Andrew Garfield: To Fall in Love With Jesus Is the Most Remarkable Thing - JESSILYN JUSTICE CHARISMA NEWS

Actor Andrew Garfield (L) and director Mel Gibson arrive at the 22nd Annual Critics' Choice Awards. (REUTERS/Danny Moloshok)

Andrew Garfield: To Fall in Love With Jesus Is the Most Remarkable Thing

1/12/2017 JESSILYN JUSTICE  CHARISMA NEWS

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First audiences saw him as Seventh-day Adventist and war hero Desmond Doss in Hacksaw Ridge. A few months later, they saw him as Rodrigo, a Jesuit missionary persecuted for his faith in Silence.

Actor Andrew Garfield says he fell in love on the sets, but not in a way he expected.

 "What was really easy was falling in love with this person, was falling in love with Jesus Christ. That was the most surprising thing," Garfield tells America Magazine. "God! That was the most remarkable thing—falling in love, and how easy it was to fall in love with Jesus." 

The interview with America isn't the first time the amazing Spider-Man talked about his faith.

"It was difficult to live up to that goodness, that purity, that guilelessness and childlikeness," Garfield told Relevant of his Hacksaw Ridge role. "It's hard to hang around with him because I would disappoint myself when the day was over. I would fall back into my own flawed nature, my own jealousies and insecurities, my own irritations that just weren't present as I was inhabiting Desmond." 

Of his role in Silence, Garfield says he studied the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola. These routines began to grow his faith.

Upon completion of the Exercises, Garfield was "was filled up with all this information and all this longing to spread the teachings of Christ, which I truly started to adore." 

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Why Believers Should Diligently Pray for Israel This Coming Week - JONATHAN FELDSTEIN CHARISMA NEWS

Israel desperately needs your prayers for next week's peace summit in Paris. (Flickr )

Why Believers Should Diligently Pray for Israel This Coming Week

1/13/2017 JONATHAN FELDSTEIN  CHARISMA NEWS

On Jan. 15, leaders from some 70-plus countries will meet in Paris to discuss issues relating to the Arab-Israel conflict, specifically between the Palestinians and Israel.

There's deep and legitimate concern that following the one-sided U.N. Security Council Resolution 2334 last month, that this Paris gathering will be the next step to yet another one-sided U.N. Resolution, possibly recognizing "Palestine" as a full state, setting its borders as the 1949 armistice lines and performing other unilateral actions that are not only deeply biased, but make peace harder than easier to reach. (For background, you can look at these articles from bridgesforpeace.com and the Jerusalem Post).

Political and civic leaders in Israel, the U.S. and other countries surely are working actively to prevent pontificating in Paris from becoming anything that forces Israel into a corner. I can only imagine the frenzied diplomatic jockeying at every level. 

In addition to these important and necessary actions, it's also a time for prayer. As one friend suggested, he will be fasting. Christians and Jews need to stand together and pray together for God to ensure a positive outcome. I asked others what they would pray for.

These are some of the responses I received:

• "We are with you in this war. Our hope is in God, not in man. Only God can show the way."
• "God has been leading me to Esther because He is looking for those that will not stay silent in such troubling times for Israel. The Scripture I have been reading over and over is: "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?"
• "Each of us is given areas of influence, and it's time for us to rise up and speak on behalf of the land given to the Jewish people to those in our sphere of influence. I pray we will not remain silent, but we will see an Esther generation coming forth in this time and season." 
• "We too are in a week of prayer and fasting. We will be lifting up Israel in much prayer."
• "The heart of our prayer is that the eyes of the world's understanding will be opened in the knowledge of God, to know the importance of Israel in God's plan of salvation, that the blindness that deceives the world concerning Israel will be removed, and all will come to the love of God in support of Israel. We wrestle not with flesh and blood but with powers of darkness. The core problem is spiritual blindness. Only God can open the eyes of the blind."
• "We pray for our fellow believers who are deceived by the wiles of Satan. It is difficult for us as follows of Jesus to understand how fellow Christians cannot see God's plan for Israel. That they will come to know God's mystery of joining Jew and Gentile together in the eternal covenant given to Abraham and all of its promises. May we all come to know the truth."
• "I am praying Proverbs 2:1-15, "My son, if you will receive my words, and hide my commandments within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; yes, if you cry out for knowledge, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; out of His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He lays up sound wisdom for the righteous; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly. He keeps the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints. Then you will understand righteousness and judgment and equity, and every good path. When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you, to deliver you from the way of the evil man, from the man who speaks perverse things, from those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness; who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the perversity of the wicked; whose ways are crooked, and who are devious in their paths.
• "I'm planning a time of prayer with friends on Saturday in preparation for Sunday's conference in Paris. Psalm 2 has been a source of prayer and encouragement to me to pray for the conference. I have prayed that God would confuse and confound all the plans and proceedings of the nations gathered together. I love the picture of God laughing, He will have the last laugh, and I am reminded of the saying 'He who laughs last laughs loudest.'"
• "I have thought of Esther and Haman and the plans that Haman had for the Jews and how God, in His wisdom and power, reversed them all, so that what Haman meant for evil, He used for good. So, I pray that God will use for good all that Satan wants to use for evil."
• "We are standing with you, dear brother, and all of our beloved Israel. We will not give up and we will not turn our backs."

As Jews worldwide read the Torah portion, Genesis 47:28-50:26, this week, we look to that section of Scripture for a relevant word for today's current events. Before Jacob died, he asked to be buried with his forefathers: "Then he charged them and said to them, 'I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought along with the field from Ephron the Hittite as a burial place. They buried Abraham and Sarah his wife there. They buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife there, and I buried Leah there. The field and the cave that is there were purchased from the children of Heth'" (Gen. 37:29-32). 

Let the nations of the world that gather in Paris not have the hubris to call the Land occupied, not when we know that it was deeded by God Himself, parts purchased to avoid any confusion, and because the people to whom God gave the Land cannot be "occupiers" in that Land when they are the owners.

I pray this will be a catalyst for far more prayer than politics, as the latter is important, but the former is essential. I pray you will add your prayers, share this article, and that together, millions like us will beseech God to continue to protect Israel throughout, and as a result of, this Paris gathering. And as the Torah continues in verse 20, let this be the model for Paris among those who mean evil against Israel: "But as for you, you intended to harm me, but God intended it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many lives" (Gen. 50:20). 

What is your prayer? 

Jonathan Feldstein was born and educated in the U.S. and immigrated to Israel in 2004. He is married and the father of six. Throughout his life and career, he has been blessed by the calling to fellowship with Christian supporters of Israel and shares experiences of living as an Orthodox Jew in Israel. He writes a regular column for Standing With Israel at charismanews.com. He can be reached at firstpersonisrael@gmail.com.

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Angels of Abundant Harvest Targeting Christian Business Owners - JENNIFER LECLAIRE CHARISMA NEWS

"The increase that I will give you is coming. This season of growth will be like none other you have experienced. New doors will open to a new people. You will think new thoughts and do a fresh work." (Yamanaka Tamaki/Flickr/CC)

Angels of Abundant Harvest Targeting Christian Business Owners

1/13/2017 JENNIFER LECLAIRE  CHARISMA NEWS

Jennifer LeClaire is now sharing her reflections and revelations through Walking in the Spirit. Listen at charismapodcastnetwork.com.

We were talking about the angels of abundant harvest. We were talking about how strong leaders walk in love. We were talking about the goodness of God.

Dr. Steve Greene, publisher and executive vice president at Charisma Media, and I often start emailing each other several hours before the rest of the staff hits their desks. He's full of wisdom and grace.

Earlier this week, we were bantering back and forth about angels when he suddenly sent me a prophetic word I wish every business leader could read. I hope you'll share this with anyone you know in the marketplace.

Here is what Dr. Greene prophesied:

"As you grow closer to Me, I will draw nearer to your business. If I am Lord of your life, I will be Lord of your business. I long for your business to honor Me as I rain down upon it.

"The increase that I will give you is coming. This season of growth will be like none other you have experienced. New doors will open to a new people. You will think new thoughts and do a fresh work. Others have not done this work. Behold! I give you a new path. You've been walking the path I intended for others. This new path is your path.

"Know that I will be with you as you move with the gifts and specific knowledge I have given to you. 

"Do not look to the left or to the right but along the path I will direct. Set your eyes upon Me, and I will do what I have promised.

"Do not try to be like others or join others along their paths. This is a new thing that I intend for you. The path is blessed. Your gifts will be multiplied as you lead others along this way. This is a path of business that I have birthed in you. I will bless others through you as you travel this path. Fear not, for I am saying to you on this day, in this way, that I have prepared hearts and minds to receive you and this new work.

"My words will not surprise you today. Lead the people I have given to you with this fresh anointing. I am in this work. I will bless many through you. This is the word of the Lord."

If you are doing kingdom work in the marketplace, receive this word! Confess it, declare it, pray into it. It bore witness with me in the season of abundant harvest! If you haven't read my prophetic word about the angels of abundant harvest, click here.

Be sure to subscribe to Dr. Greene's blog. Click here.

Jennifer LeClaire is senior editor of Charisma. She is also director of Awakening House of Prayer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, co-founder of awakeningtv.com, on the leadership team of the New Breed Revival Network and author of several books, including The Next Great Move of God: An Appeal to Heaven for Spiritual Awakening; Mornings With the Holy Spirit, Listening Daily to the Still, Small Voice of God; The Making of a Prophet and Satan's Deadly Trio: Defeating the Deceptions of Jezebel, Religion and Witchcraft. You can visit her website here. You can also join Jennifer on Facebook or follow her on Twitter. Jennifer's Periscope handle is @propheticbooks.

3 Reasons Why you should read Life in the Spirit. 1) Get to know the Holy Spirit. 2) Learn to enter God's presence 3) Hear God's voice clearly! Go deeper!

Has God called you to be a leader? Ministry Today magazine is the source that Christian leaders who want to serve with passion and purpose turn to. Subscribe now and receive a free leadership book.

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Did you like this article? You'll enjoy Jennifer LeClaire's book, The Next Great Move of God: An Appeal to Heaven for Spiritual Awakening

No Peace in Paris - Charles Gardner ISRAEL TODAY

No Peace in Paris

Friday, January 13, 2017 |  Charles Gardner  ISRAEL TODAY

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Topics:

Peace Process

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not a problem that is going to disappear with a wave of a magic wand weaved by the world’s politicians. It’s an age-old dilemma that has spiritual roots, and a spiritual solution.

Representatives of 70 nations will descend on Paris on Sunday for a global conference to promote a “two-state solution” as the way to lasting peace in the Middle East. It’s a ‘peace’ they plan to impose on Israel, who will not even be there! And the fear among Jews is that whatever is agreed in France will be used as the basis for a UN Security Council resolution that would permanently divide Israel and create an Islamic Palestinian state.

But the nations are merely engaging in another distraction – a denial of reality – that does not begin to address the issue. Just three weeks ago the UN passed a resolution declaring that Israel is illegally ‘occupying’ much of the land to which it is historically, and biblically, entitled – including the Temple Mount, Western Wall and the Old City itself (every inch of east Jerusalem, in fact) which has been part of Judaism for thousands of years. And Britain, to its shame, voted for this!

In rewriting history and making a mockery of justice and fairness, the United Nations has become a sick joke as it brazenly continues to back the Palestinian narrative that would drive Israel into the sea. Their spokesmen have been quoted over and again saying that they only want such a state as a launch pad for ridding the region of Jews altogether.[1]

The response to the truck-ramming attack in Jerusalem which killed four Israeli Defence Force soldiers[2] says it all. Arab Palestinians took to the streets and social media to celebrate and, in Gaza, the ruling Hamas terrorist group praised the attack as a “natural response to the Israeli occupier’s crimes”. People in Gaza and the Palestinian Authority-controlled ‘West Bank’ were seen festively handing out sweets to mark the occasion.

According to the PA, the murder of Israeli youths is sanctioned by Islam! The official PA daily said the killer “died as a Shahid” (that is, a martyr for Allah). And the Authority will now reward the terrorist’s wife with a lifetime monthly allowance of £627 ($760 or 2,900 shekels). And this in a territory led by Mahmoud Abbas – a so-called ‘moderate’.

No, the problem is not the settlements, or Jewish communities, built on disputed land claimed by the Palestinians. The root of this enduring conflict is anti-Semitism, currently in the shape of Islamic fundamentalism. Actually, Israel is entitled under international law to Judea and Samaria (currently known as the West Bank) courtesy of the San Remo Conference of 1922 in the aftermath of World War I. In fact it was around this time that a ‘two-state solution’ was first tried when, with the stroke of a pen, the British Government handed over a major portion of the territory originally earmarked for Israel to the Arabs – the country now known as Jordan. So why is there a need for further division?

The Paris Conference, like the recent UN resolution, could well make things worse for Israel and render peace even less likely by encouraging terror groups to believe they have the backing of world powers.

This would be a profound tragedy, however, especially for the nations involved. There will undoubtedly be further battles for Israel, but in the end they hold the ‘trump’ card – and I am not referring to the incoming U.S. President.

Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, will return to his beloved land – and the nations who scattered his people and divided up his land will be put on trial. But the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem will be restored. (See Joel 3.1f)

Jesus will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and will be king over the whole earth. (Zechariah 14.1–9)

Come, Lord Jesus!

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1. For this and other information in this article, I am indebted to David Soakell’s January 12 2017 newsletter, Watching Over Zion, produced weekly for Christian Friends of Israel, as well as to official PA TV, January 8 2017.  ↩
2. This included three young women aged 20–22, one of whom, Yael Yekutiel, was a Facebook friend of my CFI colleague David Soakell, who described the 20-year-old officer as “full of light and life” who “seemed to love everyone and everyone loved her.” David himself narrowly missed being a victim of a suicide bomb back in 2002.  ↩

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Why Is Obama Moving Troops Into Poland And Provoking A War With Russia Right Before The Inauguration? - Michael Snyder THE ECONOMIC COLLAPSE BLOG

Why Is Obama Moving Troops Into Poland And Provoking A War With Russia Right Before The Inauguration? Posted: 12 Jan 2017   Michael Snyder  THE ECONOMIC COLLAPSE BLOG January 20th cannot come soon enough.  Instead of stepping back and trying to ensure a smooth transition for Donald Trump, Barack Obama has decided to go hog wild and use every ounce of presidential power still available to him.  He has been establishing a bunch of new national monuments, he just stabbed Israel in the back at the United Nations, and on Thursday he even took time to give Joe Biden a Presidential Medal of Freedom.   But one of the things that has people the most concerned is his endless provoking of Russia.  Every few days it seems like Obama is doing something else to aggravate Russia, and if he wasn’t leaving office in about a week I am sure that the mainstream media would be full of speculation about a possible war. Lame duck presidents are not supposed to make risky moves like this once a new president has been elected.  On Thursday, we learned that U.S. troops have been permanently deployed to Poland for the very first time… American soldiers rolled into Poland on Thursday, fulfilling a dream some Poles have had since the fall of communism in 1989 to have U.S. troops on their soil as a deterrent against Russia. Some people waved and held up American flags as U.S. troops in tanks and other vehicles crossed into southwestern Poland from Germany and headed toward the town of Zagan, where they will be based. Poland’s prime minister and defense minister will welcome them in an official ceremony Saturday. Poland was once a key member of the Warsaw Pact alliance, and the Russians are quite alarmed that U.S. troops will now be stationed so close to the Russian heartland.  The following comes from ABC News… “These actions threaten our interests, our security,” President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday. “Especially as it concerns a third party building up its military presence near our borders. It’s not even a European state.” And it has also been announced that NATO troops will arrive in Lithuania in late January.  If you will remember, Lithuania was actually part of the Soviet Union during the Cold War. All of a sudden, Russia has become enemy number one.  Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton say that Russia is to blame for Clinton’s election loss, and so at the end of December Obama expelled 35 Russian diplomats from the country. That is the sort of thing that you do before a war starts. Over in Europe, they are so freaked out about potential Russian interference in their elections that they are “erecting defenses to counter possible Russian cyber attacks”… Nations in Europe, where Germany and France this year hold elections, are erecting defenses to counter possible Russian cyber attacks and disinformation to sway Western politics, but intelligence experts say this might be too little and too late. The issue of Russian “influence operations” has taken on new urgency after U.S. intelligence agencies released a non-classified assessment that President Vladimir Putin ordered a campaign to move the U.S. election in favor of Donald Trump. European nations and NATO are setting up centers to identify “fake news”, bolstering cyber defenses and tracking use of social media which target Russian-speaking communities, far-right groups, political parties, voters and decision-makers. Back in 2012, Barack Obama mocked Mitt Romney for saying that Russia was a serious threat to our national security.  He even joked that the 1980s were calling Romney because they wanted their foreign policy back. At that time, Barack Obama boldly declared that the Cold War had been over for 20 years.  But now here we are just four years later and Barack Obama has gotten us into a new Cold War.  The crisis in Ukraine, the civil war in Syria, the price of oil, cyber-espionage and a whole host of other issues have brought tensions between the United States and Russia to a boiling point. Many are hoping that relations with Russia will improve during the Trump administration, but the truth is that things could go either way. It is important to remember that Trump will be surrounded by military people that are virulently anti-Russia.  For example, retired Marine General James Mattis has been nominated to be Defense Secretary, and this week he told Congress that Russia is the “principal threat” to U.S. security… While much of the hearing has so far been without controveries, in the most striking moment so far, Mattis told the Senate Armed Services Committee that Russia stands as the “principal threat” to the United States’s security. He said this is because of its actions and efforts to “intimidate” other countries. Senator John McCain questioned Mattis to get his opinion on how much of a threat Russia represents. Mattis response was that the world order is “under biggest attacks since WW2, from Russia, terrorist groups, and China’s actions in the South China Sea”, agreeing with the neocon senator that Russia is trying to break up NATO. “I’m all for engagement” with Russia, “but we also have to recognize the reality of what Russia is up to,” Mattis told Senator Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island). There is a great deal of concern that Trump’s view of Russia could be significantly shaped by strong military men such as Mattis.  Both Democrats and Republicans want Trump to become much more anti-Russia, and let us hope that he does not give in to the pressure. Over in Russia, they view us very negatively as well.  A Gallup survey taken in mid-2016 found that current U.S. leadership (the Obama administration) only had a one percent approval rating in Russia. Yes, you read that correctly. You can’t get much lower than one percent. The Russians consider themselves to be the great force for good in the world, and they consider the United States to be the great force for evil.  They openly talk about the possibility of nuclear war on their news broadcasts, and on one recent broadcast people were actually encouraged to locate the closest nuclear bomb shelter to their homes. And in response to U.S. troops being deployed to Poland, the Russian government has deployed advanced anti-aircraft missile systems around Moscow… Russia has deployed anti-aircraft missile systems around Moscow to protect the capital from attack in the latest sign Vladimir Putin is preparing for war. The s-400 Triumph air defence system has been providing air cover for Russian forces in Syria since November, and is now being deployed on home soil. It is capable of hitting moving airborne targets including planes and incoming missiles and has a range of 400km. We should be very thankful that Barack Obama is leaving office, because right now we are on a path that leads to war with Russia. Every American should be hoping that Donald Trump will work to greatly improve relations with the Russians, but all it would take is one wrong move for things to start deteriorating once again. A new Cold War has begun, and as I recently told a live studio audience at Morningside, the stakes are incredibly high…

Video of the Day: Gate of Mercy - Israel Today

Video of the Day: Gate of Mercy

Friday, January 13, 2017 |  Israel Today Staff

On Thursday, popular Israeli musician, singer and poet Meir Banai passed away. He was only 55.

Banai belonged to the well-known Banai family that has produced many top artists and musicians over the years.

Meir Banai had numerous hits to his name, including the one in the video above, titled Sha'ar HaRachamim - Gate of Mercy.

WATCH HERE

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A 'New Day' for Christians Under Trump Administration? - CBN News Jennifer Wishon

A 'New Day' for Christians Under Trump Administration?

01-11-2017

CBN News Jennifer Wishon

WASHINGTON -- For nearly a decade, it seemed like Washington sent conservative Christians to wander in the wilderness, and now they feel a sense of deliverance. 

"The Christians are being treated horribly because we have nobody to represent the Christians," Donald Trump told CBN News shortly before he announced he was running for president.

Throughout his campaign, Trump reinforced his promises and since winning the election he's appointed one Christian conservative after another to his cabinet.

"I will be the greatest representative of the Christians they've had in a long time," Trump continued.

A 'New Day' in Washington

And now the vast majority of evangelicals who helped send him to the White House are ready to reap their rewards. Those include the appointment of pro-life Supreme Court justices and banning late term abortions.  

"A baby in the womb that has all its vital organs, has eyelashes and fingernails, can hear and respond to its mothers voice and feel pain deserves legal protection as a member of our human family. And he's agreed to sign that into law," said Penny Nance.

As president of Concerned Women for America, an author and a fierce advocate for the unborn, Nance says it feels like a new day in Washington.

"I really believe God listened to the prayers of the faithful around this country as we reached out one more time and said give us another chance," Nance said.

Freedom to Live Their Faith

There's also an expectation the new president will enforce the constitutional right for Christians to live their faith and obey their consciences. It's an issue that led to an historic turnout on election day.

"I think there's no more important issue at home or abroad than freedom of conscience or religious liberty," said Charles Haynes, founder of the Religious Freedom Center of the Newseum Institute.

"In this country, people seem to get the idea that now in the public square people of faith should be quiet about it, keep it in their homes or their churches or their places of worship but actually that's absurd. I mean, for most believers of any faith, practicing one's faith means practicing it all the time," Haynes continued.

"I don't want to equate persecution in the United States compared to what's taking place in China or anything like that, but you're seeing people of faith squeezed out," said Frank Wolf, fellow at the 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative.

"We're finding a hostility in the media. We're finding it's okay to ridicule a Catholic priest or a Christian missionary - they're almost the brunt of a joke," Wolf said.

Christians wished it was a joke when the U.S. Civil Rights Commission issued its September report on religious freedom.

Commission chairman Martin Castro wrote "The phrases 'religious liberty' and 'religious freedom' will stand for nothing except hypocrisy so long as they remain code words for discrimination, intolerance, racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia, Christian supremacy or any form of intolerance."

"This report was appalling to me because it really essentially said, when there's a conflict between principles in our public arena, nondiscrimination for example and religious freedom, guess what? Nondiscrimination always wins, religious freedom never has a voice," Haynes said.

We've entered an era, he says, where the claim of religious freedom is perceived as an effort to deny someone else their rights.

Frustration Turns to Relief

"By using language that suggests that Christians who object or who want accommodation are just by definition bigots is very wrong and dangerous," Haynes continued.

It's a frustration that has turned to relief for Christians with the new arrival of an advocate in the White House and Christians happy with Trump are thrilled with his vice president. Former congressman Frank Wolf served with Mike Pence in the house.

"We have one of finest men that I've ever served with as vice president. Mike Pence is honest, ethical, decent, moral man of great faith and so the opportunity and I think President-elect Trump has been very sympathetic," Wolf said.

He adds that the church needs to keep the lines of communication open with both the new president and Congress to keep this agenda moving in the right direction.