Saturday's "Together 2016" prayer and music event in Washington, D.C., organized by evangelist Nick Hall, was aimed at attracting millennials, with the purpose of giving people an opportunity to "reset," or get a second chance. Although Hall, a college pastor and founder of PULSE, started planning the occasion several years ago, it ironically came at a time of violence across the world, a time during which Christians are seeking solace.
Together 2016 attendees are celebrating Jesus in unified prayer, worship and a call for catalytic change. Hall said he was praying that 100,000 people come to faith on Saturday.
"I think our world really needs healing," Hall told USA Today. "Moments of historic change are often marked by historic gatherings, so we really believe this is a moment where our world can change."
"We're coming together with as many people as possible who believe Jesus changes everything," he said.
Hall said those present included some from as far away as Africa, Europe and Asia.
"We really had the feeling that Jesus is often a reset to individuals, to our nation, to each of us," Hall said.
Guest speakers and artists include: Hillsong United, Kari Jobe, Francis Chan, Lecrae, Passion, Crowder, Kirk Franklin, Ravi Zacharias, Jeremy Camp, Andy Mineo, Michael W. Smith, Lauren Daigle, Christine Caine, Mark Batterson, Tony Evans, Matthew West, Casting Crowns, Luis Palau, Tasha Cobbs, Lacey Sturm, Matt Maher and others. The event also featured praying, which Hall said will include prayers for victims of the deadly truck attack in Nice, France on Thursday.
"As we build up to this, I think everybody's looking for a leader right now," Hall said. "The only agenda is Jesus, and beyond reset, Jesus changes everything."
Hall said he and other organizers see Saturday as a once-in-a-generation gathering and a chance to leave a lasting impact."Everyone talks about how we need change, but there aren't always a lot of solutions," Hall said. "This is an opportunity."
"The prayer for after the day is really that just a generation would be marked by God. That a generation would be called, sent out and feel the significance," Hall told The Christian Post. "There's two big climax things that I'm praying will happen on the mall - that there will be a moment where all of us collectively pray for a reset and turn to Jesus."
On Facebook, Susie Trace called this event awesome, stating God is good, great powerful, loving, forgiving. "He is here. We just need to lift our hearts to Him and let Him change and bring us back to Him!"
