"I call on the name of Jesus
because I believe prayer changes things, but more importantly prayer
changes hearts and so I believe we have to rise above partisan politics,
petty debates and arguments and we have to unite as the American
people."
(Cleveland, OH)—[CBN News] Here in Cleveland, GOP convention week didn't start out with politics. It started with praise. (Screengrab via CBN News)
Thousands of Christians descended on the city praying for revival in America.
"The Bible says, 'If My people who humble themselves and pray,
seek My face, turn from their wicked ways there will be a healing and
hearing from Heaven,'" one participant prayed.
It is comforting good news for those who understand that only Jesus saves and not Donald Trump or any other politician.
"It's not about political parties. It's not about denominational
preferences. Today it's all about Jesus," said Doug Stringer, of The
Response: USA.
This week, however, it will be all about Donald Trump. He comes to
Cleveland with one main goal: convincing skeptical voters that he's
presidential material.
Picking Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his vice presidential running mate
seemed to help his cause on the credibility front, but evangelical
leaders say it's going to take more than that.
"It's going to have to be Donald Trump who's going to have to move the
constituency," David Lane, founder of the American Renewal Project,
told CBN News.
"He's going to have to say things that evangelical and pro-life
Catholic Christians want to go out and work for him and move into the
marketplace," Lane said.
That heavy lifting begins this week. He's being outspent in key
battleground states. With relatively high negatives among voters, he's
trailing in some key states.
He also has work to do with minority outreach. But he's getting a boost from a key pastor.
Darrell Scott is pastor at New Spirit Revival Center in Cleveland.
He's come out in support of Trump and will speak in prime time at the
convention later this week. As a black man, he's taken lumps for
supporting the controversial GOP nominee.
"You
get the name calling because they don't know him and they let people
accuse him of being racist and different things like that that he's not
and so then if you defend him you're automatically a sellout or an Uncle
Tom," Scott reflected. (Screengrab via CBN News)
Belinda Scott, his wife and co-pastor, has known Trump for years. She says they've seen him grow spiritually.
"He really is pursuing a deeper spiritual life. I can sense it," she
said. "My prayer for Mr. Trump is that he will be more sensitive to God
than he ever has before."
Also attending the service here in Cleveland is Trump supporter
Omarosa Manigault. She gained fame for being a contestant on Trump's
reality show "The Apprentice."
She's keenly aware of the racial tension in the air and is praying for calm this week.
"I call on the name of Jesus because I believe prayer changes things,
but more importantly prayer changes hearts and so I believe we have to
rise above partisan politics, petty debates and arguments and we have to
unite as the American people," Manigault said.
The good news this week for Trump is there will be no official challenge to his nomination or controversy from some delegates.
But even though the storyline and situation appear be under control
inside the arena, outside is a different matter. All bets are off as to
what will transpire and whether violence might rear its ugly head.
*CBN neither supports nor opposes any candidate for public office.