As the United States approaches the monumental milestone of its 250th anniversary, a massive spiritual gathering is set to take place this Sunday, May 17, 2026. The event, titled “Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise, and Thanksgiving,” will transform the National Mall in Washington, D.C., into a sprawling sanctuary. Organized by the Freedom 250 initiative, the gathering is a nine-hour “prayer fest” in which citizens from across the country will join to reflect on the nation’s past and seek divine guidance for its future.
The event comes at a pivotal time in American history, as the “Semiquincentennial” celebrations begin to take shape nationwide. Unlike traditional secular festivities, Rededicate 250 explicitly focuses on the spiritual heritage of the United States, asserting that the country’s foundation was built upon Christian principles intended by the Founding Fathers.
A Lineup of National and Spiritual Voices
The speaker list for the Sunday event reads like a “who’s who” of prominent Christian and political figures. Organizers have confirmed that Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are scheduled to address the crowd. Their participation underscores the event’s theme: the intersection of faith and governance.
Other notable speakers include:
- Jonathan Falwell: Chancellor of Liberty University and Senior Pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church.
- Jentezen Franklin: Senior Pastor of Free Chapel.
- Dr. Ben Carson: Former HUD Secretary and founder of the American Cornerstone Institute.
- Eric Metaxas: Author and host of the Eric Metaxas Show, known for his work on the Christian history of America.
- Sadie Robertson Huff: Author and podcast host, representing a younger generation of believers.
- Chris Tomlin: Renowned worship leader who will lead the musical portions of the jubilee alongside groups like the Liberty Worship Collective and LU Praise.
The program is structured to include blocks of focused prayer for the three branches of government, the military, families, and the restoration of “foundational values.”
The Founding Intent: A Christian Republic?
A central theme of the Rededicate 250 jubilee is the assertion that the Founding Fathers intended the United States to be a nation rooted in Christian doctrine. This perspective is championed by many of the event’s speakers and supported by various historical organizations like WallBuilders, whose research into original documents highlights the deep personal faiths of the nation’s architects.
Organizers point to the private and public writings of the founders as evidence that they viewed Christianity not just as a personal preference, but as the essential bedrock for a self-governing people.
The Words of the Founders
During the Sunday festival, speakers are expected to reference several key historical figures to support the “Christian nation” thesis.
John Adams, the second President of the United States, famously wrote in 1798:
“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
For many gathered this Sunday, this quote is the ultimate proof that the American experiment requires a religious (specifically Christian) populace to function.
George Washington’s Farewell Address is also a cornerstone of this argument. Washington stated that “of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.” He further cautioned that “reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”
State Constitutions and Public Proclamations
The “Rededicate 250” movement also emphasizes that the early state constitutions—many of which were drafted by the same men who signed the Declaration of Independence—contained explicit Christian requirements. For example, Delaware’s 1776 constitution required officeholders to profess faith in “God the Father, and in Jesus Christ His only Son, and in the Holy Ghost.”
Furthermore, the Continental Congress frequently issued proclamations for national days of “humiliation, fasting, and prayer.” One such proclamation in 1779 called on the nation to pray “that the labor of the husbandman may be yielded in greater abundance… and above all, that he would be pleased to diffuse the holy religion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
The Spiritual “Jubilee” and the 250-Year Milestone
The term “Jubilee” is a biblical reference to a period of restoration and release. In the context of 2026, the organizers of Freedom 250 see this as a moment to “reset” the national conscience.
The 9-hour program is intentionally long to signify the depth of the commitment being made by participants. It is not merely a concert or a rally, but a concentrated effort of intercession. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who has recently hosted prayer services at the Pentagon, is expected to speak on the “golden thread of devotion” that has guided American military history, from Valley Forge to the present day.
The White House has also released a message leading up to the event, noting that “just as our Founders came together in prayer before declaring independence, thousands of Americans will gather… to rededicate the United States as One Nation Under God.”
A Diverse but Focused Gathering
While the event has drawn criticism from some secular groups who argue it blurs the line between church and state, the attendees on the National Mall view it as a fulfillment of their civic duty. To them, the First Amendment was designed to protect the expression of religion in the public square, not to scrub the public square of its religious heritage.
Sadie Robertson Huff and other younger voices will speak to the importance of “spiritual legacy,” arguing that the principles of the founding are not just historical artifacts but living truths that must be passed to the next generation. The inclusion of student groups from Liberty University emphasizes this focus on the future.
Conclusion: Looking Toward the Future
As the sun sets on the National Mall this Sunday, the 9-hour prayer fest will conclude with a massive communal prayer for the nation’s next 250 years. For the participants, the goal of Rededicate 250 is clear: to remind the world that the “American Dream” was, in their view, originally conceived as a Christian endeavor.
By highlighting the efforts and comments of the Founding Fathers, the event seeks to bridge the gap between 1776 and 2026, asserting that the only way forward for the country is to look back at the faith of those who started it.
Sources Used and Links:
- Florida – National Day of Prayer Task Force: https://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/events/gatherings-by-state/florida
- Lakewood Church | Home: https://www.lakewoodchurch.com/
- National Jubilee of Prayer 2026: What Christians Should Know: https://ccta.regent.edu/national-jubilee-of-prayer-2026-what-christians-should-know/
- The Founding Fathers on Jesus, Christianity and the Bible – WallBuilders: https://wallbuilders.com/resource/the-founding-fathers-on-jesus-christianity-and-the-bible/
- 7 Christian Quotes From America’s Founding Fathers – Beliefnet: https://www.beliefnet.com/inspiration/quotes/7-christian-quotes-from-americas-founding-fathers.aspx
- The Founding Fathers’ Religious Wisdom – Center for American Progress: https://www.americanprogress.org/article/the-founding-fathers-religious-wisdom/
- Liberty University News: Liberty family invited to join music groups, chancellor for D.C. faith event: https://www.liberty.edu/news/2026/05/08/liberty-family-invited-to-join-music-groups-chancellor-for-d-c-faith-event/
- The Guardian: Pete Hegseth to headline DC faith rally: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/13/pete-hegseth-faith-rally-dc
- White House Briefings: Presidential Message on National Day of Prayer: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2026/05/presidential-message-on-national-day-of-prayer/
- Word&Way: Rededicating to the Wrong Example: https://wordandway.org/2026/05/12/rededicating-to-the-wrong-example/
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