WASHINGTON, D.C. (ANS) -- A public gathering on The National Mall August 16 will encourage thousands of Americans from three generations to lay down their differences, engage in corporate worship, and unify in prayer for the country.

Known as TheCall, more than 700,000 Americans have gathered at such events in various cities over an eight-year period and more than a million have assembled internationally.

“The National Mall is a place of historical significance to our nation, and the perfect location to call upon God to shed his blessings upon our land,” said Lou Engle, the visionary behind TheCall, which began in 2000 in Washington, D.C. and has since been held in 12 U.S. cities, including Boston, Dallas, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York and San Francisco.

According to a media release from A. Larry Ross Communications, specific regional issues have been confronted in each Call, such as racism, sexual immorality and abortion. Participants of TheCall D.C. will focus on praying for an end to abortion, the restoration and protection of marriage, and for the upcoming presidential election.

“This August is the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech on the Mall,” said Engle. “Our dream is that unborn children will have the chance to live, that adoption becomes the solution to abortion, and that our country will have righteous judges to lead the way.”

TheCall is endorsed by former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, Bishop Harry Jackson, international evangelist Luis Palau and Christian music artist Michael W. Smith.

The event is free and organizers invite every denomination, every race and every age group to drop their differences and pray for a spiritual revolution in the country.

“America’s greatest crisis is not political, but spiritual,” said Huckabee. “TheCall D.C. is a day set apart for Christian believers to fast and pray and seek God’s blessings after a time of repentance and reflection. I hope believers across the nation will answer TheCall.”

TheCall D.C. will culminate two days of Pre-Call events Aug. 14-15 at the City of Praise church in Landover, Maryland, for attendees and their pastors and leaders. Speakers will include Mike Huckabee, Lou Engle, Harry Jackson, Tony Perkins, Ron Luce, president of Teen Mania Ministries, Mike Bickle, director of the International House of Prayer, and Bill McCartney, founder of Promise Keepers.

“We know there are thousands of people who have been praying individually,” said Engle. “But the time is ripe for them to gather together to ask God to bring spiritual awakening to America. We are urging them to pray corporately at TheCall D.C.”

TheCall began in 2000 in Washington, D.C., gathering more than 400,000 people to pray and fast for the condition of the country. Apart from the 12 U.S. gatherings, TheCall has also been assembled overseas in Australia, England, Germany, Israel, Norway and the Philippines.

After a few years of dormancy, TheCall was revived in Nashville last year on 07.07.07 and continues to build momentum this year with TheCall D.C. and TheCall California, set for Nov. 1 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.

To request an interview with Lou Engle, contact Vicki Morgan at 972.267.1111 or vicki@alarryross.com . Media members planning to attend TheCall D.C. are requested to fill out a pre-credential form before Aug. 13 at www.alrcNewsKitchen.com/thecall . More information is available to the media at that website. Media members will have the opportunity to credential on-site at the Pre-Call Conferences Aug. 14-15 and at TheCall D.C. on Aug. 16 at a designated media sign-in area.

** Michael Ireland, Chief Correspondent of ANS, is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station. Michael's involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department -- Michael Ireland Media Missionary (MIMM) -- of ACT International at: Artists in Christian Testimony (ACT) International.