Former President Trump asks Southern Baptists to defend religious liberty, free speech and innocent life in pre-SBC speech
"We can’t afford for anyone to sit on the sidelines. Now is the time for us to all pull together, and to stand up for our values, for our freedoms."
Former President Donald Trump addressed pastors and church leaders at the Life & Liberty Forum presented by The Danbury Institute via recorded message before the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Indianapolis.
The Life & Liberty Forum was not affiliated with the annual meeting and took place at an offsite location one day before it officially commenced on June 11.
Scott Colter, the Danbury Institute’s chief executive officer, told attendees that Trump wanted to be there in person, but his New York trial made it nearly impossible. Since Trump wanted to be a part of the event he sent a video message.
Speaking at the event were Albert Mohler, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary president, Congressman Mark Walker of North Carolina, and Shane Winnings, Promise Keepers CEO, in addition to Ryan Helfenbein, executive director of the Standing for Freedom Center at Liberty University.
Colter praised Trump for appointing conservative Supreme Court justices who voted in favor of Roe v. Wade.
In the recorded message the former president thanked everyone for their devotion to God and the country and praised Southern Baptists for their support. He emphasized the importance of their work in the face of difficult times and the need for everyone to stand up for their values and freedoms.
Trump stressed that Southern Baptists must defend religious liberty, free speech, innocent life, and the heritage and tradition that he said built America into the greatest nation in the world.
Below are President Trump’s remarks in their entirety:
I want to thank each and every one of you for your tremendous devotion to God, and to country. These are difficult times for our nation, and your work is so important.
We can’t afford for anyone to sit on the sidelines. Now is the time for us to all pull together, and to stand up for our values, for our freedoms. You just can’t vote Democrat. They are against religion, they are against your religion in particular. You can’t vote for Democrats, and you have to get out and vote.
We have to defend religious liberty and free speech, innocent life, and the heritage and tradition that built America into the greatest nation in the history of the world, but now, as you know, a declining nation. And I might add we are a seriously declining nation. Seriously, seriously.
I know that each of you are protecting those values every today, and I hope we will be defending them side by side for your next four years. These are going to be your four years because you are going to make a comeback like just about no other group. I know what’s happening, and I know where you are coming from and where you are going. And I will be with you side by side.
So again, thank you once again for everything you do, and you have to get out and vote. Our religious leaders have to get their incredible people, that love them so much and respect them so much, you have to get them out to vote.
God bless you and God bless America.
Related: