“… If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
On May 2, 2025, Governor Bill Lee signed House Joint Resolution 0051, birthing Pray4TN as an ongoing movement and making Tennessee the first state in our nation to recognize an extended time – the month of July – as an annual time for prayer, fasting, and repentance. The question before us all in 2026 is this: will the Body of Christ take advantage of this amazing opportunity to make our state a “meeting place” with God?
2025 was also the year we finally became officially recognized as the “Volunteer State” – a great and familiar nickname we first earned during the War of 1812. What you may not know is the meaning of “Tennessee” itself, our name since we became a state in 1796.
Historians trace our name to a 16th century Cherokee village named “Tanasqui” and/or an early 18th century Cherokee village named “Tanasi”. Both villages were in what is East Tennessee, and most believe the names derived from a Yuchi/Creek word meaning “meeting place.” They were located at forks where two rivers meet.
Personal research reveals that Long Island in Kingsport was also once called Tanasi and used by the tribes as a sacred meeting place for trade and peace talks.
This term, “meeting place,” immediately takes me to Exodus 33. After Moses led the Hebrew people to Mt. Sinai, he placed a tent outside the noisy distractions of the camp and called it the tent of meeting. Everyone who sought the Lord would go there, and when Moses went there, the pillar of cloud that led and protected the Hebrew people would come to the tent’s entrance. The Lord would speak with Moses face to face, as someone meeting with a friend.
Soon thereafter, the Tabernacle replaced this little tent of meeting and become the new “tent of meeting.” (Exodus 29) Five hundred years later, the Temple in Jerusalem, called “the house of the Lord”, would replace the Tabernacle. The tent of meeting became the house of the Lord, and we all remember what God said about His house: “My house shall be called a house of prayer.” (1 Chronicles 6:32; Isaiah 56:7; Matthew 21:13)
Today’s house of the Lord and house of prayer is the Body of Christ: a house built of living stones called “you” and “me.” (1 Peter 2:5) What is prayer? It is meeting with God! It is people giving their undivided attention to the God who is always paying attention to us. And when we gather in His name, Jesus is with us just as the pillar of cloud was with Moses. (Matthew 18:20)
For our meetings with God to be effective, we must get away from the noisy distractions of the camp. Today, that means taking time away from our hectic daily “cares of this world.” (Matthew 13:22) It means stepping away from the divisive discord of our current political climate so we can together seek the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:1-6) A divided house of prayer is double-minded and will accomplish nothing. (Mark 3:25; James 1:8, 4:8)
We must additionally deny ourselves through fasting and other means so we can learn and pray God’s will rather than our own. (Luke 9:23, 22:42). When we are of one mind and accord with both the Lord and each other, our prayers have tremendous impact. (Matthew 18:19; 1 John 5:14-15)
The 2026 goals of Pray4TN are:
1. For every person of faith and every congregation to increase their focus on repentance, prayer, and fasting, particularly in the month of July.
2. For a solemn assembly of God’s people to gather for prayer in each of our 95 counties during July. In our area, gatherings at county courthouses are presently scheduled as follows: Johnson (8AM, July 1); Carter (11AM, July 1); Sullivan (2PM, July 1); Washington (8AM, July 7); Unicoi (10:30AM, July 7); Hawkins (12PM, July 9); and Hancock (12PM, July 10).
3. To encourage all churches who do not already have structured prayer ministries and weekly prayer meetings to develop them.
4. You can find out more at www.pray4tn.us. Please consider an online donation.
We also urge everyone to participate in our wonderful Johnson City, Kingsport, and Bristol citywide prayer breakfasts and the second annual Tri-Cities Community Prayer Breakfast scheduled for May 18 at Meadowview Conference Center.
My friends, HJR 0051 does not legally require us to embrace PRAY4TN. We must “volunteer” to stand in the gap. (Ezekiel 22:30) Together, we can make Tennessee a meeting place with God. As the Lord promised in 2 Chronicles 7:14, our united, humble, repentant prayers for His will to be done will move Him to heal our land.
God bless Tanisi!