Thousands of people, online and in person, are expected to join Intercessors for America (IFA) in their Appealing for Life events November 30 and December 1. Those in D.C. on December 1 will walk around the Supreme Court building and pray for a positive outcome as the high court conducts oral arguments in the Dobbs v. Jacksons Women’s Health Group case. Those online will pray, or attend watch and pray parties nationwide. The case is about Mississippi’s law that does not allow abortions after 15 weeks’ gestation. Former Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant, who signed the bill back in 2019, will speak at the Reception for Life on Tuesday, November 30.

IFA’s Amicus Brief Filed

IFA was founded in the shadow of Roe v. Wade 48 years ago. The organization filed an Amicus brief in the Dobbs case representing those who have been praying for 48 years on the issue of abortion, Kris Kubal, Director of Marketing for IFA told The Stream. “It was taking the biblical argument as to why abortion and the legalization of abortion is really … falling in line with pagan beliefs.” Kris added that, “The Bible tells us that he hates the shedding of innocent blood. And so our Amicus brief was really about what is at stake in our nation because we have allowed [abortion].” Some intercessors signed the brief. “To our knowledge, it’s the first time that prayer will have been part of an Amicus brief that will be filed into the court record.”

Appealing for Life Events

Intercessors with the organization have been praying for 50 days, which will end Tuesday as IFA kicks off its Appealing for Life events, held on Tuesday and Wednesday. Intercessors will gather and honor those, like Gov. Bryant, Rep. Becky Currie and Nancy Rice, who have been praying against abortion for many years. IFA will also intercede for the next day’s events at Tuesday night’s dinner. 

Wednesday, December 1, during the oral arguments at the Supreme Court, intercessors will walk around the Supreme Court building and pray. For those who cannot attend in person, watch and pray parties will allow them to participate. “We’re going to be hearing the audio feed from the Supreme Court chambers,” said Kris, “and we’ll be feeding that out to folks so that they can be praying in … real time.”

People can join or begin a watch and pray party by going to IFApray.org/live. The Prayer Webcast begins at 8:00 a.m. ET December 1. Worship and praise with Christian music artist Natasha Owens begins at 9 a.m. Prayer walks around the Supreme Court building begin at 10:00 a.m. and will last until the completion of the oral arguments in the case. Many more events are planned for the day. 

‘Prayer is Not Confined by Walls’

Once the deliberations are over, the prayer doesn’t stop. “Once the public events are over and the oral arguments are finished it will be a very crucial time for prayer. We can continue to speak into this case through our prayers, because prayer is not confined by walls. There is an opportunity for the American people to pray for the justices, their clerks, and the conversations that will take place behind closed doors as they weigh this decision. The most important time for this case and our country will be after Dec 1st, so we’ll continue to pray.”

Nancy Flory, Ph.D., is an associate editor at The Stream. You can follow her @NancyFlory3, and follow The Stream @Streamdotorg.