ATLANTA, GA, July 23, 2026 -- Faith leaders representing multiple denominations and religious traditions gathered Monday evening for the "Faith in Freedom" Interfaith Prayer Night, hosted by First Grace Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. The gathering brought together congregation members and leaders from various religions — both in person and online — to lift up united prayer for individuals and communities around the world facing religious persecution and injustice.
The event was hosted by Pastor William Welch, with opening remarks delivered by Pastor Adam, who welcomed attendees on behalf of the host church and outlined the evening's purpose. Many of the participating leaders are working across religious and denominational lines to foster dialogue and understanding. Organizers described the evening as more than a single prayer gathering — the beginning of a broader coalition of faith leaders committed to advancing freedom through peace, dialogue, and collaboration.
During his remarks, Pastor Adam pointed to three current cases of religious persecution that shaped the evening's prayers: ongoing violence, displacement, and attacks affecting Christian and Muslim minority communities in parts of Nigeria; rising incidents of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia within the United States, including vandalism of houses of worship and harassment of individuals because of their faith; and the imprisonment in South Korea of a 95-year-old faith leader, Chairman Lee, head pastor of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, who organizers say is being wrongfully detained on an unproven accusation despite his age and health needs, in violation of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, known as the Mandela Rules.
Program of Prayer
The evening was structured around three prayer requests, each led by a different faith leader:
Unity among faiths and freedom of religion, led by Bishop Kenneth Nelson of Faith Temple Missionary Baptist Church.
Strength and support for faith leaders facing hardship, persecution, and judgment, led by Pastor Kiesha Nelson of Faith Temple Missionary Baptist Church.
Prayer for members within the faith and beyond, and for forgiveness, led by Dr. Sudershan Mathavan, Co-Founder and Prayer Leader of Gurudwara Treasure Coast.
"We pray that there be no discrimination among the nations, among the people, related to their faith — whether they are Christian, Sikh, Muslim, Hindu, or any other," Dr. Mathavan said. "Help us work together to get rid of this evil from our hearts and from our society."
The gathering closed with a shared Faith and Freedom Joint Declaration and a spoken pledge, in which leaders committed together to choose peace, respect every person's dignity, defend the freedom of others to live and worship without fear, and stand against hatred and division.
About the Event
The prayer event was organized and hosted by Pastor William Welch at First Grace Baptist Church. Faith leaders from Baptist, non-denominational, and Sikh traditions joined together — both in person and virtually — to pray in solidarity with individuals and communities experiencing religious persecution and injustice, reaffirming a shared commitment to faith, freedom, and unity across religious lines. Organizers indicated the gathering marks the start of an ongoing coalition of faith leaders intended to continue advancing religious freedom through prayer, dialogue, and collaboration.
