Highlights from ‘Rededicate 250’ Day of Worship and Prayer at the National Mall

Hundreds of thousands gathered on the National Mall on Sunday, May 17, for Rededicate 250, a day-long event to worship and pray for America ahead of our nation’s 250th birthday celebration. Millions more watched online, as speakers read Scripture and rededicated our country as “One Nation to God.”

Pastors, Christian leaders and politicians took part in the rededication, which marked the 250th anniversary of the Second Continental Congress’ call “for the colonies to pause, repent, and seek God’s guidance as war with Britain loomed.” Here are some highlights from the worship and prayer gathering. 

Pastor Samuel Rodriguez, who represents 42,000 churches as president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, opened Rededicate 250. He prayed: 

Father, we come before you today not merely to remember but to rededicate. Not just to reflect on history, but to realign our future. … 

The God of righteousness, the God of justice, the God of truth, and the God of love. Righteous Lord, we come before you prayerfully acknowledging that a righteous nation recognizes the image of God in every human being without exception.

He described a “battle in America … between the serpent and the Lamb,” proclaiming “the Holy Spirit of Almighty God” as “the most powerful Spirit in America.” 

Aodhán King, from Hillsong’s Young & Free, led worshippers in lifting up the Lord with songs like “This is Living,” “Take You at Your Word,” “Have Your Way,” and “What a Beautiful Name.” 

Sadie Robertson Huff, author of bestsellers like Live Original and Live Fearless, read from the story of Josiah cleansing the temple, reading God’s Word, and rededication the Kingdom of Judah to the Lord, from 2 Kings 22. 

She called America back to following God, saying: 

This day is not just about rededicating our nation to God, but rededicate yourself to the Lord. Rededicate your family to the Lord. And in doing so, one person under God, one nation under God. 

It’s a powerful thing that Josiah was able to read out the entire scripture and the entire law. But I’ll say this, Jesus Christ sums it up into these simple things. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. and love your neighbor as yourself. And if you do that, the world will change.

Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson also spoke at Rededicate 250, reminding viewers: 

250 years ago, America was born in a Declaration of Independence that began with the revolutionary acknowledgement that our rights come from God – and not from government. And it ended with an appeal to “divine Providence” for protection. 

The Lord heard that call, and there has been no nation since that time that has been so blessed. We’re so blessed to be here. 

Dr. Carson said, “There is no place like America.” He pointed to “the forging of our Constitution,” our prosperity and culture of freedom, and our “triumphs over slavery, totalitarianism, segregation, hunger and disease” as some of those blessings from God. 

He called Americans to be bold and courageous, pointing to the Paul’s admonition to Timothy, “He has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7). 

Rededicate 250 included a video from President Donald J. Trump from America Reads the Bible, a week-long event at the Museum of the Bible where more than 475 participants read the entire Bible aloud. 

The clip showed the president reading his portion of Scripture from the Oval Office, 2 Chronicles 7:11-22, which includes the familiar verse:

If my people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 

Toward the end of the day, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson led the crowd in a prayer of rededication. After describing God’s protection and intervention in a variety of ways throughout U.S. history, he asked God to move again: 

Lord, just as we humbly sought out your guidance in past trials, we are doing it here again today. We turn to you once again to save us from these afflictions, to deliver us from the forces of evil, oppression, injustice and tyranny – both within our borders and beyond our shores – and Lord, never let us be separated from your mercy and your love.

Johnson asked for forgiveness “of our sins individually and collectively,” concluding: 

Look upon us with favor upon your country as we celebrate this momentous anniversary and let your Holy Spirit descend upon this land so that future generations will look back at this day, in this present age, and once again, see your providential hand at work. I ask this today, Lord, I pray it and I believe it, in your holy name, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

The event finished off with a 30-minute worship set led by Chris Tomlin which included worship standards like, “Good, Good Father,” “Great Are You Lord,” “Our God,” “Holy Forever,” and “How Great is Our God.” 

Watch Rededicate 250 and learn more about America’s 250th birthday celebration at Freedom 250. 

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