P H I L A D E L P H I A , PENNSYLVANIA – On Saturday, thousands of conservative Christians assembled at Independence Mall to pray for America’s future. Among the speakers in attendance for “The America for Jesus 2012” prayer rally, which was held in advance of the November 6 presidential election, were broadcaster and former presidential candidate Pat Robertson and Family Research Council (FRC) president Tony Perkins.
Speakers condemned gay marriage, abortion rights, and enjoined the assembly to fight against the influence of the Seven Deadly Sins: pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth.
“I don’t care what the [American Civil Liberties Union] says or any atheists say. This nation belongs to Jesus, and we’re here today to reclaim his sovereignty,” said Robertson, 82, founder of the Christian Coalition, and a 1988 GOP primary candidate for president.
“We pray that his eyes will be open to the truth,” said Perkins, who asked the crowd to pray for President Obama.
Steve Strang, publisher of Charisma magazine, warned the assembly that President Barack Obama “seems to be moving toward some form of European socialism.” Strang recently wrote that America is threatened by a “radical homosexual agenda.”
Cindy Jacobs, a self-styled prophet, cited God’s displeasure over the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) as the cause for mysterious bird deaths last year in Arkansas. Early this year, Jacobs, founder of the Generals International ministry, predicted that Obama’s support for LGBT rights will lead to freak atmospheric conditions.
She told disgraced televangelist Jim Bakker this year “that God had seen decisions made from our White House that were antibiblical, and that we were going to come into the season of the greatest weather patterns and disasters that we had seen, there were going to be floods and fires and more.”
The organizers held the rally outside of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, the sight of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. They plan another prayer rally in Washington, D.C. on October 20—two weeks before the presidential election.