The National Day of Prayer breakfast brought together a cross-section of the community Thursday, May 4 at First Baptist Church of Augusta.
U.S. Rep. Rick Allen traced the country’s origins to a religion of the persecuted that became the dominant faith under Roman Emperor Constantine. “What he realized is that these people would do anything to spread the word of Jesus Christ,” Allen said.
Allen quoted the British abolitionist William Wilberforce, Benjamin Franklin and evangelical pastors David Barton and Billy Graham and concluded with a stellar review of the new movie the “Jesus Revolution,” about the Jesus movement in California during the 1960s.
When the Constitutional Convention worked to fashion a new constitution in 1787, Franklin reconnected the group with a call for the assembly to begin each of its sessions with prayer, and the House still opens with prayer every week, he said.
“How can it be any question that this nation was founded by prayer and based on Judeo-Christian values?” he said. “We left God at the top, we got rid of the king and we put the subjects in charge. Folks, you are in charge of this country. Take your country back.”
The younger generation is crying out for help, Allen said, and the only answer is Christianity. “The only thing that’s going to change these people is Jesus Christ,” he said.
The event was hosted by Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson and Miracle Making Ministries, the faith-based nonprofit of Robert and Theresa Williams, parents of District Attorney Jared Williams.
Bradford Huffman led a prayer for the medical community; Columbia County Sheriff’s Maj. Bruce Askew prayed for law enforcement; Shell Berry prayed for non-profits; Sumner Markwalter led a prayer for families; Rep. Brian Prince prayed for the military; and Superior Court Judge Ashley Wright led a prayer for justice. Columbia County District Attorney Bobby Christine introduced Allen.
