Contact: J.P. Duffy, Family Research Council, 866-FRC-NEWS, 866-372-6397

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28, 2018 /Christian Newswire/ -- Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, who is traveling in the Middle East, released the following statement calling for a national day of prayer and reconciliation:

"We join the nation in mourning those killed in the horrific synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh. It's easy to feel helpless in the face of such acts of evil. But we can and must overcome the evil that preys upon the innocent. As a nation, we must turn to God and find healing, unity, and restoration.

"I encourage our leaders to call the nation together for a focused day of prayer and reconciliation. Let us take a day to seek God and pray for Him to bring healing to our nation -- asking God to move in the hearts of people to bring about the unity our nation so desperately needs.

"The challenges America faces are far beyond anything we're capable of overcoming on our own. For almost 250 years, that's what's set America apart -- its acknowledgement that we are a nation under God. And if there were ever a time that our nation should be coming together to pray, it's now. Our history records it. Our Founding Fathers held a national day of prayer in view of the monumental struggle we were engaged in with Britain.

"In view of the monumental challenges of our times, do we not find ourselves in a situation where our only hope is in God?" concluded Perkins.