Trump praised for reinforcing religious revival movement across America
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
President Donald Trump is drawing praise from a prominent faith leader who says the White House is amplifying a growing religious revival across America as churches report increased attendance and younger parishioners.
“There’s a causality from culture to politics and politics to culture, and I think we’re seeing that duality emerge,” JP De Gance, founder and president of Communio, a nonprofit ministry that trains churches on how to evangelize, told Fox News Digital. “Religious disbelief has been rising for nearly 40 years and has stabilized in the last four years. This is a real change in trends.”
De Gance said Communio has heard anecdotally that churches across the country are seeing large increases in new member classes.
TRUMP TO SPEAK AT THE SACRED MUSEUM ABOUT FREEDOM OF RELIGION IN EDUCATION
White House Office of Faith Director Paula White sings while standing next to President Donald Trump and other religious leaders during a National Day of Prayer event in the White House Rose Garden on May 1, 2025. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
In the case of Texas A&M, De Gance said there are 420 students currently enrolled in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) class and about 100 or more adult baptisms are expected, which is “really unusual.” OCIA classes are intended for adults who wish to enter the Catholic Church. Regarding Protestant denominations, De Gance said Communio has seen “an increase in small, intimate church settings.”
The faith leader said the White House is not only responding to growing interest in the faith but also embracing the faith more openly than previous administrations. He also noted that he sees a “huge difference” between the Trump administration’s faith approach and the Biden administration.
“When you look at the Biden administration, at the last Easter celebration, instead of an Easter declaration, there was a ‘Transgender Day’ declaration,” De Gance said, referring to former President Joe Biden’s recognition of Transgender Day of Visibility. In 2024, Easter Sunday fell on the same day.
“I think you had a last administration that was viewed by many people of faith as actively hostile to faith, and now I think there is a sense that there is an openness and interest in embracing faith more in the work and actions of the current administration,” de Gance added.
President Donald Trump is seen praying with faith leaders in the Oval Office. (White House)
TRUMP BROUGHT CEOS TOGETHER FOR A UNIQUE FAITH, ECONOMY MEETING TO RENEW THE USA ‘SPIRITUALLY AND FINANCIALLY’
The Trump administration has not remained silent on the issue of faith and has even created an entity to represent faith-based communities.
In February 2025, Trump signed an executive order creating the White House Office of Faith to “strengthen faith-based organizations, community organizations, and houses of worship to better serve families and communities.” white house. The office is led by senior counsel Paula White and faith director Jenny Korn.
For Holy Week, Trump released a statement on behalf of himself and First Lady Melania Trump that puts faith front and center.
“This Holy Week, Melania and I pray with Christians as we celebrate the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the living Son of God, who defeated death, saved us from sin, and opened the gates of Heaven for all humanity.” declaration read. “We pray that America will remain a beacon of faith, hope, and freedom to the whole world, and that we will achieve a future that reflects the truth, beauty, and goodness of Christ’s eternal kingdom in Heaven.”
DR MARC SIEGEL: WHY ARE GENERATION Z GOING BACK TO GOD, MIRACLES AND REAL WORLD COMMUNITY?
Trump also released a faith-filled message for Christmas, saying he and the First Lady “extend our warmest wishes to all Americans as we share the joy of Christmas Day and celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” The president included a brief retelling of the Christmas story and prayers for “the extension of God’s infinite love, divine mercy, and eternal peace across our country and throughout the world.”
The Trump administration has also expressed its belief in times of tragedy, from the flooding at Camp Mystic in Texas to the shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minnesota to the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
“These are times when a president can be the lead comforter, and I think it’s appropriate for the president and members of the administration to not compartmentalize and put their beliefs aside in those moments,” de Gance said. he said. “I think in times of great suffering, I think it’s also an opportunity to embrace our faith.”
Participants pray during the “American Comeback Tour” stop hosted by Turning Point USA at Burruss Hall at Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Alex Wroblewski/AFP via Getty Images)
As Trump enters the second year of his second term and America approaches its 250th birthday, De Gance says many expect the administration to continue reaffirming the role religion plays in American life.
“I think American Christians would be happy to see the president and the White House continue or find ways to embrace the pillars that have made this country so great on the world stage,” De Gance told Fox News Digital. “I think this 250th anniversary is a time where we can reflect and see that the founding of America was based on the kind of foundational cultural pillars that allowed for self-governance to exist.”
Christianity served as the “fundamental foundation” in the nation’s founding, de Gance said, emphasizing the importance of strong families and Americans maintaining ties to their faith communities.
Fox News Digital airs Sunday in St. Paul spoke with the Communio founder before the incident at Cities Church in Minnesota that made headlines over the weekend. Anti-ICE agitators disrupted a worship service chanting slogans such as “ICE Out” and “Justice for Renee Good,” a reference to the woman shot and killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis earlier this month.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
The Trump administration responded quickly and the Department of Justice launched an investigation into potential violations of federal law. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed she spoke with the church’s pastor and confirmed that “attacks on law enforcement and intimidation of Christians are met with the full force of federal law.”
