On February 5, 2026, President Trump, speaking at the 74th annual National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., revealed his plans for a national call to prayer and thanksgiving as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary. He said, “On May 17, we are inviting Americans from all across the country to come together on our National Mall to pray, to give thanks, and to rededicate America as one nation under God.”
A slate of political, military, and religious leaders will lead participants gathered on the National Mall in “solemnly rededicating our country as “One Nation under God.” The speaker lineup includes a number of evangelical pastors, including Pastor Jack Graham of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Texas; Jentezen Franklin of Free Chapel in Georgia; Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference; Jonathan Falwell, pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church in Virginia and chancellor of Liberty University; Pastor Jonathan Pokluda of Harris Creek Baptist Church in Waco, Texas; Pastor Lorenzo Sewell, who leads 180 Church in Detroit; and Gary Hamrick of Cornerstone Chapel in Virginia.
The timing of President Trump’s call to prayer carries historic weight. The practice of setting aside specific days for the nation to pray and fast dates to the founding of America. Arguably, these public days of prayer and fasting have played a vital and continuing role in shaping the national destiny of the United States. The many blessings, freedoms, and privileges we enjoy as Americans were no doubt granted to us by our Sovereign and Merciful God through the faithful prayers of our churches, elected officials, and national leaders in previous generations.
In 1775, the Second Continental Congress issued the first call for a day of “public humiliation, fasting, and prayer.” John Adams, elated by this good news, wrote to his wife Abigail, “We have appointed a Continental Fast. Millions will be upon their knees at once before their great Creator, imploring His Forgiveness, Blessing, and His Smiles on American Councils and Arms.” Over the course of the Revolutionary War (1775–1784), the Continental Congress issued 16 spiritual proclamations for times of fasting, humiliation, or thanksgiving.
In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed a resolution for a national day of “humiliation, fasting, and prayer” during the Civil War to seek God’s divine mercy for a divided nation. During World War I, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed on May 11, 1918, “a day of Public Humiliation, Prayer and Fasting…to Almighty God that He may forgive our sins.” In 1952, a joint resolution by Congress, and signed by President Harry S. Truman, established an annual National Day of Prayer, affirming the “special need of Divine support to strengthen the foundations of peace” in our nation and the world. Finally, in 1988 President Ronald Reagan signed legislation permanently fixing the date of the National Day of Prayer as the first Thursday in May.
Chaplains, as you prayerfully consider participating in the One God, One Nation, One Prayer, May 17 national event, please pray about your support at some or all the planned national prayer events during the month of May:
- May 7: National Day of Prayer
Theme verse: “Declare His glory among the nations, his wondrous works among all peoples.” (1Chron. 16:24) - May 17: Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise, and Thanksgiving on The National Mall from 8 a.m. –7 p.m.
- May 25: American Prays
The White House is calling on Americans to pray for our country for 10 minutes a week, beginning Memorial Day (May 25) and ending July 4, 2026, the day of our nation’s 250th birthday. Pray for continued blessings on our nation, and pray for our leaders, protectors, fellow chaplains, families, and friends.