For 13 years, Awake America Prayer Meetings have been a staple at Blairsville City Hall. Over that time, the meetings have spread to surrounding cities and even other states while maintaining a constant presence in the heart of Program Coordinator Lydia Long’s community.
Back in 2009, Long learned about the Awake America movement that was growing across the country in the wake of one of United States’ worst tragedies. Each year on 9/11, people all over the nation were stopping to pray at noon to remember the fallen and support the country.
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Long decided to encourage that sentiment locally. She started prayer meetings in her home county of Fannin in 2009 and brought Awake America Prayer to Blairsville City Hall in June 2013. Since then, meetings have sprung up in nine other locations across the region.
The meetings still follow a similar layout to the initial gathering. Prayers are offered to address certain issues or protect certain people. For example, military members and first responders have their own prayer, and so does every level of governance as well as persecuted Christians.
Each meeting wraps up with an expression of faith through song, with all invited to join in singing the hymn. Long even makes sure to hand out lyrics so that everyone can follow along.
“My goal is for America to awaken to the (movement) of the Holy Spirit in these troublesome days we are living in like never before,” Long says at the organization’s official website.
Awake America has gained so much traction, in fact, that on its 13th anniversary meeting on June 4, Long said there were other locations holding prayer meets at the same time, and yet more expected to follow in the coming week.
“Thirteen years is not anything to sneeze at when you look at the spectrum of things in the world today,” Long said, greeting those gathered last week. “We just thank God for all that He’s doing, and we just thank you for being here today.”
Former Blairsville Mayor Jim Conley has held a significant presence at these meetings as a facilitator but was unfortunately unable to attend the 13th anniversary due to a death in the family. Instead, he was recognized by his fellows as someone who believes in sharing the hope of the Lord with others.
Many prayers were for the sake of other people. Along with asking for protection for the brave souls who put themselves on the front lines defending Americans at home and abroad, prayers that followed that day called for similar defense of those who protect the nation of Israel and soldiers fighting in Europe.
Pastors and church officials were also lifted up, as were struggling families and Christians who face backlash for their faith.
Another focus of the prayer meet was to restore sound morals, including the repentance of America from sin. One prayer asked that single mothers turn away from abortion to save their babies’ lives, and another asked that media outlets practice honesty.
An attendee asked that American youth continue to follow the example of Charlie Kirk and take up Biblical values. Similarly, a popular sentiment was that the Lord grant wisdom to the current administration to spread the revival of Christianity across the nation.
As evidence that prayer works, Long shared positive news stories with the group following the meeting, including the rescue of 6,000 missing children and the interception of drugs from an underground tunnel across the border.
“I say God’s cleaning up all the evil. To God be the glory, y’all,” Long stated. “Our prayers are getting through to Heaven, and He’s hearing us and He’s answering our prayers. So, that’s why it’s so vital for us to keep on the firing line, right?”
The next Awake America Prayer Meeting will take place on Thursday, June 11, at 11:59 noon inside the Red Cross building in Young Harris, located at 1298 Jack Dayton Circle. For more information and a schedule or regional events, visit https://www.awakeamericaprayermeetings.org/.
