In a moment marked by solemn prayer, repentance, and urgent appeals for God’s mercy, lawmakers and Christians from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C., calling on the nation to return to its biblical foundations as deep divisions continue to strain American life.

The four-hour 2026 National Gathering for Prayer and Repentance was held at the Museum of the Bible and hosted by the Family Research Council. The event brought together members of Congress, state legislators, pastors, and believers from all 50 states to pray for national healing, remember persecuted Christians worldwide, and seek God’s forgiveness as the United States prepares to mark its 250th anniversary.

Opening the gathering, longtime pastor and civic leader Jim Garlow, whose ministry Well Versed serves members of Congress, warned that nations must never presume upon God’s blessing. Drawing on history, he reminded the audience that powerful civilizations have risen and fallen when they forgot their dependence on God. Calling the moment spiritually urgent, Garlow urged participants to pray with what he described as “holy urgency” and “holy desperation,” asking God to preserve the nation and restore its moral footing.

Mike Johnson, who helped found the annual gathering, later addressed the crowd and said it weighed heavily on his heart that this year’s event emphasize repentance. Johnson pointed to America’s unique origins, noting that the nation’s freedoms are rooted in its Judeo-Christian heritage and the biblical worldview of its founders. Quoting British author G.K. Chesterton, Johnson reminded attendees that America was founded upon a creed — one that affirms rights come from God, not government.

“We’re the most free, most successful, most powerful, most benevolent nation that has ever been,” Johnson said, crediting that reality to the country’s biblical foundation. Yet he cautioned that such freedoms are fragile if they are not understood, taught, and defended. Citing President Ronald Reagan’s warning that freedom is not automatically inherited, Johnson urged Americans to pass on the truth of their heritage to the next generation or risk losing it altogether.

Johnson went on to pray for God’s continued favor, acknowledging that the moral consensus that once unified the nation has been “imperiled in recent generations.” Quoting John Quincy Adams — “duty is ours, results are God’s” — he asked God to find the nation faithful, even when it falls short, and to grant courage to defend and restore its foundational values.

Ted Cruz also appeared briefly, leading a prayer that lamented the growing anger and bitterness tearing the country apart. Citing 2 Chronicles 7:14, Cruz asked God to forgive the nation, heal the land, and usher in a new day marked by repentance and love. Referring to John Winthrop’s vision of America as a “city on a hill,” Cruz prayed that God would replace division with compassion so that the love of Jesus might be visible through His people.

Throughout the event, individuals representing each of the 50 states stepped forward to pray, many of them elected officials. One of the most impassioned prayers came from Minnesota state Sen. Andrew Mathews, a pastor who invoked the name of Jesus over his state amid rising unrest, political turmoil, and attacks on churches. Drawing on Daniel 9, Mathews confessed the people’s sins and pleaded for forgiveness, repentance, and godly leadership, asking God to raise leaders who fear Him and follow His ways.

The gathering also highlighted the suffering of persecuted Christians around the world, a recurring focus of the annual event. Tony Perkins, president of FRC, told reporters that remembering America’s Christian heritage and standing with the persecuted church were central themes this year. Perkins emphasized that every state constitution acknowledges God and said the event aimed to encourage Americans not to shrink back from that historical reality.

Perkins also pushed back against the increasingly common use of the term “Christian nationalism,” calling it ill-defined and misleading. He argued that loving one’s country while honoring biblical truth is not a radical idea, but one deeply rooted in America’s founding documents.

Speakers from around the world shared sobering testimonies of persecution, echoing warnings from former missionary and religious freedom advocate Andrew Brunson that hostility toward Christians is increasing even in the West. Perkins said American believers have a responsibility to advocate for brothers and sisters facing severe persecution abroad, noting that many endure imprisonment, violence, and even death for their faith.

As prayers concluded and worshippers quietly dispersed, the message of the gathering lingered: a call to humility, repentance, and renewed dependence on God. In a divided nation facing moral and spiritual crossroads, participants said the only lasting hope lies not in politics or power, but in turning hearts back to the One who, they believe, has guided the nation from the beginning.