Thread by @AndyRowell

Luke Barnett (Senior Pastor of Dream City Church) at the Evangelicals for Trump Coalition Launch rally at King Jesus International Ministry in Miami on Friday January 3, 2020 and at the White House Oct 29, 2019.

This was my thread on the Oct 29, 2019 gathering at the White House.

This was my thread on the Evangelicals for Trump Coalition Launch rally at King Jesus International Ministry in Miami on Friday, January 3, 2020.

Phoenix reporter notes experts agree air filtration cannot stop spread of coronavirus.

Two hours from now:
c-span.org/video/?473331-…

Jonathan Lemire is tweeting the event:

Other reporters: ,

Video clips:

Fact-checking:

Trump introduces Luke Barnett, asking him to stand up, after introducing Matt Gaetz and before introducing Richard Grennell.

Sometimes people suggest pastors may be a good influence on Trump. Luke Barnett has been photographed with Trump twice (Oct 29, 2019 and Jan 3, 2020) but Trump has trouble identifying him when he asks Barnett to stand.

A church building should not be used for a campaign rally. Yes, you can invite a politician and his opponent to answer questions. But don't let a politician use your building, raised with donations for the worship of God, to give a politician a platform.

Luke Barnett bears responsibility for the deaths and suffering that result from allowing his church building to be used for a mass campaign rally in the midst of a pandemic. He could have said no. This is pastoral and moral malpractice.

No masks to be seen.

A person who cares about human lives does not allow their church building to be used for this. Trump saying his regular campaign speech lines is not a good reason to put lives at stake. It is not why the church building was built.

Matt Gaetz before Trump spoke

Here is local newspaper coverage of the story just told about the NC State student who leaned in to the spray paint canister and then didn't realize he had been sprayed in the eye until later.
newsobserver.com/news/local/edu…

One student complains about the tearing down of statues of Jesus (?) and taking the name Aunt Jemima off of syrup.

Trump is done. It is over. 6:30-8:05 pm Eastern Time.

Charlie Kirk video feed:

CSPAN video feed: c-span.org/video/?473331-…

I can only assume this, from a few days ago, is a subtweet about his brother Luke. Pretty well done.

Thread continues at:

Thread of connections between Dream City Church and Trump:

Luke Barnett's explanation:

Mayor "Gallego said the church told her office that staff would hand out masks to event attendees and check temperatures. An event organizer said staff did not end up checking temperatures because of logistical issues."

Here is the speaker:

Thread:

In summary, Luke Barnett should not have had a Trump rally in the Dream City Church building.
1. It is technically illegal as a 501(c)(3) to allow a church building to be used for a campaign. But more importantly it is wrong because it will harm the outreach of the church.

2. Luke Barnett knows Trump is not coming to learn and listen but to satisfy his narcissism. He has been to the White House and to the rally at King Jesus Church in Miami. Predictably, various vulgar things were said by the speakers that no church would want to associate with.

3. It is irresponsible to have among the largest mass gatherings in the world, during the most intense outbreak the pandemic, for no good reason. People will die because he did not say, like all other good leaders would: "Guys, this is not a good idea. We shouldn't do this."

4. Luke Barnett said they did not know Trump was coming initially but his staff are in close relationship with people from Turning Point USA. Also, a large gathering with Charlie Kirk would have still been a hyper partisan, and unsafe gathering. A good leader says "Sorry, no."

5. Luke Barnett and Dream City Church enthused about an air filtering system, which they thought would prevent the spread of coronavirus. In reality, it does not protect from people breathing on each other. To be so credulous about this and so skeptical of experts is foolish.

6. Luke Barnett and Dream City Church said they would take temperatures and encourage masks but that did not happen. This is a breach of integrity.

7. I mention these lessons because other church leaders should learn these lessons rather than falling into the same traps. Focus on the needy. Beware of the arrogant. Shelter the vulnerable. Listen with humility. Tell the truth.

Arizona's plight:

Arizona ER doctor

Note too the Phoenix police broke up protests outside the church using flash bangs, pepper balls and pepper spray.
Story:
Protester Video: m.facebook.com/story.php?stor…,
Media:
Police:

Note that the attendees were breaking Phoenix ordinance by not wearing masks. "under the city’s new mask-wearing ordinance, violators could be fined up to $250."
azmirror.com/2020/06/22/pho…
But police blocked protesters because church is "private property."