Key Takeaways:
- Prayer is under attack today like never before – as is Christianity.
- Those who mock prayer as nonsense believe it’s a hindrance to stopping mass shootings.
- Their worldview doesn’t understand human nature or truth, nor do they seek to know truth.
- They see only man-made solutions, such as taking away all guns from private citizens.
- Prayer brings comfort and peace in tragedy – and it recognizes that only God can remove evil from the human heart.
It was the first day of school in Minneapolis.
Kids were praying during a mass inside Annunciation Catholic Church.
A disturbed transgender man sprayed bullets through stained glass windows into the church pews.
Two kids – 8 and 10 years old – were killed[1]… 18 others were injured – 15 children between 6 and 15 years old, and 3 adults.[2]
The manifesto of the shooter made it clear that this was a Christian hate crime.
The media didn’t want to talk about the transgender shooter’s radical political and religious ideology of hate.
Instead, they wanted to talk about prayers… Specifically, they wanted to talk about the ineffectiveness and the worthlessness of prayers.
Here are 4 things everyone should know about the ongoing assault against prayer and against Christianity:
- Prayer – and the Christian faith and worldview – are under attack.
After the Annunciation Catholic Church shooting, Jen Psaki, press secretary during former President Joe Biden’s administration, wrote on X:
“Prayer is not freaking enough. Prayers does [sic] not end school shootings. prayers [sic] do not make parents feel safe sending their kids to school. Prayer does not bring these kids back. Enough with the thoughts and prayers.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said, “Don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now. These kids were literally praying.”[3]
Former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele commented, “I agree with the mayor. The thoughts and prayers. I’m so beyond that nonsense — the lie of that.”[4]
He continued, “It is amazing to me. We watch young kids die in classrooms and now in church, and all we get are thoughts and prayers.”[5]
Elsewhere, on the day after the shooting, the government of Quebec, Canada, announced plans to ban prayer in public places “as part of a move to strengthen secularism in the province.”[6]
Premier François Legault, said he didn’t want to see people praying in public parks or on streets.
- How Christians are responding:
Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Ministries responded to the critics of prayer by saying, “Those who criticize prayer could not be more mistaken.”[7]
“Yes, it is heartbreaking that children were praying when they were shot in the Church in Minneapolis. Yet let us remember that Christ Himself prayed as He was crucified, Stephen prayed as he was martyred, and countless other courageous Christians lifted their voices to God in their final moments of life.”[8]
He responded to a post by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security encouraging people to “pray without ceasing” by saying:
“No truer thing could be said about our nation right now than this: we need prayer.”
“Let’s remember to pray for our nation — no matter what the pundits may say,” he concluded.[9]
Franklin Graham also commented on the Minneapolis mayor’s criticism of prayer:
“To the Democratic mayor of Minneapolis and the other socialist left who have criticized calling for prayer in the aftermath of the tragic school shooting — your words do not change or diminish the power and importance of prayer.”[10]
“Because someone calls for prayer doesn’t mean bad things aren’t going to happen or that the emergency is going to disappear, we all know that. But prayer is our opportunity to communicate directly with the God of Heaven and take our petitions to Him.”[11]
Vice President JD Vance responded to Jen Psaki’s insensitive rant about prayers not being effective:
“We pray because our hearts are broken. We pray because we know God listens. We pray because we know that God works in mysterious ways, and can inspire us to further action. Why do you feel the need to attack other people for praying when kids were just killed praying?”[12]
- Why people attack prayer:
People who attack prayer have a worldview that either ignores God completely or that puts Him in an irrelevant box that has no bearing or importance in daily life.
A worldview that leaves God out – or makes Him irrelevant – does not understand truth or seek to know it.
To these people, mass shootings are caused by guns, not by deceived and disturbed people who have evil thoughts in their hearts.
The media and the politicians who believe that guns – not people – kill, use every mass shooting as a platform to push for more gun control.
Former RNC Chairman Michael Steele believes that people who pray are a hindrance to what he perceives is the “solution” to violence involving guns.
He argues, “Because what we have are people who continue to stand in the way of actually doing something to stop the violence against their own kids.”[13]
Dr. Jim Denison wrote in his newsletter, “Those who criticize offering ‘thoughts and prayers’ in response to tragedy presumably believe praying to an omnipotent God has no practical value…”
“They often call for more ‘practical’ responses, advocating for gun legislation, mental health reform, and similar measures. Some even believe public prayers do public harm, as illustrated by the news from Quebec.”[14]
He states further, Words addressed to a deity who didn’t prevent the tragedy about which we are praying are obviously less than practical in the view of skeptics.[15]
- The benefits of prayer:
The primary benefit of prayer is what it does in our hearts and minds:
- In our minds, it turns our thoughts and our attention away from focusing on our own grief and our own problems… and it focuses our attention and our thoughts on God – His love and mercy and grace and faithfulness.
- In our hearts, prayer gives us comfort and peace, and the assurance that God is with us and that He knows what we are going through, and that He is allowing our suffering to help us become more like Jesus in our character.
In Isaiah 26:3 the prophet says to God, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You.”
Ryan Foley writes in the Christian Post, “In the case of these students who were shot and killed while praying, God can give comfort and peace to the families who have been devastated.”[16]
Franklin Graham expressed that “God does see, God does hear, and God can intervene.”
He quoted Hebrews 4:16, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”[17]
Graham added, “The Bible tells us that Jesus Himself prayed fervently when He was facing death on the cross.”[18]
One final note: When we pray, we are acknowledging that God is God and we are not.
Those who mock prayer believe that they are gods and that all practical solutions to all of the problems of mankind must come from them and from them alone.
They worship themselves.
They illustrate the truth of Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?”
They need spiritual heart transplants.
What do you think? Email me at [email protected].
Action Items:
- Pray for the victims.
- Pray for God to change the hearts and transform those who are experiencing gender dysphoria.
- Pray for protection of churches across America and Christian schools against those who hate Christ.
- Pray that this distraction of attacking prayer, God and guns does not succeed, but that the power of prayer prevails against this evil.
- Send this off to everyone they know so they know the truth about prayer and the lie from the media and politicians
FAQs:
Q: What is this article about?
A: It highlights how prayer and Christianity are increasingly under attack—especially in the media and politics—following tragic events. It argues that prayer is essential, not pointless.
Q: What specific event prompted this discussion?
A: A mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, where a transgender individual opened fire during prayer, killing two children and injuring many others. The attack was reportedly motivated by anti-Christian hatred.
Q: How did some public figures respond?
A: Many criticized prayer as ineffective. Jen Psaki called prayer “not enough.” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey dismissed it. Michael Steele called it “nonsense.” Some even used the tragedy to push for banning public prayer, like Quebec’s new secularism law proposal.
Q: How did Christian leaders respond to the criticism?
A: Leaders like Greg Laurie, Franklin Graham, and JD Vance strongly defended prayer. They said prayer is powerful, even in suffering. Jesus Himself prayed during His crucifixion. Attacking prayer during tragedy only deepens the wound.
Q: Why do some people mock or reject prayer?
A: The article suggests it’s due to a secular worldview that ignores or minimizes God, believes only human-made solutions matter, views prayer as impractical or even harmful.
Q: What does the article say about the real cause of evil?
A: It claims evil doesn’t come from guns but from the human heart, which only God can change. That’s why prayer is seen as essential—not as a policy, but as a spiritual necessity.
Q: What are the actual benefits of prayer, according to this view?
A: Mentally, it lifts our focus from pain to God’s peace. Emotionally, it offers comfort, reminding us God is near. Spiritually, it transforms our hearts and builds Christ-like character.
Q: Does this article dismiss action like laws or reforms?
A: No. It suggests that prayer and action aren’t mutually exclusive. But it warns against replacing prayer with purely man-made fixes, especially if they ignore the root of the problem: the heart.
Q: Are there Bible verses referenced?
A: Yes. A few key ones include: Isaiah 26:3 – “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You.”, Hebrews 4:16 – “Draw near to the throne of grace…”, Jeremiah 17:9 – “The heart is deceitful above all things…”
Q: What’s the article’s final takeaway?
A: That those who mock prayer believe they are the solution—and they leave God out. But true healing and transformation come from God alone, through humble, fervent prayer.
About Craig Huey:
Craig Huey is a nationally recognized author, speaker, and publisher of The Huey Alert and Direct Marketing Update. He is also the author of The Great Deception: 10 Shocking Dangers and the Blueprint for Rescuing the American Dream, exposing the lies of socialism and defending America’s founding principles. Craig appears on national media such as FOX, FOX Business, Newsmax and more. He also co-hosts The Huey Alert Podcast with his wife Shelly and helps business leaders, Christians, conservatives, libertarians, young people and more understand the intersection of faith, politics, and freedom.
[1] Kerry Breen, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/annunciation-catholic-church-minneapolis-school-shooting/
[2] Ibid.
[3] https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/quebec-plans-to-outlaw-public-prayer-to-strengthen-secularism/
[4] Randy DeSoto, https://www.westernjournal.com/former-rnc-chair-michael-steele-calls-prayers-nonsense-accidentally-reminds-us-party-change/?ff_source=email&ff_medium=top-news-alert&ff_campaign=news-alert&ff_content=2025-08-30
[5] Ibid.
[6] https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/quebec-plans-to-outlaw-public-prayer-to-strengthen-secularism/
[7] Ryan Foley, https://www.christianpost.com/news/greg-laurie-franklin-graham-respond-to-critics-of-prayer.html
[8] Ibid.
[9] Ibid.
[10] Ibid.
[11] Ibid.
[12] Michael Schwarz, https://www.westernjournal.com/jd-vance-teaches-jen-psaki-lesson-prayer-wake-catholic-school-shooting/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=top-news-alert&utm_campaign=news-alert&utm_content=2025-08-30
[13] Randy DeSoto, op. cit.
[14] https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/quebec-plans-to-outlaw-public-prayer-to-strengthen-secularism/
[15] Ibid.
[16] Ryan Foley, op.cit.
[17] Ryan Foley, op.cit.
[18] Ryan Foley, op.cit.