Washington DC Visit-May 2023

Washington DC Visit-May 2023

TESTIMONIES FROM LAST 2 DAYS IN DC

As I share these testimonies please do not try to put names together with my words. Just be encouraged. All you ever hear about DC is negative, ugly, mean, etc. But there’s a lot of good stuff happening there.

In addition to the prayer card here, I shared the truth of Psalm 93 over the last two days. And this is how I shared it. . . “Congressman, be encouraged that because the Bible is reliable, you can rest (vs. 5), regardless of the roaring going on around you (vs. 3-4), since God Reigns (vs. 1-2).”

You can find all my recent prayer cards here. . .  https://markmirza.com/printprayercards/

Some Brief Testimonies:

1] There is such an appreciation by those I stop and pray with, elected officials, staffers, even janitors. It is a testimony to me, that I am called to do this.

2] The staffer who called me last month, needing to pray with someone. And then this month she shared with me her commitment and desire to please God. It was so encouraging to hear.

3] Two Congressmen’s hearts were very heavy for their pastor’s families due to a tragic death for one and a tragic physical mishap for the other. This is the essence of bearing one another’s burdens.

4] Two other Congressmen had staffers take me to them as they were in committee meetings. When we go there, they left the meeting so they could spend a couple minutes with me. One, all he had was 2 minutes, the other stayed in the hallway of the cloak room for 20 minutes or so talking. He is the one who told me about a prayer meeting they have on Monday nights, when they arrive into town, where they pray for their upcoming week. To the other Congressman I shared Psalm 93, as above. His entire countenance changed, he hugged me and said both he and his wife needed to hear this.

5] There is a janitor whom I prayed with 2 years ago. I have been looking for her and saw again. When I walked up to her and said her name she looked REAL SUSPICIOUSLY at me, until she realized I was that guy from 2 years ago who prayed for her. We had a GREAT reconnection.

6] There was a staffer in the hallway who saw my NDP lanyard. I could tell he wanted to say something, so he said, almost apologetically, “I’m a believer too.” He gave me his testimony and added honestly that he was feeling low. We talked for a good 15 minutes, which is a lot of time in DC, then I prayed Romans 15:13. He stood taller and said it was from God, that we met.

7] Then there was the woman I met in the hallway because she asked me for directions. Tanya sighed, but was grateful when I explained she was in the wrong building altogether. Then I explained to her what I do in DC and she said, “Well are you going to pray for me too?” It was cute, and I did.

8] Standing atop the steps at the US Capitol I was making notes from my previous appt when a Congressman came up the stairs and I introduced myself. We talked for a long enough time for him to tell me he needed prayer for his two kids, one is living a Godly life looking for a Godly husband and the other is struggling to live out his Christian walk. He was so grateful he gave me his cell phone number.

9] Another Congressman, after getting comfortable with me asked me to pray for his two girls, one is living a Godly life, the other is not. This stop reminded me of the Congressman some time ago who asked me to pray for his children who had all called him together and said, “Dad, you’re too controversial, you can’t put our photos on your Christmas card this year.” Two were still in college and one had just graduated.

10] Many staffers were so glad for the “direction” of this ministry, namely, praying WITHOUT an agenda.

11] Another staffer is in a boot cast and praying it comes off before she and her family go on vacation in September. Imagine the weight of all these things she and other staffers are dealing with, and the reminder to us that they are regular people with regular issues which need prayer. God knows her name, pray she has complete healing and a GREAT vacation, in September.

12] Then there was the staff, about 4 of them in the foyer of the office who stood spellbound (for some reason) by the idea that I’d pray for them, so I did, in the foyer of the office of a US Representative. I have got such a cool job!

13] There are a lot of elected officials who ask prayer for spouses and extended family. Such a reminder that they are regular people, with regular needs.

14] I was surprised by the staffer who, when I asked how I could pray for her, told me she is going to law school in the fall. Then she asked how she could pray for me. That doesn’t happen too often! I was so blessed to have that question asked of me.

15] Privately you can ask me about the influential staffer who knows God has called him to DC to have an influence in his “ungodly” office. It will surprise you that Godly men and women are everywhere.

16] There were and are, of course, a few offices I went into where there was, “no love for the pray-er.” But those offices were far and few in between.

17] Finally, I can’t tell you how many Bibles I saw on Congressmen’s desks and staffers desks, or the number of weekly Bible studies and prayer groups that I was told meet every week.

On TV and in social media, you will only see the ugliness in DC, but there is good stuff happening there too!

What does the Lord have in store for the United States, and for Washington DC in particular? I don’t know. I’ve not seen the Lord’s playbook, so I’m not convinced things will get better in the USA, but I have no doubt, God’s reliability (vs. 5) means we can rest, no matter the raging and roaring (vs. 3-4) we see all around politics, because, the truth is, God reigns (vs. 1-2), not the men and women in DC, and not the devil, God reigns (Psalm 93).

Thank you for your prayers and your financial support.

 

Blessings,

 

MARK S MIRZA
Founder/Author
C: (404) 606-2322
W: MarkMirza.com

 Logo and Social Media Info

DC Visit July 20-21, 2021

DC Visit July 20-21, 2021

General Visit Report

Allow me to share my trip with you, Please?

As always I was honored to spend time in DC with men and women on BOTH SIDES of the aisle.
Remember, when I am there, I’m not interested in talking politics with them, unless they choose to.
My job is to pray with them and for them, bearing their burdens, and sometimes the staffer’s burdens, as you will see below.
I’m careful about NOT giving names because I want men and women to know they can pray with me in private, and in confidence.
First, I want to know, did you participate in my #DCSteps Contest?
When I retun in September we’ll do another contest like this.
You can find July’s contest here:
https://markmirza.com/dc-fitbit-steps/

There are 3 reasons I share this simple diary with you:

  1. I think it’ll encourage you to hear of numerous GOOD THINGS going on in DC.
  2. I hope it’ll challenge you to pray for your elected officials, and let them know you’re praying for them. Click Here.
  3. I’m confident some of you will be motivated to do locally, what I do in DC. Do the same thing in your City Hall and/or County Courthouse.

What exactly do I do?
It’s simple, I merely engage the people that I run into.

While I go to DC to pray with our elected officials, I can tell you that I spend a lot of time praying for their staff, for janitors, for food service employees and even the Capitol Police men/women.

Here’s what July 20 & 21 looked like:

Day 1, Tuesday, July 20th, 2021

6am
Left for the airport

11:30am
Arrived at the Cannon House Office Building (HOB) where I was let in by a staffer whose grandfather is a pastor in my neighborhood.
Small world

11:41am
Stopped in the office of a Congressman I meet with often. He wasn’t available this visit. Dropped off a Prayer Card (PC) with his scheduler.

If you want to see how I’m praying for our elected officials this month, go to MarkMirza.com/Politics and scroll down to the Prayer Card (PC) I give to the staff and the Congressmen/women.
You might ask me why I do that. Well, they may be brilliant doctors or lawyers but they’re not theologians, and I find it helps them see what I am praying.
A couple visits ago one Congressman said, “Mark, I am so glad you give me these Prayer Cards. I keep them in my desk and go through them often.”

Finally, when I enter an office, I always ask for the Scheduler. While I may have the Congressman’s cell phone, I always work through the Scheduler. If you want to get together with your local person of influence, USE THEIR PROTOCOLS!

11:45am
Stopped by the office of a Congressman I’ve NEVER met and did not have an appopintment with. I planned to introduce myself to the Scheduler, and give her my July PC.
After I introduced myself to her she walked up to the Congressman who was standing there in his lobby with what looked like about half his staff. She said, “Congressman, So & So, Mark is here to pray a blessing over the office.”
He shook my hand. I bowed, and we all prayed.
I have got such a GREAT job!

12:10pm
I grabbed a bite to eat in the Longworth HOB cafeteria. The food service cashier was laughing having a good time. I told her what I do in DC and that I liked watching her enjoy herself. Gave her a PC and the next day she remembered me when I returned for lunch.

PS. I was hungry, so, I REALLY enjoyed my pizza.

I see lots of folks with lanyards displaying where they are from. I think the next time I go to DC, I need to bring my Common Thread Ministries lanyard.

12:45pm
I was eating in the lunchroom, and in came a Congressman I had reached out to (VIA the Scheduler, of course) but I did not have an appointment with him. So, I introduced myself, telling him why I’m there. He then shared with me how encouraged he was, the previous week, when 3 people in his district told him they pray for him.
Before I go on, may I ask you?
–When was the last time you emailed or texted your City (Mayor) or County or State or US elected officials and told them you are praying for them.
–For that matter, when was the last time you told your pastor that you are praying?
After I finished my lunch I stopped by his table and thanked him for giving me a few minutes of his time. His scheduler was there, she stood up and said, “The next time you’re in town, Mark. I’ll get you in to see the Congressman.”

1:00pm
Leaving the lunchroom I gave a PC to the guy collecting the garbage. He was so touched when he found out I pray for him too, not just the Congressional leaders and their staff.
–What a GREAT job I have. I get to encourage people.

1:15pm
Found a Congressman’s office with a bunch of Washington Nationals clippings on his wall, of them winning the World Series. I need to get this Congressman my novel, Divided Nation, where I reference the Nats and their World Series win and wonder if they’ll ever do it again.

1:25pm
Stopped at a Congresswoman’s office to simply drop off my PC. Great short meet with the scheduler who is working with me to coordinate a meeting when I speak in her district, in a few months.
I’ve done this a few times before. I make sure they know it is not a political meeting, but I do make sure I introduce them. There is a downside, however, instead of circling around my book-table, after I have spoken, everyone circles around him/her.

In DC, the schedulers contact you by email (Praise the Lord my telephone seamlessly handles my emails). But, I have to constantly check emails because my appointments change, A LOT!
As of right now, here’s how my day starts tomorrow:
7:30, Congressional Bible Study
8:55, Building 1 (Cannon)
9:15, Building 3 (Rayburn)
9:30, Building 3 (Rayvurn)
9:55, Building 1 (Cannon)
–And in the CHOB I’ve got to get to the 5th floor!
I normally leave 30+ minutes between each appointment, but their schedules dictate.

1:40pm
Anyway, I am standing in the hallway, checking emails, adjusting my schedule and making notes of the previous meeting when this woman rolls her janitorial cart up to the door near me, the women’s bathroom. I gave her my prayer card and I could tell she was hungry for a godly conversation. So, I abliged. At one point I asked her if I could pray for her and she readily agreed. When I was done she said, “A gazillion thank you’s.”
But I said to her, “No, you were a blessing to me, letting me pray for you.”
Needless to say, we had a sweet time in front of the women’s bathroom, before she went in to scrub toilets.
And then, it was so sweet, she said, “I’m always here, on this floor. The next time you’re in town, please find me and pray for me again.”
As I left she asked me to pray for Haiti on her behalf, where she is from.

1:55pm
This congressman was in front of me as I was walking down a hallway under the buildings. I walked by him and his handler and I said, “I love to see a man who wears fun shoes.” His handler thought it was funny. I was sincere. But he was not so impressed.

2:02pm
I was walking down a stairwell and a staffer named ABC was there. Her and I joked about the lack of Air Conditioning in this particular hallway. I told her why I was there and she said she was a praying woman. So, I prayed Romans 15:13 for her. What a blessing.

2:15pm
Went in to a Congressman’s office, whom I have not met. The Scheduler and I talked for a bit. She has family that live in Savannah and we talked about the heat there compared to here. She let me pray for her. It was a sweet little time of fellowship, very sweet.

2:40pm
I was heading down a very slender stair well. It was so thin I stopped for a guy who was walking up. I don’t know what his name was, but I gave him one of my prayer cards, shared with them what I do there and he was super pleased and grateful.

2:55pm
In a hallway, I turned and saw a Congressman coming down the hall. I don’t know who he was, but I told him what I do. He said thank you, but was a little non-plussed so I didn’t pursue it. Gave him a PC.

These men and women have a lot on their plate, so I’m not worried about them not wanting to engage in talking. Some engagements we talk a lot, some engagements we talk little, and some engagements I’m lucky to get my PC in their hands.

That’s God’s job, not mine. But I do try to be very respectful of their time.

3:54pm
Stopped a Congressman in a hallway who was so glad I’m doing what I am. Asked me to reach out to his Scheduler the next time I’m in town. I had never met the guy before, but he could tell that my focus was on “serving” others, not “getting” something for me.

4:07pm
In a Congressman’s office I dropped off the PC and made clear to the Scheduler that I pray for them too, not just the Congressman. She was so grateful for that. It always amazes me, the staffers who are surprised I pray for them too.

4:45pm
Met with a Congressman I meet with often. But something was different today. He was on fire for God. And I told him. Then he told me the sweet story why. He said it started with him attending a weekly Congressional prayer meeting.

Before heading to my hotel I made my way over to David’s Tent. They have been on the Mall with 24/7 prayer and praise, since September 11, 2015.
I was tired and spent. It was good to sit their and be strengthened by those on stage.
When I got there, they were reading the book of Mark, while 1 person played the piano.
It was sweet. And I needed it to refresh my soul.

How many steps today?
19.939 #DCSteps

 

Day 2, Wednesday, July 21st, 2021

Here’s how my day starts:
7:30, Congressional Bible Study
8:55, Building 1 (Cannon)
9:15, Building 3 (Rayburn)
9:30, Building 3 (Rayburn)
9:55, Building 1 (Cannon)

It was a great start to my #DCSteps total.

Great appointments with the men and women above, who I got to pray with.

  • In one we talked about whether or not Christians SHOULD fight back, and how.
  • In another I met with his entire staff, challenged them with a 3 minute sermon and then prayed for them.
  • And in another I met with a Congressman who has numerous times prayed with me out in the open, in the midst of crowds walking by us. (I really like this guy, and am encouraged by his boldness).

I met a Maintenance guy who I had met a year ago. Imagine the odds of meeting with the same guy twice. Interestingly enough, when he saw me he got a smirk on his face. I think he was saying, “Okay, I’ll get my act together with the Lord.”
Pray for him, please.

11:20am
So, I’m in the hallway making notes about my previous engagement and a young guy walks by me who I recognized from an appointment the day before.
He was looking kind-of-down, so we talked for a few minutes and I asked him how I could pray for him. He said he needed, “Direction, guidance, lots of stuff, Mark.”
We had a short discussion about praying for peace and letting that give him clarity and then I prayed for him.
He had a completely different step when he returned to his office. He was encouraged.
Let me ask you…
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU REACHED OUT TO YOUR PASTOR AND PRAYED FOR HIM.
—-How about your Mayor?
—-Or your City Council Members?

Encouragement comes from the simple act of PRAYING with another.

12:03pm
One of the Television Directors who parks himself in the Cannon HOB Rotunda kept looking at me, so I went over to him, introduced myself, told him why I was in DC, and then gave him my PC. He didn’t roll his eyeballs, but he seemed disappointed. It was a short meet.

1:35pm
Before I headed to the airport I saw a congressman in the hallway who I hadn’t visited with for well over a year. And when I last did, he pulled himself out of a Committee meeting so I could give him some encouragement.
It was backdoor encouragement though.
He told me how worried he is for his kids and grandkids and I, the encourager of encouragers responded with, “Congressman, it’s only gonna get worse.”
He wasn’t expecting that, and honestly, neither was I. I don’t talk like that to these men and women.
But then I added, “And that’s why you are here, Congressman So & So. You see it the way you do, and many of your colleagues do not.”
In all honesty, I thought that was why he and I hadn’t connected since that visit.
Later that afternoon I got an email from his scheduler who said, “Mark, I’m sorry I missed your email. When you return to DC I’ll get you back in here to meet with the Congressman.
I wonder if he went back to her and said, “Hey, Mark Mirza is in town, why isn’t he praying with me?”

There were a lot of stops I didn’t tell you about, simply “Stopping & Dropping Prayer Cards,” with Schedulers or folks at the front desks. But, there were a lot. In fact, I think that next time I return, I’ll probably stay for 3 days (9/2021 I bought my ticket, I’ll be there September 28, 29 & 30).

Please pray for me, and the few minutes I get to spend with these men and women.

Are you interested in the #DCSteps FINAL TALLY?

My feet were wiped out when I went to the airport.

I didn’t stop the Step-count till I walked in the door at home and took off my #Fitbit.

Here are the numbers…
19,939 — yesterday
19,386 — today
39,325 — TOTAL

#FromTheRoad

DC Fitbit Steps

Below are Posts I’ve Shared Before

They May Encourage You, Maybe even Challenge You

  • 4 years later, its the same.

  • When Thanksgiving GOES TOO FAR.

  • How to know if your political praying is arrogant praying.

  • Are you NOT trusting God? If not, you might be trusting princes.

  • Ever consider that your attitude when you pray might be calling God a liar?

  • If the Bible is true, you can blame God for our politcal results.

  • Distractions when you pray can be a thing of the past (I guarantee it).

  • 3 anecdotes about racism in the church. They will encourage you, anger you and frustrate you.

  • God is in control, and a TRULY, bi-partisan prayer guide.

  • sataN changes tactics, just when you think you’ve thwarted him.
 

Blessings,

 

MARK S MIRZA
Founder/Author
C: (404) 606-2322
W: MarkMirza.com

 Logo and Social Media Info

DC Jan 26 2021

DC Jan 26 2021

SUMMARY IN D.C. THIS MONTH

I decided that what I saw ALL DAY, wasn’t “sobering” as much as it was “disappointing.”

But I don’t want us to go off on to politics!

AIl day, I talked, albeit briefly, with a bunch of military police and Guardsmen and women and a few of the Capitol Police, who were just inside the perimeter barriers at our nation’s capital.

A number of them were skeptical when I started to talk, but every one of them was appreciative that there’s some wacko-guy praying for them. And many of them were surprised.

I didn’t hand out as many prayer cards as I normally do (you can find this month’s at MarkMirza.com/politics), but that’s okay, my job was to encourage today.

After walking the perimeter, I was back to where I started this morning, at the Capitol South METRO station.

There is a very high-end lunch room across the street from the Cannon HOB, and as I walked by I said hello to two “suits” who were standing in front. I was on my way to the Thai restaurant, looking buttressed to the hot Lemon Grass Soup, but I turned around and went back to them. I reached into my pocket (which startled them) and gave them each a prayer card letting them know what I do every month and that I was praying for them now. I took one step away and then turn around and corrected that. I said, “I’ll pray for you two AFTER I pray for our men and women in uniform,” which both of them appreciated.

I am telling you friends, we are missing the opportunity to encourage people by taking a few minutes and praying with them, for them, etc.

Have you been on any of my 15-minute prayer conference calls? Then you need to try it and see how easy and simple it is. Just go to my website (MarkMirza.com). The homepage has the details for men’s calls and for women’s calls.

But I want you to do more than that. I want you to pray with me or some of my groups for a while, maybe a year or year-and-a-half and then YOU-TAKE-ON two or three people that you will pray with.

Amazingly, it is the opportunity that we have TO ENCOURAGE, simply by praying for people, that keeps blowing my mind . . . and I’ve been doing this for over a decade!

Won’t you participate, join in, check it out? Just go to my website scroll down and you’ll see the details for our weekly prayer conference calls. You don’t even have to pray. Just listen!
Remember also, my novels which we’re giving away FREE.
MarkMirza.com/Free-Digital

Mark
#FromTheRoad

DC Sept. 22-23

DC Sept. 22-23

Washington D.C.

Sept. 22-23, 2020/ Overview of Visit

It is such an Honor to Serve my Nation by Praying with our Elected Officials

AND THEIR STAFF. I was reminded this week how grateful the staff is when you tell them they are being prayed for too.

Pray Too

One of the two story stone meeting rooms.

Watch

Read

Meeting New  
People

Praying

Here’s the real story of the 2 Days in DC.

When I hand out prayer cards to the office staff, I always assure them I am lifting up them too.

Their eyes get wide, and they ask, “You pray for me too?”

This visit I also prayed with food service workers, janitors, and office staff I found in the hallways and out of doors. I also had the opportunity to meet and pray for  Congressmen I met in the stairwells.

Thank you for your support, both in prayer and financially.

PS. I did enjoy the encounters I had with Congressmen and women. I am so honored to simply be there to serve them by bearing their burdens. CLICK HERE for my posts regarding burden bearing in Washington DC.

Oh my friends, check out our Washington-Encouragement page so these men and women can encourage you, but also you can encourage them.

Mark
#FromTheRoad

Offices

Pray Too

Outdoors

Underground

Pray Too

HERE IS HOW. . .

It All Began

After 4 years of weekly prayers for a local Congressman, I asked him if I could do the same thing for his colleagues. He invited me to a Bible Study where I met another two. I thought I was going to set up prayer groups in their districts. NOPE! God had another idea. I now return to DC, most months and pray with them, with their staff and/or people I meet in the hallways.

I would encourage you to help me encourage them. Just click the box for “Washington Encouragement” page.

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Pray Too