'America for Jesus' Hoping DC Rally Jumpstarts Revival
by Allie Martin and Jenni Parker
October 28, 2004
(AgapePress) - An official who helped plan last week's "America for Jesus" rally in Washington, DC, says the most important task should begin now, with Christians across the country earnestly seeking God.Last Friday an estimated 25,000 people turned out at the National Mall, just 11 days before the national elections, to cry out to God for America's return to its moral roots. The October 22 "America for Jesus" rally drew a culturally diverse crowd of Hispanic, African-American, Asian and European American Christian leaders from across the United States, Puerto Rico, and other parts of the world. Participants in the nearly 17-hour rally were asked to fast and pray for true spiritual awakening in the United States.
John Blanchard is with the America for Jesus organization. He says the AFJ rally organizers were intent on making a spiritual rather than a political statement, and although the event was a positive start, he is urging participants "to continue in prayer as believers."
Blanchard believes those persistent prayers will help to build on what was begun at the AFJ rally, and he asserts, "something is going to happen. We're trusting God for a historical, significant event that would be a catalyst similar to the kinds of revivals and awakenings that we've read about in American history."
The AFJ spokesman says several of the group's rallies have been held in Washington, DC, over the past two decades, but this one was somewhat distinctive, occurring as it did so close to the November 2 election day. He says the rally was held at this time because it was the only day the National Mall was available. If the event served not only as a call to national spiritual awakening, but also as a reminder to Christian citizens to vote their values, that blessing was an unplanned bonus, he says.
"We've always gone to Washington in April," Blanchard explains, "and the only reason we went in October was the National Park Service had given us a date in September, and then they had to change it. They gave us the October date. We really had nothing to do with it, so we just trust that providence had something to do with it."
Portions of the "America for Jesus" rally were broadcast across five continents through satellite television. According to Daystar, TLN, INSP, TBN, and the God Channel estimates, the broadcast may have reached more than 300 million homes. AFJ's website is also making DVD copies of the event available for $25 each.
