Reading Time: 3 minutes
As America approaches a historic moment, a powerful call is echoing once again across the nation—one that traces its roots back 250 years.
In this month’s First Friday webcast, IFA CEO David Kubal joined with Dutch Sheets and Dave Donaldson to highlight what many believe is a providential moment: a national call to fasting, prayer, and rededication on May 17—exactly 250 years after the Continental Congress issued the same call in 1776.
Let the IFA community know how to pray for you.
Kubal opened by recounting that pivotal moment in American history, when the colonies, facing mounting pressure and loss of freedom under British rule, paused everything to humble themselves before God. On May 17, 1776, citizens were urged to fast, pray, and seek divine guidance—a spiritual act that preceded the signing of the Declaration of Independence just weeks later.
Now, two and a half centuries later, that same date has been set aside once again.
According to Kubal and his guests, this is no coincidence. As plans unfold for a large-scale gathering on the National Mall, leaders at the highest levels of government are taking this moment seriously—not as a symbolic gesture, but as a genuine act of national rededication to the Lord.
Dutch Sheets emphasized the deep biblical significance of dedication and rededication, pointing to multiple moments in Scripture where entire nations were transformed after consecrating themselves to God. From Israel at Mount Sinai to the crossing of the Jordan River, these acts of dedication were not ceremonial—they were catalytic, unlocking restoration, breakthrough, and divine intervention.
For Sheets, the potential of May 17 is enormous. After decades of faithful intercession by believers across the nation, he believes this moment represents a tipping point—where what has been prayed in private may now be declared publicly by those in authority. And when leaders humble themselves before God, he noted, it carries a weight that can shift the course of a nation.
But this movement is not limited to national leaders.
Throughout the discussion, Kubal stressed that rededication is not a spectator event. Scripture shows that God often responds to the prayers of individuals—ordinary people willing to stand in the gap. From Nehemiah to Daniel, history is filled with examples of one person’s intercession changing the destiny of a nation.
That same invitation is being extended today.
Through initiatives like the American Spiritual Heritage Project, believers are being equipped to rediscover the spiritual history of their own communities and participate in grassroots acts of prayer and rededication. Already, hundreds of events are taking place across the country—in courthouses, churches, and public spaces—as intercessors respond to the call.
Dave Donaldson, who serves as a special assistant to the president and works closely with faith initiatives, offered a unique perspective from inside Washington. He described a growing awareness among leaders that America’s strength has always been rooted in its faith—and that a realignment is needed.
Using the analogy of a ship aligning its lights to safely enter port, Donaldson explained that the nation’s moral and spiritual bearings have drifted. Rededication, he said, is about bringing those lights back into alignment—restoring the biblical values that have guided the nation since its founding.
The May 17 event itself is expected to be more than a traditional gathering. Organizers are planning a full day of worship, prayer, and storytelling—recounting the nation’s spiritual heritage while calling people back to God. Leaders, worshippers, and believers from across the country will come together with one purpose: to humble themselves and seek the Lord.
Yet beyond the event, the vision is far greater.
Both Kubal and Sheets pointed to the possibility of not just revival—but reformation. While past spiritual awakenings have brought many to salvation, they noted that this moment carries the potential to also transform culture, influence institutions, and restore biblical principles across every sphere of society.
In other words, this is about more than a moment—it’s about a movement.
As the nation stands at this crossroads, the message from our leaders is clear: now is the time to engage. Through prayer, fasting, and action, believers have an opportunity to participate in what could become one of the most significant spiritual turning points in modern American history.
The question is not whether God is moving—it’s whether His people will respond.
You can watch this webcast in the embedded player below:
Don’t sit this out—pray into May 17 and share this article to mobilize intercessors for this historic moment!
(Photo Credit: doidam10 via Canva Teams)
