This year, as IFA rallies its staff and state leaders to host Policy & Prayer events in several pivotal “swing counties” ahead of the presidential election, first on the list was Cuyahoga County, Ohio.

Get involved in state level prayer with IFA.

View Comments (16)

At the event, on Saturday morning, March 16, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s wife, Darlene, described her initial surprise that a group of prayer warriors would choose to gather at Cleveland Browns Stadium rather than Ohio’s Capitol, in Columbus. After passing several signs displaying the slogan “Stand for the Land” during the Yost’s drive into the city, she drew a parallel with prayer and realized that God had appointed the location. “It’s no mistake you are here,” she said as the crowd applauded.

Darlene Yost’s words set the tone for the rest of the day, carrying an inspiring challenge for intercessors to “stand for the land” and remain its guardians through prayer. And what a fitting description of what it means to gather at a Policy & Prayer event! The goal was to hear from policy experts from around Ohio and to use every session as a way to segue into a time of focused prayer for the state.

The transitions from policy to prayer were effortless as each speaker — from Ohio’s secretary of state to the attorney general to various state representatives — shared about their faith at work in the marketplace. While there are many takeaways from the speakers and the intercessors gathered there, it is remarkable that the book of Proverbs seemed to be a common thread. At least four Ohio faith leaders and legislators quoted from that biblical book of wisdom literature, drawing instruction from verses about the consequences of foolishness versus the rewards of righteousness.

Rep. Warren Davidson, who succeeded Rep. John Boehner in the office, began the morning sessions with Proverbs 22:7, which warns that “the borrower is slave to the lender.” He spoke on the U.S. economy, predicting that a crash will come and it’s not a matter of if, but when. He stressed that over 100 countries are implementing the same dystopian version of digital currency as China and calling it “the great reset.”

When asked what tangible, practical things the Church could do to “hold back the forces,” Davidson held up Nehemiah and the sons of Issachar (see 1 Chronicles 12:32) as examples. These were all men who understood their times — not only knowing what to do, but also having the courage to do it. He noted the American Revolution’s being preceded by the Great Awakening, and he specifically called for repentance in our churches, families, and government. “Jesus didn’t eat with the sinners to hang out with the sinners, He came to call them to repentance. … We do that, we change our culture,” Davidson said. He pointed to Revelation’s description of the final judgment and how God will hold the Church accountable. But until then, he exhorted, change course and repent.

Echoing Davidson’s use of Proverbs, Ruth Edmonds, director of the Center for Christian Virtue (Ohio’s largest Christian public policy organization), quoted from Proverbs 29:2: “When the righteous rule, the people rejoice.” She addressed the topic of freedom of religion, encouraging the audience to be bold, because, she said, there is “no place on the face of this earth where God is not, so why would we not be there?” Later that afternoon, Secretary of State Frank LaRose quoted from that same chapter in Proverbs, verse 18: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” And woven throughout the weekend’s conversations could be heard Proverbs 28:1: “The righteous are bold as a lion.”

Of all the speakers, Dave and Darlene Yost may perhaps be the most familiar with the consequences of darkness and the testimonies of righteous transformation — through their work to combat human trafficking. Darlene shared a story of answered prayer, in which one of these victims became a survivor through a two-year program in Franklin County called CATCH Court. The Yosts invited the faith community to become a people who proclaim that there is a God who says: “I have redeemed you, I’ve paid your ransom, I’ve called you by name, you are Mine.” Tears came to Darlene’s eyes as she expressed the need for the Church to show compassion, mercy and grace, and Dave helped her wrap up her call to action with this prayer:

Father, we lift up this land to You. It’s not that we’re blind to the evil, Lord, but that we’re awake to Your grace. We love the light and hate the darkness. Father, we intercede for these prayer warriors, these unseen, quiet ones who have no recognition in this world but will be recognized as heroes in eternity. Lord, give them strength and resilience so that they may not become weary in well-doing. We give You glory and honor, knowing that in the end, You are all in all! In Jesus’ name, amen.

For more testimony from Ohio’s Policy & Prayer, watch our recent Pray With America’s Leaders webcast below:

Have you attended an IFA event? Share your testimonies with us below!

(Nicole Arnoldbik is IFA’s government affairs coordinator. Photo Credit: Intercessors for America)