Trump’s pastor coming to NZ
An evangelical adviser to Donald Trump is among a delegation of celebrity pastors from American megachurches coming to Auckland.
The Life conference 2018’s lineup of speakers includes pastor Jentezen Franklin, a member of the evangelical advisory council, which has direct access to the White House.
It was formed during Trump’s presidential campaign and, unlike business advisory councils that disbanded over his response to white supremacist demonstrations in Charlottesville, has stayed relatively intact.
Franklin has publicly criticised the president during his time on the board, including when Trump reportedly called nations such as Haiti and El Salvador ‘‘s...hole countries’’.
Another keynote speaker at the conference is Miami-based pastor Rich Wilkerson Jr, who was the celebrant at the 2014 wedding of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West.
Life Church spokesman Phil Irons said up to 5000 people were expected to attend the conference at the Vodafone Events Centre from April 24 to 27. This year it had been expanded to include both a youth and kids’ conference.
‘‘These speakers have all been to Life previously and are great friends of the church and of senior pastors Paul and Maree de Jong,’’ Irons said of the line-up.
‘‘Pastor Jentezen is a New York Times best-selling author and speaks at conferences worldwide.’’
Franklin was not available for an interview.
Tickets to the conference were $195 for an adult, or $400 for a family pass. The event’s website said it would be centred around the theme of ‘‘overcoming’’.
‘‘Our prayer is that each individual, The Prime Minister is demanding the US pull back from nonmandated bombing of Syria and put the decision in front of the United Nations, instead.
Jacinda Ardern says the Government was told yesterday morning about the bombing plans.
President Donald Trump announced the US, UK and France had launched a military strike against three targets just after 1pm yesterday (NZT) in response to the Syrian government’s latest chemical weapons attack.
Ardern said New Zealand had pushed for a diplomatic solution.
‘‘The use of the veto powers at the Security Council prevented that course of action. We have always
couple and family that attend will be ministered to and equipped to live an overcoming life, empowered to achieve what God has called them to.’’
Life Church (originally Christian Life Centre) was founded by Paul and Maree de Jong almost 30 years ago. It has sites in Mt Eden, South Auckland, Albany and Melbourne.
It’s also building a new church on Normanby Rd, Mt Eden, after a land swap with Auckland Council. The former premises on Mt Eden condemned the use of the veto, including by Russia in this case.’’
‘‘New Zealand therefore accepts why the US, UK and France have today responded to the grave violation of international law, and the abhorrent use of chemical weapons against civilians.
‘‘The action was intended to prevent further such atrocities being committed against Syrian civilians. This is clearly in breach of international law.
But, she said, it was important the issue returned to the Security Council. Rd were in the way of the City Rail Link project.
The new digs will include a 1750-seat auditorium and a 300-seat conference room. The two-year construction project is due to be finished in December.
Despite being embroiled in numerous sex scandals involving a Playboy playmate and a porn star, Trump has been extremely popular with evangelical voters in the United States for his strong antiabortion stance.
Allies begin Syria attack WORLD p12