Lawmakers gather for prayer, repentance in DC amid deep divisions: ‘Holy desperation’

February 9, 2026

Lawmakers in Washington D.C. joined Christians from around the country last week at the Museum of the Bible for the National Gathering for Prayer and Repentance, hosted by the Family Research Council.

The Christian Post reports that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), were among the featured speakers last Wednesday urging attendees to to remember the Christian heritage of the United States and to return to God as the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary this year.

Jim Garlow, from the organization Well Versed, opened the event by warning those listening not to take God’s blessings for granted, reminding them that the Lord could easily remove his protections from the U.S. as has happened with other nations.

Garlow said, “We don’t ever presume that something like that could ever happen to this nation. And so, we live in this naive notion that the way things are, are the way things will always be, but such is not the case. And so, as we go into prayer right now, may our requests have a sense of holy urgency, a sense of holy desperation.”

Speaker Johnson later spoke on the special influence that Christianity has had on the U.S. and reminded participants, “We’re the most free, most successful, most powerful, most benevolent nation that has ever been, and the reason we are is because we’re set in this foundation, our Judeo-Christian heritage, the biblical foundation of the country. It is beyond dispute.”

According to the Christian Post, Johnson prayed for the courage to “defend and restore” our national heritage and pleaded for “continued favor and blessing over our nation, even when we don’t deserve it.”

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins said the biggest takeaway from this year’s event was remembering the Christian heritage of the U.S. and the overwhelming influence of the faith upon the Founding Fathers.

Perkins explained that U.S. history is steeped in Christianity and that all 50 state constitutions acknowledge God.

Photo: top, Credit: Courtesy Family Research Council