Charlotte, North Carolina’s historically black Antioch Road to Glory International Ministries recently announced its support for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, and it’s creating a backlash of biblical proportions.
At its Sunday service, the church hosted Trump daughter-in-law Laura Trump and the campaign’s African-American Outreach Director Omarosa Manigault, a black former contestant on the Trump reality show “The Apprentice,” to announce support for The Donald, WSOC reports.
Katrina Rodgers, daughter of the church’s founder, told the news site that policies supported by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton are harming its congregation, which is simply advocating in its best interests.
“It had a rippling effect,” Rodgers said of Clinton policies. “Not only did the prison population increase but it brought about division in our homes.”
Trump’s policies centered on “providing jobs would automatically have a rippling effect on the economy which would have effects on crime rates, which would have its effect on families,” Rogers said.
“This is what we feel in our heart of hearts … is right for us to do so we’re moving forward with that,” she said.
CNN pointed to outrage to the church’s decision from folks online, and went as far as reciting complaints on-air, including one that insinuated church leaders are the modern day equivalents of Judas, who betrayed Jesus Christ for a reported 30 pieces of silver, BizPacReview reports.
CNN’s Carol Costello told Anitoich Road to Glory International Ministries pastor Thomas Rodgers that “some African-Americans are upset that you’re having this event in support of Trump,” before reading off comments posted online.
One post alleged Trump “only cares about himself” and contends the billionaire has “even indicated his desire to date his own daughter,” which Costello said “is a low blow, I’ll admit,” according to the new site.
The post went on to insinuate, Costello continued, that church leadership made a deal with the devil.
“I don’t know how much he’s paying you and your church for your endorsement,” the online commenter posted to the church’s Facebook Page, according to Costello, “but whatever it is, it’s equal to 30 pieces of silver.”
Thomas Rodgers told Costello the black community “must point fingers at ourselves, not Mr. Trump.” He said blacks have “suffered catastrophically” by undermining family unity with their own actions, BizPacReview reports.
Katrina Rodgers told the news site the church received zero fund from the Trump campaign for its support.
“There was absolutely no exchange of funds, no favors given,” she said.
“We don’t represent everybody,” Katrina Rodgers told WSOC. “And historically, most major movements happen going against the grain. And so we feel the time is now.”
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