Christian leaders praying for Biden as he promises to be a president 'for all'

 Joe Biden delivers his inauguration speech.                                                                                                                                    (Photo: CNN)

Christian leaders are promising their prayers for Joe Biden after he was sworn in as president on Wednesday. 

The inauguration day passed peacefully as Biden called for unity and promised to be a president "for all Americans". 

Russell Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention and a longstanding Trump critic, congratulated Biden on Twitter. 

"You have my prayers for blessing, wisdom, health, and success in leading our country," he said. 

Johnnie Moore, president of the Congress of Christian Leaders, quoted from Jeremiah 29:7, which calls on believers to pray for the city so that they too will prosper. 

He also quoted 1 Timothy 2:1-2, telling Christians to pray for those in authority. 

"You can count on my prayers & the prayers of tens-of-millions of Evangelicals whose commitment to pray for our nation & its leaders knows no politics," Moore said. 

Prior to the inauguration, loyal Trump supporter and evangelist Franklin Graham had asked Christians to make Wednesday "a day of prayer — for peace and calm, and praying for our new leaders." 

Biden started inauguration day with Mass at the Catholic cathedral in Washington DC, St Matthew the Apostle. 

The homily was delivered by Kevin O'Brien, president of Santa Clara University, a Jesuit university based in Silicon Valley.

He said Biden's public service had been "animated by the same conviction" as Jesus "to help and protect people and to advance justice and reconciliation, especially for those who are too often looked over and left behind, the people whose voices you raised in the campaign and throughout your public life." 

He said this was Biden's "noble commission" and quoted Phil 4:4-9, which promises the peace of God to those who pray. 

"After too much darkness, the dawn breaks today, this inaugural day. Let us meet the dawn together, brothers and sisters, emboldened by our faith and civic conviction, full of promise and hope," he said. 

 

News
The groundbreaking BBC series that brought Jesus to TV screens
The groundbreaking BBC series that brought Jesus to TV screens

Seventy years ago, in February 1956, the BBC aired the mini-series “Jesus of Nazareth”, which was the first filming of the life of Jesus to be created for television. This is the story …

Christians mobilised to oppose extreme abortion law changes
Christians mobilised to oppose extreme abortion law changes

Christians are being asked to urge peers to support amendments tabled by Baronesses Monckton and Stroud.

Thousands of Christians return to churches in north-east Nigeria despite years of terror
Thousands of Christians return to churches in north-east Nigeria despite years of terror

The faithful are returning “in their thousands, not hundreds” despite more than a decade of brutal violence.

Trump is '100 per cent' more spiritual after assassination attempt, says pastor friend
Trump is '100 per cent' more spiritual after assassination attempt, says pastor friend

Trump's pastor and friend Mark Burns said the US President knows "the hand of God' was on him when he survived the 2024 assassination attempt.