BY : Ryan Foley, Christian Post Reporter
WASHINGTON — Thousands gathered on the National Mall Sunday for a historic day of national prayer and worship ahead of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, with attendees expressing hope for a spiritual renewal and a cultural shift in American society.
Christians from around the world braved occasional light rain, hot weather and long security lines to participate in Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise & Thanksgiving. Several prominent religious leaders and Trump administration officials addressed the crowd, which extended beyond rows of chairs to blankets spread across the grass with the U.S. Capitol in the background.
Rededicate 250 is one of several events planned as part of the public-private partnership initiative Freedom 250 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Multiple attendees highlighted their hopes for American culture moving forward.
Parish Clinton, a 30-year veteran of the U.S. military, from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, told The Christian Post that Rededicate 250 may be the “most important event” in his lifetime, “probably in several lifetimes.”
“I don’t believe anything I did, with two combat deployments under my belt, is as important as being here to support this today, to rededicate our nation back to God,” Clinton said.
“Since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, I believe it’s that important to this nation, that we are lost without God,” he added, saying the Lord has blessed this nation “immensely over the last 250 years.”
“We are living under a form of government that is not meant for an immoral people. We have got to get our morals back in line with what Jesus taught and what the Bible says.”
Clinton said the U.S. is “doomed without God” at the center, believing that the country could not have “gone through World War II” and “would not be anywhere close to where we are without God.” He called for renewed support for the national motto “In God We Trust.”
“Our Founding Fathers would not recognize us right now as a nation, and I believe that’s a tragedy,” he said.
A shift in history’
Cindy Herzog, who traveled from Vine Grove, Kentucky, to attend Rededicate 250, called the event “a shift in history.”
“We’re in a time right now where we need to keep our eyes on Jesus and follow, be good followers,” she said. “Whatever He shares with us, we have the opportunity to join in the truth, to love people well, to stand with people well during this time and to step out and believe for the impossible for our nation, for our family, for our lives.”
Rather than viewing the event as a government endorsement of religion, Herzog described the gathering as “an endorsement of unity” around “bringing our nation back to what our Founding Fathers based our country, our nation on.”
“It’s amazing that we can gather here today,” she added. “Freedom of speech, that we can gather here to worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
“I just think there’s going to be such an amazing shift in our nation,” she predicted. “Everyone will be seeing, sensing and experiencing what’s going to happen in our nation after today.”
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