May 2026 - Teen Quest Newsletter

Rediscovering Our Christian Roots 

By Mark Witt

If you are like me, you probably did not hear much about the impact Christianity had on America while in public school. For years, textbooks have tried to persuade us that America began as a secular nation with little to no Christian influence. But as I began to dig deeper, I discovered something very different, an America rooted in prayer and evangelism. The more I study history, the more convinced I become that most of our Founding Fathers , including Ben Franklin, would today be labeled what some call  “Christian Nationalists.”

Debbi and I recently had the opportunity to see a powerful movie, The Great Awakening, which tells the true story of how the great evangelist George Whitefield impacted the 13Colonies in the 1700s.

Whitefield preached to crowds of over 30,000 people at a time, and it is estimated that nearly 80% of the people in the colonies heard him speak in person. His influence during the Great Awakening stirred massive revival across America. He also had a profound impact on Benjamin Franklin. Though Franklin did not fully share his theology, the two men maintained a close friendship for nearly 30 years.

Franklin printed Whitefield’s sermons and materials until Whitefield’s death in 1770. There is no question that Whitefield’s biblical influence help shape both the colonies and the spiritual direction of the founding fathers.

 _____________________________________________________________________

America Was Born in Prayer

Before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, something powerful took place. On May 17, 1776, the Continental Congress called for a National Day of Fasting,Humiliation, and Prayer. Across the colonies, people humbled themselves, confessed their sins, and cried out to God.

Out of that dependence came courage. The founders stepped forward to declare independence from Great Britain, trusting not in their own strength, but in the “protection of Divine Providence.” 

Prayer Was Part of Public Life

___________________________________

Prayer was woven into the very fabric of early America. Congress frequently proclaimed national days of prayer, fasting, and thanksgiving. The early Continental Congress opened sessions with prayer, acknowledging their need for God’s guidance in the decisions they faced.

Franklin’s Bold Challenge_________________________

By 1787, during the Constitutional Convention, the practice of public prayer had faded. In a moment of tension and division, Benjamin Franklin stood and reminded the delegates:

“I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men… and if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?”

Though his call for daily prayer was not formally adopted, his message was clear, America cannot succeed without God.

Prayer Established in Government ____________________________________

Just two years later, in 1789, the United States Congress appointed chaplains to open both the House and Senate in prayer, a practice that continues to this day and was supported by leaders like George Washington.

A Challenge for Today

____________________________________

Today, a term is often used to criticize believers who love their country, “Christian  Nationalist.” But consider this, the founders of our nation were both deeply patriotic and deeply religious, especially coming out of the Great Awakening. Franklin himself called for prayer in public life.

If we study true American history, we cannot ignore the reality that this nation was shaped by prayer and a dependence on God, which helped secure the very religious freedom we enjoy today.

The Founders did not all agree theologically. Some were more devout than others. But they agreed on something essential: liberty requires virtue, and virtue does not come from government, it comes from God.  The Bible reminds us, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.”

For generations, public prayer in America was normal. Bible reading in schools was common. People prayed at events, in communities, and in government. America was founded on Christian principles, and our roots run deep.

It is time to return to those roots and not allow history to be rewritten.