HUD Secretary Scott Turner and faith leader Sean Feucht led a worship concert on the National Mall during HUD’s first-ever faith-based event, marking a significant shift in federal engagement with Christian organizations. The event, part of HUD’s Innovative Housing Showcase, highlighted the role of faith-based groups in disaster recovery and emphasized the Trump administration’s support for such initiatives. Sean Feucht’s ‘Let Us Worship’ movement, which faced opposition in cities like Seattle, found a new platform under federal backing.
The National Mall event, held on September 16, took place despite weather challenges, including strong winds and rain. It featured speeches from various faith leaders and culminated in a worship session led by Feucht. Turner, also an associate pastor, expressed his belief that faith-based organizations are essential for recovery efforts, stating that the Trump administration has reinvigorated the role of faith in government. This collaboration represents a broader strategy by HUD to integrate faith-based initiatives into its disaster response framework, treating churches as strategic partners rather than external entities.
Feucht, whose movement has faced scrutiny and legal challenges in cities like Seattle, saw his events gain federal recognition. With the Trump administration’s backing, Feucht’s efforts to promote worship and faith-based activities have found a new stage, highlighting a potential shift in the role of religious groups in public policy and disaster management. The National Mall event, despite weather challenges, was described as historic by participants, underscoring the significance of this collaboration between federal leadership and faith-based organizations.
Speakers included Shayam Menon of HUD’s Center for Faith, Dave Donaldson of the White House Faith Office, Pastor Matthew Barnett of the Dream Center, Scottie Stice of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, Luther Harrison of Samaritan’s Purse, and Rev. Nathan Newman of Mission to North America. The event tied into HUD’s partnership with the America 250 initiative, commemorating the nation’s upcoming 250th birthday. Both Turner and Feucht used the historic event to send the same message: faith is not only alive but welcomed at the center of American public life.
The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. The event marked a turning point for Feucht’s movement, which has long sought to challenge restrictions on religious gatherings. While faced with opposition in cities like Seattle, where activists branded his events “malicious harassment and incitement” against the LGBTQ community, the federal platform has provided a new opportunity for his movement to expand its reach and impact.