Thousands of Evangelicals to Gather for 'Charlotte714' Before Democratic Convention
A major evangelical Christian gathering is set to take place in Charlotte, North Carolina on the day before the Democratic National Convention.
Titled "Charlotte714," the gathering has the backing of more than 40 different churches and will take place at the 20,000-seat Verizon Wireless Amphitheater.
David Benham, the chief organizer of "Charlotte714," told The Christian Post that the purpose of the gathering was to ask God for forgiveness for national sins.
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"What we are doing here in Charlotte is we are calling together the Body of Christ to come together as a church in our city…to repent," said Benham.
"A lot of things going on in the nation right now and it's the role of the church to remember who we are and the bedrock of the church is Jesus Christ."
For those taking part, "Charlotte714" will be preceded by a forty day fast. According to Benham, the fast involves participants giving up something for the time until the day of the event.
"When you call together a solemn assembly, this is in times of national crisis, and when you call the assembly, call them together in a fast," said Benham.
"It's a crucifixion of the flesh…we are encouraging people to fast something, crucify your flesh in some way. There are folks that are fasting texting after 5:00 PM, there are folks that are fasting television, there are folks like myself and some others that are fasting food."
Leaders from the North Carolina churches taking part in "Charlotte714" have stressed the priority of calling the church and the nation to repent over specific issues pertaining to the Democratic National Convention.
Michael Landrum of Charlotte-area thelinechurch.tv, told The Christian Post that for him "Charlotte714" had more to do with calling "the church to prayer."
"When we pray, God begins to move. Whether Democratic or Republican, prayer has the ability to influence decisions on a spiritual level," said Landrum.
Pastor Joseph Njaman Alghrary of Lakeside Presbyterian in Mooresville, told CP that both parties have platforms that are unbiblical.
"The Democratic party has ignored the voice of fundamental and evangelical Christians and this event will be no exception. We are crying out to God and trusting in His ability for revival in our Land," said Alghrary.
"It has become abundantly clear that both the Democratic and Republican Party have abandoned a platform that Bible believing Christians can in good conscience, wholeheartedly support."
Charlotte714 and the plans surrounding it come at a time when the Democratic National Convention is considering to add support of same-sex marriage to its platform.
When asked what his opinion of the possibility that same-sex marriage will enter the DNC platform, Benham told CP that he had an opinion on it which he would announce on Sept. 3 in Charlotte.
The name for the gathering, "Charlotte714," is taken from the Bible verse in 2 Chronicles 7:14, which reads, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
