2026 House Resolution 256

Whereas, The Great American Prayer Revival is a movement of faith, prayer, and action seeking to unify our nation through prayer and prepare our leaders to meet the societal challenges of our day; and

Whereas, The First Great Awakening in the 1730s was sparked by the prayers of tens of thousands of individuals and important leaders like Jonathan Edwards who taught us that God not only hears—but also delights in—our prayers. This focus on prayer transformed churches throughout the American Colonies, significantly influenced public life, and contributed to increased discourse and community engagement; and

Whereas, The United States celebrates its semi quincentennial—the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence—a historic milestone made possible by the dedication of our nation’s Founding Fathers and their belief in the power of prayer. This anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on the many ways prayer has directly impacted our nation’s history, helping to preserve our most sacred ideals and our tradition of religious liberty; and

Whereas, The Second Great Awakening was also a period of profound spiritual revival that swept across the United States in the early nineteenth century, marked by a posture of prayer and during which widespread religious participation coincided with increased civic engagement, including efforts related to abolition, education, temperance, and philanthropy; and

Whereas, The Jesus Movement of the 1970s blended countercultural energy with an effort to engage thousands of Americans, especially the nation’s youth, to humble themselves and pray. This movement strengthened churches and demonstrated that prayer remains of vital importance in American society; and

Whereas, March 1–4, 2026, marks the Great American Prayer movement, envisioned as a Third Great Awakening, fueled by steadfast and unceasing prayer, and seeks to again bring healing and unity to our great nation. During this important week, people throughout Michigan and the United States are joining together in prayer, striving for spiritual revival and national reconciliation; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare March 1–4, 2026, as Great American Prayer Week in the state of Michigan.