Native American prayer leaders say the time is now for them to add their voices in intercession for an end to COVID-19 across the United States and on Native American territories where coronavirus cases have spiked, resulting in deaths.
Zephaniah 3:9 is the theme for the call to prayer that took place Monday, April 6, at 9 p.m. (EDT).
“We’ve invited different leaders to join us in praying for—not just this nation—but also for Turtle Island, which is North America,” says Mary Faus, an Ojibwe Cree who leads a house of prayer in Reading, Pennsylvania.
Christians representing Euchee, Mohawk, Cree, Lakota Sioux, Navajo, Southern Cheyenne, Arapaho, Apache Kiowa, Muskogee and Jicarilla Apache tribes, as well as a Messianic Jewish representative prayed during the call—some in their native languages.
“As indigenous people of this land, Turtle Island, we want to take our stand, to add our prayers, voices, songs, drums and flutes” with others who’ve prayed for an end to COVID-19, healing for those suffering with the virus and comfort for friends and family who’ve suffered loss of life, Faus says.
“Many of the native territories are reporting huge spikes in the numbers who’ve contracted the virus, and lost lives as a result,” she says.
Watch Faus announce a call to prayer by Native American leaders here.
The theme of the prayer call, Zephaniah 3:9 (NASB) reads: “For then I will give to the peoples purified lips, That all of them may call on the name of the Lord, To serve him shoulder to shoulder.”
