Congressman Randy Forbes, Founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, recently stated in an article, The First

Amendment is a promise that we are free to live holistically, according to the dictates of our conscience. The constant barrage of assaults on our religious liberty seeks to redefine the term and incorporate an entirely different meaning. The anti-faith voices within the country are attempting to degrade and reframe this sacred and Constitutionally protected right as the, freedom to worship in private places only. In doing so, this forced compartmentalization of your and my faith is slowly, but most assuredly, eroding our Judeo-Christian heritage. How many more steps are we really away from the edge of the precipice? From the government then controlling the very tenants of our spiritual values and practice? First marginalizing and then censoring free speech? Penalizing what can be said or done in the public square when it comes to ones religious or core beliefs? A far-fetched notion? Impossible in the land of the free? Yet, we need only to observe other nations around the globe in order to see where this insidious road could eventually lead arrest, imprisonment and re-education camps in communist systemspersecution, physical threats and violence in many Muslim countriesfear and intimidation in brutal dictatorships.Many continue to deny this could ever happen in the United States. However, just a few short decades ago, most citizens also never envisioned an America where the 10 Commandments would be reviled in our court houses, where businesses had to accept mandatory healthcare provisions that violate the conscious or the sanctity of life, where activist outcries are made over a humble crche in a public park at Christmastime, valedictorians having their speeches scrubbed from all religious terminology, a pastor being threatened with arrest for holding a Bible study in his home, military chaplains facing court martials for praying in the name of Jesus, and the list could go on. Forbes continued,The intent is simple and fatal: redefine the meaning of religious freedom, making it a secondary right when exercised in the public square or marketplace. If religious freedom becomes a secondary right, how will it affect you and your family? What challenges would you face if pressured to choose between your religious convictions and your job, business or livelihood ? Citizens are increasingly being forced to choose between a simple profession of faith or harsh and sometimes, legal consequences. If you are a Christian in Texas, for example, you may soon be barred from serving on a city council simply because you expressed your biblical worldview somewhere, sometime in the public square. In San Antonio, there is currently a proposal for an upcoming nondiscrimination policy stating, No person shall be appointed to a position if the city council finds that such person has, prior to such proposed appointment, engaged in discrimination or demonstrated a bias, by word or deed, against any person, group or organization on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, age, or disability , the ordinance reads. Picture yourself as a mayoran elected leader exercising the right to share your faith by writing a column sprinkled with Judeo-Christian references, only to be threatened by an anti-faith group for it. The Freedom From Religion Foundation has reported this particular situation involving the mayor of Hawesville, KYto the City Council and requested a variety of consequences for her actions, including the end of all prayer in government meetings. Recently, a Christian chaplain in the military, whose specific duties are to provide religious instruction and spiritual counseling, is being officially censored because atheists are offended. Chaplain Reyes recently wrote an essay on the bases website entitled, No Atheists in Foxholes: Chaplains Gave All in World War II, referencing President Eisenhowers comment of the, great truth that there are no atheists in the foxholes. Immediately, Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFR), another attack-minded organization, contacted the base commander, demanding his article be removed.

Not satisfied with stripping Chaplain Reyes of his First Amendment rights, the MRFR also requested that he be punished for what they touted as an egregious act! America, are you listening? Do you have eyes to see and the ears to hear? The line has been crossed and it is time to wake up the sleeping giant! The Church, the Body of Christ, must rise up and say, Enough! We must take a stand against these injustices. Keep your head upa grass roots movement of prayer and honorable action is underway and quickly gaining momentum. We are simply encouraging you to engage in the national conversation in order to protect Gods rightful place in American culture and our most cherished freedoms. Your faithful prayers and financial support provide the ongoing means to not only face these challenges, but to take a proactive and determined stance in pressing onward. Are the sacrifices worth it? Thousands of Americans answered with a resounding, Yes when this nation was established, laying down everything to live and worship freely in their own lan d. Only, The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God (2 Cor. 10:4 -5). Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, stand firm (Eph. 6:11-13). You are the difference makers. Only together can we do this! It is in God we trust! Blessings, Lea Carawan Executive Director

Go to www.CPCFoundation.com to learn more or get involved.

The Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization that was formed to support the call of America back to prayer and faith in God. The Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation is committed to preserving our Judeo-Christian heritage as a nation and protecting the religious liberty of all Americans.