with a plan to invite a government leader to read the Proclamation.One by one, these church leaders stood up in solemn unity and with their government leaders—committed themselves to be strong and determined voices that would resonate not only in the halls of power, but in the marketplace and fabric of communities throughout the state. See more photos here. In moving forward, they were encouraged to schedule their own signing ceremonies on a special PrayUSA Sunday, show the video, have an elected official read the Proclamation during the service, and then invite the entire congregation to participate by adding their names to a growing national list along with thousands of other like-minded citizens.

How wonderful it is to see government leaders encouraging pastors and local congregations to reclaim their rightful place, that we might see God’s hand of healing and restoration in America (2 Chron. 7:14). If a country is best anchored by faith-based values, then it is time to join in united prayer and action! The concerted effort to secularize America has eroded our nation’s spiritual foundation, assaulted our natural rights and nearly silenced Christians with threats and intimidation. This is not a cause for pulling back—this is a call to action!

So much is at stake and we are excited to share an extraordinary opportunity that is now sitting before us—the largest effort ever undertaken by government leaders and pastors to increase prayer for America. The struggle is now at the doorsteps of our state capitols, city-councils, judicial courts, academic institutions and even the Church itself. Let us never forget God’s longstanding record of faithfulness to nations and peoples who believe Him for the impossible. The Scriptures record countless examples of extraordinary victories for the nation of Israel in the face of insurmountable odds. Why? It was because God’s people prayed and believed He would answer. Only God’s Church is where the gates of hell will not prevail.

If you are willing to schedule a PrayUSA Sunday at your church, a three-minute video and downloadable resource kitsare available at www.PrayUSA.com. Everything you need is right there, including: instructions, bulletins, flyers, posters, a PowerPoint slide, sample emails, social media tips and much more! Will you carry the torch with us?

Today, nearly 700 government leaders all across the United States, over 6,500 citizens and dozens of leading Christian organizations and churches have answered the call. Like the prophet Isaiah, individually and collectively they are saying, “Here I am, send me!”When we come before a gracious, but Holy God in humble petition, He is, “able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think…to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations” (Eph. 3: 20-21).