How "We" Can Effect Change in Culture & Law

June 14 was Flag Day, the day Americans honor the adoption of our national flag and the freedom the stars and stripes represent. Christians in America are truly blessed that we are free to worship and are not subject to the dangerous threats and atrocious persecution that far too many Christians around the world are facing.  As a beacon of hope to the rest of the world, it should be our biblical duty to maintain those freedoms. "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." 2 Cor. 3:17

Yet, true religious liberty in America should provide us the freedom to live consistently with our beliefs every day, from our churches and into the public square. However, the modern progressive movement in our government has produced legislation that creates confusion between “free exercise of religion” and “freedom of worship.”  Adoption agencies, bakers, florists, and schools that maintain what Americans have always believed about human sexuality, marriage and gender, now find themselves in danger of being in conflict with the law.

So, what can our Church Leaders and we as Christians do?

1.  Thomas Jefferson wrote that a well-informed electorate is a prerequisite to democracy. On a local and state level, Advocates for Faith & Freedom would like to begin providing updates, information and analysis from organizations like California Family Council on some of the literally hundreds of anti-traditional-family and anti-religion bills and laws that pass through our state legislature every year.

To give you an idea, SB1146 would restrict the religious liberty rights of colleges and universities by preventing them from receiving state funding if they perform actions that California laws deem discriminatory on the basis of religion.

2.  An additional resource for learning about our religious liberties on a national basis and then staying informed about their ongoing battle to protect those rights is The Heritage Foundation.

3. As you know, last month, Advocates for Faith & Freedom had the privilege of supporting and joining Church United and over 150 CA pastors in Washington DC. They learned about America’s exceptional godly heritage. Church United’s goal is to create a movement in California to encourage and support all church leaders who share a biblical world view to take bold and courageous action in their churches and their preaching.  Our state desperately needs a change in cultural morality that only a church revival can deliver!  You will hear more about this in this month’s newsletter.

4. In order to effect moral change in our culture the body of Christ must provide persuasive moral influence in the public arena and must also engage in personal evangelism. Training for churches through Culture Impact Teams provides simple instruction for in-house leadership to arouse a congregational response to the moral and social issues that impact your community, state and nation.  Wherever we can, Advocates for Faith & Freedom will partner with church leaders to help facilitate Cultural Impact Teams.

The onslaught of legal challenges from organizations like the Freedom From Religion Foundation have bullied many Christian government officials and church leaders into believing they have no choice but to remain silent or face lawsuits resulting in financial ruin.

5.  Some of you may already know about and are already supporting Advocates for Faith & Freedom while they defend a number of these cases in our California courts today. Through the courage of Pastor Scott Sharpen and Go Mobile for Life, we are challenging AB775 on the basis of religious discrimination. This California law requires that pro-life clinics post the location and phone number of County facilities where an abortion can be obtained.

          Advocates for Faith and Freedom is also raising the funds for Tyler & Bursch attorneys, who have been hired to appeal the judge’s recent ruling that the Chino Valley Unified School District can no longer honor their long-standing tradition of invocations before their school board meetings.

We are confident that we will be successful in these legal challenges and will keep you updated.

Your prayers are greatly appreciated, first and foremost. However, we are also in need your generous and ongoing financial support in order to continue the costly work of protecting our God-given religious liberties in the California courts.

"Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right." - Abraham Lincoln   

Thank you for your faithful prayers and your donations!

Where Are Our Church Leaders?

500 Christian churches in London have closed; 427 new mosques have been built, and many on the sites of shuttered Christian churches. The Brick Lane Mosque was constructed on a former Methodist church that was built in 1743. It was a Methodist chapel from 1819 until 1898 when it became the Great Synagogue for Jewish refugees from Russia and central Europe. In 1976 it became the London Great Mosque.

St. Peter's Church has been converted into the Madina Mosque. The trustees received several other offers, but the bid from the Muslim community was chosen.

The former Hyatt United Church, bought by the Egyptian Community Centre will be converted to a mosque and school. The church’s Rev. Richard Golden surprisingly said this, "I am delighted it will remain as a place of worship. I believe we only have one God… some see it as the Prophet Mohammed and others as Jesus.”

Today, there are over 1,700 mosques throughout Britain and only 2 are said to follow the modernist interpretation of Islam.  And this conversion of faith does not only correlate to buildings. The number of converts to Islam has doubled and like Khalid Masood, the Westminster Bridge terrorist, some have become radicalized.

Just a few days after the Manchester Arena terrorist attack and Pope Francis’ trip to Egypt - where he lacked the moral courage to address Islamic extremism and offered only a banal criticism of every form of hatred in the name of “religion” – the Islamic assault continued in the name of Allah.

This time, it was a bus full of Christian pilgrims headed to a monastery in Minya, Egypt.  Before the massacre they were asked to renounce their faith, but all of them refused – even the children. One by one, they were shot to death.

Congressman Dana Rohrabacher has sounded an emotional warning about the wide-spread persecution and outright annihilation of Christians and Christianity that is currently underway in the Middle East. In the past 3 years in Syria and Iraq, in the name of Allah, we have seen the horrific mass murders of Christian minorities along with dozens, maybe hundreds of places of Christian worship that Islamic fundamentalists have demolished.

How many times do we have to acknowledge, as President Trump did, that the “merciless slaughter of Christians tears at our hearts and grieves our souls.”? How many of our children have to become “martyrs” as Pope Francis has declared?

Not only has the population of British Muslims grown – now at 2.7 million -  almost half are under the age of 25, while it is estimated that almost a quarter of Christian church-goers are close to eighty. It is estimated that in just 20 years, there will be more British Muslims than active Christians.

According to one of Britain's leading judges, their courts must also be multicultural and no longer influenced by Christianity. There are up to 100 Sharia courts in the UK.  In this parallel judicial system, these new courts are based on the denial of human rights, and the values ​​of equality and freedom that are the foundation of English Common Law.

Lebanese born and controversial defender of Christianity Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rai has said, “I have often heard from Muslims that their goal is to conquer Europe with two weapons; their faith and their birthrate…  So when they come to Europe and see the empty churches and find the unbelief of Europeans, they immediately think they will fill that void.”

This trend is happening throughout Western Europe. Do centuries of Christian teachings and values face a certain and permanent decline or even extinction? Where are the church leaders? Where is their courage?

The Bible is absolute. Deuteronomy 31:6 says, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” But, so far, the majority of Christian leaders can do no more than speak to relativism.

Advocates for Faith & Freedom is boldly defending religious liberties in the courts. For an update on some of our cases, please visit our website below. Through your sustained prayers and generous donations of support, we can continue to protect and preserve America's Godly heritage.

Saving Lives, One Abortion Clinic at a Time

Thirteen years ago, four Christians sat themselves around a wooden table seeking God’s direction on how to stop the scourge of abortion around the globe, especially at their local Planned Parenthood clinic in College Station, Texas. That single hour of prayer birthed a campaign they called 40 Days for Life. To their surprise a grassroots, door-to-door effort emerged with more than 25,000 households reached, resulting in a 28 percent drop in the local abortion rate and the eventual closure of that abortion clinic. The effort gained national headlines and, three years later, the movement was expanded across the country and beyond. A decade later the results—including 13,305 babies saved—clearly have God’s handprint all over them:

• 4,876 total campaigns
• 715 cities, 44 countries
• 750,000 individual participants
• 19,000 churches
• 154 abortion workers (including abortion doctors) quit their jobs
• 86 abortion facilities closed

“It’s a reflection of the momentum that we see in the pro-life movement,” Shawn Carney, president and co-founder, said in a video posted on the ministry’s website “This is a very important time in history as we see Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion  provider, on the brink of being defunded. We see record numbers of abortion facilities closing their doors around the country and around the world, and we see hearts and minds being changed on the issue of abortion.”

Another testimony to the power of this life-affirming movement is its redemptive power.  According to Carney, 25 percent of the local campaign leaders are women who have had abortions and who can personally attest to the devastating consequences of terminating a pregnancy.

    “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.”  Proverbs 31:8

Casey expects this fall’s 40 Days for Life to be the largest ever, and applications to lead local campaigns are now being accepted through June 23 by clicking here.

Is there an abortion clinic near you? Will you join other pro-life individuals in your area and be part of 40 Days for Life’s peaceful prayer campaign? Your efforts can help bring the beginning of the end of abortion!

And please support Advocates for Faith & Freedom as we defend the religious liberties of pro-life clinics like Go Mobile for Life by donating today.  Thank you for your generosity and prayers.

National Day of Prayer – America’s Godly Heritage Endures

Tomorrow, Thursday, May 4 is National Day of Prayer in America; a day on which the people of the United States may “turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals.” (Public Law 105-225) Please join Advocates for Faith & Freedom and millions of Americans across the nation as we celebrate our religious liberties by recognizing our National Day of Prayer.

The acknowledgment of our Creator has always been a cornerstone in America’s sustained religious history. The United States of America was founded upon a tradition of faith and now, more than 200 years later, we still rely on God’s essential guidance.

In 1776, General George Washington recorded in his Orderly Book, “…The blessing and protection of Heaven are at all times necessary, but especially so in times of public distress and danger.  The General hopes and trusts, that every officer and man will endeavour to live and act as becomes a Christian soldier, defending the dearest rights and liberties of his country.”

The Supreme Court affirmed our religious roots in 1892 by declaring, “…no purpose of action against religion can be imputed to any legislation state or national, because this is a religious people.  This is historically true.  From the discovery of this continent to the present hour, there is a single voice making this affirmation…we find everywhere a clear recognition of the same truth….this is a Christian nation.”

Many Christians are unaware that they live in a nation in which a law requires our President proclaim a National Day of Prayer each year. In 1952, President Harry Truman, declaring that “the American people should spend one day a year praying or meditating on their faith,” signed a bill proclaiming the National Day of Prayer into law in the United States. President Reagan amended the law in 1988, designating the first Thursday of May each year as the National Day of Prayer. The National Prayer Committee was formed in the United States in 1972.

During George W. Bush’s presidency, the constitutionality of the National Day of Prayer was unsuccessfully challenged in court by the ever persistent Freedom From Religion Foundation after their first attempt was unanimously dismissed by a federal appellate court in April 2011.

It has recently been reported that President Trump is ready to sign a controversial religious liberty executive order, on tomorrow’s National Day of Prayer.  The “Religious Freedom Order” seeks to provide exemptions for religious people and organizations who object to same-sex marriage, premarital sex, abortion, contraception and trans-identity. As expected, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is already gearing up for a court battle.

In the face of this and other tremendous challenges, prayer is a mighty force for peace, justice, freedom, and a more hopeful future. Let us all solemnly pray with grateful hearts for our nation, for those who lead us, and for those who keep us safe.

Scripture tells us again and again that our earnest prayers are effective; that God responds in powerful ways. Daniel 9:19, says, “Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for all people-for kings and all those in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” I Timothy 2:1-2

As Advocates for Faith & Freedom boldly stands in the gap for our nation, won’t you join us and millions of Americans throughout our country by attending a National Day of Prayer event in your city or at your church?  May God's blessings of peace and prosperity be on our faithful and grateful nation.

Is Abortion Losing Public Support?

We’ve found yet another issue in our favor that the secular, main stream media does not want report: many more people are now in favor of seeing Roe V. Wade overruled. Previous polls from organizations such as Gallup have shown that as much as 70 percent of the American public support keeping the Roe v. Wade ruling in place. However, a recent article by the Human Family Research Center reports that the results were different when the poll's wording provided more details.

Considering a small margin of error, when one polling company survey explained to people that if Roe v. Wade was repealed, abortion wouldn’t be wiped out, but simply return jurisdiction to the individual states, the poll results were nearly a 50/50 split to see it overruled.

After 44 years, Roe v. Wade remains one of the most controversial Supreme Court decisions and when the facts about the law are more clearly defined, the American public is almost evenly divided. But, we still have more work to do.

Please help us continue the fight to protect the unborn through the courts in our state and country by praying with us.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

And, if you are able, please click here to send your tax-deductable donation. No donation is too small and your support is greatly appreciated!

President Trump Keeps Pro-Life Promise

In his first major pro-life action in office, on January 23, 2017, President Trump signed an executive order barring federal funds from organizations that promote abortion around the world, including the 100 million taxpayer-dollar recipient International Planned Parenthood Federation. Additionally, in the first successful strike against the nation’s largest abortion network, VP Mike Pence cast the deciding vote to allow states to strip federal family planning funds from Planned Parenthood.

According to Congressman Sean Duffy, Planned Parenthood PACs donate millions to the abortion friendly Democrat Party. So it’s no surprise that during Obama’s remaining months in office, he announced a new regulation that required state and local governments to distribute federal Title X funding for services related to family planning, regardless of whether they also perform abortions. Fortunately, according to the Congressional Review Act (CRA), Congress and a new president can overturn rules issued in the waning days of a previous administration, which is exactly what the Trump administration did. We have many hopes for our country as our new president and his administration settle into office.  As we continue to pray, we will keep a watchful eye on their progress.

Daniel 2:21 “He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.”

Easter Objection Overruled

Is there evidence for believing that Jesus is really God’s son – the Messiah? Absolutely! In 1947, the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered near the Dead Sea in Israel. The scrolls include the entire Old Testament except for the book of Esther. In fact, the discovery proves that our present-day Old Testament is virtually identical to the scrolls.

Transcribed up to 200 years before Jesus Christ walked this earth, the scrolls contain the same Old Testament prophecies that foretell the coming of Christ the Messiah, God’s son. Historical evidence shows that ancient Jewish Rabbis taught that the Old Testament Scriptures prophetically described the future Messiah.

For example, Isaiah 52-53 describe a man who was afflicted, pierced, wounded, killed with criminals as a sacrifice for souls, and placed in a rich man’s tomb.

 “…the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him and by His wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5

There are many Old Testament Scriptures written well before the time of Jesus Christ that describe his coming in detail, his life with accuracy and his death with precision.

So join us as we celebrate this blessed Easter weekend, knowing with confidence, that all objections to the deity of Christ have been overruled!

“According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:3

Fighting for Pro-life in Superior Court

On April 6^th, we were in court for 3 hours arguing against the new California state law that requires Christian-based crisis pregnancy counseling centers to provide a notice to the young women they serve—advising the women that free and low cost abortions are available. And the notice must include a phone number to a county agency that will refer the women for an abortion. We represent the Scharpen Foundation which runs one of the pro-life counseling clinics in Riverside County. We had a very positive hearing in the Superior Court for the County of Riverside, California. The California Attorney General filed a motion asking the court to dismiss our case. We argued that we have developed sufficient facts to prove that the new law, known as the Reproductive Fact Act, intentionally discriminates against pro-life pregnancy counseling centers.

After dozens and dozens of hours of research, we have been able to uncover evidence that the new law targets these pro-life ministries. The Reproductive Fact Act essentially exempts all for-profit licensed clinics that provide medical care. The law also exempts all other licensed clinics that provide comprehensive women’s medical care—i.e. abortions. What’s left are approximately 92 licensed non-profit clinics. Approximately 82 of these are pro-life and the other 10 clinics do not provide abortions. This evidence is revealing. After exempting thousands of clinics, the law only applies to 92 clinics, including all of the 82 pro-life clinics in California. This took a lot of work, but our attorneys figured it out. Attorneys Nada Higuera and Christine Torres did a great job uncovering this evidence!

Please pray for our judge in Riverside County Superior Court. If she denies the request by the Attorney General, then we will have the opportunity to present this evidence in a full trial on the merits to prove discrimination statewide based on a clinic’s pro-life position. The judge will soon be issuing a written decision.

Meanwhile, we are also waiting on the U.S. Supreme Court to decide whether the High Court will accept our federal case for review. We have two different legal strategies ongoing.

Please continue to pray. We are in the thick of this battle—among others! If you have the ability to donate today, we could really use your financial support as well. Thank you!

Fighting for Pro-life in Superior Court Today

We would like to thank you for your prayers this morning! Today we were in court for 3 hours arguing against the new California state law that requires Christian-based crisis pregnancy counseling centers to provide a notice to the young women they serve—advising the women that free and low cost abortions are available. And the notice must include a phone number to a county agency that will refer the women for an abortion. We represent the Scharpen Foundation which runs one of the pro-life counseling clinics in Riverside County.

We had a very positive hearing in the Superior Court for the County of Riverside, California. The California Attorney General filed a motion asking the court to dismiss our case. We argued that we have developed sufficient facts to prove that the new law, known as the Reproductive Fact Act, intentionally discriminates against pro-life pregnancy counseling centers.

After dozens and dozens of hours of research, we have been able to uncover evidence that the new law targets these pro-life ministries. The Reproductive Fact Act essentially exempts all for-profit licensed clinics that provide medical care. The law also exempts all other licensed clinics that provide comprehensive women’s medical care—i.e. abortions. What’s left are approximately 92 licensed non-profit clinics. Approximately 82 of these are pro-life and the other 10 clinics do not provide abortions. This evidence is revealing. After exempting thousands of clinics, the law only applies to 92 clinics, including all of the 82 pro-life clinics in California. This took a lot of work, but our attorneys figured it out. Attorneys Nada Higuera and Christine Torres did a great job uncovering this evidence!

Please pray for our judge in Riverside County Superior Court. If she denies the request by the Attorney General, then we will have the opportunity to present this evidence in a full trial on the merits to prove discrimination statewide based on a clinic’s pro-life position. The judge will soon be issuing a written decision.

Meanwhile, we are also waiting on the U.S. Supreme Court to decide whether the High Court will accept our federal case for review. We have two different legal strategies ongoing.

Please continue to pray. We are in the thick of this battle—among others! If you have the ability to donate today, we could really use your financial support as well. Thank you!

Pro-Abortion License Plates on the Horizon

California may soon have thousands of rolling “billboards” supporting abortion, thanks to proposed legislation that would authorize automobile license plates promoting a woman’s right to choose. Senate Bill 309, authored by Santa Barbara Democrat Hanna-Beth Jackson, would also serve as a fundraising vehicle for abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood. The bill is sponsored by NARAL Pro-Choice California, which is also pushing several other pro-abortion bills this year. In proposing the measure, Jackson took a swipe at President Donald Trump and the Republican majority in Congress, saying their attempts to cut federal funding for to reproductive health care services is what propelled her effort.

“We will not stand idly by and let this happen,” Jackson said, adding, “This license plate represents one way that we can demonstrate that we will stay true to our values and the right of every woman to safe, affordable and quality reproductive health care.

The initial cost for the “California Trusts Women” plates would be $50, but at least 7,500 of them would have to be ordered in advance before manufacturing could begin. The annual renewal fee for the plates would be $40. The plate’s design would be determined through a contest among Golden State artists.

According to a Los Angeles Times opinion piece, the phrase “Trust Women” is a nod to late-term abortion doctor George Tiller. The Kansas doctor was killed by an extremist in 2009 and has become a hero for many abortion supporters.

Not surprisingly, California is NOT among the 29 states that offer Choose Life license plates. Additionally, groups in 16 other states are working to get similar pro-life plates approved. In fact, California is one of only five states in which there is no active effort for the pro-life specialty plates.