Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, was chosen by the inaugural organizers to preach to the Trump family and others in a private ceremony at St. John’s Episcopal Church before the inauguration.

The private sermon to the president-elect continues an Inauguration Day tradition at the church, which is located steps away from the White House.

Jeffress turned heads a year ago when he appeared at Trump campaign events in the battleground state of Iowa weeks before the caucuses.

He predicted to OneNewsNow at the time that Evangelicals will support Trump because they believe Trump can win over a Democratic nominee.

“Not because they believe he’s the best candidate to lead Bible studies in the Oval Office,” he said, “but they do believe maybe he’s the best candidate who has a chance of beating Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders.”

Jeffress, 61, hosts radio program “Pathway to Victory” on American Family Radio.

Nehemiah, a cup-bearer to Persian king Artaxerxes, returned to Jerusalem to oversee the rebuilding of the city’s walls that had fallen into disrepair.

The first chapter recalls Nehemiah telling the king that “those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”

Jeffress told Fox News on Thursday that he planned to focus on Nehemiah “as an example of why God blesses leaders.”

CNN predictably criticized Jeffress for his biblical views and comments about homosexuality and Islam, referring to him as an “inflammatory” pastor.