Hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children recently gathered in person on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., with at least ten million more online at AMillionWomen.org to battle for America.

At least 50 nations hosted partner events.

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On October 12th, the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), those hungry to see the Lord move in America interceded and worshipped for 10 hours, in what organizers called “a last stand moment for America.”

People from around the world and nation answered this call to raise up Esthers and Mordecais.

My husband Rich, also an IFA contributing writer, and I know of folks who attended from at least seven nations, including three separate groups from Australia, and 12 states.

Key Christian leaders, including Lou Engle and Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, introduced each segment of prayer. They shared many stories of how the Lord birthed the gathering.

Prayer topics centered on returning to our first love in worship, repenting of personal and national sin, reclaiming America into revival through powerful decrees, praying for reformation, and remembering the Lord’s goodness while entering His presence through communion.

Though only some people introduced themselves or others, we recognized many key prayer movement leaders, including Michele Bachmann, Cindy Jacobs, Dutch Sheets, Lance Wallnau, Bill Johnson, Matt Lockett, and Will Ford.

IFA lent its resources to the event.

IFA CEO and President Dave Kubal and Chief Program Officer Kris Kubal joined the prayer leaders on the stage.

Last week, IFA ran a story about the gathering, and Kris Kubal showed a clip of Lou Engle’s comments to the National Prayer Assembly.

We asked the Lord to render a merciful verdict for America.

The Jewish Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, is when the Lord called the Jewish people to fast and pray for mercy for themselves and their nation. The humility was to entreat the Lord to acquit the nation of its sins.

For those who missed the event, organizers intend to post the broadcast once it has been processed.

We remembered Jesus and His birth nation.

In the longest segment — an hour — of the day, we cried out for Israel and called upon heaven for the return of the hostages who have been Hamas captives for more than a year.

Shofars sounded repeatedly throughout the day.

To stand in the battle, we got to our knees.

To work with the spiritual authority needed, Cahn and other leaders led us to repent of personal sin and tear down demonic altars in our lives.

We then repented of national sin, such as witchcraft and sexual sin.

While some leaders spoke, a number of others took the microphone to testify to deliverance and healing from abortion, pornography, and homosexuality.

Because of the prevalence of gender confusion and the inroads being made in schools, leaders devoted significant time to repenting and praying about the LGTBQIA+ movement.

Testimony again proved powerful.

According to one speaker, such testimonies are to these issues as the ultrasound is to the pro-life movement.

One speaker posed the compelling question: “When will the church wake up?”

The answer: “When they come for your children.”

They’re coming.

One speaker estimated one in three Christian young people identify as LGBTQIA+. Several parents shared their stories of children led astray by wicked adults.

In one case, a child remains in foster care because her parents refuse to affirm the gender transition the child is in the midst of making.

Success strategies are emerging.

The persistence and secrecy with which government and school officials pursue children for transgendering has birthed strong and successful resistance.

Christian Rosas, responsible for the Peruvian Don’t Mess with Our Kids movement, detailed how parents ousted the Education Minister, the Prime Minister, and the President. Rosas and the group succeeded in repealing nine laws that had opened the floodgates to sexual sin perpetrated upon children.

The movement is rolling across America, as well.

Additional testimonies are at ChangedMovement.com/stories.

We’re contending with ruthless demonic forces.

Cahn shed light upon those forces which have been released into America because of the nation’s idolatry and increasing paganism.

Much of the grotesque sexual activity and mutilation stems from ancient worship rituals demanded by the demonic forces Cahn describes in The Return of the Gods.

We prayed with the intent of evicting one of these forces —Ishtar, the goddess of sexuality — from America at the end of the evening.

For America, it’s “revival or bust.”

The gathering moved into revival prayer in late afternoon, with an urgent call to engage in Scripture reading and discipleship.

Dutch Sheets led the group in renewing our covenant with the Lord.

Sadly, the church may be blocking revival. One speaker faulted American pastors for failing to clarify what constitutes sin; one study showed that only 10% of pastors reported they would name a specific sin from the pulpit.

Two major events marked the ending of the extraordinary worship and prayer event. The first was a communion service that lasted almost an hour, with speakers such as Bethel pastor Bill Johnson, Cahn, and Engle.

Engle called for American Christians to embrace a revival of this sacrament, envisioning true encounters with the Lord more than once a month.

We smashed the altar of Ishtar.

Cahn and team wheeled onto the stage a literal concrete altar of Ishtar and took sledgehammers to it, to symbolize the smashing of this demonic force’s influence in America. He called it a “mass deliverance.”

Even as the event closed, people continued to crush the altar.

The work is not finished, however.

We must enforce the gains.

Esther, who wed the Persian king, risked her life to enter the king’s throne room to intercede for her people — the Jews.

She opened her mouth and spoke.

While discussing this article with Rich, I sensed the Lord speak the word “chador” into my spirit.

When I looked this up, I confirmed it is the Persian name of a voluminous garment worn by Muslim women in the Middle East.

I believe the Lord showed me — and us a— demonic force that wants to stifle the voices of the Esthers who have arisen.

For such a time as this, we need to silence the enemy instead.

Lord, we thank You for what You accomplished through Your church on Yom Kippur. We decree Ishtar and Marxism have fallen in America. Witchcraft will not thrive over a people born free. In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we bind, gag, cripple, and disable the demonic force whose name is “chador” or whose function is to stifle, silence, and swaddle the voices of the Esthers and Mordecais. We ask You to dispose of this evil force according to Your Will. Please fill all emptied places with Your Holy Spirit. We decree America shall be saved!

Here’s a time lapse image of one side of the crowd:

How is the Holy Spirit leading you to pray for America?

New York City–based Joyce Swingle is an intercessor and a contributing writer for IFA. With her husband, Rich, also a contributing writer for IFA, Joyce shares the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world through theater, speaking, writing, and film. Prior to going into full-time ministry, Joyce worked for about 20 major magazines and now works in pastoral ministry and Christian counseling. www.Richdrama.com.