AZ megachurch to host Trump tomorrow (6/23) at the next stop on the Pandemic Hotspot Tour

[essentialsaltes]

The Phoenix megachurch where President Donald Trump is scheduled to appear next week did not know he was coming when it rented a facility to the group hosting the event.

A spokesman for Students for Trump, which is hosting the event Tuesday, told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Friday the president’s involvement wasn’t confirmed before the group secured the facility.

Students for Trump is a project of Turning Point Action, which is a sister group to Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA organization.

The event is set for Dream City’s auditorium on Cave Creek Road north of Thunderbird Road. A person who answered the church’s phone Friday told KTAR News that the venue has 3,000 seats.

The convention starts at 1:30 p.m. and concludes after Trump’s appearance, which is expected to begin at 3:40 p.m., the Students for Trump spokesman said.

 

[essentialsaltes]

While Oklahoma was seeing a spike in COVID-19 cases, the state's per capita rate is still quite low for the country. In contrast, Arizona is also seeing a swift increase, and the per capita rate is higher than the US average. ICU bed occupancy is around 85%.

 

[miamited]

Hi ES,

I wonder if anyone else finds it odd that fellowships of christian believers are all up in arms about a woman who supports reproductive rights...but let some liar, thief and fornicator come knocking at the door and they welcome with open arms.

Odd isn't it. Personally, I think the fellowship of believers should stay set apart from the world of worldly politics. Let political gatherings be held in town halls and event centers and if christians want to go, that's fine. But to hold them in fellowship meeting places gives some credence to the person, platform and party that I honestly don't think that God supports.

God bless,
In Christ, ted

 

[miamited]

That's one of the things that I look for in fellowships that I am enjoined with. The message is never about some political issue or cause or person. While the pulpit speaker may encourage everyone to vote, there is never an endorsement for or against.

Certainly individual attendees may have concerns to be made known about a political cause. It is never a part of the body of the fellowship as a whole.

But Jesus did warn us that on that day many will say to him, Lord, Lord. Jesus also chastised Israel that they had made his Father's house a den of thieves.

For my preference, the message of the fellowship of believers worshiping the one true and living God is about Jesus and him crucified for our salvation. Within that parameter we teach that individuals should live a godly life and give Scriptural training on how God has exampled for us that such a life should be lived. It never involves politics or political issues.

God bless,
In Christ, ted

 

[JackRT]

I find it duplicitous that they would not inform the church just what the event would be when they rented the facility. Surely the owner of the facility has a right to know?

 

[essentialsaltes]

But to hold them in fellowship meeting places gives some credence to the person, platform and party that I honestly don't think that God supports.

Strangely enough that didn't bother me, because I figured the church would rent to anyone who had the money, but now I'm worried that isn't the case, and they might be discriminating. The story alludes to the church's statement:

Statement Regarding Turning Point Action At Dream City Church
June 12, 2020 – Dream City Church confirms it will be renting its facilities to Turning Point Action for their Phoenix event. Turning Point Action contacted Dream City regarding use of its facilities for a student event. Dream City prayerfully considered and then agreed. Turning Point Action subsequently informed Dream City that the President planned to speak at the event. Dream City’s facility rental does not constitute endorsement of the opinions of its renters. Each facility rental is a means to generate funds so that Dream City may continue to carry out its outreach vision – to reach the hurting and needy in the community for Jesus Christ. Please join Dream City in praying that the church may continue to effectively carry out that mission.

[Emphasis added.] It sounds like they may pick and choose who they let rent the facility, even if they also want to disclaim any endorsement. This reminds me of other 'public accommodation' cases where a group would rent a wedding facility to a straight couple, but not a gay couple.

 

[essentialsaltes]

I find it duplicitous that they would not inform the church just what the event would be when they rented the facility. Surely the owner of the facility has a right to know?

They allege that the president's attendance was not confirmed when they needed to book the space.

 

[JackRT]

Strangely enough that didn't bother me, because I figured the church would rent to anyone who had the money, but now I'm worried that isn't the case, and they might be discriminating. The story alludes to the church's statement:

Statement Regarding Turning Point Action At Dream City Church
June 12, 2020 – Dream City Church confirms it will be renting its facilities to Turning Point Action for their Phoenix event. Turning Point Action contacted Dream City regarding use of its facilities for a student event. Dream City prayerfully considered and then agreed. Turning Point Action subsequently informed Dream City that the President planned to speak at the event. Dream City’s facility rental does not constitute endorsement of the opinions of its renters. Each facility rental is a means to generate funds so that Dream City may continue to carry out its outreach vision – to reach the hurting and needy in the community for Jesus Christ. Please join Dream City in praying that the church may continue to effectively carry out that mission.

[Emphasis added.] It sounds like they may pick and choose who they let rent the facility, even if they also want to disclaim any endorsement. This reminds me of other 'public accommodation' cases where a group would rent a wedding facility to a straight couple, but not a gay couple.

Would they rent to the Hell's Angels or a Satanist Church or a convention of evolutionary scientists?

 

[miamited]

I find it duplicitous that they would not inform the church just what the event would be when they rented the facility. Surely the owner of the facility has a right to know?

Hi jack,

Well, that also shows how little respect that Donald Trump has for the things of God. Isn't it written in the book of the Revelation of Jesus that there will be one to stand on the wing of the temple and speak great blasphemies? I'm not saying that Donald Trump is that person, but that what he is doing will be very like what that person will do.

Donald Trump wants to use the worship centers that are for the worship of the one true and living God as props to show his great 'religiosity' to those blinded believers. It is also written that if God had not cut short the days of tribulation, even the elect might be deceived. Again, not saying that these events are a part of the days of great tribulation, but it does show, at least myself, just how easily some can be deceived to support the ungodly, but think that they are supporting the godly. Again, another rebuke that Jesus laid at the feet of the religious Jewish councils.

There seem to be a fairly large number of people enjoined with the christian faith that wholeheartedly believe that they are doing the work of God in allowing this blasphemer, liar and fornicator to spew his great blasphemies among God's people, in what many believers today refer to as God's house.

God bless,
In Christ, ted

 

[istodolez]

The Phoenix megachurch where President Donald Trump is scheduled to appear next week did not know he was coming when it rented a facility to the group hosting the event.

A spokesman for Students for Trump, which is hosting the event Tuesday, told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Friday the president’s involvement wasn’t confirmed before the group secured the facility.

Students for Trump is a project of Turning Point Action, which is a sister group to Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA organization.

The event is set for Dream City’s auditorium on Cave Creek Road north of Thunderbird Road. A person who answered the church’s phone Friday told KTAR News that the venue has 3,000 seats.

The convention starts at 1:30 p.m. and concludes after Trump’s appearance, which is expected to begin at 3:40 p.m., the Students for Trump spokesman said.

With only 3000 seats to pack I'm sure DJT will be able to play to a "packed house". Which is truly terrifying since Arizona is having a MASSIVE spike in COVID cases.

America Is Reopening. But have we flattened the curve?

Maybe Trump should just start booking ICU's for his rallies. He can play to the "ventilator crowd" (they don't tend to ask any uncomfortable questions).

 

[miamited]

HI ES,

Thanks for your reply of which I have copied a part of here:

Dream City’s facility rental does not constitute endorsement of the opinions of its renters. Each facility rental is a means to generate funds so that Dream City may continue to carry out its outreach vision – to reach the hurting and needy in the community for Jesus Christ.

So, this Dream City is ok if someone commits a murder for hire, so long as the funds received for the work are used to continue to carry out its outreach vision. Let me use just a slightly softer example. They are ok with renting their facilities out to operate a pawn shop in which they would likely suspect that stolen merchandise will be pawned, but since the rental fee goes to promote the gospel message, well...that's just fine and dandy to them. That seems to be a fairly sticky wicket to me. While Dream City lessors have trumpeted that this rental agreement doesn't constitute an endorsement, is that posted on the doors of the event center? Is it going to be emblazoned as a script at the bottom of the screen of any news or television or radio or internet productions? How does John Q public, who may attend or watch this event know that the fellowship center where it is being held doesn't endorse what it is that they are allowing their center to be used for? Again, seems like a fairly sticky wicket to me.

I feel fairly confident that those Jewish traders and lenders whom Jesus referred to as creating a den of thieves in his Father's house, thought that what they were doing was for the betterment of God's cause also. Hey, they were preventing people from having to take a perfect lamb from their own flocks to sacrifice. Surely God was satisfied with that purpose and Jesus must have just as surely been wrong. Right?

God bless,
In Christ, ted

 

[wing2000]

With only 3000 seats to pack I'm sure DJT will be able to play to a "packed house". Which is truly terrifying since Arizona is having a MASSIVE spike in COVID cases.

America Is Reopening. But have we flattened the curve?

Maybe Trump should just start booking ICU's for his rallies. He can play to the "ventilator crowd" (they don't tend to ask any uncomfortable questions).

ICU hospital bed capacity in Arizona has been in the mid 80's for the past couple of weeks:
As of Sunday, 82% of current inpatient beds and 84% of ICU beds were in use for COVID-19 and other patients.

The state has little capacity for more hospitalizations -- there's a good chance capacity could be breached with over 2k new cases reported daily in the past week.

At least the organizers state they will comply with the current mandatory mask order the City of Phoenix has in place:
Organizers said they expect President Donald Trump’s speech Tuesday in Phoenix to draw more than 3,000 mostly young attendees who will comply with the city's new mask ordinance.

Arizona hits new COVID-19 hospitalization records as cases continue to spike ahead of president's visit

Expect crowd to wear masks at Trump speech at Dream City Church in Phoenix, organizer says

 

[miamited]

Hi wing,

You copied from the article:

Organizers said they expect President Donald Trump’s speech Tuesday in Phoenix to draw more than 3,000 mostly young attendees who will comply with the city's new mask ordinance.

I guess this Dream Center is into prophecy really, really big. Seeing as how that's the only way that they could 'know' that the young attendees will comply with the city's mask ordinance. Or...they're going to turn away anyone without a mask. Somehow I just don't see that happening at a Trump engagement. We'll see. I'm sure there'll be a followup on that issue.

God bless,
In Christ, ted

 

[JackRT]

I would make it mandatory that all participants in the event wear masks --- I mean all!

 

[miamited]

I would make it mandatory that all participants in the event wear masks --- I mean all!

Hi jack,

A legal action was brought in Tulsa to require masks at the rally there and it was denied. Judging by the news coverage, there weren't a lot of masks in attendance. That's why I'm curious to see how this Dream Center is going to handle the matter.

If Trump should show up, and the turn out is low, I can almost predict how he's going to handle that. "The loser liberals that we rented this place from are preventing people from coming in the door."

God bless,
In Christ, ted

 

[wing2000]

Hi wing,

You copied from the article:


I guess this Dream Center is into prophecy really, really big. Seeing as how that's the only way that they could 'know' that the young attendees will comply with the city's mask ordinance. Or...they're going to turn away anyone without a mask. Somehow I just don't see that happening at a Trump engagement. We'll see. I'm sure there'll be a followup on that issue.

God bless,
In Christ, ted

Turning Point USA are the event organizers...but I agree, I don't see anyone being denied entry because a maks is missing. In theory, the city of Phoenix could enforce it....but the mayor is already on record saying she won't (the guest speaker might throw a fit an threaten city federal funding -my speculation only).

 

[miamited]

Turning Point USA are the event organizers...but I agree, I don't see anyone being denied entry because a maks is missing. In theory, the city of Phoenix could enforce it....but the mayor is already on record saying she won't (the guest speaker might throw a fit an threaten city federal funding).

Hi wing,

True that! However, the security for the Dream Center could impose their authority, since they do seem to be saying that everyone will wear a mask, and turn away any without a mask.

I went to Walmart the other day and I had forgotten to take my mask from the other car that I sometimes drive. However, I was already at the store when I realized it and having been in the store before, I knew that people were allowed in without a mask. Guess what? I walked up to the entrance door and they had put up a sign that local ordinances require masks and I was turned away. I agree that was a good thing, but it required that someone actually turn me away. I wouldn't have paid any attention to the signage, since I knew from experience just a day before that people without masks were being allowed in.

However, the story continues. I had my son with me and he had a mask so he went on in to get what was needed. He came back to the car and said, "Dad, there were all kinds of people in there without masks." My point, the Dream Center, as a codicil of the lease could require attendees and event personnel to wear masks and then it would be up to some doorman authority to enforce that part of the lease. But likely, just like the mayor who is going to back down at the first sign of 'expensive' costs the city might incur in enforcing a mask policy, the event center likely will, too. As I say, it will be worth keeping in touch on this matter to see just whose will does prevail.

God bless,
In Christ, ted

 

[JackRT]

Hi jack,

A legal action was brought in Tulsa to require masks at the rally there and it was denied. Judging by the news coverage, there weren't a lot of masks in attendance. That's why I'm curious to see how this Dream Center is going to handle the matter.

If Trump should show up, and the turn out is low, I can almost predict how he's going to handle that. "The loser liberals that we rented this place from are preventing people from coming in the door."

God bless,
In Christ, ted

All includes Donald Trump.

 

[wing2000]

...of course they do...

Leaders from the Dream City Church, which has locations in Phoenix and Scottsdale, are claiming in a Facebook post that they’ve installed new technology that “kills 99% of Coronavirus” through “ionization” within 10 minutes. A local company -- conveniently owned by church members -- developed the technology, they say.

I can almost hear Trump putting in a plug tomorrow night....

Problem solved? The Arizona church hosting a Trump rally claims it can kill COVID-19

 

[Hank77]

Strangely enough that didn't bother me, because I figured the church would rent to anyone who had the money, but now I'm worried that isn't the case, and they might be discriminating. The story alludes to the church's statement:

Statement Regarding Turning Point Action At Dream City Church
June 12, 2020 – Dream City Church confirms it will be renting its facilities to Turning Point Action for their Phoenix event. Turning Point Action contacted Dream City regarding use of its facilities for a student event. Dream City prayerfully considered and then agreed. Turning Point Action subsequently informed Dream City that the President planned to speak at the event. Dream City’s facility rental does not constitute endorsement of the opinions of its renters. Each facility rental is a means to generate funds so that Dream City may continue to carry out its outreach vision – to reach the hurting and needy in the community for Jesus Christ. Please join Dream City in praying that the church may continue to effectively carry out that mission.

[Emphasis added.] It sounds like they may pick and choose who they let rent the facility, even if they also want to disclaim any endorsement. This reminds me of other 'public accommodation' cases where a group would rent a wedding facility to a straight couple, but not a gay couple.

They may have made this statement because they may be a 501 3c which prohibits that status from endorsing candidates.

Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes.
The Restriction of Political Campaign Intervention by Section 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Organizations | Internal Revenue Service