Gingrich Shares Testimony at Cumming Church

Win-or-go-home time is fast approaching for the former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich.

A decisive leader in the race for the Republican nomination for president just one month ago, Gingrich now finds himself in third place behind former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum in most national polls.

Of more immediate concern, however, is a fight for survival in Georgia where the latest Rasmussen poll shows his once double-digit lead over Santorum has now shrunk to just five percentage points.

That is particularly troubling since Georgia is at the heart of Gingrich's "Southern Strategy," built on the hope that a successful sweep through southern states on Super Tuesday will rejuvenate his campaign and propel him to the nomination.

Sunday, that strategy brought Gingrich to , the mega church founded by pastor Dr. Richard Lee, where he shared his testimony with more than 3,000 worshippers during the morning service.

"I speak to you as a citizen who has had a life that at times has fallen short of the glory of God, who has had to seek God's forgiveness and reconciliation," Gingrich began.

During a 40-minute speech, Gingrich painted a picture of an America and Christians under assault by two separate factions.

"We have a secular elitist wing that deeply disbelieves in America and wants to fundamentally change it," Gingrich said. "And we have a radical Islamist wing that authentically hates us and should. From their world view, we are the greatest threat they face because we represent freedom. Freedom means the end of their world."

Gingrich said the phrase "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights" is at the heart of who Americans are as a people.

"Power comes from god to each of you personally. It means you are personally sovereign because the rights have come to you. You loan power to government. Government doesn't loan power to you."

Gingrich was interrupted a dozen times by applause form the worshippers and received several standing ovations.

Afterwards, Dr. Lee said, he was pleased with Gingrich's comments.

"He very humbly and purposefully did not promote himself," Lee said. "That's basically what I asked him to do, to share his faith and share the history of our country.

Lee said he has not endorsed a candidate yet.

"I don't ever endorse as a pastor but I do endorse as a citizen," he said. "I will make some sort of endorsement next week personally among my friends."

Republican State Sen. Jack Murphy, who along with Gov. Nathan Deal, has endorsed Gingrich, was among the worshippers.

Murphy said a victory in Georgia is critical for Gingrich campaign. "It's critical for him to win his home state and I think he will win it."

, an active member of First Redeemer who is campaigning for the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners, said, "This was a good day for our church. The Speaker represents and talks about American exceptionalism often and he embodies that spirit. He would bring a real sense of renewal government and we need that desperately."

The Gingrich bus tour through Georgia will continue Tuesday when he visits Dalton, Rome and Carrollton. On Wednesday, Gingrich will visit the state Capitol in Atlanta, Covington and Gainesville.