The year 2015 has not been easy for American Christians, what with the legalisation of same-sex marriage, the horrors of abortion, and the persecution faced by Christians left and right.
Because of this, the Oasis Church in Ohio hosted a nationwide prayer tour called "An Appeal to Heaven" in hopes of rekindling Americans' love for God. They raised a white flag with a large evergreen to signify their commitment.
"A lot of people don't know that we were born under a prayer movement with a flag that said, 'appeal to heaven,' but we were," event organiser Dutch Sheets told Charisma News.
He said their "Appeal to Heaven" flag bears the same design used by George Washington's army during the Revolution. Just like Washington's army, American Christians are now swamped with so many seemingly unbeatable challenges, Sheets said. However, the good news is that they have God on their side.
"If God is in this, if this is God's idea, if He really is raising up a city on a hill to be a light to the nations, He'll help us. And they put that on the flag — 'An Appeal to Heaven' and that's what it means and God answered their prayer," he said.
Sheets said he does not care if the courts justify abortion and same-sex marriage. For him, "it ain't over 'til God says it's over."
"It's not settled law until God says it's settled law and we're going to change these things. There's got to be a hope that comes — if we appeal to heaven, He can turn this thing around," he said.
Bishop Harry Jackson stressed how important it is for Americans to remember the deep faith in God that their forefathers had, and what they went through just to uphold it.
"God's original intent was to have a land that would preach the Gospel, share the good news around the world. Our prosperity is tied to the purpose of God," said Jackson, adding that it's about time American Christians pray for unity and forgive those who have slighted them.
"The church is going to have to own the fact that we have been divided," Jackson further said. "And the only group that has the capacity to rise above these ethnic differences is the church of Jesus Christ. We need to learn how to forgive others. If we will forgive and extend grace and cry out to God, I believe the God of Justice will release to us a divine set of actions that will bring realignment to heal us."
