Paula White, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's spiritual adviser, a member of his evangelical advisory board and pastor of the New Destiny Christian Center in Florida, issued this written statement: "Far more than what divides us, this election has revealed what unites us. I have never seen such solidarity between evangelicals and Catholics, Pentecostals, charismatics and Baptists. We were brought together with a mutual love for our country and through a mutual faith in God.
"The election started the conversation but what will come from these new and renewed relationships will have far more impact than anything that could be realized through the election of any politician. We aren't ending this season so much entering a new one, ready to love the world together to a degree greater than we ever could alone."
Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, stated now that the presidential election is finally over, partisan politics and divisive rhetoric needs to be put behind as well. "I look forward to working with the new administration. Instead of the agenda of the donkey or the elephant, Christians must be about the Lamb's agenda.
"We can and we must continue the fight to reconcile Billy Graham's message of righteousness with Dr. Martin Luther King's march for justice. The moment we, as Christian voters, are co-opted by any given political party or ideology, we lose our legitimacy to speak truth to power. Looking ahead, now is the time to rise up as people of faith and as an independent voice that holds political leaders on both sides of the aisle accountable to policies that don't aim left or right, but toward righteousness and justice, for all. Chief of which remains our concern for religious liberty, the sanctity of life, immigration reform and racial unity. We pray for the safe keeping of our democracy as we transition to the new Donald Trump administration and we pray that God will continue to bless and prosper our nation in the coming months and years ahead."
Evangelist Franklin Graham also encouraged U.S. citizens to work together. "Our nation has so many problems that need fixing. Even more important are the spiritual needs of our country. Whether we are rich or poor, without Jesus Christ we are the most desperately in need, the poorest of the poor. We cannot ignore His hand and His supreme authority.
He said he prays there truly will be "one nation under God."
Jerry Johnson, president & CEO of National Religious Broadcasters, said it is well known evangelical leaders were divided concerning the presidential election.
"Nevertheless, voters who identify as evangelical made their preference clear. Now it's time for evangelical leaders to come together. Evangelicals face growing challenges to religious liberty, free speech, the sanctity of human life, and other fundamental liberties for which we must stand united in the public square. These liberties are critical to the proclamation of biblical truth, both in our churches and beyond through our members' broadcasting ministries. Nevertheless, more than just for our own sakes, the well-being and the lives of our fellow citizens are at stake in how our government addresses these matters. Because of these convictions, we must and will continue to contend for biblical truth and free speech," he said.
