On Wednesday, May 7, Daystar Television Network is set to make history in the U.S. Capitol by broadcasting “Washington – A Man of Prayer” from inside Statuary Hall. This will be the first time in history that a religious broadcast has been made from within Statuary Hall, the historic meeting place of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1807-1857, and what now serves as an exhibition space for the National Statuary Hall Collection.
“Daystar Television Network is both proud and honored to make religious broadcasting history in airing “Washington – A Man of Prayer” from the U.S. Capitol,” says Marcus Lamb, President and CEO of Daystar Television Network.
On this day members of Congress will join together for a time of prayer for our nation, with Rep. Michele Bachman serving as the Congressional Host and Governor Mike Huckabee as emcee. Chaplains of the House and Senate, Fr. Patrick Conroy and the Rev. Barry Black, will also be in attendance.
All 535 members of the 113th Congress have been invited to this bipartisan event. Among others, Sens. Ted Cruz, Ron Johnson, Tim Scott and Mike Lee will be participating, and from the House, Reps. Mike McIntyre, Louie Gohmert, Kristi Noem, Corrine Brown, Tim Huelskamp, Steve King, Jeff Miller, Diane Black, Steve Womack, Chris Stewart, and Steve Stockman will be in attendance.
National Christian leaders participating include the program director for the event, Dr. Jim Garlow, as well as Bishop Harry Jackson Jr., Robert Jeffress, Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, Penny Nance, Bill Federer, Bishop Angel Nunez, Rosemary Schindler Garlow, Charmaine Yoest, Sergio De La Mora, Tony Perkins, Samuel Rodriguez and Rafael Cruz.
“Washington – A Man of Prayer” was introduced two years ago by Pastor Dan Cummins of Bridlewood Church in Bullard, Texas, to honor the inauguration of President George Washington, and celebrate the great man of prayer he was. The event has grown in popularity over the past few years, with an increasing number of Congress members and Church leaders supporting and attending this time of prayer for America.
After being sworn into office on April 30, 1789 as the first President of the United States, George Washington, along with Congress and the Supreme Court, made their way to St. Paul’s Chapel. There, as one of his first official acts as President of the United States, Washington dedicated America to God through a prayer.
In the years following, what is now Statuary Hall served as the House of Representatives, and was transformed into a non-denominational church each Sunday. Many presidents, including Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, gathered with members of Congress to pray, sing hymns and worship God between the years of 1800 –1869. Thomas Jefferson even commissioned the United States Marine Band to play hymns during the services.
While Statuary Hall is no longer regularly used for church services, it will once again serve as a house of prayer on Wednesday, May 7, 2014, as members of Congress gather to honor the 225th anniversary of President George Washington’s inauguration. The United States Marine Band will be in attendance this year, playing hymns during the ceremony just as they did during Thomas Jefferson’s presidency. Some of George Washington’s actual prayers will be read throughout the event, revealing not only the importance of prayer in his own life, but also his heart for America to be a nation under God’s protection and guidance.
“Washington – A Man of Prayer” will take place 6:30-8:00 p.m. Eastern, and while only members of Congress will be admitted to the actual event, the entire ceremony will be broadcast from 8:30-10:00 p.m. Eastern on Daystar Television. The event will also be available online through the Daystar Live Stream, and for even more ways to watch via Daystar, visit Daystar.com/Watch.
“Daystar is honored to broadcast “Washington – A Man of Prayer,” as many of our Congress men and women dedicate this time to pray for our Nation and ask God to give us wisdom in leadership and direction for America,” says Joni Lamb, Co-Founder of Daystar Television Network.