Sam Kestenbaum Profile picture
Religion reporter, work in @nytimes, @washingtonpost & others | sam@samkestenbaum.com

Jul 17, 2021, 32 tweets

Fully packed event at Influence church in Anaheim right now. This is the latest stop in Clay Clark’s roving Health and Freedom tour. Main auditorium filled to capacity and hundreds more in huge tent outside. Food trucks sputter outside, merch tables lined up.

Mike Lindell was just on stage. His memoir in the merch corner.

Stella Immanuel up now. She hugs Clay, thanks Jesus and says, “Hello, patriots!” Then she breaks into song.

Inside Influence church, a prayer wall stuffed with handwritten notes.

Eclectic wares for sale, including these face lift kits in the foyer.

This whole thing is, of course, an excellent content opportunity all around. Lots of cameras and streaming and what looks like a documentary of some sort in the works.

I’m struck, not for the first time, by Mike Lindell’s real commitment to this cuddly pillow-hugging pose. It’s on just about everything.

Cameras from a newly-launched media outfit called American Faith roam around.

American Faith was founded by Influence church’s pastor Phil Hotsenpiller, a prophecy guy, and is “committed to delivering truthful, uncensored news, analysis, and opinion on current events with a biblical perspective,” according to the press release benzinga.com/pressreleases/…

Cryptocurrency people in the mix, Mount Shasta “spiritual war” tour guides, too.

Flynn passes through and gets huge ovation. He’s wearing t-shirt with his name on it and a pretty funky-looking floral blazer. He waves, surrounded by security.

CA recall efforts also given big airtime here. Larry Elder, who is now running for gov, is due to speak tomorrow

Judy (with red cap) has her own booth in the parking lot

Hard to say how many are here. The sanctuary was packed to capacity, the outside tent, too. Seating was a bit of a free-for-all, and organizers said people were showing up EARLY in the morning to get in. The show will resume tomorrow morning after regular services at Influence.

The scene is downright festive. Lots of private convos happening on the margins. People sharing testimonies about political awakening, laying of hands, carrying in hamburger dinners to their seats while the speakers rotate through.

The popular prophecy-themed website Elijah List helps promote the Clay Clark tour

Day 2 kicks off with Sunday service from Influence. Lead pastor Phil Hotsenpiller preaches on prophecy, the Mark of the Beast, vaccines, masks, the “great reset,” and so on

Today’s listed speakers include Roger Stone, Mike Lindell, Larry Elder, Andy Wakefield, Michael Flynn and lots others

Prayer from pastor and VA politician Leon Benjamin against warlocks, witches, Satanic priests. Tambourines shake in the crowd and a shofar blasts off in the back.

Mike up now. Talks pillows, crack, racism, China, election fraud, brainwashing (he sort of pronounces it “brainWARSHing”), his upcoming August symposium, religious revival

Wakefield on stage now talking about the “power of film” to “change minds.” (In this case he’s talking about his vaccine movie.) Wakefield is giving here, among other things, a testimony about the power of media

We get mixed messages from the stage through the event: media is for brainwashing, media can be marshaled by the good guys, media should make us suspicious, media is how we evangelize

Long line for autographs and photos with Wakefield. After most speakers step off the stage they are surrounded by fans or swamped at their nearby booths for a bit

Other shirts spotted: “Unvaccinated, unmasked, unafraid,” “David Icke was right,” “Socialism distancing”

The shofar is OUT. This is Dave Scarlett and Amanda Grace of Ark of Grace Ministries. After three blasts he marvels, “Amen. How about that? The devil’s not happy.” After this they played a video about Jan. 6

Bethel troubadour Sean Feucht, who’s been to Influence before, has arrived. He’s leading the house band and wearing one of his tie-dyed signature “Let Us Worship” shirts. The crowd is FEELING this song, everyone on their feet and rocking

Sean has really got the crowd going. Flags and tambourines out.

Roger Stone shares a testimony about how he came to Jesus after falling into financial ruin. He also talks about Deep State, his wife’s cancer and what he calls the ongoing battle between “the godly and the godless.” Warns the country could fall into 1,000 years(!) of darkness

Clay Clark, the host of the whole show, has the stage and is getting into the heavy stuff: 666, mind control, spirit-cooking, Epstein, fake prophets, Luciferian plots, world domination. He talks mile-a-minute, cracking jokes, breaking into funny voices, impersonations.

(People really love his Fauci impersonation, which tbh is pretty convincing.)

Leigh Valentine, who’s the one selling the “non-surgical face lift kits,” has her moment on the main stage now

Michael Flynn is the big final speaker here and gets roaring applause. Everyone chants his name and “USA, USA, USA, USA.” He thanks Clay for pulling the whole bonanza together (and jokingly compares him to Barnum) and says he “hasn’t given up on California.”

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