DENVER -- Some Central Floridians played a prominent role in the closing night of the Democratic National Convention.
Dr. Joel Hunter gave the benediction Thursday night after Obama delivered his speech.
Hunter is the pastor of Northland Church in Longwood, and while he is a conservative Christian, he is well known for his call for Christians to become more involved in issues like poverty and preserving the environment.
Hunter has not endorsed a presidential candidate, and he said if the Republican Party asks him to speak at their convention next week, he will go.
News 13's Greg Pallone spoke with Hunter at the convention center to find out why a devout Republican agreed to give the final blessing on a Democratic event.
"I believe that Christians ought to be witnesses wherever they can and pretty much anytime anyone asks me to pray, I'm there," Hunter said. "We're going to be praying and asking God's help to better our country and to help us to provide care for the most vulnerable and to do what we can as citizens. Of course, we will be praying for wisdom for Barack Obama and other elected officials, but it will be a brief, kind of wrapup, 'God we need you,' and we really do."
Also Thursday night, Marsha Shearer, a resident of The Villages, was one of 10 people who got to meet Obama backstage before he accepted his party's nomination at Invesco Field.
Shearer is a retired assistant school principal, who has been volunteering for the Obama campaign since February.
Janet Monaco, of Brevard County, also addressed the convention. Monaco is a pet shop owner and she talked about how the high cost of both property insurance and health insurance has hurt her way of life.
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