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Dear John,
In recent days, my team and I have documented how faith is under fire--including through a crime wave of vandalism against churches.
FRC is encouraging you to stand with our nation's churches and pastors. Supporting your local congregation is an important first step, but another way you can make a lasting difference is by partnering with FRC to defend and resource churches and believers in this crucial moment.
Earlier this week, we announced a chance to triple your impact with a 3X Match up to $100,000--and so many responded that we've met that initial goal. Thank you!
Will you help us go even further?
Your gift right now will accelerate our efforts to ensure Christians and churches don't stand alone when they face shocking incidents like New Life Assembly Church in Lima, Ohio. In June 2019, the exterior of this house of worship was defaced with spray-painted messages reading "God is a woman, and she is gay," "Love is love," "Pride," "God is dead," "All people are equal," and "Be kind."
Sounds very loving and tolerant, doesn't it?
When you partner with Family Research Council today, you'll be taking a stand for our nation's churches and religious freedom.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE TODAY
To be clear, these acts of hostility are being perpetrated not only against churches that have taken a public stand for biblical truth regarding marriage and gender. At other churches, vandals smeared feces on a church statue, desecrated an American flag, and spray-painted satanic messages and imagery, pro-abortion rhetoric, swastikas, anarchist symbols, or political slogans.
Considering the scope of these violent incidents, the response from federal law enforcement and those in Democrat-controlled jurisdictions has been "very little," said Arielle del Turco, an FRC religious freedom expert and author of our report on Hostility Against Churches.
"I think it goes back to the priorities of this administration and even local authorities across the country," Arielle said on FRC's national Washington Watch program. "You have to look at what they're focusing on. And it doesn't appear that religious freedom and people's ability to live out their faith--even in places of worship--are priorities."
Instead, President Biden and his administration are focused on:
- Instructing military service members on politically correct pronoun usage,
- Calling for passage of the dangerous Equality Act during his State of the Union address,
- Attacking states that pass laws to protect minors from harmful "gender transition" surgeries and procedures,
- Pushing for schools to allow men who identify as women to compete in women's sports,
- Supercharging attacks on religious freedom by signing the so-called Respect for Marriage Act into law which vilifies anyone who believes in marriage as the union of one man and one woman,
- And so much more.
With our shared biblical values of faith, family, and freedom under such intense pressure the need for a response on several fronts is critical, which FRC has begun with your support. Along with informing the public and elevating the issue to public leaders, FRC's Association of Churches & Ministries exists to serve and embolden pastors.
As FRC helps to equip pastors to stand and preach the full counsel of God, they know they're not standing alone.
Christian ministry is already difficult enough, even apart from these acts of hostility and violence. A survey released last year shows that 42% of pastors surveyed by the Barna Group are considering leaving the ministry--up from 29% a year prior.
Another study released in January by American Enterprise Institute found that declines in church attendance accelerated after pandemic-related closures. About 8% of Americans haven't returned to church--and, concerningly, about 13% of young adults.
The bottom line: Our pastors need support and encouragement!
Our team members have surveyed these pastors and developed the resources they've been seeking. From interactive conference calls and briefings with experts to devotionals and talking-point issue briefs, FRC resources are helping and encouraging clergy.
Now YOU can take action, too--through the powerful avenue of prayer and encouragement. When you give to FRC this week, you'll gain access to a set of exclusive Scripture e-cards.
These online cards are easy to send to pastors and other believers in your life who are standing for biblical truth, to encourage them and let them know you are praying for them.
And don't forget, for your gift of $10 or more, we'll also send you a complimentary copy of the new book Male & Female He Created Them to equip you to think biblically on some of the most contested issues of our time.
So, partner today with FRC as we resource and defend congregations across America that are standing for the gospel in our darkening culture!
DONATE NOW
Ministers today know better than anyone: Our faith is under fire.
These acts of violence have been an attempt to intimidate believers and are symptomatic of a collapse in societal reverence and respect for houses of worship and religion--especially churches and Christianity.
We must turn this tide, together!
John, will you join FRC right now with your prayer and financial support so we can equip believers across America to pray, press our elected representatives to act, resource churches, lift up pastors, and stay informed through accurate reporting on these assaults on faith.
Today's increasingly secular culture has no fixed principles of truth or morality. But the Word of God and the character of God do not change.
Hebrews 13:8 says: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Our belief in biblical truth regarding marriage, sexuality, gender identity, and the inherent value of human life will not be altered by violent intimidation.
Please don't miss this opportunity to join believers across America in making a difference. Thank you for your support of this shared mission!
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2023 Family Research Council.