By Heather Clark | christiannews.net

PHILADELPHIA — Dozens of African American “pastors” from across the nation recently gathered at a private event for pro-abortion, homosexual “marriage” advocate Hillary Clinton, and laid hands on her to “decree and declare the favor of the Lord” on her for the presidency.

“Until He comes again, Secretary Clinton and President-to-be Clinton, we decree and declare from the crown of your head to the soles of your feet that the favor of the Lord will surround you like a shield, in Jesus’ name,” the clergy said, repeating after Kirbyjon Caldwell, who leads Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Houston.

Clinton had traveled to Philadelphia last Wednesday for two events, one a fundraiser at Franklin Square Capital Partners in South Philadelphia, and the other a meeting with the ministers at Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church. An estimated 100 black clergy had been invited to attend the event with the Democratic candidate, but half of those invited were present.

Cynthia Hale of Ray of Hope Christian Church in Decatur, Georgia and Otis Moss Jr., pastor emeritus of Olive Institutional Baptist Church in LaGrange, Georgia moderated the event, according to the Philadelphia Tribune. Clinton spoke to those gathered about various issues, such as gun violence, treatment of blacks by law enforcement and the economy.

“I want to be your partner, not just your president,” she also said.

According to NBC News, at the conclusion of the meeting, 28 of the 50 clergy present pledged their support to a Clinton presidency, including Mother Bethel’s Mark Kelly Tyler.

“I’m not saying that I’m voting for her just because she’s a woman but I’m certainly voting for her because she’s qualified, she’s capable, she’s ready to lead and the fact that she’s a woman is a plus,” he said. “We need to diversify our country.”

However, some ministers nationwide have spoken out against Hillary Clinton, noting that her beliefs and policies run contrary to the word of God.

“I hate the radical departure from holiness that our country continues to take, all while people stand by and cheer our ‘progress.’ God loathes homosexuality (not the homosexual) and yet many in America embrace homosexual marriage. Is God pleased? Ask Sodom and Gomorrah,” writes Bryan Ridenour on his blog “America, Look Up.”

“We slaughter over one million babies per year in the womb. The number’s staggering. Are Christians supposed to remain mum about this tragic court-approved holocaust? Is God pleased if we just look the other way?” he said. “When a candidate idolizes Margaret Sanger and is a darling of Emily’s List, conservatives need to run, not walk, in the other direction.”

Ridenour said that God will hold His people responsible for who they choose as their leader.

“If a church member asks in 2016 if I can support Hillary Clinton, I can unequivocally respond, ‘Not in this lifetime,’” he stated. “If we vote for leaders who support abortion on demand, then we essentially hold the surgical knife that strips life from the womb. If we vote for leaders who support and champion gay marriage, we in effect officiate at their ceremonies. God holds us accountable for what we do behind the voting booth curtain.”

“To those apathetic to the spiritual condition of America, we cannot expect God’s blessing if we kowtow to Hollywood’s mores and Washington’s track record of lies and deceit,” Ridenour said. “If we love America, we must bitterly cling to the Bible and our constitutional and God-given rights. Let’s not forget: ‘Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord…’ Psalm 33:12.”

‘Prosperity’ Preachers Kenneth Copeland, Paula White Laying Hands on Donald Trump for Presidency

By Heather Clark | christiannews.net | October 2, 2015

NEW YORK — What do Kenneth Copeland, Paula White, Jan Crouch, Dr. David Jeremiah and Robert Jeffress all have in common? A video has surfaced online showing the men and women, along with others, laying hands on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump this week and praying for his potential presidency.

According to reports, an estimated three dozen spiritual leaders from across America met with Trump for over two hours at his Trump Towers on Monday, providing advice. Those in attendance included a number of nationally-recognized televangelists and prosperity preachers, including the aforementioned Copeland, Crouch and White, as well as TBN regulars Jentezen Franklin, Steve Munsey and Clarence McClendon.

The meeting concluded as many of those gathered laid hands on Trump and prayed for God’s wisdom and favor on the candidate—the last few moments of which was captured on camera. He was flanked by White on one side and Jeffress on the other.

“Father, we just secure him right now by the blood of Jesus. We thank you that no weapon formed against him will be able to prosper and any tongue that rises against him will be condemned according to the word of God,” White, who leads New Destiny Christian Center in Florida, prayed as she touched his arm. “Even as we lay hands on him right now, let Your hand be laid upon him. Let him have a greater encounter with You, a greater encounter with the spirit of God.”

“All the days of his life, let him live well,” she continued. “I secure him. I secure his children. I secure his calling and his mantle.”

Kenneth Copeland, who leads Kenneth Copeland Ministries in Texas and has come under criticism for his health and wealth teaching, asked for wisdom for the candidate.

“[W]e ask you today to give this man your wisdom, boldly. Make sure and certain that he hears You. Manifest Yourself to him,” he prayed. “And we thank You and praise You for a bold man, a strong man and an obedient man.”

Following Copeland, Kirt Schneider of Jews for Jesus laid his hand on Trump’s forehead and prayed the Abrahamic blessing over the Republican presidential candidate.

“Donald Trump, the Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift you up with His countenance and give you His peace,” he declared.

David Jeremiah, pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, California also participated in the prayers, asking that the next president “will help us economically and spiritually, and in every way.”

“So today we pray for Donald Trump,” he said, as the others in the room joined in agreement. “We pray for his family. We pray for his associates. We pray that what he has heard today from those who have spoken into his life, he will consider.”

“Lord, whatever it is that You are going to do to bring around him the right people as he moves forward in this campaign, we ask you to give him direction and give him hope,” Jeremiah continued. “And Lord, thank you for allowing us to be here for this special moment. Perhaps we’ll look back on this day and remember that we stood together and we prayed for the next president of the United States.”

But not everyone is happy to hear about the meeting. Russell Moore, the president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, said that he was concerned that out of all of Christianity, billionaire Trump seems to be attracted to prosperity preachers.

“The people that Trump has so far identified as his evangelical outreach are mostly prosperity gospel types, which are considered by mainstream evangelicals to be heretics,” he told Politico.

“Trump seems to be positioning himself as a secular version of the health-and-wealth televangelists,” Moore continued. “What Donald Trump is doing in terms of promises for the future is very similar to what’s going on among these prosperity gospel hawkers.”