Washington

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Galatians 6:9

 

National Day of Prayer
The National Day of Prayer (NDP) is this Thursday, May 2. Please consider participating in an NDP event near you.

Prayer/Action Chapters
Prayer is the most effective way to influence the culture for God’s Truth.  Please consider starting a CWA Prayer/Action Chapter in your area.  James reminds us that prayer without action is dead (James 2:20), so activate your faith and pray with others who share our Biblical worldview! Contact me today via e-mail or phone (425-869-1923)to learn how you can start a chapter in your local community.

Legislative Update
The 2019 Washington State Legislature has officially ended! We had some great victories this session. Because of your voice and the hard work of the pro-family coalition, which CWA of Washington is a part, we successfully stopped SB 5395; the state mandated, state-defined public school radical sex education curriculum. The universal home visitation bill, HB 1771, which would have allowed the government to invade the privacy of our homes and families, was also stopped dead in its tracks. And HB 1016, the rape kit bill, is headed to the governor for his signature.  Thank you for your prayers and actions!

Sadly, the Social-Emotional Learning bill, SB 5082,passed both houses and awaits the governor’s signature. Stay informed and alert to this issue in your local public schools.

At the national level in Washington, D.C., CWA continues to stand against the so-called “Equality Act.” Click here to educate yourself on the Equality Act and then contact our U.S. senators and congressmen and urge them to vote against this dangerous bill that will eradicate the gains women have fought so hard for over the past 40 years.

Do not lose heart!  Keep fighting the good fight to protect our families, our culture, and our God-given freedoms!

In His Service,

Maureen Richardson
State Director
CWA of Washington
wa.cwfa.org
[email protected]
P.O. Box 143
Woodinville, WA 98072
425-869-1923

 

To support our work, please consider donating online. If you choose to mail a check to our post office box, write “CWA” on the main line and “CWA of WA” on the memo line. 

Thank you!

Thomas Jefferson advised, “If we are to guard against ignorance and remain free, it is the responsibility of every American to be informed.” Concerned Women for America (CWA) of Washington seeks to inform our members so that they can pray and take action effectively. Please diligently read this prayer/action alert, and both pray and take action.  For freedom!

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: I realize it can be overwhelming to have all these bills come to you at one time, so please consider studying and responding to just one bill per day or take action on those that most concern you.

Click here to find out who your legislators are and how to contact them. You can call the legislative hotline at 1-800-562-6000, Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. or Saturday 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., to easily leave a message for any of your three state legislators. Please identify yourself as a member of Concerned Women for America of Washington and politely express your opinion.

Click on the bill number to check the status and for additional bill information.

EDUCATION:
URGENT! Substitute SB 5395 mandates comprehensive sexual health education for all public schools.CWA opposes this bill.

Consider opting your child/children out of sex education– As the state seeks to promote its definition of healthy relationships, the Body of Christ must continue to stand for God’s principles. Parents can opt their children out of the state standards for “comprehensive sexual health education” by submitting a written request to the school district’s board of directors or their school’s principal. They may also review the curriculum offered in their child’s school by written request.
Current Status: 2/27 Senate floor vote: First substitute bill passed 28:21. March 1:  First reading, referred to Education.
Take Action: Call your state representatives today and urge them to vote NO on SB 5395!

SB 5082 promoting and expanding social-emotional learning. CWA opposes this bill.
Current status:  2/28 Passed to Rules Committee for 2^ndreading. Not yet scheduled for floor vote.

Take Action: Call your senator and ask for a NO vote on SB 5082. Our schools are failing to teach basic needed educational skills; school hours must be dedicated to the three R’s.

FAMILY:
SB 5683 and HB 1771– companion bills relating to establishing the Welcome to Washington Baby Act to create family supports through universal home visiting programs and a statewide family linkage program for resources and referrals. CWA opposes these bills.

Current status: SB 5683 and HB 1771: Both these bills have been stopped for this session, since they missed the March 1 deadline for moving out of fiscal committees.  While stopped for now, they could re-appear in a special session.
No action needed at this time.

SB 5185 for abortion notification died in committee.

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY:
SB 5356, relating to establishing the Washington state LGBTQ commission. CWA opposes this bill.

This commission is clearly intended to 1) improve and advocate for LGBTQ interface and equity in all aspects of state government, 2) advocate for legislation affecting LGBTQ people, 3) work as a liaison between the public and private sectors to eliminate barriers to economic and health equity, and 4) calls for the celebration of LGBTQ in art, etc. There is no provision for religious or moral objection anywhere in this bill. Would churches and other religious organizations eventually be forced to comply with the goals of the bill?
Current status: Senate Ways & Means passed this bill and referred it to Rules Committee.
Take Action: Contact your state senator and ask for a NO vote on SB 5356.

SEXUAL EXPLOITATION:
HB 1016 relating to hospital notification of availability of sexual assault evidence kit collection…CWA supports this bill.

Current status: Passed in the House 96:0.
In the Senate: February 11 First reading, referred to Health & Long-Term Care Committee.

Take action: Call your senator and ask for a YES vote on this bill.

PRAY! EDUCATE OTHERS! ENGAGE BY CONTACTING YOUR OWNLEGISLATORS AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF SPECIFIC COMMITTEES! 

In His Service,

Maureen Richardson
State Director
CWA of Washington
wa.cwfa.org
[email protected]
P.O. Box 143

Woodinville, WA 98072
425-869-1923

Thank you for supporting our work.  Please consider donating online to CWA of Washington.  If you prefer to donate by check, please write your check to “Concerned Women for America,” put “CWA of WA” on the memo line, and send it to the address above.

 

Dear CWA of Washington Friends,

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil …” (Ephesians 5:11).

“… that you may wage the good warfare” (I Timothy 1:18b).

As I start to write this alert, I must ask if you are as tempted to be discouraged as I am?  As I prayed for God’s guidance, He reminded me of the two verses I placed at the top of this prayer/action alert.  May I encourage you by sharing that for the duration of a family medical emergency for the past two weeks, God has blessed our family in multiple ways, proving again that He is always watching and listening to our prayers.  As Romans 8:28 reminds us, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

During my short hiatus, we have witnessed a state legislature celebrate the right to euthanize babies even up to the moment of birth (please sign CWA’s petition by clicking here), and a governor declares that parents should be allowed to choose life or death for their newborn child.  However, gratefully, we also heard President Donald Trump declare that these children are created in the precious image of God and deserve our protection.  In Jeremiah 1:5b, God’s authorship of life is proclaimed, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you.” And then in Psalm 139:13-16, “For You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well.  My frame was not hidden from You, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.   Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in Your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” God has given women a precious, unique ability to carry the life God has created.  Because of your participation, CWA will continue to stand and fight for that vital role and privilege to be honored and for all children to be able to open up the gift of life, the very first unalienable right listed in our U. S. Declaration of Independence.

ENCOURAGE-A-LEGISLATOR!
We are excited to announce that we now have 95 CWA of Washington volunteers praying for specific state legislators during the 2019 session.  We still need another 52 willing prayer warriors to cover all state legislators with prayer.  Will you consider joining this campaign to bless every legislator with prayer? For more information and to sign up click here.

LEGISLATION
There are some good and some very terrible bills being considered in Olympia.  Please pray for/against these bills accordingly and then contact your legislators concerning them.  Click here to find out who your legislators are and how to contact them.  If you already know who your legislators are, you may want to simply call the legislative hotline at 1-800-562-6000, Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. or Saturday 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Be sure to let them know that you are a member of Concerned Women for America of Washington. To read the bills, check their status, and more, click on each bill number below. 

Family/Sanctity of Life:
SB 5185 relates to abortion notification for minors.  CWA supports this bill. 

This bill supports parental notification of abortion, thereby reinforcing the importance of the family and parental authority/care and protecting minors and their babies from their own immaturity. 

Current status: Referred to Senate Committee on Law and Justice:

Take action: Encourage the members of the Senate Law & Justice Committee and your state senator to support SB 5185 by moving this bill forward to a public hearing.

Education:
SB 5395/HB 1407 companion bills relating to requiring comprehensive sexual health education that is consistent with the Washington state health and physical education K-12 learning standards and that requires affirmative consent curriculum.  CWA opposes these bills. 

These bills change the original law which allowed districts to opt out and mandates that all state public schools participate.  There is minimal parental involvement and no mention of religious or moral conscientious objection for either teachers or families.  There is an opt-out and review of curriculum provision for parents or legal guardians upon written request, but no clear mandate to communicate this to parents. Click here to view the mentioned curriculum to understand why CWA opposes all mandatory participation. Sexual health curriculum begins on page 28. 

Current status: On February 12, there was a public hearing on SB 5395 in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee. We await a vote.  HB 1407 is currently in the House Education Committee.

Take action: Please contact the members of both the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee, the House Education Committee, your senator, and your two representatives to express your response to mandating this curriculum in all districts. Ask them to vote NO on SB 5395 and HB 1407.

SB 5082 relates to promoting and expanding social-emotional learning.  CWA opposes this bill. 

The establishment of this committee further strengthens the subjective social-emotional learning (SEL) requirements already in Washington’s public schools.  There is virtually no parental involvement mentioned nor any mention of communicating with parents. An amendment to increase parental rights was rejected in committee.  Also, there is a mandate to include SEL standards in teachers’ training with no consideration of moral or religious conscience protection.  Who sets the standards for this SEL bill?  Families need to be well represented and have access to all information about their child. 

Current status:  On January 25, the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education passed the bill and sent it to Ways & Means which had a public hearing on February 7; substitute bill to create a permanent committee to promote and expand SEL with certain duties and members, to include ethnic commissions, tribes, states agencies, schools, families, and others.

Take action: Contact the members of the Senate Ways & Means Committee as well as your senator and request that an amendment be added to protect a parent’s right to remove their children from this training when the teaching violates a family’s sincerely held religious or moral values.  Schools need to do a better job of teaching objective subjects (e.g., reading, writing, and arithmetic) rather than interfering with family value systems. 

Sexual Exploitation:
HB 1016 relates to hospital notification of availability of sexual assault evidence kit collection.  CWA supports this bill.

In the case of rape, a woman needs the back-up of a sexual assault evidence kit. This bill would require that a hospital provide the necessary kit or have appropriate providers available or refer the woman to a local community agency to assist the patient in finding such a kit.  This is an issue that CWA has been active on for quite a while, thus insuring that evidence is available for prosecution of the crime.

Current status: On January 14, it was read and referred to the Health Care & Wellness Committee; majority did pass and referred to the Rules Committee.  February 5 read, and February 7 passed 96:0; moved to Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee.

Take action: Contact the members of the Health & Long Term Care Committee as well as your senator to support this bill to protect women and assist in prosecuting offenders! 

PRAY!  EDUCATE OTHERS!  ENGAGE BY CONTACTING YOUR OWN LEGISLATORS AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF SPECIFIC COMMITTEES! 

“What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)

In His Service,

Maureen Richardson
State Director
CWA of Washington
wa.cwfa.org
[email protected]
P.O. Box 143

Woodinville, WA 98072
425-869-1923

Thank you for supporting our work.  Please consider donating online to CWA of Washington.  If you prefer to donate by check, please write that check to “Concerned Women for America” and put “CWA of Washington” on the memo line.

 

 

 

 

 

Dear CWA of Washington Member,

Rock or sand?  On which foundation are you building your life?  On the Rock (God’s Word) or the sand (ideas of men)?  CWA has chosen for nearly 40 years to build on the rock of truth – God’s Holy Word.

In Matthew 7:24-27, we read this parable, “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. Now everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

New Year’s greetings from the state office of CWA of Washington!  We hope your year is off to a good start. As CWA of Washington prepares to encourage you to pray, get informed, and take action, we are focused on two statements from the national website (concernedwomen.org):

Our Mission: Concerned Women for America protects and promotes Biblical values and Constitutional principles through prayer, education, and advocacy.

Our Vision: Concerned Women for America is leading a movement dedicated to impacting the culture for Christ through education and public policy. 

Join us in 2019!  Click here to partner with us! 

PRAYER: Encourage-A-Legislator! Our campaign to pray for all 147 state legislators in 2019 is up and running!  We are looking for more prayer volunteers to pray daily for a legislator and mail a weekly pre-printed postcard that includes encouraging quotes and Scripture. Please sign up here and encourage your friends to join this campaign. 

EDUCATION: Watch for state legislative e-alerts! As you may know, our state legislature started January 14. Once again, CWA alerts will be sent out to educate you on legislative bills related to our seven core issues: Defense of Family, Sanctity of Life, Education, Religious Liberty, Sexual Exploitation, National Sovereignty, and Support for Israel. Please watch for the alerts and share them with others who are concerned about the moral direction of our culture. 

ACTION: Join thousands of pro-life citizens in Olympia this coming Tuesday, January 22 to MARCH FOR LIFE! People will begin to gather around 11:15 a.m. on the sidewalk leading to the capitol, and then at noon they will march to the capitol building steps. Pro-life leaders and legislators will speak about the sanctity of human life and our need to protect life from conception through natural death. Please join your fellow pro-life supporters for the March for Life, and then plan to spend some time inside the capitol visiting your own legislators to let them know you are in Olympia specifically for the March.  You can use your visit to encourage your legislators to represent your views on this and other issues of importance. Click here for more details.

Rock or sand? Please stand alongside CWA of Washington as we apply Biblical principles to all levels of public policy. Your membership and support are appreciated and needed: This is YOUR CWA! 

In His Service, 

Maureen Richardson
State Director
CWA of Washington
425-869-1923
P.O. Box 143
Woodinville, WA 98072
wa.cwfa.org
[email protected]

“You are the light of the world.” – Matthew 5:13

Dear CWA of Washington Friend,

President Ronald Reagan once said, “Without God, there is no virtue, because there’s no prompting of the conscience. Without God, we’re mired in the material, that flat world that tells us only what the senses perceive. Without God, there is a coarsening of the society. And without God, democracy will not and cannot long endure. If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.”

Matthew 5:13 records one of Christ’s similes, comparing believers in Him to light.  As we move on from the 2018 midterm elections, please join me in praying and standing as one of God’s lights in this nation, our “shining city on a hill”, built on a Biblical foundation and knowing that our liberties come from a loving Creator.

Encourage a Legislator!
Whether a legislator is a believer, non-believer, conservative, liberal, democrat, republican, independent or other, they are in desperate need of prayer. This next legislative session, CWA of Washington plans to deliver those prayers.

We need you to sign up to pray for a state legislator during the 2019 Washington state legislative session from January through April.  Our goal is to cover all 147 legislators with prayer this session, and we need your help to do so.  In addition, we ask you to mail a weekly encouraging postcard, that we will provide, to your assigned legislator.  Please click here to sign up today!  Please share this opportunity with other concerned people you know; prayer and action work together in this wonderful campaign!  Feel free to contact the state office with questions or to sign up.

Step it Up!
In our ongoing effort to protect and defend the family through prayer and action, we need to increase our presence in the current culture war.  Nationwide, we are seeing an alarming trend of attacking and undermining parental authority, religious liberty, and freedom of speech.   If you would like to more actively join Concerned Women for America as we put on the spiritual armor that Paul speaks of in Ephesians 6 and stand with us, please consider attending or starting a CWA Prayer/Action Chapter in your community or building a Home Team of others who would like to join our effort.  Click here for more information or contact the state office.

It’s Time to Expand Our Influence!
As you know, CWA of Washington promotes the application of Biblical principles to all levels of public policy.  In order to expand our influence in this area, we need a Legislative Liaison to help out in Olympia.  This person would track legislation and network at the state capital. We provide the training.  If you or someone you know is concerned about the ungodly, anti-Christian attitude influencing our state legislators, please consider inquiring about this leadership position.

Pray, be aware, and get involved!

In His Service,

Maureen Richardson
State Director
CWA of Washington
P.O. Box 143
Woodinville, WA 98072
[email protected]
wa.cwfa.org

Dear friend,

As you know, we are at a breaking point in history where the rule of law and civil discourse are being threatened by some politicians and radical activists who insist on getting their way, no matter what. Some are actually inciting that violence to be directed at those with whom they disagree.

Will it be mob rule or the rule of law?!

There are three simple steps that can have a significant impact on our state and nation’s future. Please join us in carrying them out. 

#1 Pray
As a Christian organization, we are first and foremost committed to prayer. As November 6th approaches, will you join us in praying for our state and nation? Please join us by setting a time daily to pray for this next election. Will you do that? Set an alarm on your phone, your computer, put a sticky note on your mirror, whatever works.

# 2 Encourage
As a Christian organization, we are committed to educating and encouraging others to vote. Will you join us in this? Encourage friends and family through Facebook, Twitter, email, etc.

#3 Vote
It is our duty, as citizens and as Christians, to participate in the process by both praying and voting. The institution of government was ordained by God as seen in Romans 13:1-4.

It is up to you and me to stand up to this mob mentality we saw during the Kavanaugh debacle by praying against malicious tactics and voting November 6.

Did you know . . . in Washington, early voting starts 18 days before, and ends 1 day prior to, Election Day.

Voter Guides:

• iVoterGuide.org
• votesmart.org

Two push cards to freely print and distribute:

• https://concernedwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/WAearlyGOTVCard.pdf
• https://concernedwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Push-Card-General-WA.pdf (This one is great for distributing in churches!)

Party Platform Comparison (print double-sided 14” X 8 ½” and fold)

Together we will impact our state and nation’s future – Pray, Encourage, and Vote!

Maureen Richardson
State Director
CWA of Washington
[email protected]
wa.cwfa.org

Dear CWA of Washington Friend,

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm” (Ephesians 6:13).

As I watched and listened to the dreadful attacks on Judge Kavanaugh, I couldn’t help but remember the time Beverly LaHaye spoke about how, when watching feminist Betty Friedan on TV claiming that she represented all American women, Mrs. LaHaye jumped up and said, “That’s it! She doesn’t speak for me or any of the women I know!” She then gathered like-minded women around her kitchen table and Voila, CWA was born in 1979!  Mrs. LaHaye stood up against the anti-God, anti-family feminist movement, and now, nearly forty years later, the organization she founded is stronger than ever, still protecting and defending the family unit God created, sanctity of human life, parental authority, religious liberty, respect for Biblical values, national sovereignty, support for Israel, and more, all through the prayers and actions of our members!

We’ve Had Enough! Over the past few weeks, I understood how Mrs. LaHaye felt over 40 years ago as I witnessed multiple women in their diatribes against men, the rule of law, and even us, conservative Christian women. You know what I’m talking about; you felt the same way.  We’ve had enough! Christian women do not live on the left’s thought plantation, and we’re not enslaved by feminism’s, nor the media’s, perspective of the world.

Did you know that there were 400 women praying and rallying behind the Russell Senate Bldg. during the Kavanaugh hearings at CWA’s Women for Kavanaugh event? Some even dared to go into the Russell Senate Building and pray in the middle of all the chaos. I wish the mainstream media outlets had picked it up to counter the other side’s disrespectful and furious behavior. Penny did, though, do some great interviews on Fox. And President Trump tweeted about Women for Kavanaugh on the day of the vote as a group was in the Russell Senate Building once again!

Many Thanks! I thank Mrs. LaHaye for starting CWA, CEO and President Penny Nance, staff in Washington, D.C., and members around the nation for continuing to stand for Biblical principles through prayers and actions! CWA is the nation’s largest public policy women’s organization, and since 1979 CWA has stood firmly and consistently for our shared Judeo-Christian values and for our faith in the one, true God of the Holy Bible, knowing He is our Creator and has the best guidance for all of His people.

The 40 Days for Life Campaign is up and rolling with some amazing results to save the unborn. The current campaign runs until November 4. Click here for places and times.

Remember to VOTE!  As CWA Legal Counsel Mario Diaz writes in his book, Be Spent: Winning the Fight for Freedom’s Survival, “If we as Christian citizens apply these (leadership) principles when exercising our right to vote, America would have a better chance of continuing to be that ‘city set on a hill.’  Remember what the Proverbs say, ‘When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan.'” (C. 2015 by Mario Diaz, barbwire Books Inc.; p. 218).

Please remember to PRAY FOR AMERICA! Pray for all those in leadership that they will acknowledge God’s prominence in the founding of this nation. As so many founders and others have stated, this nation cannot exist without religion and morality.

“If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under.” -President Ronald Reagan

Pray for those who continue to stand and fight for their and our religious liberty and the free exercise thereof: Florist Baronelle Stutzman of Richland, Coach Joe Kennedy of Bremerton, Baker Jack Phillips of Colorado, and the Kleins of Oregon.

Pray for the upcoming elections.

Stand fast therefore!

Maureen Richardson
State Director
CWA of Washington
P.O. Box 143
Woodinville, WA 98072
[email protected]
wa.cwfa.org
(425) 869-1923

Thank you for supporting CWA through your prayers, actions, and financial support.

Dear Friend,

Balance between both prayer and action is vital for all believers.  James speaks of this when commending heroes of the faith, “You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone,” (James 2:24). Let us keep this in mind as we pray and act on the items in this Prayer Action Alert.
 
Time to Pray and Act on Behalf of Judge Kavanaugh
The circus continues with regards to the confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U. S. Supreme Court.  As you know, his opponents continue to promote confusion and hysteria about Judge Kavanaugh’s character right up to the last minute. Concerned Women for America in Washington, D.C., has thoroughly vetted Judge Kavanaugh and is pleased that President Trump nominated him to this important position. CWA CEO and President Penny Nance wrote about the recent accusation against Kavanaugh in USA Today: Kavanaugh, too? Christine Blasey Ford’s Account is Missing Key Details of Assault. Please continue to contact Sens. Patty Murray (D-Washington) and Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) about this nomination.  Just as with nominations to lower courts, the opposition is attempting to choke this nomination by using delay tactics.  If our senators don’t hear from us and only hear from the other side of the debate, they’ll be able to say that we don’t appear to care or have given up on this nomination. Please do not give them reason to oppose President Trump’s second nominee to our highest court in the land.

If you don’t do it, who will?

Take Action:

• Call, text, e-mail, and write Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, and politely ask them to confirm the nomination of Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Be sure to let them know that you are a member of Concerned Women for America. Click here for Sen. Murray’s contact information and here for Sen. Cantwell’s.
• Please send this e-alert to friends and family, and encourage them to both pray and act.

Please Pray: “Dear Father, thank You for Your mercy on our nation. We pray right now that You will lead the senators to confirm Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court to continue that mercy. Help us thirst for justice and remember its true meaning. Forgive us for perverting it and seeking our own prideful ways, instead of what is truly good and true. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

Voter Registration
Consider taking voter registration forms (check your local library for the forms) to your church and setting them up in an area where you can remind people of the responsibility of Christian citizens to vote.  People can also register online at https://weiapplets.sos.wa.gov/MyVoteOLVR/MyVoteOLVR. The registration deadline for the November 2018 election is Tuesday, October 8.

 A Call to Prayer for CWA Members: International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church 2018
On November 4, the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, CWA will join thousands of Christians all over the world in praying for those who are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. Will you join and pray with us? As Americans, God has blessed us with a country abounding in prosperity and founded on freedom of religion, belief, and conscience — all of which we enjoy and continue to fiercely defend. But, in our busy and full lives, sometimes we forget that our sisters and brothers in Christ around the world are being persecuted for the same beliefs and endure political, economic, social discrimination, beating, imprisonment, and even tortuous death.

Click here for more information.

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” ― Edmund Burke

Maureen Richardson, State Director
CWA of Washington
[email protected]
425-869-1923

Partner with CWA of Washington through your financial support. We are continually grateful for those who give to the work of CWA of Washington. When you give to the state, all funds are used for state projects. To contribute your tax-deductible gift to CWA of Washington, please send a check written out to “Concerned Women for America” with “CWA of WA” on the memo line, and send to CWA of Washington, P. O. Box 143 Woodinville, WA 98072. Or, contribute online.

Your involvement, financial gifts, and prayers could not be more appreciated. Thank you!

Dear Concerned Women for America of Washington Activists, 

I hope your summer is going well for you.  I know it’s hard to focus on public policy issues when you are on vacation or just simply trying to relax.   Nonetheless, we at CWA of Washington need and appreciate your prayers and involvement as we continue to promote public policy based on our shared Biblical principles.   

Ezekiel 22:30 talks about how God seeks a man who would stand in the gap by building a wall on behalf of the land so that He would not destroy it.  God did not find such a man on that day.  May He find many on this day.  Many willing to build a wall to protect sound Biblical principles in our culture.  If the wall is to be strong, we must choose to stand alongside one another and continually pray for the Body of Christ and for our nation as we work to return to sound Biblical principles.  Are you willing to join with us as we pick up a shovel and trowel and do what needs to be done to raise up that wall? 

The nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh for the U. S. Supreme Court. 

As CWA President and CEO Penny Nance said, “This in an historic moment for our nation, and I could not be more proud to stand alongside conservative women across the country in support of Judge Kavanaugh … Judge Kavanaugh is uniquely qualified, fair, and impartial and fulfills President Trump’s campaign promise to nominate a constitutional conservative to the Supreme Court.”

Could you take just five minutes to contact our two federal senators, Patty Murray (D-Washington) and Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) to express your opinion on this nomination?  Regardless of how we think these women will vote, it is our responsibility to let them know where we stand.  We cannot allow them to build momentum as they hear from one person after another who opposes Kavanaugh.  This empowers them to stand strong.  Let them know, and encourage others to let them know, that Kavanaugh is an excellent nominee and that he merits a yes vote.  Be sure to let them know that you are a member of Concerned Women for America of Washington.

Sen. Murray: (202) 224-2621 and/or email

Sen. Cantwell: (202) 224-3441 and/or email

For more information, including talking points, on Judge Kavanaugh and why CWA is supporting him, click here.

Protect Life Rule

We recently asked you to comment to Health and Human Services (HHS) about the Protect Life Rule to remove our tax dollars from abortion providers.  Thanks to you and so many others, our comments turned the tide in favor of that rule!  HHS received over 200,000 comments and upon our own investigation, it appears that a solid majority of these comments favor the rule.

The comment period was the first step.  Now HHS must proceed through more hoops before the Protect Life Rule is implemented.  We hope that by August 2019 the rule will be applied, and the grant program will no longer be used as a slush fund for the abortion industry.

So, we know from that recent experience that our involvement and action does make a difference.  Please make those two calls on behalf of Kavanaugh!  And encourage others to do the same.

 

Stand in the Gap by Partnering with CWA of Washington

If you are able to support our continuing public policy work, please contribute online or mail a gift to the address below.   Remember to write your check out to “CWA” and then put “CWA of WA” on the memo line.

Thank you for standing in the gap with CWA of Washington for our nation and our families!

In His Service,

Maureen Richardson
State Director
CWA of Washington
[email protected]
wa.cwfa.org
425-869-1923
P. O. Box 143
Woodinville, WA 98072

DECISION AMERICA Pacific Northwest Tour is coming to Washington State!

Franklin Graham’s Prayer Rallies will be held in the following locations across our state in August:
Tuesday, August 7 — Tri-Cities (Richland), Columbia Point Marina Park
Thursday, August 9 — Spokane, Spokane County Fair and Expo Center
Sunday, August 12 — Tacoma, Cheney Stadium
Monday, August 13 — Monroe, Evergreen Speedway and Fairgrounds

All rallies are free and begin at 7:30 p.m.with special guest musician Jeremy Camp.
These will be very important dates for Christians in the Pacific Northwest, as well as for those still seeking the faith. Please click here for more information about this powerful Tour.

Dear CWA of Washington Member,

Thank you for standing with Concerned Women for America, the nation’s largest public policy women’s organization with over 500,000 participants across our nation.  We urge you to find a local Prayer/Action Chapter to attend and add your prayers and action to our network.  Click here to do so! If there is not a chapter in your area, will you seriously pray and consider starting one?  This is YOUR CWA, and we depend upon you to take leadership in gathering likeminded citizens to pray for our nation, state, communities, and families.  Together we will seek to repair the moral and cultural damage done by those who rebel against God, His Son, and The Holy Bible and its principles.  If at all interested, please contact me with the information below and/or fill out the Leadership Application form.

Women for Kavanaugh!

As the nation’s largest public policy women’s organization, we are concerned about many things.  One of those issues is supporting national sovereignty and the U. S. Constitution as written.  CWA believes recently nominated Judge Brett Kavanaugh will do just that.

Penny Nance, CEO and President of Concerned Women for America, issued the following statement after Kavanaugh was announced:

“This is an historic moment for the United States. This is why conservative women voted overwhelmingly for Donald J. Trump – to ensure that a proper constitutional balance is restored to our nation’s highest court. President Trump made a promise to the American people and, just as with the confirmation of Justice Neil Gorsuch, he is delivering on that promise. Judge Brett Kavanaugh is abundantly qualified to sit on the bench of the United States Supreme Court. He is among the best and brightest jurists on the appellate courts with a reputation of being fair and impartial in his decisions. Judge Kavanaugh is known as a judge who respects the Constitution as written, refusing to legislate from the bench. This is what we need at this time on the U.S. Supreme Court.”

Click here for more information.

Please Take Action:

1. Email your U.S. Senators and let them know that you support Judge Kavanaugh as your choice for Supreme Court Justice.  Ask them how they plan to vote.  Be sure to let them know that you are a member of Concerned Women for America of Washington.  Click here to easily email your Senators.  Fill in the information within the right column.
2. If time allows please call and write them as well.

• Sen. Patty Murray (D): (202) 224-2621, 154 Russell Senate Office Building,
  Washington, D.C. 20510
• Sen. Maria Cantwell (D): (202) 224-3441, 511 511 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510

Remember, regardless of how you think your senators will vote or how they have voted in the past, they must not only hear from those who oppose Judge Kavanaugh, they need to know that there are many Women for Kavanaugh.

One Week Left to Support the Protect Life Rule!

This is the final week to submit comments on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Protect Life Rule. We have a great and urgent opportunity to shift taxpayer funds away from abortionist facilities and direct funds toward real health centers. Planned Parenthood alone receives at least $50 million from Title X, and 90% of the women who enter their clinics have abortions. A new proposed rule directs money away from abortion providers.

Please Take Action: If you have not yet submitted your comment, please add yours to thousands of others.  Click here to do so now.  If time allows, it’s important to personalize your comments.  Feel free to use one or more of these talking points.  And, please encourage others to make their voice heard.

After the 60-day comment period is up, HHS will review the comments and issue a final rule based on the public’s feedback.  The deadline is Tuesday, July 31. So far about 90,000 comments have been posted. We do not yet know how many are positive or negative. But, it has been reported that HHS was anticipating 10% positive and 90% negative. So, we are praying that all pro-life warriors will unite and let your voices be heard!

Together we can influence the right to life on a national level. The opposition will not take their hand out of the cookie jar without significant opposition.  

For more information on this issue view last month’s alert.

Forward this onto others and encourage them to not miss out on this opportunity to both pray and act during this time in American history.

Please Pray with Us:

• Pray for positive outcomes to Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination.
• Pray support for the Protect Life Rule will outweigh the opposition.
• Pray about becoming a Prayer/Action Leader or Home Team Captain in order to bravely and lovingly stand fast in the faith alongside other CWA leaders in this huge cultural battle.God’s blessings to you as you continue to stand up for His principles in a culture that so needs to hear from us that He is the one and only true God and Creator of the universe and that His Son Christ Jesus’s suffering was for our benefit, enabling us to live out Biblical values here on Earth, long before we enter into His presence in Heaven.In His Service,

Maureen Richardson
State Director
425-869-1923
[email protected]
wa.cwfa.org
P.O. Box 143

Woodinville, WA 98072

 

For many people today, July 4th is a holiday filled with picnics, friends, and fireworks. But it is also a commemoration of America’s Declaration of Independence. The freedom call was not only against a political and economic system, but it was also a cry for independence from the spiritual tyranny of the Anglican Church. 

In 1775, there were 668 congregational churches in America.  Seventy–five percent of all Americans, at that time, belonged to churches of Puritan derivation. The religious makeup was 98.4 percent Protestant, 1.4 percent Roman Catholic, and three-twentieths of one percent Jewish. America was a nation deeply concerned with religious freedom. 

Religious freedom today is far from what the original founders intended. What Americans wanted was a government that did not favor one Christian sect over another. The idea was never to erode Christianity through the separation of church and state.  

Competition between the various churches—early Americans thought–was healthy; it kept them from becoming complacent, comfortable and arrogant like the nationally endorsed Anglican Church. In 18th century America, men and women adhered to the Biblical conviction that all men and human institutions were fallible. Americans fought hard for seven years during the Revolutionary War to rid themselves of the shackles of imperial England and her state-controlled church. 

The men who called the people of America to independence were men committed to their country and to the freedom of her people. They paid a great price for our independence and religious freedom: five signers were captured by the British army and tortured; 12 signers’ homes were destroyed; two had sons who died during the Revolutionary War; one had two sons taken prisoner by the British; and nine signers of the Declaration died in the war. 

Words from President John Adams reveal our foundational beliefs:  And may that Being who is Supreme over all, the Patron of Order, the Fountain of Justice, and the Protector in all ages of the world of virtuous liberty, continue His blessing upon this nation.  (3/4/1797)

 And on October 11, 1798, he stated in an address to the military:  We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion.  Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net.  Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.  It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other. This July 4th, let us remember those courageous men and women who helped to establish a free nation. Let us thank God for religious freedom won, and exercise that freedom by reaching our generation with the Gospel. Liberty without faith in the God of the Holy Bible is bondage to the world.

Blessings to you on this Independence Day, 2018.

Maureen Richardson
State Director
CWA of Washington
[email protected]
wa.cwfa.org
 

Dear CWA of Washington Friend, 

Let us protect what God has fearfully and wonderfully made. 

For you formed my inward parts;
    you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
    my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
    intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
    the days that were formed for me,
    when as yet there was none of them.

Psalm 139:13-16

The Title X program is a voluntary grant program that was created to educate and provide family planning services. Even though the law says that abortion is not family planning, abortion giants like Planned Parenthood have used this grant program as their own personal slush fund. But now we have the chance to stop it!

As with any federal regulation, there is an open comment period where the public has the opportunity to express their views. After the 60-day comment period is up, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will review the comments and issue a final rule based on the public’s feedback.  The deadline is July 31, but we want to comment right away and then use the remainder of the time to encourage those we know to comment as well.

Don’t Miss Out on the Opportunity to Take Tax Money from Planned Parenthood!

Take Action:

·       Submit your comment to the U.S. HHS Secretary Azar regarding Title X Funds for family planning. Simply go to the Concerned Women for America website link, The Protect Life Rule, and follow the instructions. It’s easy and only takes a few minutes.  We have even put together a suggested comment that you can use as is or edit to your liking.  It is best if you add personal comments.

·       Be sure to let them know you are a member of Concerned Women for America of Washington.

·       Please send this e-alert to your like-minded friends, pastor, lawmakers, family and acquaintances.

Please Pray: “Father, please work on our behalf and protect us from paying for abortion with our taxes.  May our efforts be used to drastically hinder the deadly efforts of Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers.  Amen.”

 It is imperative that Secretary Azar hears from all of us.  Planned Parenthood is angry about this, and they are mobilized with an army contacting Azar.  They will sue and do what they always do, so we must be vigilant, mobilized, passionate, strong and courageous on behalf of babies.

 It’s time to stand up, speak up, and let your voice be heard.  This is our moment to stop taxpayer funding for abortion, and we only have June and July to stop Planned Parenthood and others from the misuse of this program. 

In His Service,

Maureen Richardson
State Director
CWA of Washington
[email protected] 
wa.cwfa.org

Partner with CWA of Washington through your financial support. We are continually grateful for those who give to the work of CWA of Washington. When you give to the state, all funds are used for state projects. To contribute your tax-deductible gift to CWA of Washington, please send a check written out to “Concerned Women for America” with “CWA of WA” on the memo line, and send to CWA of Washington, P. O. Box 143, Woodinville, WA 98072. Or, click here to contribute online.

Your involvement, financial gifts, and prayers could not be more appreciated.  Thank you!

 

Dear CWA of Washington Member,

One of the verses Concerned Women for America likes to use often is from 2 Corinthians 3:12, “… since we have such hope we use great boldness of speech.”  There are several places where we can combine our hope and our prayers with great boldness of speech this summer.

First, you can attend or start a Prayer/Action Chapter in your area!  We so need to lift up our nation, state, communities, churches, and families in prayer to our almighty and loving Heavenly Father.  We currently have chapters in Bremerton, Des Moines, Edmonds, Olympia, Redmond, Snohomish, Tacoma, Vancouver, and Woodinville.  If your area is not listed, please consider applying for a Prayer/Action Chapter Leader position with CWA of Washington.  Prayer/Action Chapters typically meet once a month for 1-2 hours at a convenient time and location, comprised of concerned citizens with a heart to pray, learn and take action on CWA’s seven core issues.  The national office of CWA provides a monthly newsletter to assist you in your meetings. Or you can become a Home Team Captain by forming an online team that receives the CWA Newsletter and then prays and takes action individually. If you are at all interested please email me or give me a call at (425) 869-9123.  If you are ready to apply to become a leader, fill out an Application for Leadership form and send it to the address below. Or fill it out, scan it and email it to me.

Second, you can participate in Franklin Graham’s Tour of America in Washington State.  I plan to attend one or two of these prayer gatherings and sincerely hope to meet a lot of CWA friends there this summer!

 Decision America Pacific Northwest Tour

All events begin at 7:30 p.m. PDT

Tuesday, August 7 — Tri-Cities (Richland), Columbia Point Marina Park
Thursday, August 9 — Spokane, Spokane County Fair and Expo Center
Sunday, August 12 — Tacoma, Cheney Stadium
Monday, August 13 — Monroe, Evergreen Speedway and Fairgrounds

The Decision America Tour was born in 2016 when Franklin Graham visited all 50 states, challenging Christians to lead lives rooted in Biblical principles and to pray earnestly for America. More than 230,000 people joined him as he traveled across the country. Last year, he continued the tour by going back to Tennessee and Texas, drawing more than 70,000 people to outdoor venues in 11 cities. After this year’s stops in California, Washington, and Oregon, Franklin plans to keep the momentum going next year with tour stops in the northeastern U.S.

Our nation needs you!  God bless you as you join other watchmen on the wall to protect the culture and our families by restoring this greatest nation on God’s green earth to our Biblical heritage!  Indeed, because of our Christian faith, we can have such hope!  Come join the prayer teams!

In His Service,

Maureen Richardson

State Director
CWA of Washington
P.O. Box 143
Woodinville, WA 98072
[email protected]
wa.cwfa.org
425-869-1923

Dear CWA of Washington Friend,

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 encourages us, “Therefore we do not lose heart … For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”  

We are certainly seeing spiritual, moral, and physical anarchy rising in our nation, as citizens with Biblical values are increasingly being mocked, fined, bullied, and even jailed simply for standing up for their sincerely held religious and moral values.  Plus, the 2018 legislative session was a huge disappointment for pro-life, pro-family citizens and a disaster for precious preborn babies and women’s dignity.  CWA of Washington opposed and fought to defeat contracted human surrogacy, mandated abortion insurance for all employers, and state interference in the doctor-patient relationship through a ban on counseling for gender dysphoria and related conditions.  All three of those bills (SB 6037, SB 6219, SB 5722) passed and were signed by Governor Inslee– much to our dismay–despite the lobbying of CWA of Washington members and members of other pro-family groups around the state.  This situation reinforces the importance of exercising our right to vote for legislators who will fight for Judeo Christian values in the public policy arena.

Yet, let us “not lose heart.” When we contact our legislators and they ignore us, we need to pray, then contact them again—if necessary, being a thorn in their sides. We simply cannot be quiet!

As for “the things which are not seen”, our members prayed for 101 legislators during the 2018 session through our Encourage-A-Legislator campaign.  This is outstanding!  A special thanks to those who participated.  While we didn’t see with our eyes the results we prayed for, our God heard our prayers, and we trust that He touched the heart of each one of those 101 legislators, drawing them one step closer to Himself.

Events

40 Days for Life reports that babies were saved and abortion facilities were closed during the just-ended 40 Days for Life campaign!  Thank you to all who went out to take a stand and to pray for the unborn and those blinded to the evil of abortion.  James 2:20 tells us that, “faith without action is dead”.  Thank you for taking action!  Go to the 40 Days for Life website to find out more and watch for information announcing their next campaign.

The “Day of Silence” Walk Out: The pro-homosexual Day of Silence is scheduled for Friday, April 27, during which students are encouraged not to speak at all in the classroom.  While some teachers enable this by preparing special lesson plans, other teachers refuse to participate and need your support.  In opposition, CWA of Washington has endorsed The “Day of Silence” Walk Out.  Click here to find out more about The “Day of Silence” Walk Out. If more parents speak up and discuss this issue with their school leadership, a walk out may not be necessary next year and Day of Silence would become ineffective.   Please visit the Day of Silence Walkout website on how to deal with the Day of Silence.  It is very important to realize that this movement seeks to undermine the Biblical truth, “ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them,” (Genesis 1:27).  We must not be silent!

National Day of Prayer (NDP): This is an annual event attended by thousands of citizens around the nation.  Please be a part of this year’s NDP on Thursday, May 3, by either attending a local event or planning one of your own.  This year’s theme is “Unity: based on Ephesians 4:3, “Making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Visit the NDP website for more information.

Prayer

Please be in prayer for our First Amendment rights to freedom of religion and speech. Right now, there is a very important case before the U.S. Supreme Court that will have far-reaching consequences.  In Washington and California, laws have been passed that force pro-life clinics to post information on abortion clinics in their clinics and on all their advertising.  According to the First Amendment, the government has no right to censor speech, so why does it have the right to force citizens to say something opposed to their sincerely held religious or moral beliefs?  This principle is the same as in the cases about florists and bakers being forced to participate in activities counter to their sincerely-held religious or moral beliefs.  For more on this issue, please read CWA’s General Counsel Mario Diaz’s article,  CWA Stands for Free Speech at the U.S. Supreme Court which includes a video of CWA in front of the Supreme Court on the day the case was heard.

Partnership

Finally, partner with CWA with a tax-deductible donation of $25 or more.  This has TWO benefits: you become a part of CWA of Washington and CWA national.  All donations sent to CWA of Washington at P.O. Box 143, Woodinville, WA 98072 remain in Washington for state projects, activities, office supplies, transportation and more.  Please make checks out to “CWA” and write “Washington” on the memo line.  Or you can give online to CWA of Washington. Your donations of any amount are greatly appreciated!

Feel free to share this alert with other concerned citizens.  We appreciate your support and your prayers.  And remember: Do not lose heart!

Sincerely,

Maureen Richardson
State Director
CWA of Washington
P.O. Box 143
Woodinville, WA 98072
http://wa.cwfa.org
425-869-1923
[email protected]