COLUMBIA, S.C. — President Biden went to a Columbia Baptist church on Sunday during his campaign trip to South Carolina.
Sunday was a church service of a lifetime for Claude Reid. He's a deacon and third-generation member of the Saint John Baptist Church in Columbia.
"You look over, and here's the president of the United States," he said.
On Sunday, President Biden joined the congregation for their Sunday morning worship. Pastor Jamey O. Graham said he was given a couple of days' notice before the visit and spoke to the congregation about the importance of voting.
"First of all, I acknowledged him before the sermon started; really, I'm in the zone right there after I get into the word. I'm in the zone," Graham said. "I know he's there, but I also know everyone else is there, and they also need the word of God; I'm just in the word right then."
The president took time to speak during the service as well. Pastor Graham said having President Biden in the room was an answer to prayers.
"We've been going through this 21-day fast and asking God, 'Lord, do a new thing, do an awesome thing in our lives.' [We] never thought in a million years that one of the awesome things would be the president worshipping with our congregation," he said.
Reid said getting national recognition for his church makes him and his community feel seen.
"It takes a person with an incredible amount of integrity and dignity to do that, and that alone raises his respect level within our community," he said.