Millions of Americans gathered today in prayer for the nation and its leaders.
Dr. and Mrs. Dobson joined hundreds of others at the National Observance in Washington, D.C. GOD TV broadcast the event live to 200 nations.
"Make no mistake: Today matters," said Beth Moore, who gave the keynote address. "One day of corporate prayer in unity and sincerity makes a very large difference.
"What might God do as the result of the faith that we convey not from our mouths, but from our hearts?"
Moore said now is not the time for Christians to give up.
"The moment we give up on prayer, we have given up our hope," she said. "This is not the time for hopelessness. God esteems a faithful remnant."
Other featured speakers included U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn.; Gen. James Amos, USMC; and Judge Priscilla Richmond Owen of the 5th U.S.Circuit Court of Appeals.
Since 1952, every U.S. president has issued a proclamation for a National Day of Prayer. President Barack Obama issued a proclamation this afternoon:
I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 7, 2009, as a National Day of Prayer. I call upon Americans to pray in more thanksgiving for our freedoms and blessings and to ask for God’s continued guidance, grace, and protection for this land that we love.
Dr. Dobson said he was disappointed by Obama's lack of involvement in this year's National Day of Prayer.
"There are tens of millions of people praying across this country — 40,000 prayer events — and yet for the first time since 1993, the White House did not even send a representative of the Cabinet to the National Day of Prayer," he said at a news conference following the prayer event.
"When the professional baseball team wins the World Series or when the Super Bowl is played or when college teams win the national championship, they are invited to the White House to celebrate," Dr. Dobson said.
"That's important, apparently, but celebrating prayer, which is our heritage, which is what these people are talking about, is ignored. We are disappointed in that. We are not angry."
In related news, the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation has filed a federal lawsuit, claiming the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional and creates a “hostile environment for nonbelievers.”
"Thankfully, the Alliance Defense Fund has come in at no cost to us," Dr. Dobson said today. "It's an effort to silence people like you and me. … I don't think we're going to cooperate with that."
Obama reportedly has asked a federal court in Wisconsin to dismiss the lawsuit.
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