9 Christian leaders' reactions to Trump’s reelection as 47th president of the United States

2. Albert Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Boyce College, and editor of World opinions

In his op-ed for World on Wednesday, Mohler praised president-elect Donald Trump’s victory speech as “gracious and positive.”

“Trump called for Americans to ‘put the divisions of the past behind us,’ and he presented a warm and inviting vision of America’s future. He spoke of God saving his life when a shooter tried to assassinate him — and came so very close to doing so. In the course of his campaign, Trump has often spoken in far darker terms and with far less graciousness. The American people have given him the rarest of gifts: a second presidency. Only President Grover Cleveland can claim the same. So much now rests on Trump’s shoulders,” he wrote.

“The right response of the American people is to prepare for a new president and to work together to address the great challenges we face,” he said.

“We need Donald Trump to live up to the spirit of his words presented this morning. He has an opportunity to change history. He was elected with great hopes and expectations and giant challenges. He has often proved to be his own worst enemy. We need Donald Trump to be as strong as he sees himself to be and to be a statesman equal to these demanding times.

“As Christians, our task is now to pray for President-elect Trump and for our nation. We know that much before we know anything else. The American electoral system worked and produced a clear winner.”