Christian Right Observer Weekly (Volume 11)

CROW's 7 stories on the Christian Right that you need read this week.

1. Desperate for Aid, Zelensky Meets With Ukrainian Associates of the ‘Family,’ a Secretive and Politically Influential Group of U.S. Evangelicals

For months, the U.S. Christian Right (which effectively controls the GOP) has opposed the provision of additional military aid for Ukraine. 

If these Republican leaders change their minds in the coming days, it may be the result of negotiations between Ukrainian president Zelensky and Ukrainian associates of the Family aka the Fellowship Foundation, a secretive and politically influential organization of far right U.S. evangelicals with an agenda, per a new report by journalist Jonathan Larsen. 

Read Larsen’s full report here: Dying for U.S. Aid, Zelenskyy Agrees to an Ask from ‘The Family’

2. William Wolfe, a Self-Described ‘Christian Nationalist,’ Launches Effort to Take Over America’s Largest Evangelical Denomination

William Wolfe is a self-described “Christian Nationalist” and alumnus of the Trump administration, the Heritage Foundation (the lead organizer of Project 2025), and the Center for Renewing America (a key Project 2025 partner). He’s also a co-editor of the “Statement on Christian Nationalism” manifesto authored by Oklahoma Senator Dusty Deevers, as Jenny reported on March 7 for the Bucks County Beacon. 

On March 8, Wolfe announced the “soft launch” of his latest venture, the Center for Baptist Leadership (CBL), an organization whose mission is to remove and replace the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) current leadership. The SBC is America’s largest evangelical denomination and a crucial GOP voting bloc. 

The announcement is concerning because, in addition to his explicit embrace of “Christian Nationalism,” Wolfe wants to end no-fault divorce and abortion and reduce access to contraception. 

Equally alarming, Wolfe’s CBL advisory board includes Dusty Deevers (author of the “Statement on Christian Nationalism” manifesto). Deevers is a so-called abortion “abolitionist”, which means that he advocates the immediate cessation of all abortion without exception and from the moment of conception. It also means that he wants women who get abortions to be charged with murder. The abortion “abolitionist” position is reflected in the “Statement on Christian Nationalism” edited by Wolfe. 

Bart Barber (the SBC’s current president) opposes these views as “fringe.” Despite supporting abortion bans (and opposing exceptions for rape and incest), Barber has publicly advocated an exception to save the life of the mother and publicly opposed charging women who get abortions with murder. 

Wolfe and Deevers thus hope to remove Barber in the next SBC election in June. 

As a replacement, Deevers intends to nominate Jared Moore, an apparent abortion abolitionist. In 2016, Moore wrote in an article that, “Not only must Planned Parenthood be stopped, but all the murder of unborn human persons must also be stopped. Abortion must be abolished, for it is the great sin of the United States.” (Italics added.)

As for CBL, it is supported by American Reformer, an organization led by Joshua Abbotoy (a fellow at the Claremont Institute) and Nate Fischer (a former Claremont fellow). Fischer belongs to a secretive society of far right Christian men called the “Society for American Civic Renewal,” as reported in the Guardian. Fischer and Abbotoy (through a separate organization called “New Founding”) have also launched the Highland Rim Project, a plan to build far right Christian communities in Appalachia. 

Both Fischer and Wolfe have promoted “The Case for Christian Nationalism” by Stephen Wolfe (no apparent relation to William). The book was published by Canon Press, the family publishing company of Doug Wilson, an alarmingly influential and underreportrd far right Idaho pastor who promotes “biblical patriarchy,” the belief that God expects men to lead and women to submit.

Yes, Fischer, Abbotoy, and Wolfe are allies of Doug Wilson as well.  

3. Christian Right Candidate Roundup: Four You Need to Know 

First, we travel south to LaGrange, Georgia where Mayor Candidate and former pastor Chalton Askew in Georgia featured Heartland Apostolic Prayer Network US Director & Apostle Lynn Alderson holding a sign asking for votes for him as well as a revealing post on spiritual territorial mapping.

Next, we move west to California. US Congress candidate & El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells and New Apostolic Reformation Apostle (NAR) Jim Garlow have a long history of supporting one another. As Garlow's former Skyline Church congregant, Wells has appeared on Garlow's World Prayer Network calls, Well Versed Conference, and at the White House.

Wells: "As Americans we have to fight...so much hatred of you Lord. So much hatred of your Natural Law.” And fight Wells has along with Garlow's other friend self proclaimed Christ Supremacist Gary Cass to establish the Reign of Christ in El Cajon.

In America's Heartland, theonomy seeking City Elders has a steady stream of candidates seeking to speak at their meetings. Their Arkansas River Valley chapter prayed over State Senator and US Congressional candidate Clint Penzo back in January.

An Indiana Governor candidate and former Governor candidate Curtis Hill was prayed over in 2020 by not just one by three NAR Apostles: Dutch Sheets, Clay Nash, and Janet Douglas. Draped in an Appeal to Heaven flag, Hill received Sheets’ words that the Lord was turning the nation by raising up Godly leaders. Hill and his wife have been friends with Apostle Douglas for several years making appearances together at her CityGate Apostolic Center and other Apostolic Centers.

4. Event: Religious Right Group ‘Don’t Mess With Our Kids’ Call to State Capitols This Saturday

Over one thousand people wearing pink and blue coming in chartered buses are answering the Esther call to descend upon the Austin Texas Capitol for New Apostolic Reformation Movement Apostle Jenny Donnelly's anti LGBTQ Her Voice Call to the Capitol event. Donnelly and Christians Engaged founder Bunni Pounds are partnering together for the event and are expecting five Texas legislators to speak on this Saturday April 13. The Texas event is coordinated by Celebration of Life Church Pastor Callie Shipp Gray who along with Donnelly is a Facebook admin of the private Her Voice Movement group numbering 10,000 members.

What you need to know about the Call to the State Capitols event:

• The Call to the Capitols April 13 event will be happening at every state Capitol.

• You can find the Facebook event associated with your state Capitol by looking up [Your State Name] - Call to the Capitol in the search bar or by going to the Her Voice Movement website page.

• Donnelly and Mark Gonzales are holding a rally on Wednesday April 10 at Victory Church in Georgia.

• Washington State Call to the Capitol is expecting several thousand attendees. Matt Shea announced that 75 ministries are pushing attendance.

• Naomi Van Wyck is coordinating the Call to the Capitols nationally for Donnelly.

What you need to know about the people & partners promoting the event:

• NAR adjacent Intercessors for America is partnering with Her Voice and state leaders will be in attendance according to their email newsletter.

• Truth & Liberty Coalition promoted the event on social media on March 28.

• Moms for America is partnering with Her Voice.

• Some Concerned Women for America state chapters are partnering for the April event like New Mexico.

• Michigan State Representative candidate Hermon Barbe shared the event.

• Janice Ponds who is a member of theonomy seeking City Elders is promoting the Oklahoma State Capitol event on Facebook and tagging founder Jesse Leon Rodgers.

• Iowa Family Leader is partnering for the Des Moines event.

• Some Moms for Liberty chapters are partnering like Clark County for the Carson City Nevada event.

• The Pennsylvania event has heavy involvement from two NAR ministries.

• NAR Apostle Jim Garlow had both Peru and American Don't Mess with Our Kids representatives on his show to share the Call to the Capitol event.

What you need to know about the Her Voice Movement:

• Read Rolling Stone journalist Tim Dickinson's profile on Donnelly.

• The movement shares co-branding and is inspired by the Peru anti-Trans movement. Recommend reading the Global Philanthropy Project Case Study Peru PDF here in regard to their messaging strategies.

• NAR Apostle Lance Wallnau is consulting the movement and has secured the site for the Million Woman March on the DC National Mall in October two weeks before the presidential election.

• NAR Prophet Lou Engle has commissioned the Esthers or women of the NAR movement to go to Washington DC.

• Portland Oregon based Apostle Donnelly has engaged in rhetoric such as saying the Church is the Army of God and “If we die, we die” at church visits preceding these Capitol events.

• One of Donnelly's goals is to leverage the Her Voice Movement followers to flip school boards.

• Donnelly is a commissioned Apostle by NAR Harvest International Ministries Apostle Che Ahn. California based Ahn is also promoting the Her Voice Movement. The California Call to the Capitol event has 350 people registered as of March 11.

• Ultimately, this Mama Bears movement is about bringing forth Christian Dominionism as per Donnelly.

• According to one of the Her Voice Movement members, “We are going to take this nation back. Because the violent take it by force. And we will become violent warrior Intercessors.”

• And it will all be televised on partner Christian Television Network.

5. How Many Apostles Does it Take to Bring The Holy Spirit to the United Nations? 

The Christian Dominionist New Apostolic Reformation Movement seeks to climb the government mountain from Mayor to president and globally to the United Nations. NAR Apostles across their Apostolic Prayer Networks seek to influence UN Ambassadors. These Apostles typically try to influence in areas of natural marriage, religious freedom, Israel, and the World Health Organization.Here's a snapshot tour of the top names.

Jody Wood 

"Our team is there [at United Nations] praying there next week...I may never get to 194 Nations. But God says while they're in your city, you can introduce them to power of Living God.”

-Jody Wood at NAR Apostle Chuck Pierce Surrounding the Nations: New York

Apostle Wood works with Apostle Mario Bramnick at the Latino Coalition for Israel. She is the Director of New York City Intercessors and facilitator of Global Prayer-UN. She is the Apostolic Coordinator to the United Nations and NYC for the Reformation Prayer Network. A member of the Heartland Apostolic Prayer Network, Global Spheres, and a leader within International Prayer Council.  

Wood gives reports on the United Nations to NAR adjacent Intercessors for America and to Apostle Jim Garlow's World Prayer Network calls. Wood also collaborates with Garlow's UN team member Michele Bachmann to attend global meetings.

Jonathan Hamill 

While Washington DC Heartland Apostolic Prayer Network Apostle Jonathan Hamill operates primarily nationally in DC, his pathways in the Capitol get him invitations to UN type events such as the 2023 International Religious Freedom Summit with former UN Ambassador Sam Brownback. Brownback has been networking with several New Apostolic Reformation Apostles.

Mario Bramnick

With Apostle Mario Bramnick's current work at the Latino Coalition for Israel and  past work as Latinos for Trump Advisory Board, Bramnick has had multiple touchpoints with UN Ambassadors including Brownback. Bramnick is part of Apostle Guillermo Maldonado’s Supernatural Global Network. 

Jim Garlow 

NAR Apostle Jim Garlow has had the most influence in the United Nations having created a UN Well Versed Ministry resulting in meeting with 93 of 193 Ambassadors. Bachmann and Philip Jauregui are crucial UN ministry team members attending events, holding weekly Bible studies and meeting with Ambassadors privately individually. These relationships have culminated in speaking engagements at the UN and Ambassadors on his World Prayer Network calls. One of his main relationships is with Brownback.

Abby Abildness

Kira has spent the past two years researching Apostle Abby Abildness resulting in Jenny Cohns feature profile piece. While Abildness is known for her influencing legislators in Pennsylvania, she is lesser known for her primary work as Global Apostolic Prayer Network Director networking at the United Nations. Both of her lines of work are directly tied together with her William Penn utopian prophetic vision of Pennsylvania as the holy seed of a nation. Pennsylvania is to be a holy goverrnmental model that all states abd nations will emulate.

Abildness Penn vision has flowed to the United Nations with a 2019 article: “Perhaps it is time to revisit the model given by William Penn so that the principles it embodies can be made known to and adopted by Governments seeking the highest and best for their people and themselves; that they may ‘do the thing that is wise and just.’” More recently with the release of her new William Penn documentary she announced at the 2023 HAPN conference that she was speaking at the UN. 

Abildness also mentioned working with Brownback: “As he's in these roundtable with other religious leaders what happens is they end up seeing the faith & freedom of Christians and they're attracted to that."

Brownback's perpetual work with these Apostles has garnered him a spot in Abildness Penn documentary and on stage with Apostle Negeil Bigpond where he said: “America has spiritual problem in our land..as policy makers, hard paradigm How am I going to legislate a spiritual revival? Motto of our land is In God We Trust.” 

With Abildness' new William Penn documentary as a Christian Dominionist vehicle, how many other Ambassadors will view the documentary and also seek to legislate a spiritual revival?

6. North Carolina Subsidizes ‘Christian Nationalist Indoctrination’ 

Justin Parmenter wrote a great piece on his website Notes from the Chalkboard (and republished at NC Newsline) about how North Carolina’s public voucher dollars tapped for private schools, 88 percent which go to religious ones, are not just going to discriminatory Christian school (like ones in Pennsylvania), but actually schools’ whose mission is teaching dominionism. He highlights The Daniel Christian Academy, which promotes the Seven Mountains on its website and whose mission is to “see our students fully equipped to enter the ‘7 Mountains of Influence’: Family, Education, Media, Government, Business, Arts & Entertainment, and Religion. We believe each student has a God-Given assignment to confront and influence society as Daniel did.”

According to Parmenter, “Nicole Barnes, Daniel Academy’s Dean of Administration & Spiritual Development, confirmed by email that Wallnau’s doctrine is at the center of its approach to the Seven Mountains, telling me ‘As a school we have taken the 7 Mountains of Influence, teaching by Lance Wallnau, and have broken it down for the students to comprehend.’”

It’s bad enough these schools exist, but taxpayers subsidizing them makes it even worse. Frederick Clarkson told Parmenter:

“North Carolina taxpayers should be concerned that they are helping to underwrite an academy for training children to become warriors against not only the rights of others, but against democracy and its institutions. The idea of the Seven Mountain Mandate is for Christians of the right sort to take dominion — which is to say power and influence — over the most important sectors of society. It is theocratic in orientation and its vision is forever.”

For more information about the Seven Mountains and the New Apostolic Reformation — “the Christian theocratic movement that wants to build a ‘kingdom revolution’ led by an ‘army of believers,’" listen to this interview with Clarkson.

7. Pastor at Private Christian Academy in Florida Cancels Autism Awareness Week, Calling It ‘Idolatry and Demonic’

Keeping on the topic of private Christian schools, and why they shouldn’t receive a single cent of taxpayer money, a Florida pastor makes the case for us.  

Trinity Christian Academy pastor Matt Baker wrote an email to school parents stating "If Jesus Christ led Trinity, would HE have an Autism Awareness Week? Of course not! Why? Because anything that exalts itself above the name of Christ should be brought down," Baker wrote. “Also, anything that teaches our children to have their identity in anything other than Christ is idolatry and demonic.” 

Trinity Christian Academy is a private school associated with the Assemblies of God Pentecostal denomination of Christianity, The Palm Beach post reported. Some parents, the paper reported, started pulling their children from school. 

Pastor Baker also canceled an Easter egg hunt for the school’s kids because it apparently didn’t fit with the academy’s “Christian Worldview."