By Point Loma Observer
Last week, Voice of San Diego updated readers on Awaken Church and its “out there” pastor, Jurgen Matthesius, including a link to a recently posted supercut of clips from Matthesius’ sermons. The clips include his claims that he shrank a child’s inoperable tumor through prayer and that God called on him to pray for the tanks to stop during the Tiananmen Square massacre, prompting him to spontaneously speak in what the article characterizes as “Asian-tinged tongues.”
“Out there” is putting it mildly.
But Matthesius and Awaken Church are not simply a religious curiosity. As many Rag readers know, their influence extends into San Diego’s political arena.
In 2024, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported that Richard Bailey, now a candidate for San Diego City Council District 2, assisted members of the Awaken Church’s political arm, RMNNT, in their efforts to get elected to local office.
RMNNT founder Alana Sorensen, now a member of the San Diego County Republican Party’s central committee, credited Bailey with encouraging her to run and thanked Awaken and its pastors for their support.
In 2025, a SanDiegoVille article examined a local protest over Awaken’s position on LGBTQ+ rights. The article cited Matthesius’ repeated statements that Pride flags represent “a disdain for God” and that critics of Awaken’s presence were “demoniacs.” It also reported that his wife, Leanne Matthesius, posted that the center of the words “Pride Month” spells “d-e-m-o-n.”
Taken together, these reports raise a straightforward political question: Why would Bailey help train and support candidates associated with Awaken’s political operation if he does not share the movement’s values or agenda?
If Bailey does not share those views, voters deserve to hear him say so clearly and explain his relationship with the organization and the candidates it has supported. And if he does share those views, voters deserve to know that, too.
Either way, this is a connection worth examining before the election— not after.
By Point Loma Observer? Why not identify who you are? Frank, you have hit an all-time low. Complete nonsense. Although, I know you will not allow this to be posted because you know you have a losing battle to convince people that Nicole will not be more of the same.
Lisa, I knew this article about your darling Bailey would spark your outrage. Plus I know you’d allow me to post pro-Nicole comments on your email blast, right? Yeah, right.
So I guess Bailey didn’t sign the ‘No Cult in Coronado! ‘ petition in ’23-’24? Snark intended. There is plenty to find about Awaken and its not pretty. How does the church keep federal tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(3) religious organization with its extreme social and political practices?