Stream Editors Anika Smith and Mitch Boersma attended the Faith, Freedom and Future Inauguration Ball, co-hosted by The Stream parent organization LIFE Outreach International. Below is a rough transcription — okay, an exaggerated transcription — of their conversation that evening, wherein Mitch, a Roman Catholic, receives a crash course from Anglican Anika on the makeup of the predominantly evangelical and Protestant group gathered in celebration of President Trump’s inauguration.

Mitch: Hey Anika! Happy Inauguration Day!

Anika: Uh, yeah, happy peaceful-transition-of-power day to you, too! Security wasn’t as bad as I’d feared, and my Uber was able to drop me off right out front — how was your trip in?

Mitch: Oh man, it was brutal. I was coming in from Virginia and traffic was so bad that I ended up parking a mile from here and walking over (in tuxedo shoes, no less, and I have the blisters to prove it!). Had to weave around a few police lines where the protesters were still wrapping up.

I even walked past the Starbucks where the protesters had shattered all the windows. ‘Cause nothing says “sticking it to Trump” like busting up a liberal coffee shop in the District where only 4 percent of the residents voted for him, right?

Anika: Too much caffeine, perhaps?

Mitch: Perhaps. So I think it’s safe to say I’m the outlier in this room — both as a Catholic (maybe one of about a dozen or so in this room of a few thousand, if I had to guess)  and as someone who lives and works in Washington, D.C. Does that sound about right?

Anika: You’re always a rare breed, but yes, judging by the lack of an open bar and the size of people’s hair, I’d say we’re firmly in evangelical territory. (The higher the hair, the closer to God!)

And you’re in for a treat. I don’t see him listed on the program, but I’ve definitely spotted the silky silver mane of Gaither Vocal Band legend Guy Penrod. With any luck, we’ll hear some trumpet-blasting evangelical solos fit to make George Beverly Shea weep.

I’m basically in evangelical hipster heaven, or I would be if I had my flask handy.

Mitch: Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink. But you’d never guess it by all the energy and excitement buzzing through this beautiful venue! 

So, do you think this crowd is really pumped about Trump, or just happy to know that there isn’t another Clinton in the White House?

Anika: I was going to ask you the same thing! If the conversation tonight is any indication, I’d say people here think Trump is the unlikely hero of the movement. The relief at not having Hillary is evident, but I think people here believe in Trump himself.

Which made sense for evangelicals under Bush, who we recognized as one of our own. But a thrice-married Manhattan billionaire? I really didn’t expect to see this level of enthusiasm.

Mitch: Yeah, I’ve experienced something similar with some of the Catholic crowd in DC — even some of those who were professed #NeverTrumpers. Certainly plenty of nervousness about what is to come in with the new administration, but I don’t think anyone anticipated how much collective schadenfreude there would be at seeing Hillary lose at each opportunity: the night of the election, during the “recounts,” and again when the electoral college made it official — much to Hollywood’s chagrin.

Seeing Hillary this morning just a few steps from the inauguration podium this morning was the cherry on top. So close, yet so far away. 

And I was happy to see our new president and his family take time this morning to join in prayer. Did you see that he and Pence were both prayed over by our boss?

Anika: I did see that! I love the fact that in a day full of pomp and power, there’s so much collective prayer and thanksgiving. I think that’s also a strong reason for the enthusiasm here in the ballroom. But why is no one dancing yet? We may be evangelicals, but not all of us are strict Baptists and they’ve got a swell band up there. You Catholics don’t have this problem — I was at a big Becket Fund party a few years back, and there was definitely great dancing.

Mitch: Well there might not be much dancing yet, but I’m pretty sure I just saw a guy who looks like Jesus in a bolo tie heading backstage. Is that the famed Guy Penrod? 

Anika: Just wait. Once the backing track gets queued up, you’re going to hear Bill Gaither’s best protegé of them all — and that includes Sandi Patty.

Mitch: Who?

Anika: Sandi Patty?! The great Sandi — ?!(Sigh) I’ll send you a YouTube link. Just be ready to sing along, or mouth some words, when he comes down from the stage into the audience. It’s a priesthood of all believers sort of thing.