Faith can heal.
Following the tragic New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans, Christian leaders from across the nation came together to pray for the country’s spiritual well-being. The incident, which saw a man deliberately driving a truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street, led to 14 fatalities and numerous injuries. Investigations by the FBI revealed the perpetrator had ties to the Islamic State. In response, Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council, and Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry hosted a special one-hour broadcast titled “Pray for the Nation.” The event featured prominent Christian figures, including Pastor Carter Conlon, Michele Bachmann, and Pastor Art Reyes.
During the broadcast, Perkins emphasized that the nation’s safety and freedom could only be safeguarded by turning to God. He urged the public to pray for divine protection, especially for the victims, their families, first responders, and political and law enforcement leaders. Perkins acknowledged the heightened sense of vulnerability many Americans were experiencing and called for strength and resilience in the face of such challenges.
Pastor Jack Hibbs also participated, highlighting concerns over the nation’s spiritual health and how it may contribute to such tragic events. Hibbs called for a spiritual revival, urging the church to lead the country back to its moral and spiritual foundations. He pointed out that political leaders alone, regardless of their views, couldn’t provide the necessary unity or wisdom to heal the nation—only the church, empowered by the Holy Spirit, could accomplish this.
Both Perkins and Hibbs stressed the importance of not relying solely on political figures, even those aligned with one’s beliefs, to address the nation’s problems. They underscored the church’s pivotal role in overcoming the challenges facing the country. Hibbs concluded the broadcast by calling for 2025 to be a year of prayer, reaffirming that the church is the nation’s hope and must lead with spiritual conviction.
In their final prayers, the leaders sought God’s intervention to inspire a spiritual renewal within the nation and its churches. They asked for divine guidance in leading effectively during such a turbulent time, acknowledging that only through God’s intervention could the United States overcome its current struggles.