Reverend Lorenzo Sewell, pastor of 180 Church in Detroit, delivered an electrifying benediction at Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday.
His prayer, marked by its powerful delivery and meaningful references to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, has sparked widespread admiration on social media.
The event, which coincided with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, made Sewell’s invocation especially poignant. Speaking with conviction, he prayed: “Let us pray for our 47th president. Heavenly Father, we’re so grateful that you gave our 45th and now our 47th president a millimetre miracle. We are grateful that you are the one that have called him for such a time as this, that America would begin to dream again.
“We pray that we would fulfil the true meaning of our creed, that we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. We pray that you use our president, that we will live in a nation where we will not be judged by the colour of our skin but by the content of our character.”
Sewell continued with heartfelt appeals for unity and liberty, incorporating words from the patriotic hymn "My Country, ’Tis of Thee" and concluding with an adaptation of King’s vision: “Let freedom ring from every state, every city, every village and every hamlet. And when we let freedom ring, we will be able to speed up that day where all of your children, black men and white men, Protestant and Catholic, Jew and gentile, will be able to sing in the meaning of that old Negro spiritual, ‘Free at last, free at last. Thank you, God almighty, we are free at last.’”
President Trump invited Pastor Lorenzo Sewell from Detroit to pray at the Inauguration, and he did NOT disappoint.
— George (@BehizyTweets) January 20, 2025
God is back in America. pic.twitter.com/3dT7Jn46Wf
Social media platforms were ablaze with reactions to Sewell’s impassioned prayer. Many viewers commended his energy, delivery, and the importance of his message on such a historic day.
X user @gdl0124bnatn wrote: "An absolutely awesome prayer. I was greatly moved. Pastor Sewell is so gifted to be able to create such imagery and give just the right inflection to each word. Praise God!!"
An absolutely awesome prayer. I was greatly moved. Pastor Sewell is so gifted to be able to create such imagery and give just the right inflection to each word. Praise God!!
— GDL0124 (@gdl0124bnatn) January 20, 2025
Another, @chatterspout, remarked: "The spirit was truly felt with Pastor Lorenzo Sewell at the inauguration! His prayer was a powerful reminder of faith's role in our nation's fabric. President Trump's choice to include him speaks volumes. Let’s embrace this message of unity and spirituality."
🙏✨ The spirit was truly felt with Pastor Lorenzo Sewell at the inauguration! His prayer was a powerful reminder of faith's role in our nation's fabric. President Trump's choice to include him speaks volumes.
Let's embrace this message of unity and spirituality. 🇺🇸❤️…
User @portiakersten reflected on the significance of the moment: “Invoking MLK on this day was 100% inspiring. And it was so cool that all of the white Protestants, Catholics, and Jews were so reverent with their eyes closed. Race and the way people worship is irrelevant.”
Invoking MLK on this day was 100% inspiring. And, it was so cool that all of the white Protestants, Catholics and Jews were so reverent with their eyes closed. Race and the way people worship is irrelevant.
— Portia Kersten 🇺🇸🇮🇱 (@portiakersten) January 20, 2025
@BladesDebbie added: “He was a phenomenal speaker and such a refreshing, energetic and joyful speaker! I’m so happy he was chosen to speak at President Trump’s inauguration!”
He was a phenomenal speaker and such a refreshing, energetic and joyful speaker! I’m so happy he was chosen to speak at President Trumps inauguration!
— Deb (@BladesDebbie) January 20, 2025
According to The Detroit News, Sewell grew up on Detroit’s east side, where he sold drugs and saw his father go to prison for murder. In 1999, he became a Christian and began preaching at 19.
Sewell’s prayer was one of three benedictions delivered during the ceremony.
Joining him were Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, president of Yeshiva University in New York, and Rev. Father Frank Mann, of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn.
IOL