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At the yearly Governor’s Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, March 26, 2026, IFA’s Regional Director Lisa Townsend, IFA Louisiana State Prayer Leader Sue Garcia, and Co-State Leader Janie Harris were in attendance.
“We prayed in preparation for breakfast and took printed copies of America’s Spiritual Heritage National Proclamation materials to hand to Senators, Representatives, and other faith leaders. Our aim was to spread the mission of rededicating state and local governments, as well as the areas of the state where they serve. We had folders ready to go with materials and business cards with our numbers on them. We went armed and ready in prayer, believing this was a God-given mission,” Lisa said.
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There were about 300 to 350 political and faith leaders in the room. As worship began, the Presence of God permeated the room. At least one-third of those in the room had their hands raised in worship to the Lord. The worship leader sang “Still Waters” based on Psalm 23.
The speaker was retired Army Ranger Jeff Struecker, whom you may remember from black hawk down. He was so moved during worship that the Lord changed his message, and he taught on Psalm 23. He shared his testimony of how he encountered the Lord during that mission.
In a room with intercessors and governmental and faith leaders, He exhorted them that what they are called to do is lay down their lives for their constituents, bringing God’s plan to their political offices, service, or churches. It was transformative to hear that message at this time in our nation’s history and in our state’s history. As intercessors and servants of Christ, that message was for all of us. There were political leaders who raised their hands to accept Christ for the first time. It was beautiful,” Lisa said.
IFA Louisiana intercessors at the Governor’s Prayer Breakfast.
Lisa shared that she, Janie, and Sue passed a folder with the proclamation to Governor Landry’s Chief of Staff Julie Edmondson. She told the ladies yes. Louisiana will be dedicated to the Lord by the Governor in the coming weeks.
“As that service ended, Janie, Sue, and I moved forward to greet elected leaders. We were able to pass out the ASHP and national proclamations and ask people whether they would support seeing this proclamation come to fruition in their political sphere. Several of them said they would. One of those was Senator Rick Edmunds, who did so just a few days later, on March 31, 2026.
Janie Harris had met Senator Edmunds at a Monroe Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet. Speaker Mike Johnson was Rick’s deacon for eleven years before moving to Baton Rouge. “During the banquet, we discussed the spiritual condition of our churches, state, and nation. I shared with him about the IFA Spiritual Heritage Project. He was eager to get a copy of the prayer points and of the same proclamation that President Trump will be reading on May 17th as he dedicates America back to God,” Janie said.
“As the VP of the Ouachita Parish Republican Women’s Club, it is my job to schedule speakers for our monthly meeting. I scheduled Senator Edmonds to speak at our monthly club meeting in Monroe on March 2nd. I printed out the 12-page How to Spiritual Heritage document for him, and we made a plan for the Senator to dedicate the Senate chamber and the Baton Rouge Capitol back to God on March 31st. The Louisiana Federation of Republican Women held our annual ‘Day with the Legislators’ that day. We had breakfast and lunch with the legislators. We are also recognized in the Senate chamber and on the House floor.
Senator Edmonds was scheduled to welcome us and pray the proclamation at 2 pm, but he was held up in a committee meeting. His aides would come by and check on us, giving updates on when the Senator would be through with the committee meeting. Some of our intercessors had to leave, but I knew if I stayed, he would eventually come to the chamber and read the proclamation. I honestly believe that if I had left, it probably would not have happened that day. It would have been postponed until the next time we could all go to Baton Rouge,” Janie said.
“Finally, about 4:15 p.m., the Senate president paused the proceedings in the Senate chamber and sent word to the committee chairman to take a break so that Senator Rick Edmonds could be released long enough to come up to the Senate chamber and read the proclamation. It was in Senator Edmonds’ heart to pray this proclamation because he understands our prayers make a difference in the world we live in.”
On Tuesday, March 31, 2026, Senator Rick Edmonds, standing with him, Senator Valerie Hodges, asked Co-State Leader Janie Harris and the IFA Louisiana State Intercessors to join him on the Senate floor for the rededication. He read an Intercessors for America proclamation, dedicating the Senate Chamber and the Baton Rouge Capitol back to the Lord. He is the first senator to dedicate a Senate Chamber to the Lord with an IFA proclamation.
“ I expect righteous laws to be passed in Louisiana in this 2026 legislative session. I truly believe a spiritual shift occurred over the Senate Chamber and our Baton Rouge Capitol on March 31, 2026. You can change the spiritual atmosphere in your city or state by encouraging your senators and representatives to pray this positive proclamation in your state,” Janie said.
IFA Louisiana Co-State Leader Janie Harris and Senator Rick Edmonds holding the IFA Rededication Proclamation.
Doesn’t it fill you with hope that governmental leaders in America are inviting intercessors into their space? They are not only receiving but asking for prayers. God is moving. Look at this historic rededication of the Senate. The Governor will rededicate the entire state in the coming weeks. I know the mainstream media wants to paint a narrative of helplessness, but what is happening is not only historical, it’s essential for America.
“Dedicating our state capitols, cities, states, colleges, and schools is vitally important for ushering in the kingdom of God on earth,” Janie said. Speaking these proclamations is powerful because they are based on the Word of God, and we know that the Word of God never returns void! It’s vital to mention the intercession that happens behind closed doors. James 5:16 tells us that the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous avails much. Some translations say it produces powerful results. Can some intercessors say amen? I believe with rededications, proclamations, decrees, lifting the name of Jesus over this nation, and following the leading of the Holy Spirit, it will not be in vain.
Father, we thank you for another rededication in our nation. We thank you for the openness to partner with intercessors. We know the media paints a different picture, but we give you glory for stories like this that impart hope. As long as we have Jesus, we have reason to hope. We thank you for Senator Edmonds and pray that men and women just like him in our government will see the blessings of God over their lives and state as they partner with You, in Jesus ‘ name, amen.
Were you encouraged by what God is doing in Louisiana? Will you be a part of what God is doing in your state?
IFA contributing writer Gloria Robles is a passionate intercessor with a prophetic voice for today. For more from Gloria, go to Spotify or Anchor and listen to her podcast, Something To Share. Photo Credit: IFA Regional Leader Lisa Townsend and Louisiana Co-State Leader Janie Harris.
