My parents were educators and lovers of history, so family vacations were spent in a station wagon headed to places like Virginia battlefields and, ultimately, Washington, D.C., where we went one year to see fireworks in the nation’s capital. This put a love of history in my heart.
As Christians, my parents were careful to remind me of the faith of our forefathers who established this country. Did you know one of our presidents was a preacher or that the Capitol was once used as a megachurch?
In the early 1800s, while the Capitol was still under construction, public worship took place there every Sunday at 11 a.m., the
Federal Orrery, a Boston newspaper, reported. Thomas Jefferson attended church there and wrote in his diaries about a “very rainy day” when he rode his horse to what he called “the hall.” History tells us that, by 1857, more than 2,000 people attended church in the Capitol building each week, making it the largest worship service in the U.S. at the time.
James Garfield, our 20th president, was a minister who preached at revival meetings. In a letter in the National Archives, Garfield wrote: “Bro. Wallace, we have just closed our meeting with happy results. There were 34 additions, 31 by immersion … I have spoken 19 discourses in our meeting here … Love to your family and believe me your brother, J.A. Garfield.”
Also, did you know George Washington, as a general, ordered his troops to go to church? Historical documents recorded his order to the Continental Army: “The General … requires and expects of all officers and soldiers, not engaged in actual duty, a punctual attendance of Divine service, to implore the blessing of Heaven upon the means used for our safety and defense.”
This time of year, I reflect on the faith of our forefathers. I think about history and “his story” — God’s story of grace and goodness to us as Americans. I salute our flag, proudly thank our veterans for their service and thank God for his blessings on America, for our community and for the joy of freedom. We often say “God bless America,” but when we reflect on history, we must admit we have been blessed because our freedom is part of “his story.” Oh, how God has blessed America, and this makes me want to “bless God.” How about you?
– The Rev. Perry Fowler is lead pastor of Kennesaw First Baptist Church. He has served the Kennesaw community for more than 15 years with his wife, Jan. He loves running, biking and Ironman 70.3 triathlons.
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