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America Must Pray

By Dr. Mal Couch

Public prayer, spiritual publications of poems and music, have always been a part of America, until recently. There are forces now trying to silence the Christian spiritual heritage of open and free expression to our God that made this nation great.

Each week I’ll add some historical tidbits as how Christian expression and public prayer was a vital part of our nation’s blessing. We may not fully know of the spiritual state of all the men we examine, but we do know none of them were fearful of prayers to the God of the Bible in the public setting.

If you are a pastor or Sunday school teacher, please print off these little bits of our history and share them with others.



Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson


No Confederacy general spoke more about prayer than Stonewall Jackson. He became known as "Stonewall" after the First Battle of Bull Run when he stood up in front of enemy fire like "a stone wall." During the War he was recognized as a great tactician and military commander, but also, as an outstanding and consistent Christian. He believed, taught, and lived by, the absolute sovereignty of God that worked and caused all things for His great good!

Jackson took the Bible seriously and he took daily prayer as a serious matter. He often quoted Paul who urged "pray without ceasing." He once told a West Point classmate, "I can no more forget prayer than to forget to drink when I am thirsty."

During the War Jackson would often stop and raise his hands and turn his eyes towards heaven, pray and ask for a blessing. He would pray over wounded or dead soldiers. For those still alive he would pray that the Lord would save their souls.

In God's mysterious providence Jackson was mortally wounded by a shot from his own troops. Within days he was dead of pneumonia, having had his injured arm removed by an army surgeon. He was incredibly calm in the face of death. His death turned into a spiritual crisis for the Confederacy. Many southerners could not understand how such a pious, praying individual could be taken from them in such a needless way.

Those attending his funeral heard for the first time the playing of "Taps." No one knew that this haunting tune was written by a Union general and his bugler just ten months earlier!