CLEARFIELD – Despite a mizzling rain, around 60 people turned out for a Christians for Trump-Pence rally at the Clearfield County Courthouse on Monday.
Speakers included Josiah Sisto of the Faith Coalition for Trump in Pennsylvania, Lewis Focht, who is with the Trump campaign, as well as local politicians.
Sisto noted that it is nice to have a president and vice president who care about values such as pro-life issues and supporting individuals’ religious beliefs.
Pennsylvania is one of five states with built-in faith coalitions, he said, part of a “grand experiment” to support values voters.
Sisto said the result of the 2016 election was due to many people praying, and he asked that they continue to pray as the last two weeks of the campaign season wind down.
“The field staff need your prayers as much as the president does,” he said.
Traditionally, Sisto noted, only 50 percent of Christians even vote for president, and he asked everyone to talk with their friends and neighbors and fellow church members, to make sure they vote, help them get to the polls, and so on.
Even with that statistic, he said that the percentage of Christians planning to vote for Trump is up eight points compared to 2016, and is rising.
Focht also added that it is important for people to realize what all is at stake. “Ask yourselves, which candidate is one of faith?”
Mike Armanini, republican candidate for the 75th District, spoke briefly about his campaign to fill the seat that will be vacated by Matt Gabler, noting he hopes to keep the seat Republican and work with Rep. Tommy Sankey.
He said he promotes conservative values and support for President Trump. Recently he attended an event in support of the Second Amendment, and another supporting police, adding that he never dreamed there would come a time when both kinds of rallies would by necessary.
Armanini added that at a recent rally in DuBois for Joe Biden, there were only about 30 people present, and he was happy to see so many people braving the rain for this event.
Clearfield County Commissioner John Sobel briefly spoke, saying that he heard once that rain is God’s tears, “and with the way things are now, you can’t blame Him.”
Sobel said people have asked him how he could support Trump with the way he acts and the things he’s done. His response has been, “Well, no one is perfect, and the last person who was they nailed to a cross.”
He noted how Trump has supported faith-based organizations and business, including the Little Sisters of the Poor and a baker in Colorado who would not bake a cake in violation of his beliefs.
Sobel also reminded the crowd of how Trump has supported Israel, in a time when antisemitism is growing around the world, and that Trump has and will appoint judges who uphold and interpret the laws and not rewrite them.
Sheriff Mike Churner also thanked everyone for attending, adding that it was good to be among brothers and sisters, before leading everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
