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I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest... Isaiah 62:6 NIV

"When God sets a watchman on the walls of a nation, what's on the heart of God? God never sets watchmen on the walls of a nation unless it's in a critical moment in its history...When God sets watchmen on the walls of a nation, God knows there's impending danger. The enemy is coming. And the watchman was designed to watch carefully night and day and whatever they saw they were to announce so that God's people would know how to respond...What if God were saying, and I believe He is, I have set watchmen on your walls, O America?" - Dr. Henry Blackaby, National Day of Prayer message, May 2004

Our Need: Not only is American culture hurtling downward to new depths of moral decadence, but the Church itself stands in desperate need of a return to biblical righteousness and justice. Churches are no longer influencing our culture as Christ intended (Matt. 5:13-16), but rather, the culture is influencing the church. Statistical research reveals little difference between the morals of American church members and morals of the unchurched. If we are honest, we have to admit that the failure, in large measure, is a failure of leadership. It is the Pastor's God-given calling to be the "watchman" who will press the spiritual crisis onto the hearts of God's people (Isa. 62:6). If ministers don't do it, who will?

Our Hope: The only hope is a true revival in the Church, spiritual awakening in our nation, and moral renewal in our culture. But it must begin with Pastors and the churches they lead. Scripture calls us to humble ourselves before God, seek His face and pray, and turn from our sinful ways so that God can restore our land (2 Chronicles 7:14). The Pastor must serve as the spiritual catalyst for a radical return to God in the church and then as the leader on the front lines in the struggle for the soul of the nation.

God is calling forth "watchmen" because the need is so great. There were a number of strategic assignments for the watchmen in Scripture. Watchmen were:

To be posted on city walls and gates, scanning the horizon for runners with messages. (2 Kings 9:17-20; 2 Samuel 18:24-27; 13:34 )

To be guardians day and night against enemy attack. (1 Samuel 14:16; Isaiah 21:6-8)

To warn citizens of impending trouble by sounding a trumpet. (Jer. 6:17; Ezek. 33:2, 6; 3:17)

To pray persistently. (Isa. 62:6-7)

To call for unity in the presence of God. (Jer. 31:6)

Biblical Examples of Spiritual Leaders engaging culture and government:

Moses petitioned Pharaoh for the liberty of God's people.

Nathan confronted King David for his sinful actions as a leader.

Elijah faced off against King Ahab who promoted idolatry and immorality.

Isaiah condemned moral decay in the culture.

Amos inveighed against injustice in society.

Daniel pronounced judgment on King Nebuchadnezzar for promoting idolatry.

John the Baptist pointed out the adultery of King Herod.

Peter faced off against the Jewish leadership who restricted his freedom to preach.

American Examples of Spiritual Leaders engaging culture and government:

Pastor Jonas Clark, who wrote position papers on tyrannical British laws for the legislature, initiated the formation of a town militia, which fought in the first battle in the war for independence on the church lawn in Lexington, MA.

Pastor William Emerson, who formed and drilled the town militia, joining them on the church lawn for the battle of Concord, MA, and who became a Chaplain for the Continental Army.

Pastor Peter Muhlenberg, who relinquished his pulpit to lead his church members into battle, ultimately becoming a Major General in George Washington's army.

Pastor Frederick Muhlenberg, who criticized his brother (Peter) for getting involved, but changed his mind when the British drove his congregation from their building, and he eventually became the first Speaker of the House, and signer of the Bill of Rights guaranteeing our freedom of religion.

Pastor James Caldwell, who served as a chaplain in the Continental Army, preached with pistols on his pulpit, and distributed Watts hymnals for use as cartridge paper for his ill-supplied militia, shouting "Give 'em Watts, boys; put Watts into them!"

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who valiantly fought for racial justice and civil rights and was martyred for his bold preaching and actions.

Over the past few years, pastors have answered the call to become watchmen by taking up positions of spiritual leadership by engaging their assigned communities and regions.

Sound the Alarm, Washington State (Dr. Alec Rowlands)

Maine Jeremiah Project (Pastor Bob Emrich)

Idaho Values Alliance, Idaho (Pastor Bryan Fischer)

Texas Restoration Project (Dr. Laurence White and others)

Ohio Restoration Project (Pastor Russell Johnson)

Pennsylvania Pastors Network (Colin Hannah)

FRC's call to America's pastors has had either a direct or indirect impact upon these ministries. We praise God for these courageous pastors and their willingness to answer God's call to be watchmen. But there is more work to be done.

Our Mission: The Watchmen Project is a pastor led call to Christian ministers of America to seek the face of God through individual and corporate prayer, fasting, and repentance and to stand publicly for the truth on the important issues of our day so that the Church and the nation might once again experience in full the protection and provision of God's Hand.

Our Strategy: "Watchmen on the Wall" is a pastor-led effort to encourage and equip pastors to take three simple, but powerful action steps:

1. Pray and lead the church to become a house of prayer, crying out for revival in the church, spiritual awakening in our nation, moral renewal in the culture, and righteousness in our government.
2. Preach on moral issues from a biblical perspective, conducting a Christian Citizenship Sunday each year along with a non-partisan voter registration.
3. Recruit 12 other pastors to do the same, meeting regularly for encouragement and equipping, then replicating after one year.

If you follow the links above, you will find practical action steps to accomplishing this threefold purpose with a goal of renewing American churches and transforming the culture to the glory of God.