RECOGNIZING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF INTERCESSORS FOR AMERICA
Congressional Record Vol. 169, No. 186
(Senate - November 9, 2023) PDF
Mrs. HYDE-SMITH. Mr. President, I wish to recognize the 50th
anniversary of Intercessors for America--IFA--a ministry that has
faithfully served believers by encouraging effective prayer and fasting
for the Church, our Nation, and our elected leaders, including those of
us elected to Congress. At the time of IFA's founding, the Watergate
scandal, the Vietnam war, pervasive drug use, and the Supreme Court's
tragic decision to legalize abortion on demand in Roe v. Wade had
shaken the moral foundations of our Nation. In the 50 years since,
IFA's ministry has been important in rebuilding a society that once
again respects the Judeo-Christian principles and moral values that lie
at the heart of America.
The founding leaders of IFA, including Derek Prince and John Beckett,
began their first activities at a large dining table where John Talcott
and his wife Roselyn wrote a prayer letter, which was mailed to a group
of like-minded people who recognized the need for God to intervene to
heal our Nation. Over the past 50 years, IFA has grown from these
beginnings to inform, connect, and mobilize intercessors across
America, in churches and communities nationwide, to pray for our Nation
and our leaders.
In its work, IFA follows the teaching of the Apostle Paul in 1
Timothy 2:1-3: ``I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask
God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.
Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can
live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is
good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to
understand the truth.''
Nowhere could this impact of the power of prayer, including the
prayers of many IFA intercessors, be better seen than the Supreme
Court's historic decision in 2022 in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health
Organization to overturn the moral stain of Roe v. Wade. This moment
was a testament to God's faithfulness, and underscores the importance
of the work we have ahead of us to rebuild a culture where God's gift
of life is respected and cherished.
It is an honor to recognize Intercessors for America and to celebrate
its 50-year anniversary, in gratitude for its work, through prayer and
intercession for public officials, to restore our moral values, protect
the right to life and the family, and to bring about a renewal of
faith, so that God may continue to bless our Nation.