The National Prayer Altar, hosted Nov. 1 in Washington, D.C., by newly appointed Total Living Network (TLN) leaders James and Sharon Ward, is an event dedicated to bringing believers of all backgrounds and denominations together in prayer for the healing and restoration of the Nation.
James E. Ward Jr., CEO of TLN, pastor of INSIGHT Church in Chicago, and founder of the National Prayer Altar, began to conceptualize the event as he witnessed turmoil throughout America in 2020 and its impact on members of Ward’s church and community.
“We found the Nation in this position of crisis––America was on fire, cities across the nation were burning,” said Ward. “And I felt the Lord ask me, ‘What are you going to do about it?’”
Ward continued, “What we’re dealing with in our nation today is not natural, it’s a spiritual issue, and only the church can respond and has been authorized to respond to the cultural crisis that we’re dealing with, but it demands unity.”
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- James and Sharon Ward (image courtesy of National Prayer Altar)
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- Dr. Barry Black, U.S. Senate Chaplain (image courtesy of National Prayer Altar)
Ward and his wife, Sharon, sensed a calling to pray collectively with other pastors, churches, and believers at the Museum of the Bible in D.C. for the state of the Nation. The museum’s founder and chairman Steve Green and CEO Harry Hargrave opened their doors to the idea, marking the inception of the National Prayer Altar.
“Museum of the Bible is located just off Capitol Hill where our nation’s leaders make decisions every day,” said Green. “As a reflection of [Museum of the Bible’s] mission to invite all people to engage with the transformative power of the Bible, we’re thankful to be a convening place for the National Prayer Altar.”
“The concept of an altar is God’s people coming together in unity to stand before God, to be very intentional about invoking heaven’s response to the crisis that we’re facing in our society,” said Ward. The format draws inspiration from biblical accounts such as Elijah rebuilding the altar of the Lord (1 Kings 18:21-40) to emphasize the power of unified prayer before God.
Ward shared insights into what attendees can expect at the prayer event: “It’s a time where we, the Church, will gather for prayer and worship. We have a lineup of individuals praying for different petitions who are involved in the evening.” He emphasized that the event is not about spotlighting high-profile speakers but gathering in a posture of humility and unity.
To learn more and to register for the in-person and online event visit www.nationalprayeraltar.com.
