By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
COVINGTON, La. (LBM) – On the heels of a presidential election, the Concerned Women for America’s “She Prays She Votes” bus tour recently made a stop at Lakeshore Church to encourage more than 150 women and a handful of men to pray for the United States and vote.
Launched at the Republican National Convention in July, the tour features stops at 12 states through Aug. 20, and includes messages from elected officials and other speakers, food, giveaways and a large pink bus.
“We’re going coast to coast this summer just to pray over the election and then encourage Christians to be engaged in the upcoming election because we believe in the values and the importance of what we’re voting on in the voting booths,” Concerned Women for America spokesperson Macy Petty told the Baptist Message moments before the start of the Aug. 5 rally. “And ultimately, these are spiritual issues. We know that the devil can do harm through elections and politics, and it’s another arena that we need to be engaged in and where we need to be fighting for Christian values. We continue to see women stand up to this call, really engage in amazing ways and stand boldly in faith.”
State Sen. Heather Cloud, a member with One Life Church, Alexandria, told the crowd she became involved in politics because she was concerned about safe drinking water and embezzlement in her community, and she encouraged the crowd to become active in their local municipalities. Furthermore, she said they must be educated on the issues on which they are voting.
“The Lord has a role for each one of you and you need to pray to discover that role and be active and vote, but educate yourself every day,” Cloud said. “I hope that you all take heed to what the Lord has to tell you. Pray, vote, educate yourself and be prepared to give a reason why you support all these things.”
Louisiana Right to Life Executive Director Ben Clapper thanked the crowd for their stance on protecting the unborn. Clapper, a member of Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, Mandeville, noted that pro-life supporters in Louisiana must continue their fight because some want to turn Louisiana into a state that allows abortion on demand.
“The stakes are big right now,” Clapper said. “We’ve got to change. We have to multiply. We have to expand our base of pro-life women, and I know through prayer, through action and through motivation we can do that. We have to change the hearts and minds of all the people in our community, and then contact our friends and family in other states and encourage and motivate them as well. We can do it. We can stand for life. We know that pro-life is pro-women.”
State Rep. Beryl Amedee, an associate pastor with Vision Christian Center, Bourg, said Christ followers should look to 2 Chronicles 7:14 and humble themselves before the Lord and repent of their sins; stand in the gap in the culture; and realize that God wants His people to be sanctified.
“How do we know what to be tolerant of or what not to tolerate?” she asked. “We should measure it by His Word. His Word is the standard. His Word is truth. And when we do that, we’re being His disciples. Let’s do that.”
State Rep. Kim Carver, a deacon with the First Baptist Church, Covington, expressed gratitude for the many emails and handwritten notes he and other legislators receive throughout the year.
“Sometimes it gets cloudy and it’s difficult and the pressures are great, and then we get those notes on our desk,” he said. “I get letters in the mail from Concerned Women for America who say, ‘I am praying for you. I’ve been assigned to pray for you this week’, and it means so much to me.”
He also urged the crowd to continue to encourage lawmakers to champion biblical values.
“I treasure and value what you do,” he said. “Our state and our country are better because of it. Let’s keep praying together and let’s keep working together for families first.”
Michael Sprague, chaplain for the Capital Commission of Louisiana in Baton Rouge (a ministry that engages, reaches and deploys political, business, and spiritual leaders for the cause of Christ) and an FBC Covington member, led the crowd in a prayer to cast their cares on the Lord and seek His guidance.
“God, would you move among these ladies and raise up modern day Esthers and Deborahs, Elizabeths and Marys,” he said. “Help these ladies just to say yes to you in whatever that might be. Oh God, we know that you brought a first Great Awakening in our country and a second Great Awakening, and we pray for that next great awakening that comes not from us but from you, and you allow us to be part of that God.”
Congresswoman Julia Letlow, in a video message, thanked the women for their commitment to conservative, Christian values.
“It is truly an honor to speak to a group of strong conservative Christian women like yourself in times like these where our values are constantly tested and traditional beliefs are often challenged,” she said. “It is crucial that we reaffirm the importance of prayer and conservative principles in every aspect of our lives. Our conservative values are deeply rooted in our faith and heritage.
“They uphold the sanctity of life, the importance of family and the freedoms granted to us by our Constitution,” she continued. “These values are not outdated or irrelevant. They are timeless principles that have guided our nation through its greatest challenges and successes. As women, we play a unique and pivotal role in shaping the moral fabric of our communities. Our influence extends far beyond our homes. It reaches into our workplaces, schools and organizations. By living out our faith and conservative values authentically and fearlessly, we can inspire others to do the same.”
Keynote Speaker Jessie Jane Duff, a senior fellow with the Gold Institute for International Strategy and a retired U.S. Marine gunnery sergeant, said in a country and world with unrest, conservatives with Judeo-Christian values must continue the fight and not back down.
“You have to talk to your kids,” she said. “You need to talk to your relatives, and you need to talk to them in a way where they understand what is at stake.”
