This year, the Central Region sent 10 intercessors to Washington, DC in June to visit strategic places where we prayed and made declarations.
Kathy Sanders, interim Regional Director, said, “While we planned to visit many places and to have meetings with those we have built relationship with through the years, our goal was to ask God where and what we were to do while in DC. We didn’t want to be doing the same things we had always done, but to spend more time at David’s Tent in worship and prayer. All in all, by the time we departed, we felt we had accomplished all we were assigned to do.”
We arrived in DC on June 4th and were able to attend an event at the Capitol held by the Israel Allies Foundation. It was wonderful to hear key Senators and Representatives, along with Christian leaders, voice their support for Israel. It was interesting to hear that 25 members of Congress were taken by the Israel Allies Foundation to a Kibbutz that was attacked during October 7th to see the horrors of what really took place.
Because the place where the majority of the team was housed, we were near the Israeli Embassy where protests supporting Palestinians where in full swing. The war was kept forever before us and we spent a lot of time in prayer for Israel.
The next day we met with Loren Boeber, one of the US Representatives for Colorado. We heard from her concerns and good things that were taking place. We spent time praying for her and asking God to direct her steps, to give her wisdom and favor. After our time together, she posted on Facebook, “Wonderful to have faith-filled prayer warriors in the house today! Thanks for stopping by while visiting our nations’ capital.” Two young women from her staff took us on a tour of the Capitol, getting special permission from Speaker Johnson for us to go in a special prayer chapel reserved for Congressmen.
On Thursday we spent a couple hours at David’s Tent. We worshipped, prayed, some danced with flags, and almost all of the team spent some time reading the Bible out loud. It was wonderful to not feel rushed to go to the next place and we enjoyed being in God’s Presence as we worshipped.
From there we walked to the National Archives where the Declaration of Independence is housed. Because we each left home with different items we felt the Lord directing us to bring, one left a small chest piece in this place to mark it as Checkmate. We felt that because this crucial document has been under attack, we wanted to call for Divine intervention to protect the intentions of our founding fathers for America.
In many of the places we visited, we were encouraged to see many young people who were supporting candidates who support Biblical values. It seemed like schools must have had field trips to DC while we were there. Basically, everything was orderly and peaceful except for the protesters.
At the Museum of the Bible, we really arrived too late for us to stay very long. We did go to the top where we had a great skyline view of the city. We spent time praying over the city and the coming elections.
Arriving back at our ‘home’ we participated in an event where two survivors for the Oct 7th Hamas attack on Israel shared. It was very heartbreaking to hear how terrifying it was for those hiding and those brutally murdered. One who shared was a young woman who was alone during the attack and was able to hide in her safe room for 14 hours before being rescued by the IDF. She could hear the terrorists walking through her house and close gunshots. After she was rescued, she ran to her mother’s home to rescue her parents and siblings, but she found it burned to the ground. Her father had been killed, but her mom and siblings were okay. They were taken to a hotel with only the clothes they were wearing. This young woman is now working in America and fears returning home.
The other survivor with us that day, was a father of 4 who hid in the safe room for hours. His only weapon was a kitchen knife which he took telling his young children that he would protect them with the knife. Terrorists were burning homes so that the people would come out of their safe rooms, then the terrorists would kill them. The Kibbutz were connected by cell phones. As they talked to friends, they could hear the gunshots as their friends were killed.
Taken to a hotel, the father and a few others who had a business together made themselves open the business up so things could feel normal. He said, “You just have to do that. You don’t stop. You have to stop crying and start working. It kept them from thinking of themselves as victims. 101 were killed from their Kibbutz that day. 34 hostages were taken with the hope that 4 were still alive. One of them was killed in the most recent 6 killed in the tunnels by Hamas.
The next morning, a little somber from the night before, we went to meet with Jason Hersey. Because we were a little early, we walked two doors down to the American Center for Law and Justice where we spent time praying for justice and righteousness to be restored in our nation. Our time with Jason was informative as well as power-packed as we worshipped and prayed. Heaven came down and Kingdom business was accomplished.
Leaving Jason’s, we walked across the street to the Supreme Court where we were able to go into the courtroom while an informative talk was given. We were praying! Linda Woodworth, SPC from Kansas, placed another miniature chess piece in a strategic place in that room. Now we all think CHECKMATE when we see pictures of the Supreme Court.
After having a quick lunch at the Supreme Court, the group split with part going back to David’s Tent to worship and pray and the other part going to the Lincoln Memorial.
Both Jordanna McMillian, US Director at the Israel Allies Foundation, and Faith McDonnel, Persecuted Christian, advocate were bookends of our time in Washington. We were so grateful that they came and shared strategic information with us and then allowed us to pray over them and for them for all they do.
The next day, we were all departing at different times. Four went to the airport, half went to the DAR, and three of us went to the White House. There are double fences around the White House for protection. As we walked and walked to get to a place to even be able to SEE the White House, a Capitol Policeman on duty at a gate warned us to be careful as there were protestors there. The three of us pushed on, engaging different people, praying for some, and walking right in the middle of the protestors while praying in the Spirit. As we left, more groups of very organized protestors were marching to the White House and later news reports gave reports of violence from the unruly group.
Our nation continues to be caught in the battle between hell and Heaven. Our prayers make a difference. Maybe you aren’t able to go on your region's prayer group, but you could sow finances into the trip for those going. Step up and not only give towards the trip, set aside times to pray for the group that they are at the right place at the right time fulfilling the assignments that God sent them there to do.