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On 17 May, the National Mall in the United States will host Rededicate 250, a landmark day of prayer and worship, drawing thousands as America prepares to mark 250 years since its founding.

Thousands are expected to gather on the National Mall next month for a massive day of prayer and worship aimed at calling the United States back to God ahead of its 250th anniversary, with one pastor predicting it could be the nation’s largest religious gathering in more than 50 years.

Multiple Trump administration officials and Christian conservative faith leaders will attend and speak at 17 May’s Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise & Thanksgiving. The 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 US.

The all-day event, which is free and open to all Americans, bills itself as “a historic gathering” that will feature Scripture, testimony, prayer and “rededication of our country as One Nation to God.” Those unable to attend can access a livestream through partner churches, ministries and organisations.

Faith, Prayer, and America’s Founding Legacy

Pastor Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Dallas in Texas, 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 five-day gathering, which some say marked the height of the Jesus Movement, saw the late televangelist Billy Graham preach and Kris Kristofferson, a recent convert to Christianity, perform.

In an interview with The Christian Post, Jeffress said Explo ’72 was “a giant outpouring of enthusiasm for the Christian faith” and anticipates that Rededicate 250 “will be something that’s as big or bigger.”

“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,” Jeffress, who has long supported Trump, said.

“If America is going to experience revival, then I first have to have a revival in my heart. For America to rededicate herself to Christ means I must rededicate myself to Christ. And that’s the angle that I’m going to take in my talk on the National Mall on May 17.”

Beginning with sunrise worship in front of the United States Capitol, the day will conclude with “an evening filled with music anchored at the main stage on 12th Street.”

Three pillars will undergird the day’s programming.

The first pillar is titled “The Miracles that Made Us”, which will consist of “a reflection on God’s providence throughout 250 years, honouring the faith that inspired America’s founders and has carried us forward in every generation since.”

The second pillar, “The Miracles Still in Our Midst”, will feature “personal testimonies of God’s healing in our lives and in our land.” The third pillar, “A New Birth of Faith and Freedom,” will involve a “collective expression of gratitude for 250 years of freedom,” which will include a ‘unified moment of rededication asking for God’s blessing, guidance, and grace for the next 250.”

Political and Religious Leaders Unite for the Occasion

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is slated to speak as well as several members of the Trump administration, including Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chief of Protocol Monica Crowley. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will deliver a video message, while Dr Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon who served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development during the first Trump administration, will also give remarks.

Religious leaders scheduled to appear at the event include Bishop Robert Barron of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Winona-Rochester in Minnesota, Pastor Jack Graham of the Texas-based Prestonwood Baptist Church, Pastor Jentezen Franklin of the Georgia-based Free Chapel, Pastor Jonathan Pokluda of the Texas-based Harris Creek Baptist Church, Pastor Gary Hamrick of the Cornerstone Chapel in Virginia and National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference President Rev. Samuel Rodriguez.

Jeffress reflected on the words Founding Father John Adams delivered on 2 July 1776, two days before the Declaration of Independence was signed. The future US president predicted that going forward, the day of 4 July would be a day of celebration but also an occasion where people would make “solemn acts of devotion to God”.

Billy Graham’s son, the Rev. Franklin Graham, who leads the Evangelical humanitarian aid group Samaritan’s Purse, will deliver remarks at Rededicate 250 via video. Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the former head of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, will also address the crowd virtually.

Prominent figures within Christian media will also appear at the event, including author and radio host Eric Metaxas, author and ministry leader Cissie Graham Lynch and journalist Abigail Robertson Allen.

In addition to “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, the US Navy Band, musical groups at several Christian colleges, the Fanfare Trumpets of the US Armed Forces, Bagpipes from the US Air Force Band and the Military Chaplains’ Prayer will be performing at the event.

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Republished with thanks to The Christian Post. Image courtesy of Adobe.