Men gather for once-a-decade prayer rally in D.C.

WASHINGTON — In numbers that were far fewer but with a faith that was nonetheless fervent, evangelical Christian men gathered Oct. 6 in the shadow of the Washington Monument for a day of spiritual renewal that recalled a much larger meeting of a decade ago.

The Stand in the Gap 2007 rally brought thousands to the National Mall, almost 10 years to the day when hundreds of thousands turned the prominent stretch of grass into a sanctuary. On a grassy hill just south of the monument, men dropped to their knees or bowed their heads in prayer, holding their Bibles open or lifting them into the air.
For six hours, men from a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds worshiped together, some with their faces bowed to the ground in prayerful silence. Fathers lifted their sons onto their shoulders. Solemn moments of repentance mixed with loud bursts of praise as men shouted or high-fived each other.

Organizers said they view the weekend rally as more than a one-day or once-a-decade experience. Instead they hope it will be a catalyst for acts of kindness and service that will allow men to live out their beliefs.