Pope Francis will join Hillsong, Lecrae and others at a rally of approximately 1 million Christians on the National Mall on July 16 in Washington DC. “Together 2016” is a “movement to empower the church and awaken the culture to Jesus,” says Nick Hall, the founder of PULSE and the movement’s organizer. The rally will include prominent speakers from “all denominations.” “Together 2016” will call on Christians to pray “that God will change the hearts of a divided America.”
Pope Francis added his name to the lineup of more than 40 prominent guest speakers, musicians, recording artists, authors and leaders; including “Christian” hip hop musician Lecrae and the Hillsong Church organization. The pope will present his message by video. “We are humbled and honored by his involvement and are eager to share his message with the crowd that gathers at Together 2016,” Hall said. “That His Holiness would choose to speak into this historic day is a testament to the urgency and the need for followers of Jesus to unite in prayer for our nation and our world.”
Hall wants to inspire a revival in America based on the ecumenical collaboration of all churches. “The times call for this moment,” Hall said. “It is time to gather on a large scale and draw our attention back to where it really matters. Our hope and our help are found in Jesus, not in political leaders. We are going to come together, seek God, pray for our nation and pray for unity. Our goal is to gather as a unified front, seeking Jesus and change for our nation through prayer and worship.”
More than 1,000 churches nationwide have already pledged to participate Together 2016 will be held from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on July 16 at the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Hillsong Church is a Pentecostal megachurch started in Sydney, Australia and is affiliated with the Australian Christian Churches, which is the Australian branch of the Assemblies of God.
The destination of such a movement is noted in the following statement from Great Controversy, page 445. “When the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such points of doctrine as are held by them in common, shall influence the state to enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions, then Protestant America will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result.”