God is calling us to take back ground, territory and regions that the previous generations gave over to the devil… Your faith commitment allows us to INCREASE God’s dominion in San Diego, Salt Lake City, Boise…” In promoting an event in June, the church website told congregants: “This year God has given us the theme of DOMINION. God is calling us to take back ground, territory and regions that the previous generations gave over to the devil.” -Awaken Church website. This does not appear to be mere rhetoric. Yet, on the other hand, Matthesius seems to be aggressively pushing to bridge that separation.Īwaken’s vision statement says the church’s long-term goal is to win souls and “make disciples of all nations.” In a doctrine statement, Awaken stresses there is an “absolute constraint of the government to the civil realm not interfering or influencing in the spiritual realm of the church” – a position mirrored in the “separation of church and state” clause of the First Amendment. ![]() “No Cults in Coronado”Ĭhurch members, meantime, began running for local office in Coronado and other communities.īrad Willis, an ex-NBC News correspondent and Coronado resident, drafted a “No Cults in Coronado” petition against Awaken claiming the church is a disruptive force that spreads conspiracy theories and supports armed insurrection.Īwaken Church: A service of music, miracles and tithes ![]() ![]() Sometimes speaking in voices that sound like an Asian language, he lauded faithful followers as patriotic warriors while condemning gay-rights advocates, Democrats, government officials and others as acolytes of Satan. Soon, Awaken pastors were appearing on TV and the church was bringing in right-wing media figures such as Tucker Carlson and Dennis Prager to speak to the congregation.Īccording to Voice of San Diego, Jurgen Matthesius’ sermons and social media posts became steeped with references to spiritual combat and the culture war, infused with conspiracy theories about election fraud and toxic vaccines. The controversy spawned widespread news coverage, thrusting Awaken into the conservative media spotlight.
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