Cry Out America 9/11 Prayer Events Unite the Nation
Thursday, September 11, 2014, the nation witnessed the power of extraordinary, united prayer as Cry Out America events were held at county courthouses, churches, prisons, pregnancy care centers, university campuses, and homes. Marking the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, this was not simply a day of remembrance and mourning, but a time for ecumenical, cross-generational prayer focusing on the spiritual condition of our communities and the nation. Setting aside racial, cultural, and denominational differences, hundreds of thousands of mainline Evangelical, Pentecostal/Charismatic, Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish believers from all backgrounds gathered at more than 3,000 prayer points across the nation to CRY OUT for awakening in America.
Cry Out America (COA) is primarily focused on Patriot Day prayer gatherings, but the Awakening America Alliance, who oversees the COA initiative, is encouraging local communities to move from an event to a process that they believe will bring about a spiritual awakening. Many COA teams are incorporating 24–7 prayer in the days leading to 9/11, and others are including cooperative evangelism and service initiatives. The Awakening America Alliance also hosts bi-annual Leadership Summits that focus on equipping the body of Christ through strategies for unified prayer, pastor renewal, and development of a ‘prayer-care-share’ lifestyle.
Teresa Cantrell, COA State Capitol Coordinator in Atlanta, shared: “Surely we had a taste of the revival God longs to send to Georgia. We look forward to continue listening to the Lord of hosts for how and when He would have us unite to pray. Until then, pray with passion and persistence in your place of calling and remember the sweet presence of His Spirit when you feel alone or oppressed. In Him we ARE victorious!”
A spirit of patriotism permeated the atmosphere as state patrol honor guards, led by Scottish bag pipes, presented the nations colors. Voices of all ages were heard echoing the national anthem across the courthouse square as business owners opened their doors and passers-by stopped to listen and join in the prayers. First responders and U.S. military personnel were honored for their sacrifices. Prison inmates offered prayers in their cells, marketplace leaders paused in their board meetings to pray for awakening in America, and parishioners gathered in their church altars to express a dependency upon God. Radio stations broadcast event programming live, reaching thousands, who were not able to join on site events.
In the words of Karen Masood of Summerfield, FL: “I praise the Lord for bringing people together from various churches, denominations, and ethnic backgrounds in unity this day to CRY OUT to God together, asking Him to heal our land. Following the testimony of Robert Matthews’ pregnant wife being rescued from the wreckage of the World Trade Center and his father accepting Christ as Savior before he died that day, we all learned to repent of unbelief and trust God more than just what we can see or understand.”
“Too often the devastating news of tragedy, natural disasters, and violence fills the air waves and threatens to extinguish the spirit of hopeful Americans,” commented National Cry Out America Coordinator, Kay Horner. “Yet on September 11, 2014, hundreds of thousands of voices were raised in prayer with great expectation that today’s dreams will awaken tomorrow’s destiny.”
A person without hope is of all people most miserable, but Cry Out America participants are waiting “in expectation of a manifestation of supernatural signs, wonders, and miracles,” according to Vincent Collins in Richland County SC.
To learn more about the Awakening America Alliance, an organization purposed to “provide a broad umbrella under which the body of Christ in America can unite together in seeking a contemporary spiritual awakening,” please visit www.awakeningamerica.us.
(Source: Awakening America Alliance)
