For Life, Marriage and Religious Freedom
“There are moments in history when a door for massive change opens. Great revolutions for good or for evil occur in the vacuum created by these openings. It is in these times that key men and women, and even entire generations, risk everything to become the hinge of history—the pivotal point that determines which way the door will swing.” ~ Lou Engle
Friends, we as a nation will now determine which way the door will swing. We face unprecedented challenges to three foundational principles of justice and the common good:
- The sanctity of human life in all stages and conditions
- The sacredness of marriage as the covenantal union of husband and wife
- The right to religious liberty and respect for conscience
These principles are moral treasures of our civilization. They have played indispensable roles in preserving the great experiment in republican government and ordered liberty bequeathed to us by the Founders of our Nation. Yet in our time they have come under severe assault. Abortion, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide, and euthanasia threaten the sanctity of life. Marriage, already deeply wounded by a culture of infidelity and divorce is now at risk of being redefined and deconstructed. The right of conscientious refusal to participate or be implicated in immoral actions, be they crimes against life or marriage, is increasingly placed in jeopardy.
For these reasons, we call on all faithful Christians to join us in the fight to defend life, protect and revitalize marriage, and preserve religious liberty and the rights of conscience. We must work tireless in all the “seven spheres of cultural influence:” (1) the home, (2) the church, (3) civil government / law / military, (4) business / technology, (5) education, (6) media, and finally (7) arts / entertainment / professional sports.
The foundational moral principles of life, marriage, and conscience need to be preached in our churches, affirmed in our daily conversations, and demonstrated in our private decisions and our personal lives. They must become a guiding force in every local, state and national election – year after year – including this year’s election. In fact, they need to be supported in everything we do and say, and in the way we live.
1. PRAY
We need to be in prayer on these three principles. We must get down on our knees in humility and pray to God from 2 Chronicles 7:14 on a regular basis.
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Accordingly, we are calling for the first of a series of national 40-day fasts, built on Joel 2 (righteousness) and Isaiah 58 (authentic biblical compassion). The first fast will begin at 7:14 am (based on 2 Chronicles 7:14) Eastern time, on Sept 20 and end at 7:14 am, Oct. 30, 2010. Although many will follow only a liquid diet, persons can fast as God directs them during this 40-day span.
2. ACT
In addition to praying and fasting, we are asking you to act. To help us focus on what we need to do and help us remember why we are fasting, we have developed an acronym – ACT: A is for Affirmation, C is for Conformation and T is for Transformation. On the back is greater detail regarding ACT:
Affirming the Basics– by signing on at www.ManhattanDeclaration.org. Nearly 440,000 persons have signed this elegantly written statement; we need to see it exceed one million persons affirming
- Sanctity of life
- Sacredness of marriage
- Preservation of religious liberty.
Conforming our Lives to our talk
- Personal integrity of lifestyle, being authentically biblical Christ-followers, in the spirit of a Joel 2 fast
- Serve others by compassion and action for the less fortunate, alleviating human suffering and systemic poverty in our communities in the spirit of an Isaiah 58 fast (encouraging compassionate acts during the fast and beyond).
Transforming the Culture by a restoration of values
· Serve the common good by speaking up winsomely for the sanctity of life, sacredness of marriage and religious liberty in our workplace and with our friends and neighbors and with the teachers who teach our children in schools, colleges, in the media and particularly in the Church
· Being consistent by voting in all elections only for candidates who affirm the sanctity of life in all stages and conditions, the integrity of marriage as the union of one man and one woman, and religious liberty and respect for conscience.
SAVE 4 DATES FOR WEBCASTS TO PREPARE US FOR THE PRAYER TIME:
1. National Preparation for Pray & Act - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 - SACRAMENTO, CA, the CA Capitol Building – Webcast on www.God.tv from 9am to 9pm Pacific time. (Come if you can.)
2. Seven Day Countdown Event – SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 - WASHINGTON, DC, Greater New Hope Baptist Church, 816 Eighth St. NW, Washington, DC – Webcast from www.God.tv – 8pm Eastern, 7pm Central, 6pm Mountain, 5pm Pacific. (Come if you can.)
3. Official Launch Event – SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 - WASHINGTON, DC – Webcast from www.AFA.com - 8pm Eastern, 7pm Central, 6pm Mountain, 5pm Pacific
4. Close Out Event – SATURDAY, OCT 30 – WASHINGTON, DC –Steps of the Lincoln Memorial - Webcast from www.AFA.com at 6pm Eastern, 5pm Central, 4 Mountain, 3pm Pacific.
WILL YOU HELP THE CHURCH ENGAGE?
Jim Garlow, Skyline Church & Renewing American Leadership
Chuck Colson, Founder, BreakPoint & The Colson Center
Che Ahn, Harvest International Ministry
Vonette Bright, Co-Founder, Campus Crusade for Christ, International
Bishop Keith Butler, Founding Pastor, Word of Faith International Christian Center
Jim Daly, President & CEO, Focus on the Family
Lou Engle, TheCall to Conscience, TheCall
Father Joseph Fessio, Editor in Chief, Ignatius Press, San Francisco
Maggie Gallagher, National Organization for Marriage
Professor Robert George, Princeton University
Professor Timothy George, Dean, Beeson Divinity School
Jack Hayford, Founder and Chancellor, The King's College and Seminary
Mike Huckabee, Former Governor of Arkansas & Host, The Mike Huckabee Show
Bishop Harry Jackson, Jr., High Impact Church Coalition
Cindy Jacobs, Generals of Intercession
Alveda King, Silent No More Awareness Campaign
Richard Land, The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission
Ron Luce, Founder, Teen Mania & Battle Cry
Bishop Richard Malone, Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland (Maine)
Eva Muntean & Dolores Meehan, Co-Founders, West Coast Walk for Life, San Francisco
Penny Nance, Concerned Women for America
Tony Perkins, Family Research Council
James Robison, Life Outreach, International
Samuel Rodriguez, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference
Alan Sears, Alliance Defense Fund
Chuck Stetson, Let’s Strengthen Marriage Campaign
Steve Strang, Publisher, Charisma Magazine
Tim Wildmon, American Family Association
www.prayandact.com l 11330 Campo Road, La Mesa, CA 91941 l 619.660.5000 x5404