7 Year Marker: Press On!

We are now in our 7th year working to protect religious liberty in the courts!  And now, we need your help as we commit to press on towards the goal that God has set before us.

It’s hard to believe that 7 years ago, we opened our doors and began our mission of protecting religious liberty in the courts; enabling Christian organizations, churches, and individuals to be free to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, uninhibited by unfair persecution and prosecution. We have grown tremendously over these past years, and now, we are ready to stretch ourselves even further.

We’re at the 7 mile marker on our journey to our goal, and together with you, we plan to press on toward our purpose with more vigor, more determination, and more resources than ever!

As we move forward into a new year and a new marker on the path towards our goal, we have several objectives that we have laid out in order to stretch ourselves and continue effectively in our mission:

1.      Plan: We will aggressively increase our case load with more strategic cases that are directly related and central to our purpose: Defending the first amendment right to spread the Christian Gospel.

2.      Pursue: (a) We will pursue opportunities to challenge governmental hostility toward Christianity like the efforts to remove Christian symbols from public display; and (b) We will strategically continue to pursue cases that will challenge unlawful land use and building restrictions that are burdening and censoring churches.

In order to spread the mission of Advocates and help bring in more strategic cases, we have redesigned our website (www.faith-freedom.com) and are in the process of search engine optimization so that our website is easier to find by people and organizations needing help.

We are excited about these goals, but we are going to need your help to reach them.  We rely on monthly donations to cover the costs of our operations and to plan for growth, so that we can bring on more cases, confident in the fact that we have the resources to put our best effort towards them.

To continue our current operations and expand to the 2 goals listed above, we have set a goal to bring in $2,500 of new monthly donations by the end of this year. That’s just 100 people committing to give $25 every month!

Please pray about helping us financially on a monthly basis – if you are able to give any amount, we will be that much closer to our goal! Thank you in advance for all of your support –financial, prayer, encouragement…it all means so much to us and shows that we can stretch even further past this 7 Year Marker!

“I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” - Philippians 3:14

God Bless You,

 

 

 

Robert Tyler General Counsel

 

Ask Advocates

Q: What do the election results mean for our personal religious liberties and freedoms?

A:  That is the question on our minds now, as well.  During his second term, President Obama will be able to appoint at least one but more likely two or three new justices to the Supreme Court.  Since the most important and oftentimes controversial battles for our personal liberties make it to this High Court, we expect to face more challenges in pursuit of religious freedoms.  We are not deterred, however!  We will continue the good fight! Have a question for Advocates?  Send it to info@faith-freedom.com

 

Case Updates

• We are looking into the case of five churches in Washington D.C. that are facing unfair land use regulations.  The local government is trying to restrict the use of their buildings because of a historic preservation ordinance, which may violate the churches’ free exercise of religion by placing unreasonable restrictions on the use of their property.

• A drug and alcohol counseling organization is being denied state accreditation status because of its biblical stances.  We are researching this case now.

• Every September, we get numerous phone calls from all over the country regarding See You at the Pole at public schools.  This year, students in Wisconsin and Tennessee, as well as a teacher from Texas, faced resistance from their schools when they tried to participate in the event.  We sent demand letters in each instance, and school officials quickly changed their decisions.

Compare the Candidates

Dear Partner,              We are just days away from one of the most important elections of our lifetime. For the past four years, our nation has progressed in a recession that is crippling many individuals, families, and small businesses. 

             But further, this election has great significance for the future of religious liberty in our nation. For the past few years, we have brought our cases in front of panels of liberal-leaning judges at the state and national level. Some of our cases become subject to courts that would rather interpret law in their own way, rather than enforce the law as it exists and has been established for generations in our Constitution. If a real change doesn’t come in the political and legislative realm soon, these trends in the courts may continue to worsen in the next few years.

             These are urgent statements, but we cannot emphasize enough what an urgent time this is for America. Our next President will implement legislation affecting our religious liberties, impact our personal freedoms (like the right to choose our healthcare provider), and decide the path of the courts for years to come with the appointment of one or more justices to the Supreme Court.

For Voter Guide Resources, click here.      

    

            Several helpful videos concerning voting your values and the impact you can make on November 6th are available at videos.saltandlightcouncil.org. One video regarding pro-life voting offers this staggering statement, “Over 53 million children have been killed by abortion since January 22nd, 1973.” I myself gave a short commentary addressing the right of pastors to comment on issues that, although political, are also important moral issues upon which pastors can express their viewpoints from the pulpit. That video can be found at the Salt and Light website previously mentioned, listed under “Legal Do’s and Don’ts for Pastors and Churches”–“Myth: Pastors on the Frontline.”                     If we truly consider what is most important to us, we will be able to objectively look at the two candidates before us and make a choice that coincides with our beliefs. 

             To help you consider the candidates views, we’ve put together an overview of where the candidates stand on a few very important moral and religious issues:

             Regardless of the outcome, however, I assure you that we will continue our battles in the courts for the sake of generations to come. Thank you for praying for us and financially contributing to Advocates so that we can continue our work in defense of our God-given liberties.

God bless you,          Robert Tyler  President and General Counsel

 

 

 

Thank you for making Justice 2012 a success!

We want to send a big thank you to all of you who joined us last weekend at Justice 2012 in Costa Mesa, CA!  Your presence and participation made the

night so memorable, and we hope that you had a fun and informative evening with us.

The highlights of the evening included:

  • A very informative presentation concerning Obama’s vision for this nation, how Obama feels about religious liberty, and the importance of Advocates’ work.
  • Advocates attorneys Robert Tyler and Jennifer Bursch related their experiences straight from the courtroom, case updates, and what we can do about the biggest issues impeding our religious and individual liberties today.
  • The gathering of over 400 Christian supporters who are committed to defending religious liberty.  What a great time of community!

For those of you who were unable to join us, we’d like to ask you a question as we look forward to Justice 2013…would you want to experience this event, even if you’re unable to physically be there? We’re considering streaming the event next year, so that you can still have the incredible Justice experience…but you can do it from your home!  If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, please email us at info@faith-freedom.com and simply tell us, “Yes, I’m interested in attending Justice 2013 by live stream.”

Now, as we begin plans for Justice 2013 (already!), we’d like to reach out to any businesses or individuals who would like to take a more active role in the event by donating an item for our live or silent auction. If you have any unused airline miles, a vacation timeshare, a product or service from your business, or anything else that may work for an auction, please contact Lori at lsanada@faith-freedom.com or at(888) 588-6888. It’s never too early for us to start planning for this event, and we appreciate your help – you make this event possible!

National and Local Christian Voter Guides

To help you determine your position on the issues and candidates in the upcoming election, here is a list of some national and local Christian Voter Guides that we recommend.  We hope these help you as you prepare for this very important election! National Christian Voter Guides

California Christian Voter Guides

 

Local Voter Guides for Portions of California

 

Thank you for becoming informed about all of the issues and candidates, and thank you exercising your right to vote! 

Ticket Deadline Extended for Justice 2012 with Dinesh D’Souza

Due to high demand, we are extending our ticket sale deadline for Justice 2012! If you haven’t already purchased your tickets ($150 a plate), we urge you to claim them right now…because our ABSOLUTE, LAST CHANCE deadline for ticket purchases is this Wednesday, October 3rd by 12 noon!

We are so excited to bring you a private and powerful address from our keynote speaker, Dinesh D’Souza – author and director of the box office success 2016: Obama’s America. You will be able to hear from this New York Times bestselling author LIVE, as he discusses how we can liberate America, especially in this important time in our history, and why the work that Advocates for Faith & Freedom does is so important!

In addition, we will be hosting a Chance Drawing, Silent Auction, and Live Auction – so you can support Advocates’ work and have an opportunity to walk away with some amazing gifts and lifetime experiences! Here is a sample of what you will find at Justice 2012:

  • Participate in the Chance Drawing for an opportunity to win a $1,000 Gift Card for the Montage Resort & Spa in Laguna Beach
  • Join the fun of our exciting Live Auctionwhere we have included something for everyone:
    • Autographed Muhammad Ali Lithograph by artist LeRoy Neiman (autographs from both Ali and the late Neiman)
    • An autographed electric guitar from Paul McCartney of The Beatles
    • A Tim Tebow 24" x 30” stretched canvas portrait and autographed NFL Official Game Football, NY Jets
    • A beautiful 3-night stay in Napa Valley Wine Country
    • The ultimate Nascar Experience: Drive a stock car to the checkered flag!
    • Beautiful European 10-Night Vacation for two
    • Country singer Taylor Swift’s autographed Acoustic Guitar
    • Sports Fan Getaway ~ Choose your favorite MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, Golf or College Bowl Game
    • Christmas Parade Cruise in Newport Harbor on a private 34' yacht with Advocates attorneys, board members, and 4 of your friends or family!
  • Bid on some amazing items in our Silent Auction:
    • Deep Sea Fishing Trip on a private boat out of Huntington Beach for six
    • America’s Cup Yacht Adventure
    • A vacation to remember to the La Costa Resort Spa and Golf in Carlsbad
    • Fun-filled day trips with tickets for the Dodgers, USC game, Aquarium of the Pacific, Knott’s Berry Farm, Catalina Day Trip, etc.
    • And so much more.....

You only have 48 hours left to get your ticket to this amazing event – experience a commanding keynote address from Dinesh D’Souza; enjoy the fun of our silent and live auctions; and, most importantly, learn more about what Advocates for Faith & Freedom is doing right now to defend our religious liberties!

We hope to see you there!!

Tickets are Going, Going, (Almost) Gone to see Dinesh D’Souza in Costa Mesa!

Tickets are going fast for our Justice 2012 Gala, happening on Saturday October 6th in Costa Mesa, CA. We are very fortunate to have Dinesh D’Souza, author and director of the hit documentary 2016: Obama’s America (out in theaters now) as our keynote speaker.

This intriguing film asks the question, “What will our America look like in 2016 if Obama is reelected and pursues his vision for our nation?” And digging deeper, what is Obama’s vision for America? As Dinesh said in his speech at CPAC 2012, “There’s a lot of personal mystery around Obama, but more than that – there is ideological mystery…. It’s still unclear…what his compass is.”

You can view the trailer of his movie here, and better yet – if you are in Southern California – you can hear Dinesh speak LIVE about the movie, his research, and why fighting for our religious liberties in the climate of our nation today is so vitally important.

We invite you to purchase your tickets today, as they are going fast! Tickets are $150 each, and you can purchase them online or by calling us at 888-588-6888.

We hope to see you there!

Are Our Children Being Hijacked?

For the past few years, Advocates has taken a very special interest in the rights and liberties afforded to our children as students in the public school system. We have done this not only to ensure their rights in the school setting, but also to take a stand for families who want to bring up their children in the moral structure that they choose. Parents and families, we want you to realize that when your children go to school, they will be encouraged, if not compelled, to adopt ideals and morals that do not support what you are teaching them at home. And, to educate you on what is happening in the schools and what your children are or will be facing everyday, we have put together a booklet called “Hijacked K-12”. These are just a few of the alarming situations we came across in our research and experiences:

  • Students may leave school grounds to receive psychological counseling, vaccinations for STDs, abortions or other pregnancy-related treatments during school hours…and the school does not have to provide notice to the parents.
  • The California Teacher’s Association (CTA) now warns its teachers: “Please do not assume anyone’s gender, even people you may have met in the past. A person’s external appearance may not match their internal gender identity.” They have also suggested, “One way of acknowledging the needs of all people is to designate restrooms as gender neutral.” (emphasis added)
  • Schools have not only taken religion out of the public school system, but they have also displayed outright hostility towards students and teachers who espouse Christian views, examples of which we detail in the booklet.

If you are a parent, a teacher, or a student – we encourage you to get a copy of this booklet to educate yourself and your family or colleagues. This information is eye opening and thought provoking, and we have provided tips for how you as a parent or teacher can take action to protect your or your children’s rights!

We want to get the word out about this information as much as possible, and you can help us by doing one or more of the following:

  • Request a booklet. Please call us at (888) 588-6888 to order one or more copies. We are asking for a $5 donation for a hard copy of this booklet, or we can email you a PDF digital copy for no charge, or any donation you’d like to give. The booklet will eventually be available on our website as well.
  • Forward this information on to your friends, family, and colleagues. Please help us spread the word, and let’s get as many people informed as possible!
  • Tell your church, Bible study leader, parents group, private school, or other organizations to contact us to speak. We are willing and ready to get this information out any way that we can, and a great channel for this is speaking engagements. If you or someone you know may be interested in having us speak, please contact Lori Sanada at (888) 588-6888.

We believe that this message is urgent, and we want everyone to know what is happening in our schools, as well as what we as parents, teachers, and concerned citizens can do to protect our students and our families. Thank you so much for your help!

Dinesh D’Souza, Author and Director of the 2016 Movie, will be at Justice 2012!

Recently, the movie 2016: Obama’s America opened in movie theaters around the nation, and it was a surprising hit. The movie was written and directed by Dinesh D’Souza, and it explores the premise: Who is this man who is running our country, and what is his vision for the future of America? And what direction do we as Americans want for our country as we look toward our nation’s future?

Incredibly, this gripping documentary has earned upwards of $20 million so far – more than 5 times the amount the second highest-grossing documentary of the year earned…and this one had barely any promotional budget! Americans are clearly concerned about the upcoming election this year and what is going to become of our beloved nation. Dinesh D’Souza and this movie provide facts about what must be done to ensure that America and our liberties continue to grow, not diminish.

Our own Robert Tyler, Advocates General Counsel, saw the movie recently and stated, “I was astounded at how little we truly know about the man who holds the greatest power in not only our nation, but also the world. It proved to me even more how important the work we do here at Advocates - protecting our religious liberties and defending our individual rights - truly is!" Dinesh D’Souza is our keynote speaker at the Justice 2012 Gala this year, happening in Costa Mesa, CA on October 6. Dinesh will be sharing a message about “Liberating America,” including some of the facts he uncovered about our leader and the direction our nation is now heading, and why it is so imperative to continue fighting for our liberties!

In addition, we are proud to announce the return of Warren Duffy as the emcee for Justice 2012. From 1994 to 2004, afternoon drive-time radio listeners in Southern California tuned in daily from 4 to 7 p.m. on 99.5, KKLA, to hear the award winning talk program “Duffy and Company.” Since leaving the air in 2004, Duffy keeps busy serving as a speaker and leader of “Duffy Tours”worldwide.

Tickets are going fast, and seating is limited...So, if you are interested in hearing from Dinesh D’Souza and supporting our continued fight for religious liberty, please visit www.faith-freedom.com/justice-2012 or call (888) 588-6888 to purchase tickets now.

Sincerely,

Robert Tyler Advocates for Faith & Freedom

 

Delegates at the DNC Boo “Jerusalem” and “God”

The conventions have dominated the news cycle over the past couple of weeks, but a surprising event at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) has left us appalled. Over the course of the last week, it was odd to see that the Democrats’ 2012 platform made not one mention of “God,” whereas the Republican platform makes mention of God 12 times! In addition, there was no statement in the DNC platform about Jerusalem being the capital of Israel. In the past, this has been one point where the Republican and Democratic platforms have always aligned.

It seems that, due to the public outcry and pressure to remain relevant to faith-based voters, the DNC has now recanted. A motion was made to reinstate language about Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and the term “God-given,” into the platform.

However, it did not come easily. You can watch the video below to see that the DNC chairman had to call these changes to a vote three times before he eventually passed the motion. And, even then, it was met with boos from the audience of Democratic delegates.

Watch the video by clicking on the image below:

Wine Country Vintners to Church: “We don’t want your kind out here!”

Can churches and wineries coexist? That is the question at stake right now in the face of a Riverside County hearing in Temecula, CA. Calvary Chapel Bible Fellowship ("The Barn") is gearing up to file a federal lawsuit against the County of Riverside in the event that the County continues its ban on churches in the Temecula Wine Country, an area that is being expanded from approximately 7,000 acres to over 18,990 acres. A public hearing will occur on Wednesday, August 22, 2012, over the fate of churches in this region. The hearing will position the Wine Country Vintner’s Association against the church congregation and many other Christians from the area.

Trying to be a good neighbor, Pastor Clark Van Wick met with a few vintners in an attempt to appease them, but was told, “We don’t want your kind out here.”

In 1999, the Barn received permission from the County to build a new church in Wine Country after a hotly contested public hearing process where the same vintners opposed the building of the church. However, shortly after this, the County quietly passed a new ordinance banning all churches from the Wine Country. The Barn was grandfathered-in and was the only existing church in the Wine Country at the time. Although the church could still meet in the Wine Country, it would never be able to expand its facilities any further because of the ban that was in place, and no other churches would be able to operate in the Wine Country.

The Barn just recently learned of the ban on churches when it sought to obtain a permit to expand its church facilities and to build a small private country school for grades K-8. Of course, the expansion of the facilities is now prohibited.

Under the current and future zoning ordinances, Wineries are allowed to have giant weddings, concerts and plays, but no new churches can assemble to worship. And the only existing church, the Barn, is prohibited from expanding. Robert Tyler, Advocates’ General Counsel, stated, “Although religious liberty is often exercised in the form of free speech, as in the incident surrounding Chick-fil-A, it is more often exercised in the form of believers assembling together for the common purpose of worshipping God, holding church services, and studying the Bible.” He continued, “We must defend the right to assemble against discriminatory zoning laws and land use regulations or else governmental officials will be able to zone out Christians whenever it is politically expedient.”

Christians in the area have become aware of this situation, and they have taken action! Local churches have submitted over 3,200 letters to the County asking to overturn the ban. For more information on reversing the ban on churches, including links to a television interview and newspaper articles, go to www.WineCountryFreedom.Com.

ACTION POINT

Hundreds of area Christians and church members are expected to attend the planning commission hearing. As a sign of thanks, the church will serve Chick-fil-A to all those who attend during the lunchtime break. If you can and are in the area, please join us and voice your support of churches in Wine Country!

Hearing details: August 22, 2012 9:00 AM Riverside County Planning Commission Hearing Temecula City Hall 41000 Main Street Temecula, CA

What Will America Look Like in 2016?

That is the question at the heart of the upcoming movie, 2016: Obama’s America, directed by conservative journalist Dinesh D’Souza. If Obama is elected for another term, in what direction will he take our beloved nation? Digging into Obama’s past and political aspirations, Dinesh tries to find the truth behind Obama’s agenda for America. With the film opening nationwide this month, some people complain that it is too close to the election to release this type of movie. However, Dinesh stated that he learned some tricks from another documentarian …Michael Moore:

“When he released ‘Fahrenheit 9/11’ in 2004 ahead of the election, it sparked intense debate. I learned some lessons from Michael Moore, and hopefully he might learn some lessons from me about handling facts.”

Regarding the movie itself, Dinesh said, “This film is a thriller, whatever you think and regardless of your politics, you are going to leave this movie going ‘wow, I had no idea this was the man that has been in the White House for the past four years.” (emphasis added)

One Washington, D.C. journalist screened the film and declared, “It scared the h- out of me!” Dinesh says the film is so shocking because "much of the material was unreported by mainstream media.”

We look forward to seeing this movie and in welcoming Dinesh as our keynote speaker at this year’s Justice 2012 Gala! If you would like to hear more from Dinesh about “Liberating America,” please consider joining us this year at Justice 2012 at the Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa on Saturday, October 6th.

ACTION POINT

Here is a list of theaters where the movie 2016: Obama’s America will be playing. If it is playing in your area, we encourage you to go see it, and let us know what you think!

Also, if you’d like to hear more from Dinesh D’Souza, consider attending our Justice 2012 Gala.