Presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama was in St. Louis on Saturday to address a roaring crowd of nearly 30,000 people, many of whom were members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Cheers and chants of “Barack Obama” and “Yes We Can” greeted Obama for his fourth appearance to St. Louis this year.
Although Obama spoke for only 30 minutes, he touched on a variety of issues from the economy to the Iraq War to how churches can play an active role in bringing about the change he has been calling for. It will require work, discipline and most importantly God’s grace to change this nation, he said.
“Keeping the promise of this nation alive requires more of us,” Obama said. “It requires service, sacrifice and each of us.”
In hard economic times and with federal resources stretched, Obama said Washington needs to draw on faith-based organizations to meet social needs. Feeding the hungry, ending genocide, helping ex-offenders and speaking out against inequality are not only Christian responsibilities, but also governmental responsibilities, he said.
“These are not only crimes against men, they are also sins against God,” Obama said. “Our conscious cannot rest when these inequalities exist in our time.”
Obama assured the crowd that his cry for a government- and faith-based partnership is not a part of a political strategy, but something he has previously talked about, even before announcing his presidential candidacy in February 2007. He promised to give all faith-based groups the support of Congress.
“It’s not a new political position,” Obama said. “I say it because I believe in it; I’ve always believed in it.”
He added, “The values we believe in cannot only be expressed in our churches, but also in our nation.”
Before addressing the convention, the Illinois senator met privately with church bishops who prayed for his safety, health and good guidance during his historical race to the White House.
Obama and Republican presumptive presidential nominee John McCain were both invited to speak at the national conference, but McCain did not respond, AME leaders said at Thursday’s press conference.
For the past several weeks, Obama has targeted evangelical and religious groups for a much-needed collaboration between the government and faith-based initiatives.
Obama promises to establish a President’s Council of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships that would assist religious groups in obtaining federal funding to provide social service if he is elected president.
While Obama may not win over the complete religious sector, faith-based groups could give him the votes he needs to beat McCain come November.
Before he departed the stage, Obama asked the crowd to pray.
“Keep me in your prayers AME,” Obama said. “Keep my family in your prayers AME.”
AME is the largest historical black domination in the Western Hemisphere. More than 30,000 members of AME gathered in St. Louis this weekend to kick off the domination’s 48th general conference. The conference runs through July 11