From the Oval to the altar: Trump’s prayer proclamation expands, following in Founders’ footsteps

Philanthropist and fundraiser George Pond is expanding President Donald Trump’s 2025 National Day of Prayer Proclamation, encouraging intentional and frequent prayer for the nation through a new effort called the 7:14 Initiative. “We’ve been doing this since May 2024. We’ve been praying every day. We haven’t stopped. May 2 will be our 714th day, and we will continue to pray, and a lot of it has to do with basically focusing on unpacking the principles built into scripture.”
The initiative, which urges believers to spend 14 minutes in prayer, seven days a week, at 7:14 a.m., has expanded to participants across four time zones, growing in other nations like Pakistan, and soon, Israel. The proclamation is non-denominational.
The initiative is anchored in Biblical scripture from the Old Testament, specifically 2 Chronicles 7:14 which states, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Pond, who is a believer himself and has dedicated much of his life to aiding faith-based organizations, said he believes, of the areas in which the nation needs to be healed the most, idolatry is chief among them.
Gen Z is leading a resurgence in church attendance
“If you look at the Old Testament, idolatry was something really not good in God’s eyes, the spilling of innocent blood. And as we learn in the New Testament, especially from Saint Paul, he expands on the whole concept of sin in so many different ways. Sin is sin, and it keeps us from having a relationship with the Almighty, living God, and he gives us a way to get back into his grace,” Pond warned.   
This initiative takes place at a time when many metrics show that faith is making a comeback in the Unites States. Bible sales hit a 21-year record high in 2025, with 19 million units sold in the U.S., a 12% jump from 2024 and double the number sold in 2019—driven by Americans seeking hope and stability in uncertain times.
Additionally, more Americans now see religion gaining influence in public life. Pew Research found 31% saying religion is gaining influence in February 2025 (up sharply from 18% in 2024—the highest level in 15 years), while Gallup reported 34% holding that view in mid-2025 (up from 20% the prior year).
Furthermore, Gen Z is leading a resurgence in church attendance. Barna Group’s 2025 State of the Church research shows a “historic reversal,” with Gen Z churchgoers averaging 1.9 services per month (highest of any generation), followed closely by Millennials—outpacing older cohorts for the first time in decades.
Longstanding tradition of U.S. presidents
The tradition of U.S. presidents issuing prayer proclamations began with George Washington as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army. On July 16, 1775, he ordered strict observance of Congress’ July 20 day of fasting for public humiliation and prayer to avert war’s calamities, requiring soldiers to attend divine service—armed and ready if needed. 
Subsequently, as president, Washington proclaimed November 26, 1789, as a national day of public thanksgiving and prayer. In response to Congress’s request, he urged Americans to acknowledge “the providence of Almighty God,” give thanks for blessings like peace after the Revolutionary War and the new Constitution, and offer prayers for pardon of transgressions, dutiful conduct, and national prosperity under divine guidance. 
This was the first presidential Thanksgiving proclamation with explicit prayer elements, emphasizing gratitude, humility, and supplication to God.
Other early presidents continued the practice intermittently. John Adams issued proclamations for days of fasting, humiliation, and prayer in 1798 and 1799 amid tensions with France. James Madison did so during the War of 1812. A 47-year gap followed Madison with no such proclamations from the next 11 presidents.
President Abraham Lincoln revived and expanded the tradition during the Civil War. He issued multiple proclamations, including one on August 12, 1861, for humiliation, prayer, and fasting; March 30, 1863, appointing April 30 as a day of national humiliation, fasting, and prayer to confess sins and seek divine mercy; and others in 1863 and 1864 for thanksgiving, praise, and prayer amid Union victories. Lincoln was not limited to one year or one proclamation.
In 1952, Harry S. Truman signed legislation making the National Day of Prayer annual. Every president since has issued at least one proclamation yearly (often the first Thursday in May). Some, like Gerald Ford, George H.W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Trump, signed multiple proclamations in a single year. Overall, 35 of 46 presidents have signed proclamations for national prayer.
Amanda Head serves as White House Correspondent for Just The News. You can follow her here.

Read Full Article: https://justthenews.com/government/white-house/oval-alter-trumps-prayer-proclamation-expands-following-founders-footsteps?utm_source=justthenews.com&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=external-news-aggregators