Grace Woodlands Pastor, Steve Riggles, joins D.C. leaders to pray for America
Museum of the Bible, Washington, D.C.
February 2, 2023 | Washington, D.C.
Local pastor, Steve Riggles, of Grace Woodlands Church in The Woodlands, attended the National Gathering for Prayer & Repentance yesterday at the Museum of the Bible. Grace Woodlands also was a sponsor of the event, which was attended by US Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy, and Congressman Steve Scalise (LA-Dist. 1).
Family Research Council President, Tony Perkins, and Well Versed Founder and CEO, Dr. Jim Garlow, opened the meeting with President Abraham Lincoln’s words on prayer and repentance, echoing from the turmoil of deep division during the Civil War:
“We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own."
Calling for repentance as a nation, Perkins prayed that the US would return to God. Dr. Garlow then invited the blowing of the ram’s horn shofar, the “sound of repentance.”
Ann Graham Lotz spoke on the need for personal and national revival and healing.
Christian leaders including Michele Bachmann, Andrew Brunson, Jonathan Cahn, and Carter Conlon continued the prayer for repentance, including prayer that pastors would be courageous and speak prophetically in crying out for the nation.
Lisa Washington, City Director for Love Life NYC, prayed for forgiveness for abortion, that the unborn would be protected in the US, and that God would mobilize the church.
Members of Congress prayed for the nation
Perkins introduced members of Congress to pray for the nation, saying, “What you’re about to see is something you won’t see on MSNBC, CNN, or even Fox. That is members of Congress who are praying and crying out to God. And there’s a reason. They don’t want you to know that there are men and women that God has called to this city because that would encourage you to know that your prayers are being answered as God is sending men and women who are committed to Him to stand for truth in this city.”
Perkins encouraged everyone to pray for the members of Congress.
House Majority Leader, Steve Scalise, read from Psalm 33.
Rep. Mary Miller (IL-15) asked God to intervene and deliver Congress and the country.
Rep. Rick Allen (GA-12) called for a return to “always thinking of others as better than ourselves.”
Rep. Brian Babin (TX-36) asked for forgiveness and prayed that God would break the chains that hold us in darkness, and give us courage and humilty.
Rep. Michael Cloud (TX-27) acknowledged the nation’s turning from God and asked for churches to return to advancing the kingdom of God.
Other members of Congress who prayed for repentance included:
Rep. Robert Aderholt (AL-4)
Rep. Tracey Mann (KS-1)
Rep. Burgess Owens (UT-4)
Rep. Gary Palmer (AL-6)
Rep. Michelle Steel (CA-48)
Rep. Randy Weber (TX-14)
Rep. Warren Davidson (OH-8)
Rep. Brandon Williams (NY-22)
Rep. Diana Harshbarger (TX-27)
Rep. Dan Bishop (NC-8)
Rep. Nathaniel Moran (TX-1).
Speaker McCarthy prayed for forgiveness and lifted up faith leaders and leaders of Congress, asking God to open the hearts of all leaders including the president, who he would be meeting with later in the day. He asked for both his and the president’s hearts to be opened to God. He asked for boldness and thanked God for providing his Son to take away our sins in Jesus Christ’s name. He then read from Isaiah 59: 10-15.
Speaker McCarthy prays for the nation and reads Isaiah 59: 10-15.
Rep. Mike Johnson (LA-4) then led prayer over the members of Congress as well as additional members of the Senate who were in attendance.
Prayers also were offered for US foreign policy with a focus on forgiveness and turning back to God’s direction in Afghanistan, Ukraine, Iraq, Syria, Israel, and other countries.
Pastors prayed for Taiwan and China, and that the US would become a witness for Jesus in the world.
Dran Reese, President of the Salt & Light Council, prayed that God would awaken the electorate and that people would know their role as citizens and voters.
Former Georgia police officer, Jacob Kersey, prayed for law enforcement.
Members of the media, including Lyndsay Keith of Newsmax, prayed for truth in reporting.
Perkins closed by encouraging everyone listening to continue interceding with 1 Timothy 2: 1-2:
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”