Mission and Vision

Intercessors for America (IFA) is a 501(c)(3) ministry organization and was founded in 1973 when God impressed upon the hearts of a group of godly, respected men the necessity of prayer and fasting. The nation was experiencing a plethora of problems. The Watergate scandal, Vietnam War, Arab oil embargo, Roe v. Wade, a growing acceptance of drug use, and other challenges were changing the way Americans lived and thought.

A group of Christians at a teaching conference in Florida focused on “prayer for the nations.” Challenged by the fresh and extraordinary teachings of the conference leaders, Derek Prince and Ern Baxter, a half dozen men were chosen to steward the movement of prayer and fasting for the nation. This group would become Intercessors for America. One of the first activities of the organization took place at a large dining table where John Talcott and his wife, Roselyn, wrote and assembled a prayer letter. This prayer letter was mailed to a group of like-minded people who recognized the need for God to intervene in U.S. governmental and cultural issues. From these beginnings, IFA has grown to impact the masses. Our leadership is comprised of staff and a board of directors, some of whom have been with the ministry since its inception.

Why We Do What We Do?

The average Christian does not have the contacts, time, or energy to keep informed about most issues on national, state, and local levels. More and more, some of these issues appear to deny our freedoms. Others undermine the basic moral fiber of our country. With each emerging concern, we need to seek God’s intervention and guidance for our leaders.

According to national studies, 83% to 90% of Christians pray at least weekly. Through our decades of experience and contacts, we estimate that only 10% of those who pray intercede for our nation and leaders. As God intervenes and works in the hearts of His people, we must continue to unite and encourage believers in effective prayer and fasting for America.

God’s Word instructs us to pray regularly for those in authority over us. According to I Timothy 2:1-4:

“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.” (New Living Translation)

Intercessors for America informs, connects, and mobilizes intercessors to pray for our nation and our leaders. We desire to reach Christians in churches and communities nationwide with information and tools to unite them in effective prayer.

What Are Our Goals?

• To inform praying Christians about national, state, and local prayer concerns
• To connect Christians moved to intercessory prayer with like-minded intercessors
• To grow and mobilize the number of Christians regularly interceding on national, state, and local issues

How Do We Do It?

To inform, connect, and mobilize intercessors, IFA publishes materials and provides the following resources from its headquarters in Purcellville, Virginia:

• Monthly prayer letters – A First Friday Prayer Letter helps unite and focus Christians as individuals and groups in prayer and fasting. Written from a biblical perspective, the letter contains timely national reports, accounts of revival and answered prayer, inspirational and informative teachings, and provides a First Friday Prayer Focus. Fasting is encouraged during the First Friday observance as a biblical way of humility and intensifying our prayers.
• Weekly prayer alerts – The Informer is sent via e-mail three times weekly. These alerts outline critical issues in our nation’s capital and monitor foreign fronts and national emergency matters. The alert is supplied upon request to individuals, churches, groups, and organizations. Special alerts are also sent as needs arise.

These Scriptures have undergirded the prayer mobilization of Intercessors for America (IFA) since its founding in 1973:

• Matthew 6:6-18 – the pattern of Kingdom prayer and fasting taught by Jesus of Nazareth
• Mark 11:17 – the Church as a house of prayer for all nations
• 1 Timothy 2:1-4 – apostolic mandate to pray for all, and for all in authority, so that there might be good government, peace, a godly society and a release of the gospel
• 2 Chronicles 7:14 – God’s call for His people to repent, pray, and turn from their wicked ways, with the promise of healing for their land
• Ezekiel 22:29-31 – God is looking for even one leader or person who will “stand in the gap” and help avert judgment
• 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 – the weapons of warfare are not carnal, but spiritually powerful to the destruction of demonic strongholds
• Matthew 16:18, 24:14 – the gates of hell will not prevail against the Church as it proclaims the gospel of the Kingdom to the ends of the earth.

What We Believe

Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Vision Statement

To see God’s purposes for America fulfilled through sustained prayer and Spirit-led obedience

CONCERNING THE PICTURE OF THE FUTURE, WE BELIEVE:

• God creates nations and tears them down. (Dan. 2:21)
• God’s heart for nations is to bless them. (Ps. 33:12)
• God holds nations accountable for their collective actions. (Mic. 5:15)
• Leaders of nations are subject to God’s will. (Prov. 21:1)
• Solutions to nations’ problems are spiritual, and rest in the hands of the Church beginning with prayer and an utter dependence upon God’s power. (2 Chron. 7:14)
• God gives us the authority to affect the course of nations. (Acts 17:26)
• We must pray for God-fearing leaders (Exod. 18) and that godly government is the result of an effective Church. (1 Tim 2:1-3)
• The mandate of the Lord’s Prayer, “. . . your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven . . .,” is the purpose of God for the government. (Matt. 6:10)
• We can expect results from prayers. (1 John 5:14)
• Fasting takes our prayers to another level. (Matt. 6:16-18)
• The highest form of government is a constitutional republic led by God-fearing leaders placed in power by a moral society led by an effective Church.
• We are expendable only existing to encourage the Church while understanding that someday our organization will no longer be needed. (Mark 11:17)

Mission Statement

Inform, connect, and mobilize a growing community of people praying for the nation.

CONCERNING THE MANNER IN WHICH WE WILL ACCOMPLISH THE VISION, WE BELIEVE:

• God specifically calls some to a ministry that focuses on praying for the nation, while requiring all at some level to pray for leaders.
• Effective intercession requires a prophetic perspective, hearing the voice of the Lord through the leading of the Holy Spirit, coupled with vetted, strategic information, never presented in a sensational manner.
• There is an enemy of our souls and our nation that orchestrates a coordinated battle plan that is discernable and beatable with spiritual weapons. (2 Cor. 10:3-6)
• Passion and boldness for prayer is stoked by collective times of prayer, praying as if the course and destiny of America hangs in the balance.
• We constantly need to be seeking God’s perspective and interests for our nation: what is good, what is bad, and what He cares about most.
• Collective fasting on the first Friday of every month is the single most unifying action the community does together.
• The Body of Christ has many expressions, and while embracing a charismatic expression, we desire to fellowship with all who hold to orthodox, scriptural Christianity. (Rom. 12:18)
• In the midst of building community, God is looking for those who will stand in the gap and intercede on behalf of the land. ( 22:30)

Values

Prayerful, Truthful, Generous, Hopeful, and Relational

WE WILL BE KNOWN AS:

1. Prayerful
   • Spread the passion that God releases His power through prayer
   • Believe in the power and importance of prayer that is Spirit-inspired and based on Scripture
   • Be watchful and discerning in prayer with a sense of urgency and desperation
   • Be a team who prays in faith

2. Truthful
   • Provide spiritual truth to the world
   • Vet carefully and produce with excellence all our resources
   • Express integrity and effective stewardship in all we do

3. Generous
   • Have a humble spirit in our interactions with others without promoting ourselves
   • Share our resources with whomever requests them
   • Rejoice in being servants with an outward focus in support of the local church

4. Hopeful
   • Convey the great Hope that Jesus freely offers
   • Champion God’s perspective and His desires for our nation
   • Encourage others through prophetic perspective and strategic insight
   • Build faith with all with whom we come in contact

5. Relational
   • Build community among intercessors to foster more intercession
   • Create an environment among intercessors that inspires and encourages them
   • Value healthy relationships as foundational to our ministry

Intercessors for America Comments Policy

IFA is a prayerful community of believers interceding for the nation. We want to foster a community of commenters that reflects our values: Prayerful, Truthful, Generous, Hopeful, and Relational.

Comments are welcomed and encouraged on this site, but there are some instances where comments should be reported.

• Comments deemed to be spam or solely promotional in nature will be deleted. Including a link to relevant content is permitted, but comments should be relevant to the post topic.
• Comments including profanity or vulgarity will be deleted.
• Comments that condone, encourage, or incite violence of any kind, for any reason, will not be tolerated.
• Comments containing language or concepts that could be deemed offensive should be reported and will be removed. Note this may include abusive, threatening, pornographic, offensive, misleading, or libelous language.
• Comments that attack an individual directly should be reported.
• Comments that harass other posters should be reported. Please be respectful toward other contributors.

IFA reserves the right to edit or delete any comments submitted to the blog without notice. This comment policy is subject to change at any time. If you have any questions about the commenting policy, please let us know at [email protected].