A team of religion leaders have met with US President Donald Trump on the White House to hope for him and share the concerns of believers across the nation.
One of those present was Pastor Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC) and one among President Trump’s “faith advisors” related to the White House Faith Office.
The office is meant to advise the President on faith matters and has a special interest in preserving religious freedom. President Trump has previously spoken of the importance of defending the religious freedom of Christians from secular encroachment.
During his prayer for President Trump, Pastor Rodriguez asked God to empower the President to “advance an agenda of righteousness and justice, truth and love” and asked that God would protect him.
Pastor Rodriguez said he was grateful for the chance to “be a voice for Christians and the Latino community” and said that he was “honoured” to work with Paula White, who serves as head of the religion office.
Not everyone was pleased nevertheless, as White is a controversial figure in Christian circles, as some see her as a proponent of the ‘prosperity gospel’.
In response to the meeting, Justin Peters, an writer and evangelist said on X, “This is being led by Paula White, probably the most egregious & obvious false teachers ever to disgrace the name of Christ.
“I’ll vote with a false teacher, but I won’t ever, ever, under any circumstances, pray with one or take part in any spiritual endeavour of any kind with one.”
Others took a more liberal view, with Pastor Malachi O’Brien replying to Peters, “Jesus is moving on this nation with whom he chooses and the way he chooses … no matter your opinion. You are missing the great thing about what He is doing. Instead of constructing these moments a moment of attack … how about praising God for what is going on.”
