Detroit Pastor Lorenzo Sewell, who went viral for quoting Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech during the closing prayer at President Donald J. Trump’s inauguration has revealed that his father is in prison for murder.
Lorenzo, who delivered a benediction on Monday, January 20 stated that he was born and raised on the East side of Detroit and mentored by murders.
“I am a student of the street. My dad is in prison for murder today and for a kid like me to have an opportunity to pray over our president and quite frankly over the world, I believe it is Dr King’s dream being fulfilled,” he said in an interview with BBC.
“It means so much to see the prayers of my mother come to pass.”
Lorenzo stated that Martin Luther King Jr. made it clear in his iconic speech—widely regarded as one of the greatest ever delivered in the English language—that “America must strive to be a great nation. He added that the entire MAGA movement aligns with this vision of making America great again.”
“To pray that prayer on the day that America celebrates Martin King’s birthday, we are also celebrating that we as Americans will see the dream fulfilled through our President Donald Trump,” said Sewell.
Lorenzo Sewell Quotes Martin Luther’s ‘I Have a Dream’ Speech at Trump Inauguration
His comments during the inauguration, some words for word from King’s 1963 speech, were made on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday honouring the civil rights leader’s birthday.
Sewell, the pastor of 180 Church in West Detroit, opened his remarks by thanking God for what he called Trump’s “millimetre miracle”.
This was an apparent reference to the bullet that narrowly missed the president during an assassination attempt in mid-July 2024 at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
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Sewell prayed that God would use the country’s president and prayed that Americans could “live in a nation where we will not be judged by the colour of our skin, but by the content of our character” ― a well-known line from King’s dream speech.
Lorenzo also made references to “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee,” and “Free at Last,” two songs that King quoted during the famous “I Have a Dream” speech.
“We are so grateful today, that you will use our 47th president, so we would sing with new meaning: ‘My country ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrims’ pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring,’” Sewell said.
“When we let freedom ring, we will be able speed up that day where all your children, Black men and white men, Protestant and Catholic, Jew and gentile will be able to sing in the meaning of that old Negro spiritual, ‘Free at last. Free at last. Thank you, God, almighty, we are free at last,’” he added while wrapping up.
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How Lorenzo Turned from Gang Leader to Pastor
According to the 180 Church website, Lorenzo grew up in a physically and verbally abusive home.
While in high school, Lorenzo Sewell faced significant challenges after his father was imprisoned and his younger brother was killed.
During this time, he became a gang leader and was involved in drug dealing.
However, in 1999, during his senior year of high school, he had what he described “Damascus Road” encounter with Christ that set his heart on fire,” transforming his life.
“In January 2019, Lorenzo became the Lead Servant of Evangel Ministries in Detroit, a thriving urban congregation with a heart for gospel-centered service and discipleship,” read part of his Bio.
Sewell was a vocal supporter of Donald Trump during the 2024 campaign, actively participating in several pro-Trump events.
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