Intercessors for America’s mandate for over 50 years has been to pray for America’s leaders. As times change, so have the ways to connect. Before, one could only call or write letters to officials, which are still viable options. In more recent times, IFA offered options to take action and email your elected officials to let them know you were praying for them about important legislation. There are state groups for all 50 states that you can join for weekly prayer, and many states are seeing doors open to pray with officials at state capitols. Here is an encouraging testimony of what God did in Wisconsin.

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IFA Wisconsin State and Co-State Leaders MaryJo Coleman and Lisa Harman have faithfully stood in the gap for their state. On Wednesday, June 18, 2025, MaryJo, Lisa, and another team member, Jay Zollar, traveled to the Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin, to pray. They were amazed and greatly encouraged at the doors God opened and how many leaders and staff members were open to the idea of intercessors praying for them. Altogether, a total of eight said yes.

Their first stop was at Eric Wimberger’s office in District 2. He was unavailable, but they were able to meet Zach Stolfus, the chief of staff in the office. Jay and Lisa were able to pray with Zach, who is a believer. They prayed blessings over him and his family, asking for favor to be bestowed upon them, Eric Wimberger’s office, and his family, also praying for wisdom and discernment. Zach was grateful they stopped to introduce themselves and pray.

Next, they visited Rep. Ben Franklin, a former Air Force officer who now represents the district 88 area of Green Bay-De Pere. Rep. Franklin was not there at first, so we asked to pray with his staff member, Nolan, who comes from a Catholic background. He stayed for the entire meeting. Afterwards, Rep. Franklin arrived, and they prayed for protection and blessings on both their families, asking God for discernment in the decisions that must be made on the many committees he helps to guide. Rep. Franklin is also a firm believer. He, too, expressed gratitude to IFA WI for stopping to introduce themselves and pray.

Representative Jeff Mursau, who represents District 36 in Crivitz, was very open to prayer and is a strong Christian. They prayed for his family and wife, who was in pain from a broken arm and had a lot of metal in her arm; they also prayed for blessings and favor upon him and his office, as well as for protection, wisdom, and discernment.

Nate Gustafson in District 55, the Appleton area, is newly married. He comes from a Catholic background; his wife is Lutheran. He, too, was open to prayers and casually mentioned that he had authored a bill to have “In God We Trust” displayed in every public classroom in Wisconsin. They prayed for continued courage and prayed for his new home and marriage. Further prayers for blessings and favor on him, guidance, and the Holy Spirit’s protection. They attempted to meet with Senate Leader Tyler August, but the meeting was brief as he was leading the assembly meeting, which was scheduled to start in 15 minutes. Jay prayed briefly for him to lead with wisdom and discernment, and he accepted the prayers.

Representative Lindee Brill from the WI 27th District, Sheboygan, remembered MaryJo after receiving an encouraging note she had sent a couple of months prior. She thanked Lindee for her bold stand in Wisconsin. They wanted to go pray in the office, but were not allowed to since Lindee was on her way to the Assembly meeting. She remembered MaryJo and saved the card. She said that the note came on the most perfect day, when she had cried because she was so discouraged. Lindee is a Christian and readily accepted the prayers for her before she left for the meeting. She was very encouraged to meet us and invited IFA WI to come again. Maryjo asked Lindee if she would consider coming on a Monday IFA prayer call, and she sounded open to the idea. They prayed over her for wisdom, power, grace, and favor as well as protection and courage. 

They attempted to meet with Representative Amanda Nedweski in District 32, in Waukesha, a small part of Kenosha. But she had to leave for the Assembly meeting and was unavailable. They did pray with Eric, who was managing her office. Amanda was the representative who made news when she pushed back on Governor Evers’ use of the term ‘inseminated persons’ to describe mothers. Eric mentioned he is on the school board at Waukesha High School and is connected to several people who were hurt by the terrorist who plowed through the parade in November 2021. IFA WI prayed for the judicial system in some of the smaller towns in Wisconsin and for God to turn what was meant for darkness into light in Waukesha. They also prayed for wisdom and favor to flow from the office of Rep. Nedweski. Eric seemed encouraged and open to the prayer for him and that office. 

They were able to pray and praise in front of the office area of Governor Evers and Josh Kaul, where eleven of the twelve Native American tribes in Wisconsin are represented. “We also prayed on-site at the Supreme Court, asking God to open a portal to heaven and shut down the portal to the enemy. Both of these offices are on different floors on the east side of the Capitol building. We had prayed onsite at these locations before, so we were ‘tending’ the altar to the Lord to continue to send his warring angel armies on our behalf. We praise God for the opportunity to bring the power and presence of God to the Wisconsin Capitol for the Lord’s glory,” Lisa said.

Isn’t it encouraging to know that elected officials are so open to intercessors praying for them and blessing them and their families? This glorious meeting and time of prayer lasted approximately three hours. MaryJo, Jay, and Lisa saw such success in engaging their leaders that I assumed they already had a relationship in place. However, when I asked MaryJo if they had prayed with these leaders before, she said, “No, this was the first time”.  Isn’t that incredible?

MaryJo said every person they encountered was interested in receiving prayer, and that is a blessing. “I know people may say, well, it’s because they are Conservative or Republican, but it’s not always the case. Not everyone is open to prayers and willing; some can be reluctant at first.” 

IFA has a new way to connect called Capitol Connections, where you can send a handwritten card to your officials letting them know you are praying for them. If you think such a small gesture can’t make a big difference, consider Representative Lindee Brill, who was moved by a card an intercessor sent to her, telling her she was proud of her courage as a leader. It came on a day when she was struggling with the weight and pressure of her office. She not only remembered MaryJo’s card, but she saved it. This act of kindness opened the door for her to receive prayer, an invitation to return, and be a part of IFA Wisconsin’s prayer call every Monday. This is what state prayer groups and Capitol Connection are about: connecting with other intercessors in your state and making connections with your governmental leaders.

When reading the Bible, especially in the Old Testament, kings, governors, and leaders would reach out to spiritual leaders and ask them to pray for them or ask to hear what God was speaking to the nation (see Jeremiah 37:3, 2 Kings 19:1-4). Can’t God do it again? 

MaryJo says that six people in the IFA Wisconsin Prayer Group send cards to different leaders in their state, and they plan to continue doing so. Lisa, Jay, and she plan to return to the Capitol to pray again in the summer, with anyone willing to join them. She said this encounter has reignited her passion to see revival in her state and see God move, yes, even in the government. Do you believe that God can do it? 

‘Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for you (Jeremiah 32:17).

Father, we thank You for this time of encounter and prayer for the leaders in Wisconsin. Thank You for the open doors, and we anticipate the good fruit that will come from the seeds that were planted. Lord, what are You doing in Wisconsin? Do it in my state as well—open doors for prayer in my state’s capitol. Establish divine connections between intercessors and our leaders so that they will know when they need prayer and can connect at any time. We pray that You bless every initiative to establish relationships, and in doing so, they will contact intercessors for prayer and guidance. We believe You can do anything, Lord. Our hope and expectation come from You. Our leaders need You; help us continue to stand in the gap for them, even for those with whom we disagree. They need You more, and You alone are the one who can turn their hearts. You are the one who raises and pulls men and women down from their positions of authority. You only ask us to make intercession on their behalf, and we say yes. Thank you, Lord, for everything You do and for allowing us to partner with You, in Jesus’ name, amen. 

Please share in the comments if this has encouraged you. 

IFA contributing writer Gloria Robles is a passionate intercessor with a prophetic voice for today. For more from Gloria, go to Spotify or Anchor and listen to her podcast, Something To Share. Photo Credit: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=126842316.