Since 1953, the National Prayer Breakfast has been an important gathering for world leaders to join hands in Washington, D.C. This year, more than 3,000 of our country and world leaders come together under one name and one purpose — Jesus Christ. I was invited to partake in this annual tradition, at which I was extremely humbled and honored to be included.

Here were some of the most influential people within the political world praying together. I was able to see Republicans and Democrats get up at the same time, on the same stage and talk about how they love and care for each other. It was the first time I got to see these guys unite — sitting and praying for each other.

Each person from different political parties knows they have the same goal in mind, they simply have different opinions on how to get there. They admit that they battle it out all day, but at night many of them share meals together with each other and their families. It was really neat for me to see such people in high positions who are extremely Godly. They have the understanding that other groups have opposing opinions, and yet they believe they can merge these differences to form a peaceful conclusion by focusing on the overall mission of Christ.

While at this meeting, I had the privilege of meeting with our former governor of Kansas, Sam Brownback, who was recently appointed to be the ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom. We came together to pray over him, the challenges he would soon face, and his move to D.C. as he was introduced into this new role. He has the opportunity to have a huge impact on our world!

Prayers surrounded the different breakouts and meetings; people would go into rooms and lift up leaders in prayer as they prepared to go back to their offices. It was clear God was the focus at this much-anticipated event.

The leaders looked forward to a time when, though they had many other things going on, they could briefly let the media in on some of the inner things going on that they normally cannot talk about. Many don’t know that the Senate and Congress have a number of different Bible studies throughout the week. This is a chance for them to come out and say they are Christ-followers. On this day, they can let it be known, “People know what I stand for politically, but this is why I’m really here.”

It may be easy to buy into the political negativity we see on the news but we have to recognize that we have amazing leaders who are doing incredible work for our nation and world. When we listen to the gossip and slander portrayed by the media, we may easily be scarred into thinking that nothing good happens in DC. This is just not the case. Instead of being critical or judgemental of our leaders, we should be continually lifting them up in prayer. God calls us as a people to pray for those whom He’s put in positions of authority over us — for our leaders, their decisions and our nation as a whole.

“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” — Romans 13:1

I know our leaders are amazing individuals and what they stand for is incredibly impactful. I’ve seen what happens when a group of people come together to pray. God works in powerful ways and prayers are answered, though not always in the ways we expect. There’s something extremely special about gathering with God’s people in prayer. He and His angels are smiling down upon large groups that pray with each other for His purposes.

“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” — Matthew 18:20

— Adam LaRoche, former MLB player