Lorenzo Sewell

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Lorenzo Sewell (born March 24, 1981) is an American non-denominational pastor and former gang leader who serves as the senior pastor at the Detroit-based 180 Church. [1] [2] He spoke on day four of the 2024 Republican National Convention, and gave one of the three benedictions at the Second inauguration of Donald Trump. [3]

Contents

The 180 Church is a non-denominational gospel-centered congregation, [2] formerly known as the Evangel Church. It changed its name during the COVID-19 pandemic to symbolize people turning their lives around. [4]

Early life

Sewell was born & raised in Detroit. While he was in Fraser High School, his father went to prison for murder, and his younger brother was hit by a car & killed. As a result, Sewell became heavily involved in drugs, drug dealing & gang life, ultimately becoming a gang leader. [5] [6]

During his senior year of high school, while under the influence of drugs & alcohol in Daytona Beach, Sewell was kicked out of a resort. On his way out, the security guard told Sewell that he would pray for him. On April 18, 1999, Sewell attended his grandmother's church, and had a ‘Damascus Road’ experience that turned his life around. [5]

Sewell was the lead pastor of the Woodside Bible Church Pontiac Campus. Sewell also served as the Director of the Dream Center of Pontiac. He became senior pastor at 180 Church on December 31, 2018. In January 2019, Sewell became the Lead Servant of Evangel Ministries in Detroit. [7]

Stand with Evangel

In 2023, an organization called "Stand with Evangel" attempted to have Sewell removed as pastor of the 180 Church. [8] [ better source needed ] Stand with Evangel had the locks changed on the church in early June 2023. This led to a confrontation in front of the church on June 7 in which Sewell was handcuffed. [9]

As a result, Sewell began holding services in various other locations, including a methadone clinic. On June 29, Wayne Circuit Judge Kathleen McCarthy granted Sewell a temporary restraining order, allowing him to continue holding services at the church. [10]

2024 Republican National Convention

45th President & 2024 Presidential nominee Donald Trump appeared at the 180 Church in June 2024 for a roundtable while on the campaign trail. [11] At this roundtable, Sewell remarked, "Let us bow our heads, Heavenly Father. We thank you for the 45th president of the United States of America. He was charged with 34 felonies, then he raised $53 million in 24 hours". [12] Following their meeting, Sewell was invited to speak on day four of the 2024 Republican National Convention at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 18, 2024. [13] Sewell praised Trump for going into a church in the hood in a Democratic stronghold during his birthday weekend, and spending time with average everyday Americans, and asking for prayer. He then quoted Ephesians 6:11 in speaking on the Attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania on July 13. [14]

Second inauguration of President Trump

In his sermon, Sewell described Trump's survival of an assassination attempt as "a millimeter miracle". He quoted the Declaration of Independence in saying that "we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal," and followed that by quoting Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech with, "We will live in a nation where we will not be judged by the color of our skin, but by the content of our character." (Trump's inauguration was held on Martin Luther King Jr. Day). [15] [16]

Politics

Sewell does not shy away from politics. "The gospel message is a political message. The Bible is a political book. From Genesis to Revelations, we see that the Bible is a political book. It is impossible to be politically neutral." [16]

Sewell credits Ramon Jackson & his book, The Black America Report for shaping his political beliefs, [17] and attributed Trump's cultural awareness & cultural intelligence in his willingness to speak to black communities for why Black voters gravitated toward Trump in the 2024 election. [18] Leading into the election, Sewell hosted "Get out the vote" events, prayed at rallies for Trump and attended numerous campaign roundtables of faith leaders and pro-Trump conservative Christian rallies. [19]

Besides his campaign events with Trump, Sewell was also critical of Trump's opponent, Kamala Harris. When Harris stopped in Michigan for a livestream event hosted by Oprah Winfrey, Sewell criticized the Democratic candidate, and questioned where she had been in supporting Detroit over the past four years (while serving as Vice President). He called her visit 'irrelevant', and a superficial attempt to gain support among black voters rather than addressing the city's long-standing issues, especially in the school system where he said approximately 80% of the students cannot read. [20]

"Detroit was voted the neediest city in America in 2021 in terms of access to health care, home values and crime during her time as vice president." [20]

Sewell was critical of Bishop Mariann Budde's homily at the interfaith prayer service held at the Washington National Cathedral after the presidential inauguration. Budde asked the new President in the name of our God to have mercy on "the people in our country who are scared now," specifically citing the LGBTQ+ communities, immigrants, & refugees fleeing from war in their countries. [21] Sewell called it "theological malpractice on every angle," and stated that "there is nowhere in Scripture that we see that a leader would stand up without God's permission and speak to someone who is in authority." [22]

Private life

Sewell met his wife, Molly, in June of 2005. They married two years later, and have three children: Isabella, Elijah, & Naomi. [23]

Following his benediction at the Trump inauguration, he announced on social media that he was endorsing a new cryptocurrency that was created in his likeness, which he encouraged his followers to buy. [24] [25] The cryptocurrency has been described as a meme coin. [26] [27] [6]

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References

  1. ↑ Ganzak, Madison (June 27, 2024). "Created Equal: A look at Republican efforts to court Black and Latinx voters". Detroit Public Radio.
  2. 1 2 "Trump Chooses Black Pastor to Pray, Deliver Benediction at His Presidential Inauguration". BlackNews.com. Dante Lee International. January 20, 2025.
  3. ↑ Amin, Zubair (January 20, 2025). "Who Is Rev. Lorenzo Sewell? Detroit Pastor Selected Pastor For Inauguration Prayer". NewsX .
  4. ↑ Warikoo, Niraj (June 15, 2024). "Detroit pastor hosting Trump defends visit amid criticism of conservative events in city". Detroit Free Press .
  5. 1 2 Kumar, Shubham (January 20, 2025). "Rev. Lorenzo Sewell Biography". India Present Info.
  6. 1 2 Blair, Leonardo; Reporter, Senior (2025-01-22). "Pastor Lorenzo Sewell criticized for inauguration prayer, meme coin push". The Christian Post . Retrieved 2025-01-24.
  7. ↑ "Lorenzo Sewell". 180 Church Official Site. 3 September 2016.
  8. ↑ "Timothy Bogle & Chevelle Brown and Evangel Ministries Church Membership v. Lorenzo Sewell & Evangel Echos Church of the Air" (PDF). Michigan Supreme Court. May 26, 2022.
  9. ↑ Chamberlain, Dale (June 20, 2023). "Detroit Pastor Denied Access to His Church, Detained by Police During 'Church Jacking'". ChurchLeaders.com.
  10. ↑ Hunter, George (June 30, 2023). "Judge's ruling gives pastor temporary control of Detroit church". The Detroit News .
  11. ↑ Waelchli, Sydney (June 18, 2024). "The Metro: Trump rallies for Black voters' support in Detroit". Detroit Public Radio.
  12. ↑ McNamara, Russ (July 16, 2024). "Are Black voters in Detroit embracing Trump?". Detroit Public Radio.
  13. ↑ Hooper, Kelly (August 5, 2022). "RNC approves Milwaukee as 2024 convention host". Politico .
  14. ↑ Booth-Singleton, DeJanay (July 18, 2024). "Detroit pastor Lorenzo Sewell speaks on Day 4 of Republican National Convention". CBS News Detroit.
  15. ↑ "Watch Rev. Lorenzo Sewell's prayer for Donald Trump: 'A millimeter miracle'". WTVR CBS 6. January 20, 2025.
  16. 1 2 "Who Is Lorenzo Sewell, the Pastor Who Referenced King's 'Dream' Speech in Inaugural Prayer?". Associated Press. January 20, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Souls To The Polls". YouTube. 180 Church. January 24, 2025.
  18. ↑ Miller, Andrew Mark (July 18, 2024). "Detroit pastor set to speak at RNC explains why Black voters are shifting to Trump: 'Let's keep it real'". Fox News.
  19. ↑ Ford, Christiana (January 15, 2025). "Detroit pastor to pray at presidential inauguration of Donald Trump". WXYZ Detroit. Scripps Media.
  20. 1 2 McGinley, Courtney (September 19, 2024). "Black Detroit Pastor Who Electrified RNC Slams Harris' Visit: 'Irrelevant'". Newsweek .
  21. ↑ Stanley, Tiffany; Superville, Darlene; Fields, Gary (January 21, 2025). "Trump demands an apology from bishop who asked him to 'have mercy' on LGBTQ+ people & migrants". Associated Press.
  22. ↑ Nelson, Joshua (January 23, 2025). "Detroit pastor Lorenzo Sewell slams bishop who lectured Trump for 'theological malpractice'". Yahoo News .
  23. ↑ "Hi, I am Lorenzo Sewell!". Lorenzo Sewell Official Website.
  24. ↑ Brown, Matt (2025-01-20). "Who is Lorenzo Sewell, the pastor who referenced King's 'dream' speech in inaugural prayer?". Associated Press . Retrieved 2025-01-24.
  25. ↑ Odisho, Taylor (2025-01-21). "Trump Inauguration Pastor Launches His Own Crypto Coin Hours After Ceremony: 'Have You No Shame?'". Latin Times . Retrieved 2025-01-24.
  26. ↑ Barrett, Malachi (2025-01-22). "Detroit pastor launches meme coin at Trump's inauguration". BridgeDetroit. Retrieved 2025-01-24.
  27. ↑ Morris, Chris (January 23, 2025). "Lorenzo Sewell, who gave the head-turning benediction at Trump's inauguration, has launched a memecoin". Fortune . Retrieved 2025-01-24.
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