Ted Cruz joined more than 1,000 faithful in the chapel of Lutheran Church of Hope.
West Des Moines, United States:
Republican White House hopeful Ted Cruz said on Sunday he is praying for his rivals, as he worshipped at church in Iowa barely 24 hours before the state holds the first vote in the nominations process.
Cruz, who has meticulously courted the all-important evangelical vote in this central state, joined more than 1,000 faithful in the chapel of Lutheran Church of Hope, a huge evangelical sanctuary in West Des Moines.
Afterward he spent some 20 minutes shaking hands and taking selfies with attendees, bending down to greet toddlers and occasionally talking politics with admirers.
"I prayed that God's will be done," he told reporters as he was leaving the church.
Asked if he had prayed for top Republican rivals Donald Trump and Marco Rubio, Cruz nodded and said, "I actually did."
"One of the things that the pastor asked was pray for any who are your opponents," he said.
"And indeed I'm lifting up prayers to all the candidates who are running that God's blessing and peace and love be upon them."
Cruz is in a crowded Republican field with 11 other candidates.
Among those with strong evangelical followings, like Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum, Cruz has been successful at drawing core Christian voters in the 2016 race.
Lutheran Church of Hope is among the largest in Iowa, and features a large cafeteria and a sweeping lobby with video screens showing the service in the prayer hall.
Cruz sat quietly in the middle of the congregation, with one of his daughters on his lap.
"How do we turn the other cheek? How do we love back?" asked senior pastor Mike Housholder, in a sermon peppered with references to the Iowa caucuses.
Cruz, who has meticulously courted the all-important evangelical vote in this central state, joined more than 1,000 faithful in the chapel of Lutheran Church of Hope, a huge evangelical sanctuary in West Des Moines.
Afterward he spent some 20 minutes shaking hands and taking selfies with attendees, bending down to greet toddlers and occasionally talking politics with admirers.
"I prayed that God's will be done," he told reporters as he was leaving the church.
Asked if he had prayed for top Republican rivals Donald Trump and Marco Rubio, Cruz nodded and said, "I actually did."
"One of the things that the pastor asked was pray for any who are your opponents," he said.
"And indeed I'm lifting up prayers to all the candidates who are running that God's blessing and peace and love be upon them."
Cruz is in a crowded Republican field with 11 other candidates.
Among those with strong evangelical followings, like Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum, Cruz has been successful at drawing core Christian voters in the 2016 race.
Lutheran Church of Hope is among the largest in Iowa, and features a large cafeteria and a sweeping lobby with video screens showing the service in the prayer hall.
Cruz sat quietly in the middle of the congregation, with one of his daughters on his lap.
"How do we turn the other cheek? How do we love back?" asked senior pastor Mike Housholder, in a sermon peppered with references to the Iowa caucuses.
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