I’d like to share a story with you
from my time as President Trump’s Secretary of State. I was serving as President Trump’s top negotiator and was tasked with playing
hardball with some of the world’s most dangerous powers.
On this particular occasion, I was working tirelessly to bring home
an American patriot and man of God home from captivity: Pastor Andrew Brunson. Pastor Brunson was wrongly detained by the Turkish government for
simply practicing his faith.
I tried to cordially negotiate with Turkish officials for weeks, but they remained reluctant to release the
Pastor. Finally, I told them bluntly: the clock has run out and there will be drastic consequences if you hold this innocent man a day
longer.
After this exchange, the Turkish government caved and released Pastor Brunson from his unjust captivity. They knew that
America First leadership was not to be trifled with and that with President Trump and I in power, Americans could not be unjustly detained without
recourse.
Soon after Pastor Brunson’s return
home, I had the honor of meeting him and his wife who shared with me the great tribulations they had faced during the Pastor’s time in
detainment.
I asked the Pastor how he explained his tireless resolve in the face of brutal captivity and he answered simply with
“faith.” He shared a Bible verse from 2 Timothy that I carry with me to this day.
The verse reads: “Thou therefore, my
son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful
men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”
Pastor
Brunson’s commitment to his faith in the face of shameful religious persecution was inspiring. I always try to keep faith the forefront of
everything I do and to turn to Christ in the face of adversity.
But the Pastor’s story is not one that solely inspires awe - it
equally serves as a reminder that religious freedom must always be protected in the face of bigotry.
The story reminds us that Christians around the world are prevented
from practicing their faith. But religious freedom is not only assault in far off lands, but right here at home as
well.
Not long ago, we saw government mandates that closed churches and left abortion clinics and liquor
stores open. We must be vigilant for what happened just a year ago could happen once more.
Do you share my
concerns about unfair attacks on people of faith?
I’m calling on you - and thousands like you - to join me in defending our right to live out our faith without
fear of persecution or government restriction.
Shining our light and evangelizing are biblical requirements, not challenges to the
so-called separation of church and state.
So, let us renew our commitment to putting God before the government and ourselves. For
when we do, America and the whole world prospers.
Unapologetically American,
Mike Pompeo
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