Family Research Council (FRC)'s “Pray Vote Stand” initiative has expanded to roughly 80 local chapters. The initiative aims to connect churchgoers directly with civil engagement.
According to them, they are laying the foundation for national renewal one community at a time by first altering the spiritual climate to impact the political environment.
Tim Echols, executive director of the initiative, talked about this on the “Washington Watch” program, saying the primary mission goes beyond standard political lobbying. According to him, they focus first on prayer and relationship-building with elected officials at every level of government.
“First and foremost, they're focused on prayer. As a former elected official, there's so many people that approach elected officials because they want something, and we want our chapters really to be praying for these officials and getting to know them,” Echols said.
Chapter activities range from local petition drives to school board elections and educational series.
Echols noted that despite the noisy political landscape, local congregations are finding fresh encouragement as they put their biblical values into practice across both red and blue states.
“God's on the move in America. It's amazing to me, regardless of whether you're from a red state or a blue state, that everywhere we go, we see some significant things happening in congregations. Sometimes, with all the junk that's out there, it can be easy to be discouraged, but God's at work,” Echols said.
Organizers plan to host dedicated leadership training for chapter heads at the upcoming Pray Vote Stand Summit. The 2026 summit will take place in Leesburg, Virginia, from September 24-26.
Marketed as “A One-of-a-Kind Event,” the summit encourages others to join with like-minded believers to connect, learn and build “as we engage in meaningful discussions on the intersection of faith, government, and culture.”
AFA Action, the politically active arm of American Family Association (AFA), is a sponsor of the Pray Vote Stand Summit.
