WATCH the 2024 National Prayer Breakfast
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle gathered together Thursday for one, simple purpose – prayer. Top U.S. leaders including President Joe Biden attended the 71st annual National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C.
Since 1953, the annual multi-faith event has been urging political and religious leaders to meet, pray, and build relationships. Every president since Dwight D. Eisenhower has attended the event.
Previously the event was organized by the Fellowship Foundation, a religious group. But in 2023, Congress took the reins by creating the National Prayer Breakfast Foundation, which is headed by former Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND).
This year, the breakfast was held amid a backdrop of serious global conflicts, including the Israel-Hamas war and the ongoing Russian war inside Ukraine.
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Today, President Biden spoke on the importance of living in a nation where people can turn to God without fear of persecution.
"We're all blessed to live in a nation where we can practice our many faiths and practice freely, where we can come together and lift up our nation and each other, each other in our own prayers, especially in tough times," Biden said.
The president went on to say he prays for peace in the Middle East and called on Hamas to release the remaining 100+ Israeli hostages.
WATCH BELOW: Join Our CBN Livestream of the 2024 National Prayer Breakfast
Meanwhile, before the Prayer Breakfast kicked off, numerous members of Congress took part in the National Gathering for Prayer & Repentance on Wednesday morning at the Museum of the Bible in Washington.
House Speaker Mike Johnson and Rabbi Jonathan Cahn were among several speakers urging Americans to repent and turn back to God.
"In this time of great crisis and in this moment of cultural upheaval, in an era of completely divided government; it is incumbent upon us to daily seek God's wisdom in our affairs," said House Speaker Mike Johnson.
"In this time of great crisis and in this moment of cultural upheaval, in an era of completely divided government; it is incumbent upon us to daily seek God’s wisdom in our affairs." @speakerjohnson
— Family Research Council (@FRCdc) January 31, 2024
National Gathering for Prayer and Repentance: https://t.co/Gs1AeTC9HL pic.twitter.com/zct2iERGbA
In addition to today's National Prayer Breakfast, every week on Capitol Hill a bipartisan groups of senators and representatives come together to pray – a tradition that has been going on for decades.
