Rededicate 250 could be largest US religious gathering in 50 years, Robert Jeffress says

May 1, 2026

Thousands are expected to gather next month on the National Mall for a massive day of prayer and worship aimed at calling the United States back to God ahead of its 250th anniversary.

The Christian Post reports that Pastor Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Dallas in Texas, who is scheduled to speak at the event, is predicting it could be the nation’s largest religious gathering in more than 50 years.

The Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise & Thanksgiving event is one of many festivities planned as part of the nationwide Freedom 250 celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of the U.S.

The free, day-long event bills itself as “a historic gathering” that is open to all Americans and will feature Scripture, testimony, prayer and “rededication of our country as One Nation to God.”

According to the Christian Post, Jeffress, who is scheduled to speak at the event, likened it to Explo ‘72, a 1972 Campus Crusade for Christ conference attended by over 80,000 college and high school students in Dallas.

The event will highlight three pillars pertaining to celebrating America’s heritage including “The Miracles that Made Us,” “The Miracles Still in Our Midst,” and “A New Birth of Faith and Freedom.”

The event will feature speeches from government and religious leaders as well as musical performances by the United States Marine Band, the U.S. Navy Band, musical groups at several Christian colleges, the Fanfare Trumpets of the U.S. Armed Forces, Bagpipes from the U.S. Air Force Band. 

Jeffress, a longtime Trump supporter, said, “I believe President [Donald] Trump believes, yes, we should celebrate the 250th birthday of America, and we will do it in a great, glorious way, but it’s also a time, he believes, for America to rededicate herself to God.”

Photo: top, Credit: Michael A McCoy/Getty Images