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Scenes from a MAGA Revival

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Scenes from a MAGA Revival

Brian Kaylor
Nov 7, 2022
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Scenes from a MAGA Revival

publicwitness.wordandway.org

Over the weekend, the ReAwaken America Tour rolled into Branson, Missouri. This traveling variety show of Christian Nationalism, anti-vaccine rhetoric, QAnon conspiracies, and election denialism featured significant political figures in the MAGA world.

From left: Michael Flynn, Eric Trump, and Mike Lindell.

The crowd in the 3,000-seat theater loved the speeches and roared with approval at praise of Donald Trump, how he “won” the 2020 election, and predictions that he’ll soon be back in the Oval Office.

Inside the Mansion Theater in Branson, Missouri, for the ReAwaken America Tour.

The crowd also cheered at attacks on President Joe Biden, other Democrats, Republicans who don’t fully back Trump, and public health officials like Anthony Fauci. And the attendees could spread these political messages beyond the event by stopping by the booths of the various vendors.

But as some of the hats, shirts, and stickers suggested, the ReAwaken America event wasn’t just a political rally. It was a religious gathering.

People raise their hands as they join in singing praise songs.

Throughout the event, the attendees sang Christian worship songs as if they were in church. Worship, they were told, is how they fight their political battle.

From left: Christian musician Sean Feucht, and a worship team from Influence Church in Anaheim, California.

And it wasn’t just singing. Each day started with the blowing of shofars to, as they explained, bring the Holy Spirit into the event.

“Prophet” Amanda Grace (center in white) leads the blowing of shofars.

In addition to the political figures invoking God as on their side in partisan politics, the event featured preachers doing likewise. With the midterm elections just days away, the speakers urged votes to bring a “red wave” in the midst of this spiritual warfare.

From left: Jackson Lahmeyer prays a blessing over people during his message, Greg Locke preaches, and Lance Wallnau offers a prophecy.

And attendees at the event lined up for times of prayer as “prophets” like Amanda Grace laid hands on them.

“Prophet” Amanda Grace prays over people outside the Trump store in the lobby of the event.

Some people sought prayers of healing, and several fell to the ground after being touched by one of the “prophets.”

This revival also included an altar call followed by baptisms. Organizers say that nearly 5,000 people have been baptized during the 17 stops of the ReAwaken America Tour in 2021 and 2022. This movement is bringing converts, but to a faith that mixes Jesus with conspiracies about elections, COVID, vaccines, and more.

While several media outlets have focused on the toxic politics and even the Christian Nationalism of the ReAwaken America Tour, the view inside the event shows it is more than just a political movement. It’s a religious revival. The question, of course, is who is being worshiped.

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Scenes from a MAGA Revival

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1 Comment
David N. Henderson
Nov 7, 2022

Your last 2 articles about RAT have really been frightening and exasperating!! Mixing religious music revivals, baptism and politics takes all of this to another level...It's insane, ridiculous, and disparate, but it's working and that's the scary part for me...It's a wonder they're not asking for persons to sacrifice themselves on some makeshift MAGA altar "...Dave Henderson HR/PCUSA

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