May 27, 2022

All across America, believers are daring to stand for their faith, families, and freedom no matter the cost.

In late 2015, one man lived out his faith and lost his job as a result. Joe Kennedy, a retired Marine, was an assistant football coach at Bremerton High School in Washington state, who publicly prayed on the 50-yard line at the end of every football game. It was a personal commitment he made, and he did not compel or coerce anyone to join him. However, after a few games, some of his players asked to join him on their own accord.

This tradition of post-game prayer continued and grew in popularity without a problem for seven years, until the coach of an opposing team complimented the coach's prayer practice to Bremerton's principal.

The school district's official rule was that teachers, coaches, and school administrators could neither encourage nor discourage students' religious expression. Even though Coach Kennedy followed this rule, school officials cracked down on him claiming that he was committing "religious coercion" on the football field by praying in public.

At first Kennedy complied and didn't publicly pray at the next week's football game. However, having made a promise to God to publicly pray after each game, he felt overwhelming regret for compromising his convictions under pressure. As a Marine veteran, he said "I can't give up the very freedoms that I was willing to die for." He returned to the stadium later that night and prayed by himself.

The next week, Coach Kennedy resumed his public post-game prayer and was fired. Kennedy sued the school district for wrongful termination and after six long years of legal battle, his case landed on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court.

A few weeks ago on April 25, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District with a decision expected in June.

Although he doesn't know what the outcome will be, Coach Kennedy knows that the battle belongs to the Lord. He dared to stand firm for his faith and freedoms and said, "I'm willing to take this as far as it goes to defend the rights of the Constitution."

Coach Kennedy's bold courage could lead not only to getting his job back but, as I discussed with one of Kennedy's First Liberty attorneys Mike Berry on a recent episode of Washington Watch, it could help protect the freedom of religious expression for millions of Christians in America.

At Family Research Council, we have continued daring to stand for faith, family, and freedom just like Coach Kennedy, since our inception in 1983.

As we advocate for pro-life, pro-family, and pro-freedom policies in the heart of Washington, D.C., we do so in obedience to God and His Word. As Ephesians 6:13 says, "take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm."

On Washington Watch, I often say "do what you can, with what you have." Coach Kennedy did exactly that. In his local community, in his workplace, he chose to honor God and publicly proclaim his faith no matter the consequence.

Will you join with FRC and believers across America and dare to stand in your community like Coach Joe Kennedy? A gift of $3.65 today signifies your commitment to stand for biblical truth 365 days a year. When you do, you'll also be signing the Dare to Stand Declaration to take up the full armor of God, resist evil, and do everything you can to advance a biblical worldview in your home, workplace, school, and community to the glory of God.

Your gift will also help FRC encourage more believers to dare to stand and provide critical resources to equip Spiritually Active, Governance Engaged Conservatives (SAGE Cons) as we stand firm together against the growing hostility to religious freedom and the exercise of our Christian faith.

With your Dare to Stand commitment, you'll receive a digital copy of FRC's America's Founding Principles booklet that includes our nation's founding documents and inspiring quotes from the Founders. We hope this resource encourages you and reminds you of the biblical basis for our cultural and political engagement.

As Coach Kennedy said, "If you believe in something you stand up."

Will you dare to stand with FRC today as we advance faith, family, and freedom, out of obedience to Christ for the sake of America's future?

Standing (Eph. 6:13),

Tony Perkins
President