Mobile pastor Travis Johnson has come a long way from being canceled in 2023 for his prayer in a city council meeting.
"I pause and especially pray for the protection of the children of Mobile who are inundated and targeted by harmful agendas and social media from peers," he prayed.
That prayer led to more similar prayers and eventually the threat of a lawsuit by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. The Mobile City Council responded by saying they would investigate the matter and refer it to the city-appointed LGBTQ liaisons.
But on Thursday, Pastor Johnson of Pathway Church stood alongside President Donald Trump as he signed an executive order to protect religious liberties.
"There's nothing special about me," Johnson stated on X. "I'm like many pastors and Christians across America who love Jesus and who love America. And, many of us in varying moments of discomfort have his grace said in strength and power of the Holy Spirit: WE DON'T BOW. WE STAND."
The EO enforces protections for religious liberty and creates the 14-member commission, with commissioners serving in an uncompensated capacity.
"Americans need to be reacquainted with our Nation's superb experiment in religious freedom in order to preserve it against emerging threats," Trump stated in the EO. "Therefore, the Federal Government will promote citizens' pride in our foundational history, identify emerging threats to religious liberty, uphold Federal laws that protect all citizens' full participation in a pluralistic democracy, and protect the free exercise of religion."
Travis reflected on the past two years, emphasizing that God guided his path to the White House Rose Garden on Thursday.
The signing of the EO occurred during the White House's National Day of Prayer event, in which Trump recognized U.S. Reps. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) and Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville).
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