The Presidential Prayer Team
Office of the President
January 15, 2026
A Sacred Legacy of Prayer
Dear Prayer Warrior,
As we stand at the threshold of a monumental year, your service as part of The Presidential Prayer Team is both timely and profound. In 2026, we celebrate two historic milestones: our ministry’s 25th year of service and America’s 250th anniversary of independence. What better moment to recommit ourselves to the power of prayer than now?
Over two centuries of intercession have shaped America. From the Continental Congress’s call, in 1775, for a day of “public humiliation, fasting, and prayer,” to George Washington’s plea for “the propitious smiles of Heaven,” and Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 proclamation in the midst of the Civil War, America’s history is interwoven with prayerful humility and dependence on God.
Teach me your way, O Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.
Psalm 86:11
Our calling is clear: to live a life of prayer with humility and reflection, trusting not in human power but in the Lord. Seeking Him and listening for His voice before we act. As citizens and believers, we bear the responsibility to model ongoing intercession by lifting our leaders, nation, and countrymen in petition, confession, and thanksgiving.
As we launch into this landmark year, let us walk intentionally in the path laid before us:
- Pray personally and corporately for our elected and civic officials, that they would seek God for guidance and that His wisdom would fill them.
- Encourage a culture of prayer by helping others understand that dependence on the Lord must inform every aspect of life and governance.
- Stay alert to the Holy Spirit, ready to intercede with humility, striving always for truth before action.
In this semi-quincentennial year, together we can continue to steward prayer as a deep foundation of hope for our nation. Let it be a catalyst for spiritual renewal and unity today. Let us carry this mantle nobly into the next generation, fueled by centuries of prayerful heritage and the hope for what God has ahead.
Praying beside you daily,
Jim Bolthouse
President
P.S. For a rich, historical foundation of prayer’s role in America—from the Revolutionary era to today—I encourage each of you to read our latest Pray First update, “250 Years of Prayer.” It’s a powerful reminder of how prayer has shaped our nation and how it will guide us forward in 2026 and beyond. Read it HERE.
Through war, crisis, and change, prayer has carried America. Explore this enduring tradition and pray with us now. Donate
Help Us Reach Our Nation for Prayer
We want to openly share our needs and keep you informed about the status of this ministry. Since 2001, this ministry has been reaching millions of Americans with the help of God’s people, who have graciously underwritten the daily expenses of the prayer team. Every gift, no matter the size, is of great help. We invite you to prayerfully consider helping us meet our monthly budgeted need with a gift today. Thank you for partnering with us in prayer.
More Ways to Give
Have you thought about how to leave a legacy of hope through estate and asset giving? Do you have an old car sitting in a garage that you can donate? Do you dabble in crypto currencies? There are several ways you can support the prayer team and invest financially in our mission to reach more of America for prayer. Explore the many ways to give now. LEARN MORE
Pray First Responders
Key Questions and Answers
Q: Who can join?
A. You and everyone who prays! We encourage you to invite family, friends, and church members to join. They can text INFO to 772911 for full information. (U.S. and Canadian cell phone numbers only at this time.)
Q: Does this work on any smart device or phone?
A: Pray First will work with any registered phone device that has a 10-digit number (U.S. and Canada with active SIM/eSIM). It is not compatible with third-party messaging systems that do not require a phone number. This allows us to use the largest text messaging providers for near-instant sending, to reach millions of cell phone across the country.
Q: When can I expect my first text message?
A: You will receive an immediate response confirming that you are now a Prayer First Responder. Regular text notifications will begin early October when the system goes live.
Q: What should I do when I receive a message?
A: When a prayer text message arrives on your phone, take the matter before the Lord. You will be joining a vast community of prayer warriors who received the same message and praying with you at the same time.
Q: What if I prefer to receive email?
A: If you are signed up to receive daily and/or weekly emails from the prayer team, those will continue with no interruption. This is simply a new service aimed at providing timely prayer needs to your fingertips as quickly and effectively as possible. Email can sometimes be slowed by service providers, or even blocked, and this service will ensure unfiltered delivery.
Q: How often will I get a text message?
A: You may receive 1 or 2 per week, with up to 8 messages per month. Messages will be limited to local daytime hours.
Q: Are there any fees?
A: This is a free service for all who participate, and most cell phone providers offer free texting. We trust God’s people will see the impact value this service and support our costs – as they have over the past 22 years.
Q: What if I need to stop for any reason?
A: You can opt-out at any time by simply replying STOP to 772911. And you can rejoin again later at your convenience.
If you have any unanswered questions or thoughts, please Contact Us here.
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