The pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas, Robert Jeffress, stood in the pulpit of an Episcopal church where George Washington worshipped and preached to the incoming president on inauguration morning. He preached about an unexpected leader, Nehemiah, who built a wall around Jerusalem. “You see, God is not against building walls,” he said.
Jeffress recalled sitting with Trump on a jet, eating Wendy’s cheeseburgers, and talking about the nation’s troubles. “…(T)he challenges facing our nation are so great that it will take more than natural ability to meet them. We need God’s supernatural power.”
Jeffress wasn’t the only Southern Baptist prominent in the inaugural events. Four SBC pastors were on the platform at the National Cathedral at the traditional prayer service the day after the inauguration. Former SBC president and Arkansas pastor Ronnie Floyd and California pastor and radio preacher David Jeremiah read Scripture. Texas pastor Jack Graham, also a former SBC president, offered a prayer “for those who serve,” and Texas pastor Ramiro Peña concluded by leading the Lord’s Prayer.
Evangelist Billy Graham was represented by his son, Franklin, as Trump was sworn in, and granddaughter Cissie Graham Lynch at the prayer service.
These Baptists were in a phalanx of religious leaders that included Catholics, Episcopalians, and other Protestants, Muslims, Hindus, and Jews. It was reported to be the broadest representation of faith groups ever to participate in a presidential inauguration.
“Right now we’ve got a shot to really make a difference,” Floyd told his church the next day. “God has given us a moment. It’s time to pray more than we’ve ever prayed in our country…to pray more with stronger conviction that every life matters to God.”