Churches across the world are calling for prayer as the coronavirus outbreak continues to grow.
There’s never been a better time to lift up our needs and requests to God!
All along, President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have led in the prayer movement.
Over 700 pastors participated in a conference call to the White House recently, praying together for strength and stamina in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak across the United States.
The Family Research Council, a Christian activist group, organized the call, recognizing our country’s great need for God’s help in this troubling time.
Vice President Pence volunteered to join the call, wanting to share his own prayers and show the pastors that the nation’s leadership was invested in the nationwide call to prayer.
But when Pence told President Trump that he would be on the call, Trump asked if he could also join the time of prayer! Despite a packed schedule, the President placed prayer and intercession at the top of his priority list.
“When I told the president I was going to be speaking to all of you, [he was] in the midst of an extraordinarily busy day,” Pence told the pastors on the call.
“[But] he looked at me and said, ‘I have to find time. I need to find time.’”
Trump set aside other tasks to join the Vice President and pastors in prayer for an hour.
“The prayers of the people on this call mean [everything] to him,” Pence assured the pastors.
Trump listened to the prayers of pastors around the country and offered some of his own, asking religious leaders and citizens to pray for the end of the coronavirus outbreak and the rebuilding of the American economy.
“I want to thank you for praying for our country and for those who are sick,” Trump told the pastors. “You do such an incredible job. You’re very inspirational people. And I’m with you all the way.”
It was an encouraging time for everyone on the call and was a chance to refocus on God’s sovereignty amid the pandemic.
Trump urged the pastors to continue praying for the “health [and] strength” of the United States, especially as the country enters another election season.
“You see what we’ve done for right to life and all of the things that we’ve been working so hard [on] together,” Trump added. “I’ve been working with many of the people on the call. Many, many of the people. We’ve had tremendous support.”
The President asked the pastors and religious leaders to continue praying for and supporting his decisions during this time of crisis and confusion.
“We’re going to come back stronger than ever before,” Trump encouraged everyone.
Vice President Pence also spent time thanking the pastors on the call and recognizing the ways in which they were reaching out to their communities.
“[We] couldn’t be more inspired by the way communities of faith have been stepping up,” Pence said.
Whether churches are offering childcare to healthcare workers, running food pantries for those in need, or spreading the hope of the Gospel, the President and Vice President believe they are doing essential work.
“You know, the president has said many times that we are going to bring the full resources of our federal government to bear on this [outbreak],” Pence said.
“But by all of you being here today, and by the energies and ministries that you have [used to respond] to the coronavirus in your communities, you’re really putting hands and feet on your faith.”
“And you are demonstrating what the president today called ‘the greatness of American character.’”
After the time of prayer, Trump and Pence thanked churches across the United States for following social distancing guidelines and suspending in-person services.
Although the President hoped to end social distancing guidelines in time for Easter celebrations, he and many others recognized that it may not be possible—or wise—to do so.
This doesn’t change God’s sovereignty, as many pastors on the call reminded each other.
“God still has His hand on this nation,” reported Dr. Ben Carson, the Housing and Urban Development Secretary, who also participated in the prayer conference call.
“God is merciful. And we will get through this.”
Pray for President Trump, Vice President Pence, and the rest of our leaders as they seek God’s wisdom during this time.