TheCall

TheCall was an organization which sponsored prayer rallies led by Lou Engle along with other Christian leader pastors in the United States. The events requested prayer and fasting by Christians in protest against issues such as same-sex marriage and abortion. TheCall drew support from American Evangelical leaders, but was also criticized for intolerance. In October 2018, Lou Engle announced the end of TheCall organization and stated that he would focus on his newest endeavor, Lou Engle Ministries. TheBriefing, an email newsletter rallying followers around political issues pertaining to TheCall's goals and giving prophetic assignments for intercession, has been continued by Engle's friends, Paul and Cheryl Amabile.

TheCall was an organization which sponsored prayer rallies led by Lou Engle along with other Christian leader pastors in the United States. The events requested prayer and fasting by Christians in protest against issues such as same-sex marriage and abortion. TheCall drew support from American Evangelical leaders, but was also criticized for intolerance. In October 2018, Lou Engle announced the end of TheCall organization and stated that he would focus on his newest endeavor, Lou Engle Ministries. TheBriefing, an email newsletter rallying followers around political issues pertaining to TheCall's goals and giving prophetic assignments for intercession, has been continued by Engle's friends, Paul and Cheryl Amabile.

Events

TheCall began in September 2000 after Lou Engle believed he received a prophecy to hold a large youth rally at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. New Apostolic pastor and apostle Ché Ahn led the event, while Engle held a prophetic role. Originally planned as a co-ed youth version of Promise Keepers, the event was intended as a "counter [to] what Engle and Ahn viewed as a creeping cultural tendency towards apostasy, particularly through the liberalizing US courts and the toleration of abortion." Between 300,000 and 500,000 attendees were present at the first rally, with participants fasting throughout the day, worshipping, and blowing shofars. Further TheCall events would then be held in cities around the country. Engle believes that gatherings such as TheCall are necessary to prevent divine judgment from taking place in the United States due to legalized abortion and the acceptance of homosexuality in American culture. TheCall's 12-hour or 24-hour events combined prayer, sermons, and Christian rock worship and gospel music. The events are also known for their cultural and ethnic diversity, described in National Review as "the Breakfast Club of religious gatherings." Speakers at TheCall events frequently draw parallels between the pro-life movement and the Civil Rights Movement. TheCall is meant to be a gathering of fasting and prayer to confess personal and national sins, to pray for God's blessing on the nation, and for spiritual awakening among youth. Personal and national repentance among Christians and prayer for spiritual awakening has been the core focus of TheCall since its inception. The events have focused on prayer and sermons against abortion and homosexuality. TheCall events have been attended by prominent evangelical leaders such as Mike Huckabee, James Dobson, and Tony Perkins. Religion scholar Matthew D. Taylor argues that TheCall DC was highly influential – that the event and its New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) leaders "helped create the very mass-gathering, prayer-and-warfare styles that were on display on January 6 [2021]."

Controversy

Rick Perry

On August 6, 2011 Rick Perry and Lou Engle held TheResponse. This event was an all-day prayer rally held in Houston at the Reliant Stadium in which Engle called for prayer and fasting in support of Perry's presidential campaign. Prior to this, two Texan pastors, Tom Schlueter of Arlington and Bob Long of San Marcos, contacted Perry in hopes to share a new revelation that God had ordained Texas to be the "Prophet State" and that he was anointed by God to lead the state and nation into revival. Perry further promoted the belief that TheResponse was prophesied and anointed through the Book of Joel. At this event, Engle told the audience that the day Perry announced his presidential campaign, it rained heavily for five hours. He then went on to say that some see this as a sign of God's blessing on Perry's presidency.

Gatherings

September 2, 2000 (Washington, D.C.) – estimated between 300,000–500,000 October 3, 2002 (Seoul, South Korea) – estimated 30,000 February 22, 2003 (Pasadena, California) March 1, 2005 (Gunsan, South Korea) July 7, 2007 (Nashville, Tennessee) April 5, 2008 (Montgomery, Alabama) – estimated 20,000 August 16, 2008 (Washington, D.C.) May 2, 2010 (Kampala, Uganda) November 11, 2011 (Detroit, Michigan)

References

External links

Official website

Text derived from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1356606582 under CC BY-SA 4.0; modifications have been made.