“It was amazing to hear the president speak, especially remembering his father who might not have been served in a restaurant 60 years ago,” said Amy Rohler, pastor of Bethesda Covenant Church in New York City, New York. Obama made the reference to his father during his address.
“Today we were in a place where hope was fulfilled,” said Adam Rohler, Amy’s husband and also a pastor at Bethesda.
The Rohlers attended the ceremony with Evangelical Covenant minister Adam Phillips, who works with the ONE Campaign in Washington D.C., and his wife, Sarah. “I do not know what it was like on TV, but it was incredible,” Adam said. “I will never forget it. We have a lot of challenges, but also a lot to be hopeful for.”
The weather was bitterly cold, but Sarah Phillips said the moment was worth the hours of braving the low temperatures.
Judy Howard Peterson, campus chaplain at North Park University, described the experience as “a privilege to live in a country where there remains the true possibility that life can be better for our children.” Peterson was among 70 North Park students, faculty, and staff making the trip.
