Monday, October 12, 2020
To: Friends & Supporters
From: Gary Bauer
[Special Notice: You are receiving this "End of Day" report from my political action committee, Campaign for Working Families (CWF). CWF is renting the American Values e-mail list at fair market value. If you do not wish to receive messages from CWF, please click here to opt out.]
Friends,
The stakes in this election are enormous. The fate of our country and the future of religious liberty are on the line. To defend our values, we are partnering our 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 pastor 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 #8: That Thing We Lost
Hey wonderful folks, and a very good afternoon to you. Joan here, with prayers on my heart for you, our precious pastors.
Oh wow, so many many of you, giants of the faith, have been showing the grandeur of the Holy Spirit within you as you use your voices to speak Jesus and Godly living to not just your congregations, but outside of them to the broader world. Believe me, we hear about it and you’d be surprised at the power of your voice.
I never underestimate the staggering supernatural power of words powered by Scripture. You all know I love history and last week linked you to a sermon delivered in 1793, which I hope you read. Hope it didn’t take you the four hours it took me. Ok, so I highlight and go slowly. That sermon, plus really all the writing of our country’s start, was infused with the wisdom you get when you read scripture so very much that it naturally colors what you say and think.
What a hallmark of the Founders. Their recorded speeches don’t quote scripture so much as are influenced by it. What got stored in their heart bubbled out in what they said.
They read scripture, yes, and they made absolutely sure that our schools taught it. And so the church in America was a strong force for freedom. Most people attended church, including children. So kids were raised having a unified experience being taught right living everywhere they went. Right living meaning morals. Hey, it’s that thing we lost. George Washington said morality was essential to freedom. Both go together and bless all.
We have drifted so far. That drift perhaps had its heartiest kickstart when prayer was taken out of our public schools in the early 1960s. I remember it, and we kids thought it was unbelievably crazy when we heard about it. We knew we were the ‘little children’ that were supposed to be suffered to come unto Him!
So here we are nearly to Election Day and there’s huge concern over election integrity, which means a lot of us are wondering if our vote will be fairly counted. Fraud is already being charged, and there’s been evidence already of it.
When the church uses a strong voice to teach morality of the Bible, we have less reason to worry about breaches of it. And not just over election integrity, but every single solitary large or small aspect of living.
And we should teach it. We are the one Christian nation left that the world watches. We are a living witness to every other nation. Why send missionaries if the country from which they come can’t live the Jesus they’re offering?
It’s you again, you’re the key to the nation’s soul (whatever a certain candidate says). It’s you and the church you lead. Voting is a first duty of the church, as is training us all about the morals presented in the Bible so that we live them, we love them, we insist on them. From them springs freedom.
So odd; integrity means moral uprightness. But its other definition is being whole and undivided. When the church was removed by the state from the state’s affairs, we got divided as a people. And you can see where it’s led.
The Church, however, is already leading the way back to God’s way for us.
A tremendous number of you have led voter registrations and are speaking truth about our duty as men and women of faith to support Godly governance. We weigh the candidates on that scale so we will decide well.
Protection of babies, and of course, from before birth…Biblical.
Commitment to a free economy…Biblical.
Recognition of Israel as special to God…Biblical.
Respect for the written-under-prayer Constitution…Biblical.
Teaching our children how the Bible teaches the way to do life…Biblical.
Safeguarding our religious freedoms…Biblical. And more.
We’re already voting and using our voice. But to ensure the integrity of the election (wish we didn’t have to even think about fraud, but we do), please call the local election office and simply ask what are they doing to ensure the election is free of fraud? Please ask every single person in your congregation to make a call.
If the election offices know we’re watching how it’s going, and we’re holding them to a fair count of votes, the probability of a problem is reduced for now, and for future.
But honestly, the real way to ensure fair anything is for our church to lead. To teach that, and to grasp that it is your call, your right, and your proud duty. Your voice will get us back that thing we lost; moral integrity that keeps freedom.
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And here is Coalition member, Chad Connelly, President of Faith Wins and political expert, with some wonderful updates and powerful words for you:
Hey folks,
We’re in crunch time now! All elections are intense and we as believers have always had to use wisdom and discernment in muddling through various news accounts and “expert” opinions. Given the state of the nation, the anger and vitriol of the left and the violent appearance of radical groups like Antifa running rampant in many cities, our vote for Biblical values at every level of government carries more weight this year than ever. We MUST go vote and we must get everyone we know all over our nation to go vote too!
Voting in person is definitely the BEST way to know you’ve voted safely and securely. Conservative organizations are right to be concerned about mass mailing of ballots that are unverified as these articles (here and here) demonstrate;
However, we have always had the legal, safe and secure option of early, in-person voting and absentee voting. It is a definite smart option if you’re concerned for any reason about safety or ballot security.
Rules vary by state but our link for voting resources will take you to your state’s specific instructions. While some states allow voter registration even up to and including Election Day, most states’ deadlines for voter registration have now passed. A registered voter may go to designated places to vote early and in person if they so desire or if their schedules prevent them from voting on Election Day. Please check your state’s specific information to determine what you should do.
The one thing I want to emphasize as we approach the election is to digest news and polling thoughtfully and with discernment. A cursory viewing of much of the media demonstrates a slant that surely doesn’t seem to contain much Biblical worldview, if any at all.
Since I don’t know the content or sampling of most of the national polling, I view those with suspicion and trust what I can personally witness on the ground and with voter enthusiasm. While voter enthusiasm may be difficult to measure concretely and can’t be counted perfectly, it shouldn’t be discounted either. I can tell you from my travels to 14 states in the last 10 weeks and my personal interactions with almost 2,000 pastors, God’s people are ready to go vote!
Please make sure you go to our Faith Wins Facebook posts and the www.Faithwins.us website, watch our videos and pass them around the nation!
Every election is vitally important, but Christian pollster George Barna may have said it best when he said, “The 2020 election is not about personalities, parties or even politics. It is an election to determine the dominant worldview of America.”
A final note to Pastors and faith leaders in particular; talk to and educate your folks about the issues of the day and how those issues connect Biblically in this election. Your people need your input and guidance like never before. Do not leave anything left undone! Contact everyone you know all across America and make sure they have what they need to vote their Biblical values!
God Bless you!
-Chad Connelly
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Thank you, Chad! Here is a great update on the legal side of voting and ensuring that our votes are counted fairly from Coalition member, Brad Dacus, attorney and President of Pacific Justice Institute:
Hello, everyone! This upcoming election is the time for people in our communities to be aware of the dangers surrounding the voting process and for pastors to shepherd their people through this unique and critical moment in our nation’s history. There are a few things that pastors can do locally to equip their members and to help those in their sphere of influence in order to guard against fraud and ensure the integrity of our election results.
Train Your Staff:
It is important that everyone who will aid in the registration process understands very well the procedures and laws relating to voter registration. (*Click HERE for a guide on How to Conduct a Voter Registration Drive with Training) Make sure that each person knows the registration eligibility requirements and how important it is for registrants to complete the voter registration card prior to sending out registration for their congregation.
Giving out false information may unintentionally deny an eligible citizen the ability to register. There are criminal penalties for purposefully denying qualified citizens the opportunity to register to vote or for registering someone to vote who is ineligible to register. **If you’d like to see that link one more time for a refresher on Church Do’s and Don’ts, here it is:
Ensure Vote Safety and Avoid Fraud:
Before Election Day, churches are a great place for ballot gathering to take place because there you find a group of people who are known and trusted by the voter. Even so, the pastor should make their members aware of some of the dangers regarding ballot gathering and how to avoid voter fraud.
For example, there are organizations and people who go door-to-door and ask potential voters if they would like them to turn in their ballot for them on their behalf (prior to the cutoff time on Election Day). This type of unsolicited ballot gathering can lend itself to fraud and voter suppression.
Ballot gathering can be a very viable activity, if done in the right way and with the right steps to ensure safety and security. (*Click HERE for a training video on effective and legal voter registration, ballot gathering and what pastors can say regarding elections and voting!)
Furthermore, pastors should communicate to all members who are turning in ballots at the church regarding procedures that have been put in place to ensure every ballot is securely delivered to the polling location.
However, if voters choose to vote in person on Election Day, pastors can encourage members to print a list of the candidates and measures for which they plan to vote and take it with them into the voting booth. This gives each voter the peace of mind in knowing they can double check their voting selections in the privacy of their polling station. **Check the rules in your state/county at the elections office HERE - voters may have to bring their mailed ballot to their polling place to surrender before they can vote in person.
It is important to encourage voters to watch their ballot as it is sealed and secured by the polling worker. If they see something that does not seem right, they need to say something to whomever is overseeing that polling location. A voter can report suspected fraud or illegal activity to either a local elections official (at the polling station or county elections clerk) or can contact their Secretary of State.
Also, just so you’re aware...
Some examples of voter fraud to keep an eye out for — all of which are felonies and carry with them significant fines and/or possible incarceration:
- Civil rights violations involve voter intimidation, coercion, threats, and other tactics to suppress a person’s ability to vote.
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Impersonation fraud at polling places: voting in the name of other registered voters and voters who are deceased, or those who have lost the right to vote.
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False registrations: Usage of a fake name and a real or fake address or claiming residence in a particular jurisdiction where the registered voter does not live and has no right to vote.
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Duplicate voting: Registering in multiple locations and voting in the same election in more than one state.
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Fraudulent use of absentee ballots: Requesting absentee ballots and voting without the knowledge of the actual voter; or obtaining the absentee ballot from a voter and either filling it in directly and forging the voter’s signature or illegally telling the voter who to vote for.
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Buying votes: Paying voters to cast either an in-person or absentee ballot for a particular candidate.
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Ineligible voting: Individuals with illegal registration and who are not U.S. citizens, convicted felons, or who are not eligible to vote.
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Altering the vote count: Changing the actual vote count either in a precinct or at the central location where votes are counted.
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Ballot petition fraud: Forging the signatures of registered voters on the ballot petitions.
You Can Play a Part in Ensuring Election Integrity.
The greatest thing that pastors and churches can do to ensure election integrity is to be involved in the process. Anyone can contact their county clerk’s/registrar of voters/elections office or go online to the county clerk’s/registrar of voters/elections website and see about signing up to become a polling worker or an election monitor.
Elections are run by the people and people naturally make mistakes, so there is a need for monitoring and oversight. There’s also a need for “watch dogs” to be on the lookout for suspicious behavior and unlawful actions in polling locations. Elections, just like everything else, are as pure and trustworthy as we make them to be.
Voter Do's and Don’ts:
Do you know the process for voting ahead of time?
Do your research and print a list for what or for whom you are planning to vote.
Don’t talk about your voting selections while you are at the polling location.
Don’t allow any unauthorized person to see or tamper with your ballot.
Don’t assume everyone has your best interest in mind.
There you have it, folks. This is the information you need to vote with success. If you have any questions involving any of the above, Pacific Justice Institute is here for you, with free legal counsel and support at 916-857-6900.
-Brad Dacus
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Thank you, Brad! Hi all, Kielle here now with some final thoughts of this communication to you as we approach Election Day. When I wrote to you last, we had just heard of the passing of Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg...remarkable timing and loaded with consequence in the scope of what’s at stake during this election season. God is certainly in charge of all of it, isn’t He? There is NO doubt about that!
Since that moment, our president has nominated a woman who so many high level people have acclaimed for her exceptional ability, experience, character and quality to fill that seat. I don’t need to tell you of how significant this appointment to the Supreme Court will be for our nation, especially as men and women of faith. We join you all in praying over the process to confirm this potential judge.
This kind of nomination sets the bar for what presidents should do; bring forward people with Godly principles to help govern while respecting our freedoms. Many of us have watched the picks made by this president and have applauded the sterling qualities of those choices, our vice president not the least of these. It’s not about style and it’s not about personality. The Bible doesn’t say vote charm. When we vote, we weigh how well a candidate will follow God’s principles for governance. Who he surrounds himself with is an excellent indicator.
Not style...substance. Not human thinking…God thinking. Not silence...voice. It’s who we are, a nation of faith, a nation of courage, and oh yes...a nation of morals (that thing we lost) that is being found!
Praying for God’s outpouring of blessing, favor and protection over you all!!
-Kielle
Now where was that again?
May God bless you all,
-Your Church Finds Its Voice Leadership
*Please share and forward on to your networks!
Contact Us:
Chad Connelly
President, Faith Wins
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
Joan Holt Lindsey
Founder and President, Lindsey Communications
Kielle C. Horton
President, the Lindsey Foundation
