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Event organizers said the Election Prayer Night at would “put aside any political interest” in the interest of coming together in prayer.

In fact, a pastor made clear that God’s interest should very much be the priority of Hawaii’s political leaders, saying “Don’t forget who put you there — it wasn’t the voters, it was God.”

A total of 16 candidates attended Wednesday night’s prayer session, held at New Hope Oahu’s facility off of Sand Island Access Road.

Amid the singing and praying, here’s what they and several hundred audience members heard:

Christians Vote

Elwin Ahu, New Hope Honolulu Campus Pastor, said he was grateful the candidates were in attendance “because it is about time we start building bridges so that church and state can work together.”

The audience erupted in applause.

“I am so enjoying the fact that (the election) is causing the churches to come together, it’s causing bridges to be built not only between churches but other groups as well,” Ahu continued. “Christians are beginning to be recognized as a voice that has a vote.”

He added, “I also like this time of year…because it is also driving Christians to pray, to recognize the power that is inherent in God.”

Ahu then made an analogy from the first verses of Genesis, where God created structure out of chaos — “Let there be light.”

“I am going to pray over the candidates, because I believe God will work through people, God will work through the hearts of men and women,” he said.

He then read from 2 Chronicles 7:1-3: “As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.”

The passage was lit up on three large screens in New Hope’s Lead Center. The backdrop was a dramatic purple and orange cloud bursting with thunderbolts.

“What if we replaced that word ‘temple’ with the word ‘Hawaii?'” asked Ahu. “The glory of the Lord filled the state of Hawaii!”

Big applause.

“God wants us to pray most when things aren’t going right, to recognize when there is confusion, and to recognize there is an authority.”

Consecrating Hawaii

Back to 2 Chronicles, this time verse 7:13-15: “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time.”

Ahu: “I have chosen and consecrated Hawaii — you want that for Hawaii, folks?”

Huge applause.

Ahu then referred to a recent e-mail from a church member who said the church was “getting too much involved with politics.”

Ahu explained to him, “The reason is beause for God to be in his land, and politics, whatever you want to call it, is very much a part of what we are doing here, we’re all involved in the community, it’s a community thing.”

Pause.

“Sometimes I think Christians are the ones that separate church and state,” he said.

Amen, said some in the audience.

Ahu finished by saying God’s mission requires “godly leaders in place.”

More music. The audience stood, swayed, lifted their arms. Colored spotlights shined down as the PA system blasted the music and the audience followed the lyrics projected on the screens:

“Forever author of salvation, He rose and conquered the grave, Jesus conquered the grave.”

Then came Micah Simpson, Youth Pastor. His sermon was about young men and women resisting the temptation of evil. The evils include “perversity” and “homosexuality.”

“Make them realize that marriage is valuable and that a wife is a good thing and must be held in high honor,” he implored.

“Yes…yes…yes…,” replied a woman in the audience.

State Legislators On Hand

The candidates sat in the front row of the Lead Center. Their presence underscored how religion has played a central role in the 2010 elections, beginning with the civil unions battle at the Legislature earlier in the year.

They included four Democratic incumbents: state Sen. Donna Mercado Kim, state Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland, House Rep. Jessica Wooley and House Rep. Joey Manahan, all up for re-election this year.

Also on hand was Tulsi Gabbard Tamayo, a former Democratic state House representative now running for the nonpartisan Honolulu City Council; and Republican Cam Cavasso, a former lawmaker challenging U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye.

Of the remaining candidates, all were Republicans running for state legislative races, including Chun Oakland’s opponent, Judy Franklin. All oppose civil unions, according to a Hawaii Family Forum , as does Cam Cavasso.

When she was in the state House, Gabbard Tamayo civil unions.

Meanwhile, of the incumbent Democrats at the New Hope election prayer, only Sen. Chun Oakland and Rep. Wooley voted in favor of ; Wooley was also a co-sponsor of the Hawaii civil unions legislation.

Most of the Republican candidates have also received the of the Hawaii Christian Coalition.

(The coalition’s website shows from a coalition prayer service at the state Capitol with Lt. Gov. James “Duke” Aiona in attendance.)

(New Hope Oahu’s Ryan Tsuji, the extension director who invited candidates to the prayer night, is the son of Democrat state Rep. — a co-sponsor of HB 444.)

The Authority of God

Back to Pastor Ahu, who set a little “groundwork” before the congregation prayed for candidates.

He said, “The Gospel makes really clear about the responsibility that we have — Christians, citizens in the community — as to how we need to respect those who are in authority. Holding a public office carries very high responsibility.”

He called up Romans 13:1-2: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.”

Ahu then said, “So the candidates who are here tonight, should you be elected into office, don’t forget who put you there — it wasn’t the voters, it was God.”

“Amen!” someone shouted. Big applause.

“The authorities — the authority that exists has been established by God, consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves,” said Ahu. “For the authorities are God’s servants who give their whole life to governing.”

Next, 1 Timothy 2:1-4: “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

Ahu: “It does not matter whether red or blue, you pray for those running for office, and whoever God selects we shall continue to pray for them. Why? Because he wants all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth, even if they are not Christians yet. By us praying for them they just might become Christian.”

Ryan Tusji then invited all the candidates on stage to briefly introduce themselves.

As he led a prayer to God, Tsuji said, “We know that there is no coincidence that you have called them to be a leader at this specific time in our state, in our nation, for a reason. Help them to make decisions that are not always popular but are right. Help those that do become elected… help them to realize that that they represent not a position, not a seat in the state Capitol, that they are representing you, they are representing the people of Hawaii…Help them not to be ashamed of their faith.”

Enter Ahu, who asks the congregation to first extend a hand toward their own neighborhood, then to the state Capitol and then toward Washington, D.C.

“Father, we pray in advance that your victories will be done as bills are introduced…we pray your Holy Spirit will flood the halls…that rightensouenss will prevail…it is God on the curency, not man…”

Finally: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done: on Earth as it is in heaven.”

The Rise of New Hope

New Hope’s presence on Oahu traces its origins to 1995, when Pastor Wayne Cordeiro and his wife Anna moved from Hilo to start an Oahu church.

“They had been pastoring the New Hope Hilo church for 12 years and planted nine others, when God called on Wayne to plant a church that would serve Oahu and beyond,” according to . “As he and his family prayed over this calling with the other church leaders, Wayne sensed God’s urgency to begin something new in Oahu.”

Today New Hope nearly 30 churches in Hawaii, with more than 25,000 members on Oahu alone, and more than a dozen more churches on the mainland U.S. and Japan.

New Hope’s mission reads, “The purpose of New Hope is to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ in such a way that turns non-Christians into converts, converts into disciples, and disciples into mature, fruitful leaders, who will in turn go into the world and reach others for Christ.”

Its core values include this , inspired by passages in the Bible: “We Believe in identifying and training emerging leaders who are fully committed to Christ and who will reach their generation with the Gospel. God is raising up men and women who will take the baton of godly character, authentic faith, and servant-hearted leadership into the next generation.”