On a dark, cold morning in Washington, D.C., hundreds gathered at the Museum of the Bible for the 2025 National Gathering for Prayer and Repentance (NGPR). Despite the early hour, people came with smiles on their faces as they greeted one another and prepared for a time of unity through prayer.
As attendees found their seats, the hymn “It Is Well” echoed throughout the room, spilling into the hallway. “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” kicked off the event, and other hymns such as “My Jesus I Love Thee” and “Jesus Paid it All” were sung throughout the morning. Hands and voices were raised in worship, and Well Versed Founder Jim Garlow emphasized, “We’re here today to pray and to repent” — first for America and then for the nations.
As Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Ala.) highlighted, most museums are dedicated to people and things that are of the past. This “biblical gathering,” however, took place at a museum dedicated to the living and active God and His word. NGPR was not a prayer time geared toward Buddha or Allah, as the opening remarks addressed, but to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Garlow addressed how the current administration is a blessing to the nation. And while “we’re glad that Trump is in the White House,” he said, “we’re thrilled that Jesus is King.” The room erupted into applause as NGPR went full steam ahead in a time of appealing not to man, but to “heaven.” As Family Research Council President Tony Perkins emphasized, “The government of man, as important as it is, is temporal. The government of God is eternal.”
Throughout this year’s NGPR, speakers proclaimed the gospel — emphasizing that no one is too far gone to be saved. The prayers were rooted in a deep desire for the people of America — and of the whole world — to turn back to the Lord and truly seek Him. From personal repentance to worldwide repentance, today’s speakers seemed to cover it all.
- Prayers and Repentance for Abortion
Most of the speakers addressed the crisis of abortion, which has taken the lives of more than 65 million babies in America. One woman, who previously had an abortion, prayed: “I am a woman who aborted my baby. And for this, Lord, I am so very, very sorry. And I repent and I ask for your forgiveness. … Lord, I claim your grace. … And Lord, I ask forgiveness for the millions of women who, like me, believed the lie of abortion and terminated the lives of their babies. Lord, forgive the boyfriends and husbands who encouraged and paid for abortions.”
“Lord,” she continued, “I repent on behalf of those who did not defend life. I repent for parents who would not stand for life, and they pressured their daughters to have abortions. For pastors who stood silent in the pulpit. For mayors, for members of Congress, justices, judges, [and for] any one of us who did not protect life in the womb. Lord, forgive us as innocent blood flows under the streets of this city. Lord, you see it all. God, forgive us.”
- Prayers and Repentance for Sexual Sin
A former porn actor prayed and repented over his sexual sin. As he stated, “My quest for validation led me to the porn industry where I found money and fame, but no peace. I tried to end my life multiple times because external things cannot fix internal problems. Only Jesus can do that. Instead of ending my life, I ran. And after two years, … I encountered the person of Jesus Christ,” which resulted in four children in a marriage going on nine years, and a life of traveling around to share the gospel.
Additionally, individuals who formerly identified as homosexual offered prayer and repentance. They prayed for true masculinity to flourish in the country. They offered repentance on behalf of those pushing LGBT activism, asking for mercy and conviction of sin. As one speaker emphasized, love that is void of God “has no strength. … God, we repent … and we come to you humbly and say, ‘We hand you all pride, be Lord over our lives and over our nation again.’”
- Prayers and Repentance from Members of Congress
About two dozen House and Senate leaders offered prayer and repentance, including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), and others. They prayed for wisdom and discernment. They repented over sexual sin and abortion. On behalf of the church, several congressmen and women repented over complacency, inauthenticity, insincerity, and lukewarmness.
This isn’t a rare occurrence, Johnson emphasized. He told the audience, “[W]e gather with you this morning to seek the Lord’s wisdom, to pray for his repentance for our country. And I just want to encourage you to know that this is not an unfamiliar thing. This happens all the time here among this group. … We meet weekly in the speaker’s conference room to pray together and to get on our knees and intercede for the nation and for all of you.”
“Give us a thirst for righteousness, a zeal for truth, and love for our neighbors,” prayed Scalise. “Help us to continue to love though we are hated.” Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.) prayed, “Let us not be ashamed,” as others prayed for God’s forgiveness and comfort. Rep. Brad Knott (R-N.C.) urged the Lord to “transform minds and hearts … so we can turn back to You.”
As the prayers went on, these men and women who serve the American people could be seen raising their hands in worship and wiping away tears from their eyes. As Johnson emphasized, these members of Congress represent the “remnant” serving in our nation’s Capital who themselves acknowledge that only God is able to make America great, but also that “the only salvation we have is through Jesus Christ our Lord.” It was Rep. Troy Downing (R-Mont.) who reiterated, “We have a higher calling to do [His] will.”
On behalf of believers on Capitol Hill, Johnson concluded his prayer, “[T]hank You for Your love and Your grace and Your mercy. … May we be found faithful.”
- Prayers and Repentance for the Church and Christian Persecution
Pastor Nick Vujicic repented of greed, gluttony, sloth, and tolerance of sin. “Woe to America,” he said, “if we do not see any change in the churches.” As he went on to pray, Vujicic addressed the need for Bible studies that help tackle porn addictions and other temptations. He prayed for the salvation of all, including President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden. He also prayed for discipleship growth [and] church growth. He prayed that youth pastors would not be seen as “babysitters,” and that the church would regain our lost compassion for the helpless.
Concerning persecution, Hungarian leader Tristan Azbej prayed for compromised Christians to know that “there is [a] dead end to darkness. There is the path of family, of culture, of life, of marriage, and there is a dead end of a perverted concept of marriage and life. Lord, help us to see that there is a path to peace, and there is a dead end to war. And Lord, help us to see that there is a path to Christian unity, to solidarity with our 300 million persecuted Christian brothers and sisters in the world. And there is a dead end to indifference,” and a path to “wisdom and … faith and … humility.”
As Eduard Heger from Slovakia prayed, “[F]ill our hearts and our minds with love, so we will repent.”
- International Prayers and Repentance
Each NGPR, there’s time dedicated to prayer and repentance — not solely for America, but for other nations as well. This year, over 20 different countries were represented, including Israel, Armenia, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cyprus, El Salvador, Finland, Germany, South Korea, Moldova, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania, Slovakia, Syria, Taiwan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and Uruguay. Those who prayed ranged from ministry leaders to members of parliament to doctors and businessmen and even world-famous heavyweight champions.
FRC Board Chair Michele Bachmann, who also serves as dean of Regent University’s School of Government, prayed a special blessing on the Jewish state. “[W]e pray that Israel would continue to live and be that light unto the nations, and that we as the nations, would come into alignment with your word and reflect back to you your glory. And that is why we repent as nations where we have fallen short.”
On behalf of other nations, speakers prayed that their lands would seek the Lord, His will, and His righteousness. They prayed their countries would behold truth and defend the weak. Prayers for revival were consistently uttered, as well as prayers for the church to be a beacon of hope. There was repentance for loving money and power more than God, as well as requests for forgiveness for corrupt churches and the preaching of the prosperity gospel. All in all, international leaders prayed for courage, wisdom, and peace, as they seek to be light in a dark, dark world.
All in all, the 2025 NGPR was a memorable, engaging experience. It was also a reminder of how, as Rabbi Jonathan Cahn explained, God uses people as vessels. Ultimately, the true path to healing and flourishing is found solely in God and a revival of His truth in our nation. Turning the laws is important, he urged. But if hearts aren’t turned as well, then history is destined to repeat itself.
“The only way America can be great again is for America to turn back to the God who made America great in the first place,” Cahn concluded. “Return to God and greatness will follow.”
Sarah Holliday
Sarah Holliday is a reporter at The Washington Stand.
Photo: SmithGroup
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