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INCOLN, Neb. - Hank Kunneman's booming voice filled the room at FlashPoint Next Level, a worship service that resembled a rock concert more than traditional liturgy. The event drew big names in evangelical Christianity and featured a panel of pastors expressing gratitude for Donald Trump's second term.
Kunneman, pastor of Lord of Hosts Church, has quickly risen to prominence in religious and national politics. His church has amassed real estate, money, and power in the Omaha area, building a sprawling multi-million dollar church and buying up an estimated $14.9 million of nearby commercial real estate.
Matthew Taylor, senior scholar in religion and politics at the Institute for Islamic, Christian and Jewish Studies, said Kunneman's Lord of Hosts Church is driving the conversation within American evangelicalism and has accumulated significant political capital. "They are going to wield that sword against their enemies," he warned.
During FlashPoint Next Level, hundreds of worshippers bopped their heads and waved their arms in the new sanctuary. Tables outside sold books written by the Kunnemans and patriotic merchandise, including hoodies with a message emblazoned through the middle of the American flag: "It's God's turn now."
Kunneman has been vocal about his support for Trump, calling him "appointed and anointed" by God in the lead-up to the 2024 election. He broadcasted prophecies of Trump's success across social media and his own One Voice Television.
Brittany Shaw, a church member, said she saw videos of Kunneman preaching online as she was preparing to move to Omaha from Colorado. Feeling oppressed by COVID-19 restrictions at the time, she found it life-changing to see the pastor speaking out against them.
Kunneman's church is part of an independent charismatic sector of Christianity that has grown in popularity during the pandemic. This type of church often emphasizes spirituality and effervescence without supervision or governance.
The Lord of Hosts Church did not respond to multiple requests for comment, but its growth has been good for the Kunnemans' bottom line. One Voice Ministries, their outreach nonprofit, reported massive gains in revenue during the pandemic years, from about $648,000 in 2019 to $3 million in 2021.
However, the church's political activities could put its tax-exempt status at risk. A rarely-enforced law prohibits nonprofits, including churches, from endorsing candidates for public office or engaging in "substantial" partisan activity. The IRS appears to be "gun shy" about enforcing this law, and few churches have been audited under it.
As the nation has grown more polarized, there's been a significant increase in pastors who believe it's part of their mission to support a candidate from the pulpit. For pastors like Kunneman, defying these restrictions can project a rebel image and raise money with that sentiment.
The church's growth has also led to a physical expansion plan, including the construction of a new facility called the Tabernacle. The 1,500-seat main worship space is packed with lights and speakers, huge screens, and at least two large camera cranes stretching over the audience's heads.
With White in charge of the Trump administration's faith office, experts expect to see pastors like Kunneman's power expand. "This is the fastest growing part of American Christianity, as far as we can tell, and it is growing leaps and bounds in terms of its political influence," Taylor said.
