On Thursday (Oct. 27), Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake held a “Freedom & Faith” concert in Scottsdale, an event that was attended by notable evangelical leaders, including megachurch pastors Tommy Barnett and Mark Driscoll.
Lake, who has earned an endorsement from former president Donald Trump, has repeatedly stated her belief that the 2020 presidential election was “stolen” from Trump and that Joe Biden is an illegitimate president, even at one point suggesting that journalists who have said otherwise should be imprisoned.
In a video that began circulating on Friday, Lake can be seen surrounded by a group of men and women prior to the rally, as Barnett, pastor of Dream City Church in Phoenix, anoints her with oil. Driscoll, known for his brash demeanor and allegations of abusive leadership throughout his pastoral tenure across two megachurches, was among the leaders laying hands on Lake.
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“The anointing is a very, very sacred thing,” Barnett can be heard saying in the video before leading the group in prayer.
“Great to hear your testimony re Jesus changing ur life (sic) in the past year,” Driscoll later wrote in a Facebook post alongside an image featuring himself, his wife Grace, and Lake. “Thanks for listening to sermons as you study the Bible. Grace & I love you. Our family is praying for your family.”
The event, which also featured an appearance by worship leader Sean Feucht and the worship band from Dream City Church, began with the national anthem before Feucht led the crowd in singing praise songs.
Lake, who later walked onstage as speakers blared “I’m Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and The Waves, said that during the pandemic, “I handed my life 100% over to God, truly, for the first time. And I can tell you, he has brought me on the wildest ride. When I said, ‘God you take me and do with me what you want,’ look what he brings us when we hand our life over to God.”
“We had some amazing pastors tonight—they led the most incredible prayer,” Lake said. “I know that prayer is just going to propel me through the next 12 days and beyond.”
Lake continued, “But if your pastor tells you to hand over your life to God; amazing things will happen, believe them, people. Amazing things will happen.”
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Lake went on to credit God for the traction her gubernatorial campaign has gained, her endorsement from Trump, and for her ability to “expose the fake news media.”
