Scott Turner’s Faith Ignites Christians, Signals New Day in White House & America
All presidents make controversial decisions and say things that are left of center, but one choice the entire Church celebrates in D.C. is when President Trump selects Sec. Scott Turner to overhaul and lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Last week, Sec. Scott Turner put on his pastor hat when President Trump asked him to lead the executive cabinet in prayer. He did, and now it’s viral!
Giving the opening prayer at President Trump’s first cabinet meeting was the honor of a lifetime.
— Scott Turner (@SecretaryTurner) February 26, 2025
Thank you, @POTUS, for trusting me to lead @HUDgov and for giving me the opportunity to lift up Americans across the country.pic.twitter.com/bM5YyqEIna
Opening with a strong flourish, “Father, we thank you for this awesome privilege to be in your presence.” This wouldn’t be a typical prayer inside those hallowed halls. Sec. Scott Turner called upon God for wisdom- for the president, the vice president, and his fellow cabinet members.
Many headlines reflect ours, that Turner prayed in Jesus’ Name. But he did so much more than that; he spoke scripture over the important individuals in the room.
“Father, the Bible says, ‘Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.’ But Father, we today honor You and in your rightful place,” Turner continued. “Father, thank You for giving us this opportunity to restore faith in this country and be a blessing to the people of America. Lord God, today in our meeting, we pray that You will be glorified in our conversation, in Jesus’ name.”
There is power in those words. These are thoughts that each person, namely the president, needs to consider and weigh heavily in their hearts. More of that in Congress could create less of everything else in the world.
So, who is Sec. Scott Turner? Let’s explore the words and heart of this man.
Meet Sec. Scott Turner
On Feb. 5, 2025, Scott Turner became the 19th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Under the first Trump administration, Turner was mentored by Dr. Ben Carson (former HUD Secretary), serving as Executive Director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council (WHORC).
Turner, 53, is an associate pastor at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, an affluent suburb outside Dallas. The SBC-affiliated church, led by the incomparable Dr. Jack Graham, boasts over 45,000 members and three separate campuses. Before answering that call, he played nine years in the NFL. Yet, the now pastor knew God wanted more from him.
At the latest Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC 2025), he inspired those in attendance by sharing his life story and what brought him back to serve our country, this time, as the HUD Secretary.
“All along the way, you know, I believe the Lord was preparing me,” Turner said, adding, “I believe God is a sovereign God.” He quoted Jeremiah 29:11 and then said, “I believe that from before the womb of my mother that [God] was preparing me for this moment, for this day, for such a time as this.”
If you ask Sec. Scott Turner, that time is now. As his opening Cabinet prayer highlighted, he knows it too. And during his CPAC 2025 address, he also wants all Americans to know it too.
