A Nation of Believers

'A Nation of believers' - The White House

Each year for more than half a century, the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington has drawn religious leaders and members from both sides of the aisle in Congress to reflect on the importance of faith in public life.

This morning, President Donald J. Trump delivered remarks to the thousands assembled for this year's event. He also dined last night with faith leaders and a bipartisan group of senators and congressmen ahead of today's session. The President's guests included Reverend Franklin Graham, Pastor Paula White, and Pastor Robert Jeffress.

"America is a Nation of believers," President Trump said this morning. "Across our land we see the splendor of God's creation. . . . Together as Americans, we are a tireless force for justice and for peace."

'Our Rights Come From Our Creator':

Trump, Scalise Speak at National Prayer Breakfast - CBN News

People from around the world gathered in Washington, DC, Thursday morning for the 66th annual National Prayer Breakfast. More than 3,500 hundred attendees were at the Washington Hilton for the event - among them, President Donald Trump and members of Congress.

The president stressed the importance of religious freedom and reminded those present that America is one nation under God.

"Our rights are not given to us by man. Our rights come from our Creator. No matter what, no earthly force can take those rights away, When Americans are able to live by their convictions, to speak openly of their faith and to teach their children what is right, our families thrive, our communities flourish, and our nation can achieve anything at all," Trump told his audience.

The President also pointed to God's hand at work in the world today.

Congressman Steve Scalise (R-LA) who narrowly survived being shot last year at a congressional baseball event, also spoke at the breakfast event. Scalise has publicly praised God for helping him survive the shooting, saying previously, "I am definitely a living example that miracles really do happen."

During his prayer breakfast speech, Scalise again pointed to God over and over again, in his own story of survival as well as in references to American government. "This was a nation founded with a deep belief in God," Scalise said, pointing to the way the Founding Fathers talked about faith and God as they were establishing a new nation. "You can't separate church from state," Scalise continued. "This idea that you could just check your faith at the door is not accurate. . . faith is part of who you are, it's part of who I am."