Newt Gingrich 2012
Pastor Manning Strickland, of Legacy Outreach located in Spartanburg South Carolina has made his choice for President of the United States of America, and he believes he has chosen the best man for the job. After careful consideration and just days before the South Carolina primary, Pastor Manning decided to endorse and support presidential candidate Newt Gingrich. When asked what clinched the decision for Pastor Manning, he says, “He just makes sense. I met Speaker Gingrich a few years ago in Columbia attending a Pastors Briefing where a thousand pastors gathered to hear various speakers talk about the conservative movement in America and encouraged us to stay informed about the issues and policies that will and do affect our congregation and community.”
As the presidential race started to heat up Pastor Manning carefully considered each candidate. He attended a South Carolina Pastors Alliance meeting where he listened intently as Senator Rick Santorum spoke to the pastors. He said although he believed Santorum to be a humble gentleman, and certainly the most conservative in the group, he was impressed at the Senator’s lack of enthusiasm. “He just seemed to lack confidence,” said Pastor Manning. “I sat and listened to everything he had to say, and agreed with every policy issue he discussed, yet, at times he avoided eye contact with us, looking toward the floor and I was stunned to hear him say he really didn’t know if South Carolina or America was ready for his brand of conservatism.” “That caught my attention and at that moment I realized that Rick Santorum lacked the confidence to lead this nation. It was almost as if he had already conceded defeat”.
Pastor Manning continued to watch the debates and prayerfully consider his choices and the final break came for him during the Republican Debate on January 16th when host Juan Williams decided to ask another cat and mouse question in an attempt to get a rise out of Mr. Gingrich. “When Newt shot back at Juan Williams for his ridiculous question accusing Mr. Gingrich of racism, I was impressed by the fire burning inside the man. It became obvious to me that this man does not and will not pull punches. And we need this kind of bulldog determination to be able to disintegrate Obama. This country is very sick, and the radical disease that America is suffering from requires a man who will stop at nothing to get legislation passed and former Speaker Newt Gingrich has the experience and wisdom to get things done. Everyone I’ve talked to, whether they are for Newt or not, agrees that he is by far the smartest man on the stage. And, I believe this is the clincher for me. At this point in America we cannot afford to take a chance of losing, and no one else can truly debate and defeat Obama as Newt Gingrich can”.
This pastor, whom one assumes is a man of God, believes that we need someone “who will stop at nothing” to get done the things, he thinks this country needs. Really? Do we not already have one of those? Possibly we need someone who WILL stop at doing the unrighteous thing? A strategic victory alone will not save this country. We must have a moral victory as well. Christians, at least, are called on to make righteous choices, not expedient ones. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” I expect a pastor to pray, and to listen to and follow the direction of God, and not base his decision on the fallible and pandering words and demeanor of a politician.
Seriously Pastor? You are endorsing a man who has had multiple divorces and marriages and affairs outside of those marriages. A man whose heroes include FDR and Andrew Jackson. FDR was also a man who had extra-marital affairs and Jackson killed tens of thousands of Native Americans in the name of progress. He is a pro big federal government and a pro government program man who when the tally is taken does not seem to be much different than President Obama. He was finally forced out of leadership by his own party so we do not need his immorality and unethical behavior and beliefs in the White House. I fail to understand how Christians can support Gingrich and how he has conducted his personal and professional life. I implore you to search your heart and rethink your decision.
I believe we are to trust God in all we do. He is the author and finisher of our faith and His will is all I live for. I for one, agree with Pastor Manning, and trust me, I did not come to this conclusion lightly at all. You can see my decision making process here http://charlestonteaparty.org/who-is-your-candidate-and-why/
I can tell you from talking to MANY pastors in this area, including pastor Manning, that we have ALL spent lots of time praying and asking God how to cast such a precious gift as our VOTE! There are no perfect candidates as last I checked Jesus Christ was not on the ballot, but we are to prayerfully consider from the choices we have who best to lead this country back to God, and I believe Newt Gingrich to be that man as I have personally spoke to the man and discerned his love for the Lord and sincere passion for this country. I also believe I have no right to judge a mans heart or unrighteous acts and I leave the throne of judgement to the Lord alone, Isaiah 64:6 “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.”
I am incredibly blessed to be associated with men and women of God of who trust God with all thier hearts and who also understand the unique and blessed position the Lord has put us in to be stewards of this nation and her government. As he instructed in Exodus 14 through Jethro to Moses, the people are to govern the people and we have the government of OUR OWN MAKING! If you are not happy with the way things are going you have a proper and God given solution ….. YOU VOTE!!
I thank you Pastor Manning and all the ministers of the lowcountry I have spoken with for your prayerful consideration and your diligent service to the community. God willing we will have more like you who are not afraid to get in the mud in order to protect our freedom!!
God bless you all,
Ms. Chris
@Chuck Newt asked God for forgiveness and made peace with his family. If Jesus forgives him, who are we to judge? He never said FDR was his hero, he said he admired him. Patton admired Rommel, but that doesn’t mean he wanted to be a Nazi. You give absolutely no specifics as to why Newt “does not seem to be much different than President Obama” so I take it, this is just a talking point with no back up.
Newt left the speakership after bad midterms and because of the ethics charges which were a huge distraction. Of the 85 charges, 84 were dropped and almost all of them were brought by Rep. David Bonior a liberal Democrat from Michigan. Newt paid a $300k fine and was later cleared of all charges: http://www.mrc.org/bozellcolumns/newscolumn/1999/col19990209.asp
“I fail to understand how Christians can support Gingrich and how he has conducted his personal and professional life. I implore you to search your heart and rethink your decision.” Maybe you aren’t a Christian if you do not believe in forgiveness and redemption, but many of us who are Christians feel we are flawed vessels just as is Newt
Newt’s 21st Century Contract with America lays out the plan to help us restore America’s greatness. I stand with Newt because he’s the man to hit the ground running and right the sinking ship.