This afternoon, I was grateful to join Vice President Pence on an important update call, along with other conservative, pro-life, and faith leaders.

The most encouraging thing I heard on that call was that the Vice President and President care about you. They care about saving lives, especially the most vulnerable, from the womb to natural end of life—and everyone in between. They care about how COVID-19 is impacting families and their livelihoods. They care about ensuring that families can get the food and supplies they need. They care about protecting our healthcare workers on the front lines. And, they care about the impact COVID-19 is having on churches, pastors, and the entire faith community.

I am deeply grateful we have a Vice President who, being a man of faith himself, considers it important enough to reach out specifically to pro-family, pro-life, faith-based leaders and communities during a time of national crisis—even as he leads the Coronavirus Task Force.

It is during a time of crisis that character and leadership is tested. COVID-19 could have pushed the President and Vice President away from their strong pro-life positions and efforts to protect religious freedom. Instead, COVID-19 has proven their commitment to protecting life and ensuring that their responses to the crisis don’t leave out the faith community in America.

I’d like to share with you the update from Vice President Pence, along with some ways we can all help.

UPDATES

Vice President Pence somberly shared that the latest modeling from experts showing potential loss of life in America in the hundreds of thousands over the next few weeks was the reason the President extended the Slow the Spread guidelines through April. Vice President Pence emphasized that the collective goal of every American for the next 30 days must be to prevent loss of life, protect the most vulnerable among us, and preserve the capacity of the healthcare system.

He shared that they have been especially encouraged by the response of American businesses stepping up to provide critical medical supplies, communities of faith meeting needs and easing burdens, and those ensuring that we continue to have the food supply we need such as truck drivers, grocery store workers, farmers and distributers.

He reported that now over 100,000 are being tested for COVID-19 every single day, over 26 million masks and thousands more ventilators have now been distributed, and medical supplies are arriving through a series of flights coordinated by FEMA.

The Vice President’s staff also shared that they are very aware of the concerns of Americans that while non-essential medical care and even entire industries are shut down, abortion providers continue to push forward. They share those concerns and continue to monitor and work on the situation.

They also hope to expand the relief offered in the COVID-19 package to help churches and other non-profits, underscoring the commitment to not exclude the faith community from the conversations surrounding COVID-19.

Though Vice President Pence recognized that April will be challenging for us as Americans, he also said that the virus is expected to peak mid-April and that by Memorial weekend our country can be in a very different place if we all do our part.

He said: “There is light at the end of the tunnel, but it will take all of us to meet this moment.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP

• Vice President Pence asked that all Americans follow the 30-day Slow the Spread guidelines, as well as state and local directions, in order to protect Americans for whom the COVID-19 threat is very serious (senior citizens and those with compromised immune systems) because COVID-19 is three times more contagious than the flu.
  
  
• Because the Vice President and President have been so encouraged by the response of churches and other faith-based nonprofits, please consider how your local church might be able to help during this time. Check out this article about how churches are rising to the moment, even with sanctuaries closed, for some ideas.

HOW YOU CAN PRAY

• Vice President Pence asked us to pray for families who have suffered loss or have loved ones facing serious illness.
  
  
• Vice President Pence also asked us to pray for the front lines—healthcare workers, first responders, and their families.
  
  
• Please also make time to pray for Vice President Pence, President Trump, your state’s Governor, and other leaders as they make difficult decisions.

I was encouraged by the Vice President’s deep care for families, for protecting life, and for people of faith. I was encouraged that the outreach of the faith community has meant so much to him and President Trump at this time.

After the call, I renewed my commitment to pray for the Vice President, President, and other leaders who need the Lord’s wisdom and guidance at this time.

The call with the Vice President also reminded me of one of my favorite Bible verses, John 1:5:

The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There’s certainly a lot of darkness in the world today, but there’s never enough darkness to overshadow the true Light of Jesus Christ. And certainly, God’s people are already shining the light of Christ if even the Vice President and President have noticed from the White House! Let’s see what we can do to make it even brighter during this time.

Shining the Light with you,

Autumn Leva,
Vice President for Strategy