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?
This is why I will never vote for Bailey for anything. He feigned ignorance when asked about the training he provided for Awaken: “I was just invited to share information on how to run for office.” If I’m the Mayor, or any serious candidate for office, I do not accept any invitation from a group without a thorough vetting. That’s what staffers are for.
Bailey has 3 options:
1. Admit that you and/or your office did not properly vet Awaken and now that you know what they’re really about, denounce their insane “values.”
2. Admit that you actually were aware of Awaken’s platform, but you made a serious error in judgement and denounce their insane “values.”
3. Admit that you agree with some or all of Awaken’s beliefs and call it a day.
All three of these options involve being honest with the voters of District 2 and I do not feel that Bailey is being honest with us. I suspect Bailey is happy to leave this issue in the dark because the MAGA voters in D2 are not turned off by his Awaken connection, yet he can still claim to the rest of D2 that he’s never been a member of Awaken and didn’t know anything about them.