More than a dozen Christian leaders prayed for President Donald Trump in the Oval Office last week.
One of them noted that since last year’s assassination attempt, the president has embraced faith groups even more warmly than he did in his first term.
Their prayers were led by White House Faith Office Senior Advisor Paula White-Cain, the president’s longtime spiritual advisor.
The Christian leaders included Reverend Samuel Rodriguez of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, Pastor Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Church in Dallas, Pastor Travis Johnson of the multi-campus Pathway Church based in Alabama, David Barton of WallBuilders, former presidential candidate and longtime social conservative activist Gary Bauer, and William Wolfe, the executive director of the Center for Baptist Leadership.
THE WORDS OF ONE OF THE PRAYERS
Reverend Rodriguez offered a prayer for the president which said:
“With gratitude and humility, we pray for President Trump. You assigned him, you appointed him, you anointed him for such a time as this. We ask You to cover him with the blood of Jesus, empowering him to advance an agenda of righteousness and justice, truth and love.”
“Protect him from all evil as he undergirds our nation with the firewall of our Judeo-Christian value system. Fulfill Your purpose in his life.”
“And as a result, we pray by faith that through his leadership, the following will take place in America:”
“The fulfilment of Isaiah 58:8: Salvation will come like the dawn. Wounds will quickly heal. Godliness will lead us forward as the glory of God will protect us from behind. In Jesus’s name, Amen.”
“IT FELT MORE LIKE A FAMILY REUNION. IT FELT REAL. IT FELT AUTHENTIC.”
Reverend Rodriguez who is lead pastor of New Season megachurch in California told The Christian Post that the church leaders gathered together before the Oval Office prayers.
“Our meeting time as a faith-based team focused on faith-based policies, initiatives and strategic planning.”
He called President Trump “unbelievably gracious” and “truly just remarkable,” and praised him for his hospitality.
“It felt more like a family reunion around the president, but it felt real, it felt authentic. It was just an incredible gathering.”
Reverend Wolfe posted : “It was a huge honour to represent Baptist Leaders and meet President Trump and pray for him in the Oval Office.”
Pastor Jeffress said: “Honoured to lead a prayer for our great president.”
The White House Faith Office was established by President Trump shortly after he took office.
He said it would help combat “anti-Christian bias” and “empower faith-based entities, community organisations and houses of worship to serve families and communities.”
His executive order stated: “The Office shall have lead responsibility in the executive branch to empower faith-based entities, community organizations, and houses of worship to serve families and communities.”
Photo: The White House
