National Strategic Center 
Join the movement in your state 
For APCN Members 
Read this and other attacks on faith from Weekly Prayer Update 4/17-4/24
From Freedom From Religion Foundation website: “The Freedom From Religion Foundation is urging a Tennessee school district to curtail the evangelizing activities of a high school math teacher. Several concerned local citizens have informed FFRF that in mid-March, Milan High School math teacher and coach Larry Eddings announced on social media that he will be teaching an elective bible class during the 2017–2018 school year.” Read more here.
National Day Of Prayer – Thursday, May 5th
“The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. Our Task Force is a privately funded organization whose purpose is to encourage participation on the National Day of Prayer. It exists to communicate with every individual the need for personal repentance and prayer, to create appropriate materials, and to mobilize the Christian community to intercede for America’s leaders and its families. The Task Force represents a Judeo-Christian expression of the national observance, based on our understanding that this country was birthed in prayer and in reverence for the God of the Bible.” Find an event near you.
An Early Read On Important Religious Liberty Case At The U.S. Supreme Court
“Last week, the high court heard a Missouri church’s challenge to its exclusion from a state program that provides grants to use scrap tires to cushion school playgrounds. Trinity Lutheran Church’s school in Columbia qualified close to the top of the list of organizations to receive such grants, but the state rejected the church’s grant on the basis of government entanglement in religion.”
States Realizing Importance Of Founding Documents
“A growing number of states are realizing the importance of teaching high school students the nation’s founding documents after schools have ignored them for years…Kentucky and Arkansas have become the latest of more than a dozen states requiring high school social studies curricula to include material covered by the 100 questions asked on the naturalization exam, which includes questions about U.S. history, civics, and government.”
There is a number of court cases that, if the rulings go the wrong way, could set dangerous precedents as it relates to our First Amendment Rights. Would you and/or your church or prayer group be willing to fast a meal a day, or a day a week until May 12th in order to see victory in every one of the upcoming court cases (and other important cases not listed)? This is a critical season, and we must see breakthrough.
Also, of course, we want to continue to pray for the bills that are pro-religious freedom to be signed into law; and those that oppose our First Amendment Rights to be unsuccessful.
For anyone who thinks religious discrimination is non-existent in America, the attorneys at First Liberty Institute have a different story. First Liberty announced the release of Undeniable: The Survey of Hostility to Religion in America (2016). It is available online here, free of charge.
Religious Liberty Legislation
Continue praying consistently and fervently for the successful passage of legislation that effectively protects our Judeo-Christian heritage and religious liberty.
CA: Lawmakers Plan To Strangle ‘Voices Of Conscience‘
“Brad Dacus, president of the Pacific Justice Institute Center for Public Policy, points out the bill would force religious groups, including churches, to hire employees who reject their mission and violate their standards for conduct.”
GA: Sharing Faith Is Inciting Violence?
From Alliance Defending Freedom: ‘”This should concern you – especially if you live in Georgia. The Attorney General’s office’s argument here would extend well beyond the campus. If simply telling people about Jesus is truly “fighting words,” inciting imminent violence, then the government can simply ban you from sharing the Gospel anywhere.” – Casey Mattox (Alliance Defending Freedom’s director of Center for Academic Freedom)”
GA: Displays Of Faith ‘Unsportsmanlike’?
“In Georgia, high school cross-country runner John Green was disqualified from his state race simply for wearing a headband with a Bible verse on it: Isaiah 40:30-31. And in New York, a high school football player was penalized for simply pointing to God after reaching the end zone on a long touchdown run. He didn’t even spike the ball! Yet he was still flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct.”
HI: Good News Victory In Aloha State
“The Hawaii Chapter of CEF was originally denied use of the school facilities, despite other comparable programs in Hawaii schools, such as A+ Program, Kama’aina Kids, Kumon, and Girls on the Run, all of which are permitted to use facilities after school. Liberty Counsel sent a letter to the school superintendent, which prompted a decision to allow the Good News Club to meet at the school.”
IN: Mayor Bows To Political Correctness
“John Hamilton, mayor of Bloomington, Indiana, announced he wanted the town to be more inclusive, so he issued an edict that Good Friday wouldn’t be observed – but that “Spring Holiday” would. City workers have the day off for the purpose of celebrating spring.”
MS: Legal Challenges To Religious Freedom Law Continues
MT: Lawyers Have First Amendment Rights Too
“Montana lawmakers are asking the state’s highest court to honor the First Amendment rather than the liberal voice of the American Bar Association.”
TX: Update: Governor Files Protective Order
From Freedom From Religion Foundation website: “FFRF received a state-issued permit to place, in response to a Christian nativity scene, an exhibit in the Texas Capitol in December 2015 honoring the Bill of Rights and winter solstice. Abbott ordered the exhibit removed, calling the display “tasteless sarcasm” and claiming that FFRF was seeking to “mock our nation’s Judeo-Christian heritage.” The motion, filed Monday, seeks to prevent Abbott from being deposed in the lawsuit that FFRF filed after its freedom of expression was muzzled.”
VT: A Partial Win For Freedom Of Conscience
“Doctors with a conscience in Vermont have won a partial victory in the battle over assisted suicide but it might not go far enough.”
Congressional Prayer Caucus
Congressional Prayer: Each week Congress is in session, members of Congressional Prayer Caucus meet before votes to pray in Room 219 of the U.S. Capitol.
There are over 100 Members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, a bipartisan and bicameral caucus, that is spearheading a strategic movement of national, state and local leaders and citizens who are working together to promote prayer, protect religious freedom and restore, upgrade and popularize America’s founding spirit and the principles related to faith and morality that shaped this Great Republic. Please commit to praying for them, their families, and staff daily.
Pray For Our President And All Those In Authority
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” 1 Tim. 2, Psalm 91
Include: Judicial Branch, Legislative Branch, Executive Branch, Military, Faith Leaders, First Responders, Etc.
Join people from across the nation for 24/7 Worship in Washington DC. They welcome worship teams from every tribe, tongue, nation, denomination, and all 50 U.S. states. Learn more here
Sudan: Churches Facing Bulldozing Threat
“A persecution watchdog group is launching a new campaign to stop dozens of church demolitions in Sudan.”
Sweden: Midwife Forced To Choose Between Conscience And Career
“Midwife Ellinor Grimmark objects to abortions because of her Christian beliefs. But the Swedish Labor Court decided that midwives are obligated to make a choice between conscience and career — contradicting international law, which protects conscientious objection.”
Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation
American Prayer Caucus Network
PrayUSA: Government Leaders Calling The Nation To Prayer
There are many organizations on the front lines that need our prayers.
Alliance Defending Freedom, ACLJ, Becket Law, Liberty Counsel, First Liberty Institute, Family Research Council, The Heritage Foundation, Chaplain Alliance For Religious Liberty and any others that come to mind.
Freedom From Religion Foundation
ACLU
AHA
Secular Coalition for America
Military Religious Freedom Foundation
Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit, non-partisan organization. Contributions are tax-deductible in accordance with IRS rules and regulations. No funds are used for political or campaign activities.
