Benediction Prayer Emphasized Unity and Faith Among the Nation.

ST. PETERSBURG — Reverend Sylvester Beaman gave the benediction prayer at the closing of the presidential inauguration on Jan. 21, asking God to protect and guide the newly sworn in President Biden and Vice President Harris.

This speech was a blessing, an announcement of well wishes upon the country throughout Biden’s presidential term.

“People, your people, shall no longer raise up weapons against one another. We will rather use our resources for the national good and become a beacon of life in goodwill to the world and neither shall we learn hatred anymore. We will lie down in peace and not make our neighbors afraid.”

Reverend Beaman is the pastor of the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church located in Wilmington, Delaware. He has been a close friend of the Biden family for approximately thirty years now and according to yahoo news, the two men met in 1993 when Beaman took over the Bethel AME church. Beaman a gathering in the community that Biden attended, leading to the initial introduction of the two men.

The reverend has seen the president through many of life’s trials and tribulations, including the tragic death of his son. The choice of President Biden to let an African American pastor deliver the benediction at his inauguration speaks to the strong connection and involvement that he has and plans to have with the African American community. CBS Philadelphia says that they had an opportunity to speak with the Reverend before he delivered his speech.

“I was washed with a lot of emotions, to say the least. Humbled, excited, fear, reverential fear about being given such a significant role,” he said.

Beaman was asked how he felt when Biden gave him the opportunity to deliver the benediction. The reverend was also one of the 15 Black leaders that Biden decided to meet with about racial justice reform. This was a result of the police killing of Georgia Floyd that triggered the Black Lives Matter protests.

“Joe Biden is a man whose life experiences have taught him to seek the face of God,” Beaman, told CBS news.