Special Message - 6/17/23 - The Church Finds Its Voice

Friends, the challenges we face are enormous. To defend our values, we are partnering with various allies, including Lindsey Communications, The Lindsey Foundation, Faith Wins and the Pacific Justice Institute to empower the resurgence of the Church vote. Below is their latest alert. Please share the resources included here with your church leaders and fellow worshippers. – Gary

The Church Finds Its Voice

A Coalition of Lindsey Communications, The Lindsey Foundation,
Faith Wins and the Pacific Justice Institute
to Empower the Resurgence of the Church Vote!

Comm 37:

Three Reasons Why the Media Will Be Calling You

There are more than three, but it’s good to know the top reasons why a news organization might want your thoughts. That way you’re ready and they get an accurate idea of your view on breaking news. And that leads us to the first reason; breaking news.

Good afternoon wonderful pastors and Church leaders, Joan here, wishing you a pleasant start to summer 2023! Pleasant? Mmmmm, hard to really see it that way when the news is constantly reporting on deeply troubling incidents that are symptoms of a country that has forgotten its pillars.

George Washington said that religion and morality were the indispensable pillars holding up a free republic, and we forgot.

Wait, not all of us forgot. You remember and you know. And, so, we’re back to reason #1; there’s breaking news and they need you.

When an incident happens that captures the attention of the country, the story breaks and the media look for comment from people ‘familiar with the matter’. And they’re thinking you might be able to comment on a lot of these incidents. Shootings, and Target boycotts, and classroom instruction and pretty much everything causing division and confusion. You can comment, and you should comment, and it’s good to know how to handle an interview so you do it well.

Chad put together a Joan Lindsey Media Zoom training a few days ago, and it got a huge turnout. You guys are getting calls when news is breaking and that’s good that you are because you’re the only ones who are going to offer a right perspective.

And we’re at reason #2; They think you might know something.

So, they’re going to call because nobody else has any answers that seem to be really right. They think you just might, maybe, possibly have a real take, a fresh take, and a right idea.

Human wisdom is never very good, but the best chance for our thinking to be straight is to know the timeless supernatural perfection of Scripture, and let it inform our comments on any event of the current day. And you’re those guys. When you grant an interview you are amplifying that wisdom so folks can be exposed to the only ideas that ever did have any value in life, namely those sourced from timeless truth.

And reason #3; They’ve thought of you again.

After all this time of ignoring the Church, the fact that so many of you have been speaking up, writing, meeting together, weighing in from the pulpit and running for office has captured the notice of the media and reminded them that the Church is a powerful voice. A voice that knows the Constitution and the law, a voice united, a voice worth listening to.

Here’s Chad to comment further.

Joan Lindsey, Founder and President of Lindsey Communications

In our annual Pastor Summit this past winter, Joan did a segment on “messaging” and handling the media. It was so well received — she’s only one of the best media experts on the planet so we sorta knew this would happen — that our pastors wanted more!

This past week we held that Zoom call and had over 110 pastors from 30 different states watching or listening in. I had told Joan that pastors have a real concern in these crazy days messaging Truth in this totally confused world. They aren’t worried about telling the truth, they are working hard to be EFFECTIVE in their messaging as they recognize more and more how uninformed and confused people really are.

As I’ve spoken to the pastors who were on the call, I realize we need to do another one of these to continue to train and communicate to them how they can make sure their messages are received by their congregations. There is no question that people in the pews are confused, and it’s more important than ever that pastors help clear the clutter, noise and confusion with effective messaging and truth.

The other part of our call was designed to prepare pastors for the growing potential of media interviews. We have many pastors on our team in the battleground states and in the early presidential primary states and many of them are being peppered with media interviews.

In fact, our Faith Wins pastors in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina have already done multiple national media spots, including network television interviews. We want to help provide our pastors with real value and Joan’s input and expertise is timely and extremely helpful!

God Bless, see ya’ll soon!

Chad

Chad Connelly, Founder and President of Faith Wins

And now from Brad:

In this day and age, there are three crucial areas of free speech to be aware of: Libel & Slander, Endorsements for candidates, and statements regarding the LBGTQ community.

First: Libel and Slander is the act of defaming someone of something through either words, i.e. a live interview on camera or a quoted statement in the newspaper or other publication. The way defamation is proven is when the statement being said or published is false. It is crucial when speaking to the media to know the facts of your statement before saying it. It is always ok to say, “Next question” or “I do not have an answer”.

Second: Caution needs to be exercised in endorsing or opposing candidates. If the media asks the church about its thoughts on a specific candidate for political office, a church or ministry should not state its support or opposition to a candidate due to 501(c)(3) restrictions.

However, a ministry leader can state an opinion in his personal capacity, and that the opinion expressed is his own rather than that of the church or ministry. In addition, if a church is asked about a specific piece of legislation, it is permissible to comment on it. Though free to address legislative matters, the church can only spend an insubstantial amount of time and money (between 5-15%) influencing legislation.

Third: Sensitivity to the LGBTQ community. The Bible is explicitly clear regarding homosexuality, but the federal law of the United States has created a new class of people known as the LGBTQ+ community. Any comments regarding trans rights or gay rights as it pertains to marriage, competitive sports, or child transitioning should be balanced with truth and justice along with love and compassion to prevent any misunderstandings.

In conclusion, follow these three tips to both boldly speak the truth and stay in a safe legal harbor.

Brad Dacus, Founder and President of Pacific Justice Institute

Kielle In Closing:

Dear friends, I’m excited for the opportunities that lie ahead for you all to share the truth of God’s powerful word to a seeking world. Don’t shy away, don’t back down, don’t be afraid to go forth and walk through the doors God is opening to you right now. Acts 4:29-31 is a beautiful reminder that the Lord will give you all you need to speak this truth and to allow it to be accepted by those so eager to know it.

“Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus. After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”

Kielle Campbell, President of the Lindsey Foundation

SERMON SHOWCASE

Each month, we’ll be showcasing sermons from the WallBuilders archive that are historically significant and also relevant to current political and cultural events. Here is June’s Sermon Showcase:

Establishing Public Happiness – 1795 by Timothy Dwight (1752-1817). Dwight graduated from Yale in 1769. He was principal of the New Haven grammar school (1769-1771) and a tutor at Yale (1771-1777). A lack of chaplains during the Revolutionary War led him to become a preacher and he served as a chaplain in a Connecticut brigade. Dwight served as a preacher in neighboring churches in Northampton, MA (1778-1782) and in Fairfield, CT (1783). He also served as president of Yale College (1795-1817). This sermon was preached by Dwight on July 7, 1795, in Connecticut.

NOW, WHERE WAS THAT AGAIN?

TRUSTED MEDIA SOURCES (Credit: Media Research Center)

Washington Examiner
Daily Caller
Washington Times
Real Clear Politics
The Daily Wire
News Max
One America News
El American
Fox News

We stand with you and are praying for you!

-Joan, Brad, Chad and Kielle - Your Church Finds Its Voice Leadership

*Please share and forward on to your networks!

Contact Us:

Chad Connelly
President, Faith Wins
[email protected]
To read more about Church Do’s and Don’ts and for an expanded list of resources and contacts to call for help, please visit: http://faithwins.us/resources/

Brad Dacus
President, Pacific Justice Institute
[email protected]

Joan Holt Lindsey
Founder and President, Lindsey Communications
[email protected]

Kielle C. Horton
President, the Lindsey Foundation
[email protected]