The Presidential Prayer Team
by David H. Smith, Grand Rapids (MI) First FMC

David H. Smith

The United States of America was founded on the principle of one nation under God with a strong sense of morals. Since then, we have declined to being a nation of many gods with no true sense of what it is to be of strong moral character or responsibility. I believe that due to this decline, God is making a direct effort to bring this nation back to Him.

As Christians and American citizens, we have no higher call than to lift our family, nation and leaders — especially our President — up in prayer. Harry S. Truman once said, "We all can pray. We all should pray. We should ask the fulfillment of God's will. We should ask for courage, wisdom, for the quietness of soul which comes alone to them who place their lives in His hands."

Rendering of the PPT coin, courtesy of www.presidentialprayerteam.org

William Hunter, a veteran and renowned sculptor, engraved and minted a coin to serve as a reminder to pray for the President. He gave the coin to his friends and associates. As they carried it with them, more coins were being requested to pass on to more friends, causing a ripple effect. He then envisioned a nationwide prayer effort for the President, built on the same principle of not only asking people to pray, but also giving them simple items that would be a reminder. That is when the concept for The Presidential Prayer Team was formed. Mr. Hunter asked Dr. Cornell "Corkie" Haan to be the organization's co-founder and vice president. A board of directors was brought together and a nonprofit organization was incorporated. The board of the Presidential Prayer Team consists of Honorary Co-Chairpersons Franklin Graham, CEO, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, and Joni Eareckson Tada, Founder and President, Joni and Friends and such Honorary Committee Members as Dr. Ted Baehr, Chairman and CEO, Christian Film and Television Commission; Rev. Ken Owen, President, Christian Motor Sports International; Jerry Colangelo, CEO and Chairman, Phoenix Suns; Ricky Skaggs, Artist/Musician; Rebecca St. James, Christian Recording Artist; Bill McCartney, Founder and President, Promise Keepers; Thomas Kinkade, Painter of Light™; Rep. J.C. Watts, Representative, 4th Congressional District of Oklahoma; Senator Jon Kyl, U.S. Senator from Arizona; Len Munsil, President and General Counsel, The Center for Arizona Policy; Dr. Larry Burkett, Founder and Chairman, Crown Financial Ministries; Dr. Kevin Leman, psychologist, author and speaker; Dr. Randy Carlson, President, Family Life Communications, Inc.; and Dr. John C. Maxwell, Founder, The INJOY Group.

The Presidential Prayer Team has a singular purpose: to encourage specific nationwide prayer for the President. This organization produces American Inspirations designed to help Americans understand our Christian heritage. These daily, one-minute radio broadcasts feature true stories of American heroes and the wisdom and peace God provides for them. They also honor modern-day leaders who demonstrate their faith in public positions with the American Inspirations Awards.

The Presidential Prayer Team costs nothing to join and it is my opinion that every American who claims to be a Christian should consider it an honor to be involved. It only takes doing as all Christians are encouraged to do by the writers of the Old and New Testaments and what the founders of our nation did…pray for our nation and its President. For more information, visit www.presidentialprayerteam.org.