ReAwaken America starting at Trump Doral. This traveling carnival of extremism & conspiracies has long backed Trump as God's chosen, but now they're at 1 of his properties. I attended 1 last year; this political movement borrows liturgy of church: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/the-reawaken…
Michael Flynn claiming during ReAwaken America at Trump Doral that those on the left don't have souls is dangerous dehumanizing rhetoric. He's painting this as a battle between God's people & soulless creatures.
Worship times at ReAwaken America events are not a break from the politics & conspiracy presentations. Rather, they work to frame the whole event as a worship service, thus sanctifying the MAGA politics (as I explained after attending: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/the-reawaken…)
While "preaching" during ReAwaken America at Trump Doral, MAGA pastor Leon Benjamin goes on rant about Trump being ordained by God & winning in 2020. And he urged crowd to declare by faith Trump will win in 2024.
Pastor Todd Coconato tells those at ReAwaken America at Trump Doral that they need to get engaged in politics because God put them there "for such a time as this." That's a biblical phrase often misused in politics today (publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/for-such-a-t…)
Speaking during ReAwaken America at Trump Doral, an anti-COVID vaccine chiropractor says they are facing a "1776 opportunity" so they must put on the "armor of God" (which he added on screen). Appeals to "armor of God" are common at such events (publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/taking-off-t…)
In between singing worship songs & hearing pastors, ReAwaken America at Trump Doral features talks on 2020 election being "stolen," why COVID wasn't real & how 5G is turning us into machines (as seen in slide from presentation). The conspiracies mix hurts Christian witness
Pastor Mark Burns preaches the hope of a second coming of Donald Trump during ReAwaken America at Trump Doral. He also calls for war as he rewrites Bible to cut "turn the other cheek" (which Trump world does often: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/new-trump-ve…)
"Prophet" Julie Green & other ReAwaken America preachers are praying over people at Trump Doral. As I saw at ReAwaken in Branson, people line up to be touched & prophesied over (publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/the-reawaken…). This isn't just politics; this is a syncretic religious movement.
Pastor Brian Gibson & wife Jessi tell those at ReAwaken America at Trump Doral to fight against liberals by having lots of children. And they argue masking was wrong since we're made in image of God & thus shouldn't be covered up (they didn't explain if logic extends to pants)
Pastor Brian Gibson during ReAwaken America at Trump Doral: "How do you make America great again? You make America Christian again." #ChristianNationalism
Laura Trump speaking during ReAwaken America at Trump Doral. Her husband Eric, a regular at ReAwaken events, will speak later today.
Peter Navarro talking during ReAwaken America at Trump Doral, ranting about the media, the border, & more.
"Prophet" Amanda Grace speaking during ReAwaken America at Trump Doral to offer a word from God. She's speaking as if from God, attacking "those fools that sit in the White House."
As usual, Donné Clement Petruska is speaking during ReAwaken America to talk about the "prophecies" of her late dad Kim Clement. This presentation is used to say God ordained Trump to serve another prez term & that ReAwaken America is part of God's plan.
When I attended ReAwaken American in Branson, the most disturbing part was the baptism service (publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/the-reawaken…). They'll be baptizing more people into this movement tonight, but it's worse because people will be getting baptized at Trump Doral. Who's being worshiped?
Mike Lindell doing his normal bit at ReAwaken America as he keeps claiming he's just about to prove 2020 election was rigged. But like Lucy with the football for Charlie Brown, he keeps just saying same thing after each timeline passes. And yet the crowd loves him.
Pastor Greg Locke, a ReAwaken America regular, is preaching at Trump Doral to complain about pastors & Christians who refuse to fight the culture war.
Q&A during ReAwaken America at Trump Doral featuring Michael Flynn, Devin Nunes, Clay Clark, & Kash Patel. Pushing Truth Social, which apparently still exists.
Eric Trump, a regular at ReAwaken America events, talking about how great Trump Doral property is. Claims his family made it great after it was run down & says that's what his dad did (& will do) as president. Like other speakers, he mocks CNN for being owned by Trump at townhall
Day 2 of ReAwaken America at Trump Doral starts off like these events regularly do, with prayer & the blowing of shofars. They claim it brings the Holy Spirit in to make this a prophetic event.
"Prophet" Julie Green tells ReAwaken America crowd at Trump Doral that God will remove Biden from office & this is a new revolutionary war.
Bo Polny is giving prophesies during ReAwaken America at Trump Doral. He offers key summer timeline for collapse of evil from Revelation. Of course, last year he claimed at a ReAwaken that lots of people would die that year but they didn't (
Pastor Bill Cook (who pushes myth of "Black Robe Regiment" vice.com/en/article/pkg…) says during ReAwaken America at Trump Doral that pastors should be preaching about 2020 election being stolen & against COVID vaccines.
ReAwaken America at Trump Doral features speeches from multiple people convicted for participation in Jan. 6 insurrection. Crowd loves them, viewing them as persecuted martyrs. Both also frame their actions as coming from their Christian beliefs.
One of those convicted for role in Jan. 6 insurrection asked crowd to join him in praying Lord's Prayer as proof of their devotion to the cause he marched for on Jan. 6 (sadly not 1st time prayer has been invoked to defend Jan. 6 defendants: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/going-to-chu…)
Roger Stone speaking during ReAwaken America at Trump Doral. He's a regular & last year called me a "Marxist pastor" for criticizing him & ReAwaken: wordandway.org/2022/11/10/how…
ReAwaken America at Trump Doral ended with Michael Flynn calling Donald Trump to greet the crowd. He talked about his poll numbers & all the things he supposedly accomplished as president.
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A rally in Mo. Capitol to push anti-trans bills is starting with hour-long worship service with contemporary Christian praise songs. #moleg
Main organizing group behind rally last year held event at Mo. Capitol saying God wanted gerrymandering: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/jesus-and-ge…
Charlie Kirk's Turning Point also here with materials & someone who will speak along with state lawmakers & Mo Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft
#moleg Sen. Mike Moon, sponsor of key anti-trans bill, speaking at service/rally. He invokes story of Esther as people prayed before she went before king. He adds that they are all here "for such a time as this." (This political use of Esther is common: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/for-such-a-t…)
Latest round of ReAwaken America Tour is starting in Nashville. This traveling MAGA variety show of extremism & conspiracies co-opts Christians symbols & rhetoric, as I reported from last event in Branson: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/the-reawaken… 1/
Now @RNS has piece by Brazilian reporter Eduardo Campos Lima on pastors arrested during Jan. 8 violence & evangelical support for Bolsonaro & even a coup: religionnews.com/2023/01/17/chr… 3/
In Branson at ReAwaken America Tour. Will be writing about it for @WordandWay. Been covering tour from livestream for a year but this will be different.
Next iteration of ReAwaken America Tour starts today in Pennsylvania with speakers like Michael Flynn, Eric Trump, Roger Stone, Doug Mastriano, Greg Locke, & Mike Lindell. We've been covering RAT for a year in @WordandWay's newsletter A Public Witness (publicwitness.wordandway.org)
Last night, @bartbarber defeated @tomascol in #SBC22 president election. And it wasn't close. What happened? Let's consider some reasons Ascol & @BaptistNetwork failed in attempt to push SBC further rightward.
🧵 1/
1. Barber was establishment pick, thus had institutional momentum on his side. And solidly conservative, claims of SBC going "liberal" or "woke" didn't fit. Even Ascol praised him as conservative & merely suggested he wouldn't fight enough against those allegedly not. #SBC22 2/
2. Ascol is best known for decades for his work to make SBC more Calvinistic. Although SBC has moved some in that direction, it's still minority & often controversial position. Although not main reason he lost, it probably didn't help. #SBC22 3/