See Franklin Graham in Little Rock on April 12

Current Events

Franklin Graham–son of Billy Graham–is coming to Little Rock this April, and you are invited to hear and pray with him.

Graham has launched a state-by-state tour called the Decision America Tour. The goal is to hold meetings in each state to pray for our nation.

We are helping the team at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association invite people to attend the prayer rally in Little Rock this April. I hope you and your church will plan on attending the rally and help us get the word out to your friends and neighbors.

Franklin Graham and his team will be at the Arkansas Capitol Building in Little Rock to pray for America at 12:00 PM on Tuesday, April 12. You can find additional details here.

If you are a leader in your church, we have special resources you can use to promote this prayer rally in your congregation.

You can download and print copies of a special insert to place in your church bulletins. Simply click here to download.

You can download and print copies of a special poster promoting the event. Simply click here to download.

You also can download promotional videos to share in your church or Sunday school class:
Click here to download the 15-second video.
Click here to download the 30-second video.
Click here to download the 93-second video.

Ronald Reagan once said that if we ever forget we are one nation under God, we will be a nation gone under. These prayer rallies are an excellent opportunity to pause to pray that God will bless and restore our nation. I hope you will commit to pray for America–and I hope you will be able to join us in Little Rock on April 12.

Please promote this upcoming meeting as much as possible in your church–and let us know if you have any questions or if there is anything we can do for you.

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NE Arkansas School District to Offer Academic Course on the Bible

Current Events, Religious Freedom,

A public school district in northeast Arkansas has announced plans to offer students an elective, academic course on the Bible.

According to Christian Post, Westside Consolidated School District hopes to have course material lined up in time to offer the course to students during the 2016-2017 school year.

Act 1440 of 2013–sponsored by Rep. Denny Altes and enacted under Governor Mike Beebe–permits public schools to offer elective academic courses that study “the Bible and its influence on literature, art, music, culture, and politics.”

The law states the course must be objective and nonsectarian, and it must meet the same academic standards as other elective courses offered in public schools. Anyone wishing to teach the course must be licensed to teach in the State of Arkansas.

Courts have indicated the U.S. Constitution does not prevent public school students from being taught about the Bible and its significance throughout human history, provided the instruction is conducted in an educational and neutral manner.

In 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court even went so far in its Stone v. Graham decision as to say, “the Bible may constitutionally be used in an appropriate study of history, civilization, ethics, comparative religion, or the like.” The key is the state has to have a legitimate, secular purpose in offering elective courses on the Bible.

In the case of Act 1440, the purpose is clear: To study the Bible’s influence on multiple facets of our culture. Since no single book has held more sway over western culture than the Bible, this purpose seems more than reasonable.

Of course it’s also worth remembering students and teachers do not shed their First Amendment freedoms simply by walking into a public school. Students and teachers can peacefully read their Bibles or pray during breaks, before school, and after school. Students are free to form religiously-based student organizations–such as Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Students can even discuss their faith, if relevant, as part of course assignments and homework.

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Liberal Muddle on Guns and Abortion

Current Events, ,

The following column is by Regis Nicoll, a freelance writer and Christian columnist.

“When you think of Missouri,” urges New York Times columnist Gail Collins, “give a fond mental shout-out to Stacey Newman.” Collins’ plug comes in response to a bill Newman introduced to the Missouri state legislature intended as an eye-poke to the predominately pro-life body.

What’s Good for the Goose 

Deeming “what’s-good-for-abortion-is-good-for-gun-control,” Democratic lawmaker Newman calls for restrictions on firearm buyers like those imposed on women seeking an abortion. For instance, writes Rudi Keller of the Columbia Daily Tribune,

In Missouri, a woman must sign an informed consent form 72 hours before having an abortion. She must be offered a chance to see an ultrasound of the fetus, be given a booklet with pictures of fetal development every two weeks during a pregnancy and a list of organizations providing help to carry the pregnancy to term. The abortion provider must include information about possible fetal pain and potential hazards to a woman’s health.

Thus, Newman’s bill requires a 72-hour waiting period for gun purchases and a physician’s evaluation of the buyer’s risk “of experiencing an adverse physical, emotional, or other health reaction” from gun ownership. Seriously. And that’s just the beginning.

(more…)

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