"A-Political" Church Rally Comes to Cedar Rapids Tonight

The River Of Life Ministries church in Cedar Rapids is hosting The Response, "a call to prayer for a nation in crisis," today from 7-9 p.m.

According to The Response's website, the event is a call to prayer for a "righteous" Christian revolution in America.

The Response claims to be a-political, though their mission statement suggests that their collective prayers are directed towards a "revolution in America." Nowhere do they describe the ill that has necessitated a revolution in America or what has caused it.

A similar event was held in Houston, TX. That gathering attracted 40,000 people and was broadcasted to over 100,000 sites. The Response was initiated by Texas Governor and Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry, although the rallies are no longer affiliated with any candidates, according to the website.

"Though Governor Rick Perry initiated The Response in Houston, the state-wide gatherings we are now doing are not affiliated with any presidential candidates. The Response is committed to prayer above politics, to exercising our freedoms within the system of government God has given us, to raise our voices before heaven, and to cry out for transformation in America," The Response website states.

Numerous groups have expressed frustration with the Houston event, which excluded non-Christians. It also attracted outrage from Texas LGBT groups that criticized sponsors of the event, such as the American Family Association, for hatred against the gay community.

Stay tuned for coverage of the event following its closure after 9 p.m.