Trump's daughter-in-law joins pastors in 'call to prayer' for president's recovery
President Donald Trump ventured outside Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Sunday while his daughter-in-law Lara Trump and closest faith advisors hosted a prayer service on Facebook Live, offering prayers for him, the First Lady and several White House and campaign officials who tested positive for COVID-19.
“I declare and decree healing in your body right now, that every fiber of your being be healed,” said evangelist Paula White, who led the 5 pm “Call to Prayer” event on Facebook. Trump waved at supportive crowds gathered outside the hospital from inside an SUV during a brief jaunt outside the building.
White also prayed for Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), Counselor to the President Kelly Ann Conway, former governor of New Jersey Chris Christie, White House aid Hope Hicks and Trump’s campaign manager Bill Stepien, who all have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Bishop Harry Jackson said as he drove past the hospital in Bethesda he saw many people with supportive signs. “God is about to release healing not only to the president but to the nation,” he said.
Bishop Harry Jackson of the Pentecostal Hope Christian Church in Maryland. Photo courtesy of Jackson.
Jackson, a Black American, changed his party affiliation after Trump was elected. He has staunchly opposed the Maryland marriage equality bill and has focused in recent years on reforming the GOP. During the Republican National Convention he worked as a faith advisor to address criminal justice reform, small business development and other issues.
Jackson was at the White House when Trump accepted the Republican nomination and on Sept. 26 when Trump introduced Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett. The nomination event is where a number of Trump cabinet members and Republican lawmakers contracted COVID-19.
He said that when he arrived at the White House for Barrett’s nomination, he and others were tested for the coronavirus and while at that event some people were not wearing masks.
“I was one of the only people to wear a mask on my row,” he said. “It is a wakeup call. If the president of the United States can contract COVID-19 then anyone can get it.”
When you go to the White House, officials check your temperature when you are close to the president, Jackson said. He also took a COVID-19 test last weekend, but said he’s not sure everyone got tested.
Cissy Graham Lynch, granddaughter of the evangelical giant Billy Graham, and several other evangelical pastors including Jentezen Franklin, Ramiro Pena and Bishop Harry Jackson also prayed at the event. Lara Trump opened the event.
“We want to say again, from the bottom of our hearts to everyone out there and across this country, we have seen your messages, we have felt your prayers, we have felt your well wishes,” Lara said. “Thank you so much. I’ll tell you something. Donald Trump and our First Lady are going to come through this... And it will be through the power of prayer.”
As the prayers continued, people watching on Facebook commented with their own prayers and messages.
“We are here to pray. We are here to gather with people by the thousands,” said Pastor Franklin, who quoted from 1 Samuel 12:23 when the prophet Samuel wrote in the Old Testament, “As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord, by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right.”
In her prayer, Lynch remarked how fragile life is and prayed for frontline workers as well as those ill with the coronavirus. She also prayed for their spiritual health.
“I pray that our President knows that he is not truly alone and that he can find strength that is found only in you,” Lynch said. “God we remember that he is just a man. He is husband. He is father and he is a grandfather. We pray for the families in this country who have lost a loved one. You are a God of comfort. You are God of compassion.”
During a presidential election, on the final Sundays candidates usually tour from church to church. During the pandemic, the campaigns are appealing to religious voters through social media instead.
Sunday night, Biden’s campaign hosted the third installment of its virtual Soul of the Nation Gospel Concert series featuring renowned Grammy-nominated artist Tim Bowman Jr, Jason Nelson and Maurette Brown Clark among others.
Rev. Dr. Alyn Waller, Senior Pastor in Philadelphia of Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, opened the program with prayer and remarks. The other speakers included Bishop Reginald T. Jackson of Atlanta, Rev. Que English of the Bronx and other speakers who discussed the importance of registering to vote and how voters should understand the critical issues on the ballot in their communities.
Senior contributor Hamil Harris is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Maryland College Park and has been a lecturer at Morgan State University. Harris is minister at the Glenarden Church of Christ and a police chaplain. A longtime reporter at The Washington Post, Harris was on the team of Post reporters that published the series “Being a Black Man.” He also was the reporter on the video project that accompanied the series that won two Emmy Awards, the Casey Medal and the Peabody Award. In addition to writing for ReligionUnplugged, Harris contributes to outlets such as The Washington Post, USA Today, The Christian Chronicle and the Washington Informer.