Prayer, repentance draws believers to Washington

Sun rays over the Lincoln Memorial during May Day 2010

Faithful from across the country gathered in Washington to remember, repent and renew at the 2010 May Day: A Cry to God for a Nation in Distress assembly at the Lincoln Memorial over the weekend.

"We had an appointment with God, and God showed up," said WND columnist and Faith2Action President Janet Porter, a coordinator for the event.

The assembly was based on the idea expressed by Abraham Lincoln in 1863 when he penned a proclamation for a National Day of Prayer and Fasting:

And whereas, it is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history: that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.

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The hope also was pinned to Psalm 106:44, 45, where faithful are told, "But He took note of their distress when He heard their cry; for their sake He remembered His covenant and out of His great love He relented."

This year, with the institutionalization of national health care, more than 10 percent of Americans out of work, an increase in divorce rates and an astonishing rise in abortions, many are questioning the direction of the country from a spiritual perspective.

Christians of all denominations from around the country assembled in front of the Lincoln Memorial to pray for the soul of America, specifically the areas of family, education, the church, entertainment, business, government and media.

Porter said the outline was simple: "In three words: remember, repent, renew."

"We remembered the covenant that we had with God, we repented of turning away and we renewed that covenant," she said.

The nationally broadcast event started at sunrise – it was observed live in churches in Alaska starting at 2:10 a.m. – and included representatives from each state who prayed for specific concerns.

Among the featured guests were Alan Keyes, Bobby Schindler (Terri Schiavo's brother), Dutch Sheets, Vision America's Rick Scarborough, Pastor Paul Blair, Jim Garlow (who led the fight to protect marriage in California), Cindy Jacobs, Gen. Jerry Boykin (whose life is depicted in the movie "Black Hawk Down"), Mathew Staver of Liberty Counsel, Wendy Wright of Concerned Women for America, Tony Perkins of Family Research Council and MovieGuide's Ted Baehr.

Folger wrote in her WND column that the event was not for just anyone, was not to attract reporters and was not to build images.

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"Our goal isn't to impress any of the power brokers in Washington," she said. "We're having a meeting with someone more powerful than all of them combined."

Lincoln Memorial

The "May Day" event was, in fact, a "mayday" call of distress for the soul of the nation, Porter explained.

"The American Revolution was preceded by the Great Awakening. When the Constitutional Convention was about to disintegrate, the founders convened a prayer meeting, and a few weeks later the Constitution was born," said Mathew Staver, chairman of Liberty Counsel and dean of the Liberty University school of law.

"Our economy is not strong. Our borders are far from secure. Jobs are anything but plentiful. Unless we can reverse government health care, it will be rationed. That executive order does nothing to stop us from being forced to fund abortion. Global warming is false, and cap-and-trade is only about more government control and less freedom. In November 2008, we chose death, and we are experiencing the consequences of our actions. We are drowning, and it is our own fault. We have never needed God more," Porter wrote.

"We need to let God know we're serious about turning back to Him and fasting from something – whether it's television, dessert or food – will provide the breakthrough we desperately need as a nation," said Scarborough.

Sonicflood, a Christian group that sings hits such as "Open the Eyes of my Heart" and "I Want to Know You," has written a May Day song for the event.