April 19, 2024
Alongside their fellow Americans, Georgia Baptists commented online over the most shocking election result in their lifetime as Donald J. Trump ascended to the presidency via a populist wave experts simply didn't see coming.
At 2:42 a.m. the New York Times sent an update acknowledging Trump had had been elected the president. Pastor Jean Ward of East Atlanta Church was among the first to post:
Pastor, East Atlanta ChurchPolls leading up to yesterday's vote placed the Republican nominee at a marked disadvantage to Hillary Clinton. As late as 8:30 p.m., a New York Times Live Presidential Forecast gave Clinton an 84% chance of winning the election. However, before 10 p.m. the forecast had swung to 61% in favor of Trump with key states such as Florida, North Carolina, and Ohio showing a Trump advantage.
The businessman and now president-elect currently has 279 electoral votes, flipping Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Iowa, and Wisconsin in the process. As of 2:19 p.m. Arizona and Michigan had yet to be declared.
Georgia Baptist ministers commented on the election itself as well as what's to come. Thoughts offered introspective for the future and how Christians should treat the historical moment.
Pastor, First Baptist Snellville
Pastor, Unity Baptist, Plainville
Pastor, Abilene Baptist, Martinez
Minister to students and singles, First Barnesville
Pastor, Second Baptist, Warner Robins
State missionary, Church Planting Ministries
Pastor, Sherwood Baptist, Albany
Pastor, Towaliga Baptist, Jackson
Pastor, Centennial Baptist, Rutledge
Pastor, Johnson Ferry Baptist, MariettaNathan Byrd, Baptist campus minister at the University of Georgia, pled for discernment among those celebrating the Trump win.
"Already this morning I have shed tears for students who are fearful for our/their future as citizens of our country," he wrote. "I have talked with other who are seeking to minister to marginalized friends and family members who are distraught; I have laughed with those who are jovial and elated that their candidate(s) won; I have talked with all about our responsibilities as followers of Jesus to be loving lights in this dark world."
He closed by encouraging believers to do just that amid the distractions.
"No matter what the outcome of the election, let's nurture that hopeful spirit of expectation and anticipate that God is up to something in our individual lives, families, nation, and world. As followers of Jesus let's not be distracted, but get to the task we have been called to – to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God!"
