Author: Michelle Minor

Concerned Women for America
Since its beginning in 1979, Concerned Women for America has been dedicated to the belief that “righteousness exalts a nation.” We believe God instituted the dignity of every human being by the act of creation, that He ordained marriage and the family unit, and that He established nations and government to protect the people. We believe that God gave guidelines for individual responsibilities, for developing and training the family, and for maintaining national law and order.
The members of CWA believe the only answer for America is for her people to “humble themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways.” (II Chronicles 7:14) We believe this is possible if America’s Godly women and men will commit themselves to a dedicated effort of prayer and meaningful involvement. That is why CWA is actively organizing Prayer/Action Chapters and Home Teams into a national network of women and men who believe in the Judeo-Christian principles for living.
Both prayer and active involvement are necessary if we are to make a difference for the cause of Christ. “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” (James 1:22a) “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:17)
AMERICA’S FUTURE IS IN YOUR HANDS!!
In order to effectively represent Concerned Women for America, it is important to know the organization and thoroughly understand and agree with CWA’s statement of faith, mission, vision, concerns and goals (See Appendix). Frequent reference to these statements will ensure a better perspective on the task and will serve as an inspiration and guide in leading Prayer/Action Chapter members down the path of a great movement to make righteousness a standard for our families and our nation.
CWA Prayer/Action Chapters are key to the work of CWA. These words given by the Creator to the Hebrews in historic times are also applicable today:
“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among My people, if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (II Chronicles 7:13, 14)
People who believe in God need to take His Words seriously and devote themselves to promoting this truth by calling upon His name regularly. This is the first function of both Prayer/Action Chapters and Home Teams. They include individuals who are committed to praying about the issues and for the leaders in our nation.
Prayers and faith are of great importance, but in the New Testament, the Apostle James tells us faith without works is dead. (James 2:17, 26) We must DO something about that which we believe to be just and righteous. Therefore, CWA Prayer/Action Chapters and Home Teams are also “doers,” following their prayers with action.
The Prayer/Action Chapter Leader (PAL) and members of her chapter are committed in their efforts to:
Pray about the issues. “…praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.” (Ephesians 6:18a)
Be alert and informed (watchful) “…being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:18b)
Act on those issues (speak boldly) “…that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” (Ephesians 6:20)
To assist in meeting these goals, CWA has established a nationwide prayer network of strong, individual groups called Prayer/Action Chapters, each with a leader called a Prayer/Action Chapter Leader.
All Prayer/Action Chapter Leaders and Prayer/Action Chapter activity comes under the National Field Department in the National Office of CWA. The organization chart is as follows:
The State or Area Director is the coordinator of all CWA activity in her state or area. As her title implies, she represents CWA and receives guidance from the National Field Department. She is responsible for building a state or area organization, recruiting new members, building Prayer/Action Chapters and Home Teams. She is also responsible for any funds raised or spent in her area and submits monthly reports on activities and financial accounts to the National Finance Department.
Each Director works with a Steering Committee which enables CWA to make a stronger impact at the state and federal levels. A Prayer Chapter Coordinator is a member of the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee is made up of the positions listed below.
Prayer Chapter Coordinator: coordinates, trains and assists all Prayer/Action Leaders.
Records Correspondent: maintains the state’s financial records.
Legislative Liaison: tracks state legislative issues and develops working relationships with state legislators.
535 Coordinator: recruits and trains Home District Liaisons in federal congressional districts who monitor an individual congressman’s position and voting record on pro-family issues.
Communications Coordinator: handles the state or area organization’s public relations with the media.
Special Projects Coordinator: assists in planning special events for the state or area organization.
Issue Specialist: provides information on a particular CWA core issue.
Note: For the sake of consistency in the manual, the PAL will be referred to as “she/her;” the state or area organization will be referred to as “state organization” and the state or area director will be referred to as “Director.”
As a Prayer/Action Leader (PAL), you have a great opportunity to influence your community. The duties of a PAL include:
Keeping prayer and relationships with God and family as top priorities
Spending time in prayer for the Chapter
Planning and overseeing her monthly Prayer/Action Chapter meeting
Acting as her church’s CWA leader and liaison
Recruiting new CWA members
Submitting meeting reports to the state office
Staying informed of the issues by reading CWA newsletters and mailings, newspapers or other periodicals
Prayer/Action Chapters are vital to accomplishing CWA’s grassroots efforts. You are a resource for your Director. When you learn of a local issue, let the Director know and seek her guidance. (If you are in an area without a director, contact the Field Development Coordinator at the National Office.)
Who: Faithful women and like-minded men come together in Prayer/Action Chapters to pray for leaders and issues, and then take action. The Chapters are nondenominational and open to people of all faiths; however, Biblical principles and Christ-centered prayer must remain the meeting’s focus (See Statement of Faith in the Appendix.). Non-CWA members may attend and should have an opportunity to join at each meeting.
Where: A first step is deciding the model for your chapter. We suggest the following commonly used plans. They may need minor adjustments for your group. Don’t be afraid to be creative!
Model 1 - Sphere of influence: You may choose to organize your group around a common interest or issue, such as abortion or education. If you are a home-school parent, consider organizing a Chapter with others in your area. Or, you may be interested in organizing a Chapter of stay-at-home moms or of married couples. The possibilities are endless! Appropriate locations for this model include your home, another CWA member’s home, community center, church building, or public library.
Model 2 - Bible-believing local church: The first step in this model is to introduce CWA’s goals and purposes to the pastor. When you have his support, you can publicize your new chapter within your church congregation. The chapter meeting in this model is held in the church facility.
Model 3 - An organized Bible study or other Christian group: Consider requesting a portion of time of each meeting to present CWA information to the group. To be a Prayer/Action Chapter, the name of CWA must be retained and participants must have the freedom to become CWA members. (Note: CWA is not to join with another organization with similar purposes, especially when CWA would lose its own identity.)
When: Meetings may be held weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or bi-monthly—whatever best suits the schedules of the majority of the members. Depending on your model, you will need to determine whether to conduct a day or evening meeting, as well as when and how often the Chapter should meet. Do most of the members …
work during the day? Do men wish to be involved?
meet together for another function or class?
live nearby or have easy access to transportation?
have young children who would likely require child-care services?
What: CWA’s National Field Department mails the Prayer/Action Newsletter monthly to all approved PALs. (Please see sample Prayer/Action Newsletter in the Appendix.) The Prayer/Action Newsletter includes an inspirational piece, information on federal legislation and national issues with prayer requests and action items, a prayer and praise section and a publication order form. Use the Prayer/Action Newsletter as a tool for conducting your meeting and presenting current information, action and prayer.
The following are excellent resources for planning your Prayer/Action Chapter meetings or organizing a particular project. These items, along with books, videos, and brochures are available through your Director or through the National Field Department.
Field Brochure (membership form)
Key 16 Prayer Card (to assist in praying for your legislators)
How to Lobby From Your Kitchen Table and How to Lobby from Your Laptop (brochures)
CWA Policy Concerns, Position Reports and Talking Points for various issues (available online)
CWA’s Web site: ConcernedWomen.org
How: Once you have decided who you will invite and where and when you will hold your chapter meeting, it is time to decide how you will conduct your meeting. Be sure to contact your Director and/or Prayer Chapter Coordinator for assistance.
Checklist:
Make a list of people to invite.
Confirm a location to hold the Chapter meeting.
Establish a time most likely to accommodate those being invited.
Plan the agenda.
Send out invitations (see following example) with instructions to R.S.V.P. by a certain date.
Sample Invitation:
The Purpose:
Each person attending should gain an understanding of why you have become a CWA PAL, what this entails, and why she or he is an important part of the meeting.
The State Director might live near enough to assist or speak at the first meeting. If this is not possible, she will be happy to give suggestions by telephone and send materials. The purpose of the first meeting is to:
explain the history and goals of CWA;
illustrate why Christians need to be involved; and
show how their involvement can be effective.
Setting Up:
You might consider having a fellow CWA member to assist you as hostess for the meeting. If you decide to serve refreshments, the hostess would be responsible for arriving at the location early to set up, make coffee, set out refreshments, etc. She would help set up childcare, make nametags, and welcome attendees, distribute information, and clean up the meeting area. Note: Serving refreshments is a personal decision and is not reimbursable. One option is for Chapter members to volunteer to bring them on alternating dates.
Materials:
Packet: Give each first-time visitor a small packet of general information (see “Resources” section), ordered through the Director or the National Field Department. (Allow sufficient time for ordering and shipping.)
Field Brochures: Make copies of the Field Membership Brochure available to visitors at each meeting. CWA membership is important for several reasons:
CWA national lobbyists in Washington, D.C., represent CWA members when they meet with legislators to discuss issues and legislation. CWA’s influence with them increases as our membership increases.
CWA is completely donor-supported. Our members make the ministry and work of CWA possible! Our lobbying efforts, both statewide and national, are successful because we represent members who are tax-paying and voting citizens.
Attendance Sheet: At the meeting, you should get the names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of those present. You will then send these and any membership monies to the Director.
Writing Materials: In order to take action during your meeting, have paper (or postcards), pens and envelopes on hand for people to write letters or send postcards.
The Meeting Agenda:
Chapter meetings should be a maximum of one-and-a-half hours. The Chapter meeting should always include prayer, education and action. Below are sample agendas for meetings 1, 2 and 3.
First Chapter Meeting - Introduction to CWA
(If the Director is present, go over the agenda with her prior to the meeting. She can introduce you and explain the history of CWA.)
Introduce CWA
Introduce yourself and explain why you decided to become a PAL.
Give a brief history of CWA and cover the six core issues.
Explain why it is important for guests to get involved in CWA.
Explain the concept of Prayer/Action Chapters and how they work.
Hand out membership brochures, take questions and encourage people to join CWA.
Have a short prayer time.
Remind them of the next meeting time.
Second Chapter Meeting – Who to Contact and How to Contact Them
Explain how to communicate with your legislators (see Appendix) and
distribute the How to Lobby from Your Kitchen Table and How to Lobby from
Your Laptop brochures.
Distribute the Key 16 Prayer Cards. Provide contact information for U.S. senators and congressmen, state delegates, state senators, governor, etc.
Have a short prayer time.
Encourage participants to join CWA.
Third Chapter Meeting - Traditional Prayer/Action Chapter Meeting
Devotional/Opening prayer: 5 minutes
Review the Prayer/Action Newsletter
Update on current issues: 30 minutes
Prayer: 30 minutes
Action: 15+ minutes
Encourage participants to join and support CWA. Remind them of the
next meeting time.
The greatest asset to promote growth—increasing numbers and interest—is variety and purpose. Prayer/Action Chapters are not just prayer meetings, nor are they a substitute for other church meetings; rather, they are an opportunity to become informed on current problems involving the family, to become educated on what can be done and to be part of solving these problems. Prayer for wisdom and guidance should always precede action.
But be doers of the word,
and not hearers only,
deceiving yourselves.
James 1:22
Your Director may disseminate e-alerts regarding national and state developments, and we encourage you to pass them on to other leaders and Chapter members. You can also sign up to receive national alerts at CWA’s website: ConcernedWomen.org. These alerts encourage prayer and action. Forward each alert to interested Chapter members and prospects. Note: Please see the Appendix for important IRS regulations regarding e-mails pertaining to elections, candidates and political parties.
We encourage you to form an e-mail distribution list and/or a telephone chain for your chapter for quick communication whenever an issue arises. The chain/list consists of people who receive the information and distribute it in order to spread the word.
Once you have established your chapter, choosing director-approved projects, such as the ones listed below, is a great way to give a plan and a purpose to your meeting. Avoid bringing in speakers or programs that require a fee. Keep an offering cup available during the meeting for small contributions toward the expense of photocopying materials, postage, etc., and to further the work of CWA in the state. Note: Count offerings and new membership monies with two people present as a policy to protect all concerned.
Invite a city/county/state/federal legislator or legislative aide to speak on a local issue, but not on an election or candidates. Government officials do not charge for such services.
Include updates on both state and federal bills when appropriate. You can either track these bills personally, or delegate this to someone else to do regularly. Information on state and federal bills may be obtained from the Director or the CWA State Legislative Liaison, the CWA website, or the National Field Department.
Plan a community action project. For example: If a local family-oriented store is selling pornography, Chapter members can work together to remove the material. First, the members gather information on the store and the literature being sold. The local police department can provide information on city ordinances on the display and sale of pornography. Your Chapter meeting could include a speaker, film, or report on the effects of pornography. Second, a delegation of two or three members from your Chapter explains to the store manager the detriments of pornographic material in their neighborhood store and respectfully asks him to discontinue selling it. Third, after two weeks, members check for pornographic inventory in the store. If the offensive material is removed, they thank the manager for his cooperation. If the material remains, they politely tell him they will take their business elsewhere. They should then encourage neighbors to avoid shopping there.
Below are other projects your Chapter may consider (Note: When writing or calling legislators, producers, letters to the editor, Chapter members and PALs should sign their names or refer to themselves as private citizens and CWA members, rather than CWA representatives. See “Letter Writing” and the Appendix sections for more information.):
Conduct a voter registration drive. Call the local county election officials to learn how to register voters according to local laws. Refer people to ConcernedWomen.org to register online.
Organize an issues action table or bulletin board in your church where members can get information on issues and pick up Prayer/Action Alerts. Also, use your church bulletins for announcements.
Include a letter-writing session in a Chapter meeting. Pick one of CWA’s action items, pass out informational papers, and help members learn how to write letters. Note: letter-writing should be a regular part of the Chapter meeting.
Show educational films on family issues to various groups within your church and community.
Participate in the state organization’s events, if applicable.
Visit your legislators at the State Capitol or in their home office.
Write letters to the editor of your newspapers. (See Writing Letters to the Editor.)
Sponsor the next “Life Chain” or “Forty Days for Life” after getting your Director’s approval.
Write to sponsors, producers and/or publishers of objectionable TV programs, movies and magazines. These letters could include local TV stations, theaters, record stores, video stores, convenience stores, etc.
Review and evaluate public school textbooks.
Involve your chapter in you state’s Encourage-A-Legislator Program is applicable.
Testify at local school board textbook hearings.
Testify at State Board of Education hearings.
Review and evaluate sex-education curricula.
Recruit and train other concerned parents on becoming involved in the education process, as well as learning how to effectively communicate with teachers and school boards.
Support your local pregnancy resource centers by organizing fundraising efforts (bake sales, garage sales, showers, etc.), neighborhood or church drives for maternity and baby items, or counseling at the centers.

CWA Prayer/Action Chapters

CWA Structure for the Prayer/Action Chapter Leader

National Field Department

State/Area Director

Prayer Chapter Coordinator

Home Team Captain

Duties of a Prayer/Action Chapter Leader

Getting Started

Dear_____________,
You are invited to attend the first meeting of this area’s Concerned Women for America Prayer/Action Chapter. No doubt, you are as concerned as I am about the many moral issues threatening our families and nation today. Most people want to respond and work to create a better nation for our children, but are unsure of the steps to take. This meeting will help you discover how you can make a difference here in our community, as well as in our nation.
Come be a part of CWA’s Prayer/Action Chapter. We will pray and discuss how we can take action that will make a difference. And because so many of these issues affect the entire family, please feel free to invite your husband to attend.
We will meet at ______ (location) at _______ (time) on _______ (date). Childcare will (will not) be provided. If you are able to attend or have any questions, please call me at (000) 000-0000, by (date).
Sincerely,
(Name)
Prayer/Action Leader

The Meeting

CWA E-Mail Alerts and Telephone Chains

Programs and Projects

CWA is registered with the federal government as a non-profit, tax-exempt organization. To preserve our tax status, CWA cannot and does not endorse or oppose candidates in any way. If you have any questions, contact your Director or—in the absence of one—the National Office.

The Legislative Process
The Prayer/Action Chapter is the backbone of CWA and the vital link in defending the family at the local and national level. An understanding of the federal legislative process helps members be effective citizen activists.
The following chart shows the basic flow of how a bill becomes law. Understanding this is important in learning how and when to most effectively influence a legislator’s vote or position.
Introduced in House Introduced in Senate
After a bill is introduced in either the House of Representatives or the Senate, it is referred to a full committee, which then refers it to a subcommittee for study, hearing, revisions and approval. The bill is then sent back to the full committee where it may undergo more hearings and revisions before being approved and sent to the House or Senate chamber for a vote. Committees will rarely give a bill an unfavorable report. Instead, a committee will take no action on the bill, and it will die in committee.
In the House of Representatives, all bills, except appropriations, must go before the House Committee on Rules. This committee determines the conditions for floor debate and may add amendments to the bill. In the Senate, however, the leadership will decide when a bill is debated.
Once a bill is debated and amended, it is put to a vote. If passed, the bill goes to the other chamber, where it follows the same procedure. If both the House and the Senate pass different versions of the bill, it is then sent to a conference committee. A conference committee is made up of members of both the House and Senate who work out the differences between the two bills. After the conference committee approves a compromise version, the bill is sent back to both the House and Senate for final approval.
The bill, if approved by the House and Senate, is sent to the president, who can either sign it or veto it and return it to Congress. If the bill is vetoed, Congress can override it with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and Senate. If this happens, the bill becomes law without the president’s signature.
Communicating With Your Elected Officials
Writing letters or e-mailing your elected officials are some of the most effective ways to take part in the legislative process. Part of becoming an effective PAL is being involving in communicating with your senators and representative and then directing your Chapter members to do the same. CWA’s How to Lobby from Your Kitchen Table and How to Lobby from Your Laptop brochures are great resources to provide your Chapter members. In order to serve your Chapter members, bring the addresses of the local, state and federal legislators to the meeting. Below are important guidelines to remember when writing to a legislator:
Know your elected officials. Whether you are communicating with your local school board or to your state’s senators, find out the individual names of those to whom you are writing.
When writing to your representative or senators, address your letters as follows:
The Honorable _______________ The Honorable ____________
U.S. House of Representatives United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20515 Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Representative _______________: Dear Senator ______________:
Write about one issue per letter or e-mail. Neat handwriting on personal stationery will receive more immediate attention.
Be concise. Keep your communications short and make your point in the first paragraph. Mention the name of the legislation and/or the bill number, if possible, and state your position.
Be respectful. State your views firmly, but courteously. Don’t resort to threats such as, “I will vote against you in the next election.”
Be personal. Use your own words.
Be informed. Get your facts straight. If needed, enclose or attach newspaper clips, CWA articles, reports, etc. If you feel you are not well-informed on the issue, do not let this keep you from writing. Simply state your support or opposition to the legislation.
Advise your representative how you would like him or her to vote and ask him to let you know how he voted.
Write again. If you receive a noncommittal response, or if he voted as you requested, respond to him.
NOTE: These letters or e-mails should be sent from you personally. If your Chapter wishes to write a letter identified as a CWA group, then you must obtain approval from your State Director or the National Field Department.
Writing Letters to the Editor
Another method of influencing public policy is by writing a letter to the editor of a newspaper or magazine. These letters are widely read by the public and are an excellent forum to express your viewpoint. Providing the addresses and contact information of the local papers to your Chapter members will encourage them to write! The following are some tips for effective letters:
Adhere to the printed guidelines for letter writing provided by the publications. These guidelines are usually printed near the column on a daily or weekly basis. Letters normally should be no longer than 250 words. Remember that editors reserve the right to edit your letter. They may edit one word, or they may cut your most important paragraphs. But don’t get discouraged!
Keep your letters simple, direct and well reasoned. Expressing your anger is fine, but avoid hysteria. Be careful to avoid unproven assertions or you will jeopardize your credibility.
Cover one topic at a time. Do not try to discuss more than one issue, or your letter will lose effectiveness.
At the bottom of the letter, sign your name and give your address and daytime telephone number. Editors will not publish anonymous letters, and most will call to confirm that you wrote the letter.
Write while the issue is hot! Don’t delay writing your letter for a week or two and expect it to have any impact. If you want your letter printed, mail, fax or e-mail it within one to two days to have maximum effect. Also, send your letter to a publication that has addressed the issue. For example, don’t send your letter that addresses a community issue to a national publication, unless that publication has reported on your issue.
Use short quotations from authoritative sources.
If your letter is in response to a publication’s article, editorial or picture, specify the article’s headline, the author and date. Editors generally favor publishing letters that relate to what has been published by that publication.
Don’t write to the same publication too often. If an issue does not exist, do not try to create one. If you have had a letter published recently by one publication, and would like to write about another issue, send that letter to a different publication.

Influencing Public Policy

Referred to
Committee &
Subcommittee
Full Committee
Rules Committee
Floor Action
House Debate,
Vote on Passage

Referred to
Committee &
Subcommittee
Full Committee
Floor Action
Senate Debate,
Vote on Passage

Conference Action

Final vote
Vetoes

Final vote
Signs

The President

APPENDIX
Concerned Women for America
Statement of Faith:
We believe the Bible to be the verbally inspired, inerrant Word of God and the final authority on faith and practice.
We believe Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God, was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died a sacrificial death, rose bodily from the dead on the third day and ascended into Heaven from whence He will come again to receive all believers unto Himself.
We believe all men are fallen creations of Adam's race and in need of salvation by grace through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
We believe it is our duty to serve God to the best of our ability, to pray for a moral and spiritual revival that will return this nation to the traditional values upon which it was founded.
Mission Statement: The mission of Concerned Women for America is to protect and promote Biblical values among all citizens—first through prayer, then education, and finally by influencing our society—thereby reversing the decline in moral values in our nation.
Vision Statement: The vision of Concerned Women for America is for women and like-minded men, from all walks of life, to come together and restore the family to its traditional purpose and thereby allow each member of the family to realize their God-given potential and be more responsible citizens.
Six Core Issues:
Sanctity of Life - CWA supports the protection of all life from conception until natural death. This includes the consequences resulting from abortion.
Religious Liberty - CWA supports the God-given rights of individuals in the United States and other nations to pray and worship without fear of discrimination or persecution.
Definition of the Family - CWA believes the traditional family consists of one man and one woman joined in marriage, along with any children they may have. We seek to protect traditional values that support the Biblical design of the family.
Pornography - CWA endeavors to fight all pornography and obscenity.
Education - CWA seeks to reform public education by returning authority to parents.
National Sovereignty - CWA believes that neither the United Nations nor any other international organization should have authority over the United States in any area, including economics, social policy, military, and land ownership.

Concerned Women for America’s Concerns and Goals

CONCERNS
We are concerned about:
SANCTITY OF LIFE
1 The protection of innocent human life -- including protecting the unborn from abortion, fetal tissue experimentation, and embryonic research; and society from euthanasia, cloning, population control and human genetic engineering.
2 The physical, emotional and spiritual harm to women, men and their families resulting from abortion.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
3 The trend of government to diminish and disregard the God-given inalienable rights of individuals.
4 The erosion of religious liberty and the legal and cultural imposition of anti-Judeo-Christian philosophies upon our society.
FAMILY
5 The disrespect for family and for the unique contribution of fathers and mothers. The attempt to eliminate natural distinctions between men and women.
6 Sexual promiscuity, cohabitation and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS.
7 The alarming increase in violence in American households, including same-sex and opposite-sex partner assaults, spousal assaults, and child and elder abuse.
8 The growth of prostitution that feeds the sex trafficking industry worldwide – endangering the well-being and lives of thousands of girls, boys and women.
9 The fiscal responsibility of government and its impact on our nation.
GOALS
We are working to see:
SANCTITY OF LIFE
1 Laws passed to protect our society from practices and policies that endanger or debase innocent human life.
2 Public awareness of the harm of abortion to women, men and their families; and the promotion of pregnancy care centers and post-abortion counseling services.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
3 Our government strengthen and renew its commitment to respect and protect each individual’s exercise of his God-given inalienable rights.
4 The protection and preservation of religious liberty as provided in the United States Constitution.
FAMILY
5 The family esteemed as the bedrock institution of society consisting of individuals related by blood, marriage (the legal union of one man and one woman), birth, or adoption. The respect for the distinctiveness of men and women.
6 Society value and respect marriage, encourage sexual abstinence before marriage and educate on the dangers of promiscuous sexuality; HIV/AIDS treated as a public health epidemic and not as a civil rights issue.
7 An end to violence within households, especially the sexual abuse of children, while reinforcing the importance and autonomy of healthy families.
8 An end to prostitution, the demand for prostitution and sex trafficking.
9 The reasonable appropriation of government monies and the fiscal responsibility of balanced budgets.
CONCERNS
We are concerned about:
10 The prevalence of drug and substance abuse in our country.
11 The detrimental effects of gambling on the family.
PORNOGRAPHY
12 The ever-increasing prevalence of pornography, sexually-oriented businesses, and prostitution, and the lack of enforcement of existing laws.
13 The morally deteriorating impact of the entertainment industry on our country and the increasing emphasis on violence and sexual exploitation.
EDUCATION
14 The declining quality of education, the deterioration of parental rights and authority, the increasing emphasis on godless philosophies, and, in particular, the unbalanced presentation of America’s founding, of evolution and of sex education.
NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY
15 The loss of national sovereignty to international organizations and other foreign powers through judicial and administrative decisions.
16 The lack of border security to protect America from terrorists and all illegal immigration.
17 Judges who exceed their authority to interpret law by intruding on the authority of the legislative and executive branches of government.
18 The security of our nation and the increasing pressure to weaken the country’s defenses.
GOALS
We are working to see:
10 An end to drug and substance abuse.
11 The elimination of gambling in all its forms.
PORNOGRAPHY
12 The consistent strict enforcement of laws regulating the use and distribution of pornography, and raising public awareness about the harm of pornography to men, women, children and society.
13 The entertainment industry become a more positive moral influence on society.
EDUCATION
14 The quality of education restored to a level of excellence in academic achievement without governmental mandates that are detrimental to parental rights.
NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY
15 A reaffirmation of the independence of the United States and protection of the right to self-government without legal recognition of any foreign authority as to the interpretation of the U.S. Constitution.
16 Our nation develop and maintain strong border controls to protect us from foreign terrorists and the flow of illegal immigration. We welcome legal immigrants, especially those fleeing government persecution because of their religious beliefs or other basic human rights.
17 The nomination and confirmation of highly qualified individuals as judges who have demonstrated a commitment to the limited role of the judicial branch, the rule of law and respect for the text of the state and U.S. Constitutions.
18 The United States deploy the strongest national defense system in the world as a deterrent to foreign aggression.
Approved by the Board of Trustees, May 11, 2006.

Concerned Women for America’s History
In 1979, Beverly LaHaye watched a television interview featuring Betty Friedan, founder of the National Organization for Women. Realizing that Miss Friedan claimed to speak for the women of America, Mrs. LaHaye was stirred to action. She knew the feminists’ anti-God, anti-family rhetoric did not represent her interests. Furthermore, she didn’t believe it represented the interests of the vast majority of women.
Resolved to heed the command of Ephesians 5:11, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them,” Mrs. LaHaye gathered nine women to discuss actively opposing the Equal Rights Amendment. This small group held a local pro-family rally, which, surprisingly, resulted in 1,200 supporters attending. After this tremendously successful rally, the group followed up by holding more than 60 meetings to pray and plan action.
In just a few months, Concerned Women for America was founded to protect the family through prayer and action. The organization was headquartered for the first six years in San Diego, California. By January 1985, CWA moved its headquarters to Washington, D.C., in order to have the greatest impact preserving, protecting and promoting traditional and Judeo-Christian values.
Today Concerned Women for America is the nation’s largest public policy women’s organization with members in all 50 states. Although CWA is primarily a women’s organization, men are encouraged to join because its issues pertain to the whole family. CWA is composed of men and women of all ages, representing both political parties and many races and denominations.
National Mailings
As a member of CWA, you will receive two letters per month from the National Department. In each letter sent out to members, CWA has three objectives: One, inform our members about a particular issue that we have prayed about and find important enough to provide strategic information. Two, encourage prayer about the issue. Three, give CWA members an opportunity to financially support the ongoing work of CWA as the Lord leads them. CWA’s work is completely supported by the generosity of our members. However, we realize that not every member will give with every letter she receives. But we do expect every member to be informed and pray about those issues. In return, we will make a greater impact in our communities and nation.
Finances
CWA has a national Board of Trustees, whose officers are registered with the IRS as being responsible for all activities of CWA.
Administrative Guidelines
The following administrative guidelines are intended to help guide you in your leadership position. It is important that all PALs abide by these guidelines so that your state organization will work effectively.
Only the Director, the Legislative Liaison and the Communications Coordinator may speak on behalf of CWA. All news releases or media interviews will be handled by the Director or the Communications Coordinator. If a PAL needs to contact the media or is contacted by the media, that PAL must immediately contact the state, area or National Field Department. Your state can effectively speak with the media and ensure that one message is sent out. In addition, the Director and Communications Coordinator are prepared to screen media contacts for the protection of both CWA and the PALs.
Never testify before any committee, school board or hearing as a CWA representative unless you have been authorized by the Director to do so. Do not endorse or participate in any conferences or seminars using the CWA name without permission from your state office.
CWA is a non-partisan, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization recognized by the IRS. This status prohibits our involvement in election campaigns and other partisan activities. Also, do not circulate petitions or any campaign literature on behalf of candidates, potential candidates, or elected officials at a Prayer/Action Chapter meeting—or while you are using the CWA name.
Do not publish any newsletter using any variation of the CWA name. Only one CWA newsletter will be produced in each state, originating from the state office. You may, however, reproduce any materials from your state office as you need them for your Prayer/Action Chapter members. PALs are encouraged to keep the Director informed of any newsworthy information generating from their Chapter or in their area.
Official CWA stationery is approved by the National Field Department and given only to the Director for official correspondence. If the Director approves the use of stationery for a specific Chapter project, a master sheet can be secured from the Director and photocopied.
Never form a picket using the CWA name unless you have been authorized and given instructions by your Director or the National Field Department.
State and area budgets are devoted to publishing a newsletter and Prayer/Action Alerts, operating a CWA phone line, funding correspondence and mailings, and sponsoring educational events. The Director is responsible for any funds raised or spent in her area, and must send monthly reports on activities and financial accounts to the National Field Department. PALs, therefore, should send all new membership monies and any other donations, along with names, addresses, and the amount of contributions, to the Director immediately. If there is no Director in your state, money and information should be sent to the National Field Department. All donations and new memberships sent to the Director are designated for CWA activities in her state or area. Although it is not a common occurrence, if a PAL anticipates incurring expenses, she must first contact the State Director and obtain approval for raising or spending funds.
CWA E-Mail and IRS Regulations
Both the IRS and the FEC (Federal Elections Commission) have set regulations that govern 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan organizations like CWA, concerning what we can and cannot say and do with regard to candidates, elections and political parties. We are bound, by law, to obey those regulations. As a CWA leader, those regulations apply to you as well.
A CWA e-mail and/or mailing list is used to invite people to chapter meetings and forward CWA alerts and articles. You sign those messages with your name and CWA title.
A CWA e-mail or mailing list is acquired in the following ways:
A PAL or HTC orders a list from the National Field Department through the Director.
People sign up for the information or alerts at a CWA function.
A personal request is made from a member to be on the list.
This CWA list should be used to send only CWA alerts, information or chapter meeting invitations. It is for non-profit, non-partisan activity only. In addition, an “unsubscribe” statement should be added to the bottom of each e-mail, allowing people to unsubscribe at any time.
When e-mailing or mailing the CWA list, you are prohibited by law from including any of the following statements in your communication:
Any type of implied endorsement for any candidate or political party.
Any of the following statements:
Vote Pro-Life
Vote for Family Values
Uphold Family Values – Vote on Election Day
Vote for Traditional Values
Don't Support Anyone Who Opposes ____________
Or anything else that would identify the type of candidate or party we support or oppose.
You are also prohibited from forwarding messages from other organizations or political parties concerning candidates and/or elections.
You MAY e-mail/mail the CWA list the following:
Dates for the elections
Reminders that people register to vote
Requests for people to pray for the candidates and elections
Reminders that people vote on election day
In order to communicate candidate, election and political party information, you must develop your personal list, separate for your CWA list.

April 2013

Prayer/Action Newsletter

Concerned Women For America

Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. I Corinthians 16:13

Stand With Boldness, Whatever the Cost
By Mario Diaz, Esq., Legal Counsel

I just got back from an amazing experi-ence at the United Nations. Tanya
Ditty, State Director for CWA of Georgia, was also there with me and can testify to this. Allow me to expand on it a bit.
We were there for an exciting panel on sex trafficking that Dr. Janice Crouse had put together. I was there early to set up, and everything was ready. When people started to show up, however, we quickly realized that there had been an error in the pro-gram and what was scheduled for our room at the time was a panel for a group on the exact opposite side of the ideological spectrum. Their topic had to do with “gender identity” and religious groups. Basically they were there to deal with the problem of, well, us!
I prayed silently to God and proceeded to talk with those who arrived, explaining that we would be discussing a topic that might interest them, also. It still had to do with some religious aspects!
To my surprise, most of them decided to stay, though they made it clear they were on the other side ideologically. I told the panelists what was happening so that they could prepare, and we proceeded to present our topics.
There are many more details, of course, but the bottom line is that God did a miraculous work! Not only did they stay, but many of them were convinced by our position. God changed their hearts! Most of them came to me at the end to express how impressed they were with our approach, saying, “Even though we disagree on probably all other issues, I really like the approach you are taking and will take it back to our group.”
Is God amazing or what? Most of these women would have never showed up to hear us in the first place without the “misprint” on the program. I know now that was no misprint. It was Providence!
I tell you all this to encourage you in the fight, especially as it relates to the issue of marriage. Our God is good. He is great! He is in control. And we must stand up for His principles, whatever the cost. The other side seems to be winning on this issue, because they are being incredibly successful in silencing people of faith. We cannot fall into that trap. We are not showing “love” when we are silent about Truth. On the contrary, consider Romans 8:18: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
The things we fear, those “sufferings” we are going through, because of saying that marriage should be preserved as the union between one man and one woman, are not even “worthy” of our considera-tion. In fact, Philippians 1:29 tells us that, to us, “it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake. …” We are always eager to embrace the gift of “belief,” but what about the “suffering?” It was also “granted.” It’s a gift! Let us embrace it!
If we keep our eyes on Christ, we see that we have nothing about which to be anxious, but we must stand with boldness. He has a glorious plan, and we are to be His hands and feet in carrying it out.

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Prayer/Action Newsletter

April 2013

Crouse Cultural Commentary
Is Christianity, Like Oldsmobiles, Outdated and Irrelevant?
By Janice Shaw Crouse, Director and Senior Fellow of the Beverly LaHaye Institute

Magazines and media commentators seem to enjoy using Easter as a springboard for trotting out their distorted views of Christ’s death on the cross as it relates to salvation and for dismissing the Scriptural doctrines of redemption, repentance, and eternal damnation (hell). Last year, Time Magazine ran a cover story about Rob Bell, author of Love Wins, a New York Times bestselling book that denies the possibility that a “loving” God would doom someone to a literal hell. According to The New Yorker, Bell left his pastoral ministry in “search for a more forgiving faith.” Ever since, the former megachurch pastor has been making the rounds of newspaper editorial meetings, television programs, college campuses, and churches around the country pushing what he calls the “tricky business” of talking about [his interpretation of] God.
During the 2013 Easter season, Bell is promoting another book, What We Talk About When We Talk About God, by asking the question, “Is God going to be left behind, like Oldsmobiles?” At the outset, he answers the question with the story of his old ’88 Olds and explains that Oldsmobile factories shut down because the car company “couldn’t keep up with the times.” For many people today, he says, God is like the Oldsmobile: God is just not keeping up with the times, and the church is just getting “small, narrow, and irrelevant.” Worse, as Bell sees things, the church can be “just plain mean” and too often “not that intelligent.” His evidence for this: Bell cites the controversy over women leaders in the church, homosexual behavior, and God creating the world in a literal six days.
Most college students — especially those who didn’t grow up going to Sunday School and, thus, know little about the Bible or Christian theology — find such talk mesmerizing and motivating as it caters to their rejection of the “dos” and “don’ts” they associate with church and Scripture. A savvy marketer, Bell ties his brand to a punchy meme (which by itself is non-controversial and has the benefit of being comforting and containing some measure of truth): “God is with us. God is for us. God is ahead of us.” He makes this come alive by talking about his experience attending AA meetings. He was not an alcoholic, but he found the meetings met a definite need in his life, “He was able to stop pretending that he had life figured out. Instead he could simply accept that God cared for him with all his flaws.” One pastor described Bell’s success this way: “A lot of pastors are trying to get people into the church, but Bell is trying to get the church out to the world.”
There is no question that Bell is successful in his campaign of stirring up controversy and causing people to talk about Biblical doctrine. The problem is that far too many people are just sharing their ignorance and are unaware of how far these views stray from the salvic power of the Gospel. Most are unaware that Bell’s new packaging presents little more than old mainline liberalism and fits in with the cultural emphasis on being non-judgmental, its true appeal. While the media cover his lectures by enthusing about a “new kind of Christianity,” Bell continues to profit from his revolt against orthodox Christian beliefs and practice.
We cannot remain quiet while popular public figures “vent their own religious experience and call it theology,” thus undermining the traditional, Judeo-Christian teachings that form the moral foundation of our society. When everyone is free to make up their own theology, the church becomes both impotent and irrelevant. Worse, when the religious foundation of culture disintegrates, leaving moral values ill-defined and optional for want of any authoritative source, democracy is no longer workable.
Clearly, Bell is “changing the common understanding of salvation”; his brand of faith is merely a matter of personal preference. Sadly, just as Christ indicated would be the case, Bell and others are encouraging people to build their theological house upon the sand. When secure shelter against life’s bitter winds and swelling tides are needed, Bell’s clever words and weak myths have nothing to offer.

Concerned Women for America
www.ConcernedWomen.org

April 2013

Prayer/Action Newsletter

PAGE 3

House Legislative Update
Women Under Fire On the Front Lines
By Shari Rendall, House Legislative Director

On January 24, outgoing Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta decided to lift the 1994 ban preventing women from frontline combat units, thus pandering to feminist special interests. His decision is the true “war on women.”
We support our military women and respect their courageous service. We recognize that women have already been serving our country admirably and in some roles are much better suited than men. However, to thrust women into frontline combat is a bad idea that will likely have deadly repercussions.
The mission of the military is to fight and win our nation’s wars, not to be a bastion for social experimentation and political correctness. To ignore physical differences between men and women puts our safety at risk. National security must not be jeopardized in order to meet an equal opportunity quota. There are grueling physical demands for combat roles that the majority of women are simply not physically capable of performing. And that’s not a bad thing; that’s simply biology. Reports from the Parris Island Marine training facility (http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/fischer/121207) reveal that only 45 percent of female Marines can throw a hand grenade far enough to keep from becoming casualties themselves. Nor can most women drag their 200-pound fellow solider off the battlefield or carry a 64-pound pack on their backs. That 64-pound pack contains the essential equipment (ammunition, emergency food supplies, etc.) that she will need to survive and perform the unit’s mission. If she cannot carry these, then someone else must, and she becomes a burden to her unit. For the sake of national security, as well as women’s safety, the physical standards of military personnel should never be watered down.
Even though the 1994 Defense Authorization mandated that the same physical standards apply for men and women, which has not been the case. Currently, the military does not enforce gender-neutral standards. For example, at the time of enlistment, a seventeen-year-old female is expected to do thirteen push-ups, compared to thirty-five for males.
Women who participate in frontline combat without meeting the same standards as men put not only their lives in jeopardy but also the mission of the military. When the House Armed Services Committee considers the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2014, it must ensure that the training for direct ground combat is not gender-normed to account for physical differences between men and women.
Furthermore, equal military opportunity will also mean an obligation for women to register for the Selective Service. Although the United States has not enacted a draft since Vietnam, that does not mean it will never happen again. According to a Supreme Court decision in Rostker v. Goldberg, women were not required to register for Selective Service because they were not allowed on the front lines. Allowing women to serve in ground combat will open the door to requiring women to register for Selective Service and being forced into conscription if there is a draft.
In order to protect women from this requirement, Rep. John Fleming (R-Louisiana) has introduced an amendment to Section 3 of the Military Selective Service Act that will clearly indicate that Congress intends that only males shall be required to register for the Selective Service. It is Rep. Fleming’s hope that his amendment will be included in Chairman Buck McKeon’s “mark” when the National Defense Authorization Act is considered in the House Armed Services Committee in late April or early May.
Pray: That Congress will exercise its oversight capabilities and ensure that the mission of the military is not compromised by political correctness.
Act: Please call your Republican representative (see list below) on the House Armed Services at 202-225-3121 and ask them to ensure that the training standards that apply for men in direct combat positions will be the same as women and that the standards will not be lowered. Please call Chairman Buck McKeon at 202-225-1956 and urge him to include Rep. Fleming’s amendment in the Chairman’s mark for the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2014.
Republican Members on House Armed Services Committee:
Rep. Buck McKeon, California
Rep. Mac Thornberry, Texas
Rep. Walter Jones, North Carolina
Rep. Randy Forbes, Virginia
Rep. Jeff Miller, Florida
Rep. Joe Wilson, South Carolina
Rep. Frank A. LoBiondo, New Jersey
Rep. Rob Bishop, Utah
Rep. Michael Turner, Ohio
Rep. John Kline, Minnesota
Rep. Mike Rogers, Alabama
Rep. Trent Franks, Arizona
Rep. Bill Shuster, Pennsylvania
Rep. Michael Conaway, Texas
Rep. Doug Lamborn, Colorado
Rep. Rob Wittman, Virginia
Rep. Duncan Hunter, California
Rep. John Fleming, Louisiana
Rep. Mike Coffman, Colorado
Rep. Scott Rigell, Virginia
Rep. Chris Gibson, New York
Rep. Vicky Hartzler, Missouri
Rep. Joe Heck, Nevada
Rep. Jon Runyan, New Jersey
Rep. Austin Scott, Georgia
Rep. Steve Palazzo, Mississippi
Rep. Martha Roby, Alabama
Rep. Mo Brooks, Alabama
Rep. Rich Nugent, Florida
Rep. Kristi Noem, South Dakota
Rep. Paul Cook, California
Rep. Jim Bridenstine, Oklahoma
Rep. Brad Wenstrup, Ohio
Rep. Jackie Walorski, Indiana

Equal military opportunity will also mean an obligation for women to register for the Selective Service.

Concerned Women for America
www.ConcernedWomen.org

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Prayer/Action Newsletter

April 2013

Senate Legislative Update
Spring Showers in the Senate
By Alexandria Paolozzi, Senate Legislative Director

Let’s hope that April showers will bring May flowers, and not just in our weather but in the Senate as well. There is a desperate need for growth in our economy, and although it’s not likely, with your help holding senators accountable for their actions, we may see some buds coming into bloom this May.
Senate Introduces a Budget — First in Four Years!
The Senate has finally introduced a budget for the first time since passing the last one in April 2009. Now here’s where the showers are likely to start. The budget that was brought to the Senate floor, despite constant use of the word “balance,” never actually balances. Instead, the Democratic Budget would add $7.3 trillion to the national debt and doesn’t attempt to address our current 17 trillion dollar deficit.
Republicans are working to get Democrats to balance the budget in ten years. The big question that will get an up-or-down vote is, “Do senators want to balance the budget or not?” This doesn’t leave room for senators to use political games to get out of answering a basic question. And this question may have been answered by the time you read this! So, make sure you check your senators’ position. Go to senate.gov and look up “S. Con Res 8” to find out, or call your senators at 202-224-3121.
If American families can balance a budget every year, shouldn’t Congress be held to the same accountability? Isn’t Congress the household of the United States? They should, and they are.
Act Now: Call your senators at 202-224-3121 and urge them to balance our federal budget.
Pray: Ask the Lord to move in the hearts of your senators. Pray that they will be guided to do what is best for this Christian nation and that the Lord would reveal His will to those who seek Him.
United Nations Treaties
At any moment, the Democrat-controlled Senate could push through United Nations (U.N.) treaties which CWALAC has been fighting against for years. U.N. treaties open up the United States to international power. It’s harmful to our system of government, (which is intentionally crafted to be different from those aboard) as well as to American citizens and would give more power and wealth to the United Nations.
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW): With its broad language, this treaty — despite its name — would not help American women. If ratified, the U.S. would be subjecting itself to oversight by a U.N. committee which could submit “opinions and rulings” on what the U.S. must do to be in compliance with the treaty.
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD): This treaty will hurt parents and caregivers of people with disabilities by subjecting them to U.N. oversight, regulations, and control. If ratified, this treaty would open the U.S. up to a judge or other government official who could trump the parents’ wishes when it comes to the education of their child with disabilities.
Law of the Sea Treaty (LOST): This treaty would create another multinational body to govern all the seas in the world. With it, the U.S. system of government would be forever changed. LOST would threaten U.S. sovereignty and force taxation on all Americans.
Act Now: We should keep the power of our government in the hands of the American people. America is the leading example to every other country in the world; there should be no power granted that would expose the U.S. to foreign control. Call your senators at 202-224-3121; let them know there are more pressing issues here at home that needs our elected official’s attention. Also tell them not to ratify CEDAW, CRPD, or LOST.
Pray: That our elected leaders would uphold our founding principles, which are based on Biblical principles.

Concerned Women for America
www.ConcernedWomen.org

April 2013

Prayer/Action Newsletter

PAGE 5

or other government official who could trump the parents’ wishes when it comes to the education of their child with disabilities.
Law of the Sea Treaty (LOST): This treaty would create another multinational body to govern all the seas in the world. With it, the U.S. system of government would be forever changed. LOST would threaten U.S. sovereignty and force taxation on all Americans.
Act Now: We should keep the power of our government in the hands of the American people. America is the leading example to every other country in the world; there should be no power granted that would expose the U.S. to foreign control. Call your senators at 202-224-3121; let them know there are more pressing issues here at home that needs our elected official’s attention. Also tell them not to ratify CEDAW, CRPD, or LOST.
Pray: That our elected leaders would uphold our founding principles, which are based on Biblical principles.

Check out the new research paper by the Beverly LaHaye Institute.
Click here to view and print.. Order from you director or call the field department at (800) 458-8797.

Gavel Watch
In Desperate Need of Faith
By Mario Diaz, Esq., Legal Counsel

A recent text in the Gospel of Mark has been swimming in my mind, like waves on the ocean of my conscience over and over again. After performing some amazing miracles, like the healing of the woman with the flow of blood and resurrecting the daughter of a ruler of the synagogue with those beautiful words, “Talitha, cumi,” (“Little girl, I say to you, arise”), Jesus goes to His home town, Nazareth, and the Word tells us (in Mark 6:5-6) that “He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.”
Wait. This is Jesus we are talking about here. He could “do no mighty work” there? That’s right. He could not. And the Bible tells us why (v.6). It tells us Jesus “marveled because of their unbelief.” This, of course, goes in total harmony with what Jesus always told those He healed, “Your faith has made you well.” The thought is extremely humbling, still, when viewed from Mark 6 and the fact that it looks as though Jesus wanted to perform His works but could not because of the unbelief.
In Acts 5, starting in verse 8, we hear about a crippled man from Lystra who was listening to Paul’s teaching when, “Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, ‘Stand up straight on your feet!’ And he leaped and walked.”
This is the type of faith of which Jesus said can move mountains. Oh, that we had such faith for America!
As we struggle with the issue of marriage, we continue to hear a narrative that says we have already lost. We are hearing this not only from the world, but from those who profess to be believers. The latest was former mega-church pastor and best-selling author Rob Bell, who said in a recent interview, “I am for fidelity. I am for love, whether it’s a man and a woman, a woman and a woman, a man and a man. I think the ship has sailed, and I think that the church needs to just … this is the world that we are living in, and we need to affirm people wherever they are.” And he is not alone.
Apparently, for those who think this way, God is powerless against the mighty power of the homosexual lobby.
Where is our faith? We are in desperate need of people who dare to believe in the Almighty, as
Almighty. Or is our Lord looking at America, like He did Nazareth so long ago, desperate to perform a work, but unable to because of our great unbelief? As it happened then, are we only allowing Him to perform a few healings here and there, while we stand in the way of His full power being displayed in our land?
It’s not that the world has suddenly gone bad; the world has been bad since the fall of man. And it has rejected God and His principles ever since. But what about you and me? Have you given up on the issue of marriage?
No matter what the Supreme Court decides this summer after it hears the two cases relating to same-sex “marriage” (California’s Proposition 8 case and the Defense of Marriage Act case), the fact is that we will have to continue to stand up for God’s principles on marriage for years to come. The same-sex “marriage” lobby is certainly not going to stop portraying us as bigots and villains. What are we to do?
I’ll tell you what we are to do. We are to spread Truth and remain faithful. We are to humble ourselves before God and plead for our country. We are to speak. We are to suffer. Yes, suffer we must. For He is good and has promised to never leave us or forsake us.
The question is not, “Is He faithful?” The question is, “Will we be?”

Concerned Women for America
www.ConcernedWomen.org

New Pro-Life brochure! Order through your director or through the field department at 800-458-8797. Click here to view.

Prayer and Praise

Last week, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). As members of our government, and especially our Supreme Court Justices, make decisions regarding whether to uphold or tear down the institution of marriage, pray that they would hear the outcry of support for one-man, one-woman marriage. Pray that they would listen to the millions of Americans who support marriage, and most importantly, listen to God’s conviction in their hearts to do the right thing and uphold the inherent definition of marriage. Marriages and the definition of marriage have been under attack in our society for decades, but lately the forces battling against marriage have been increasing in size and strength. We must continue to lift up this sacred union in prayer to our Heavenly Father who created marriage and knows better than anyone its full worth and value.
“And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that He which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Matthew 19:4-6
Also, please pray fervently for the protection of religious freedom and for the persecuted around the world. First of all, let us praise God for the religious freedom that we do have. Too often we forget what a blessing it is just to be able to go to church without worrying about being arrested or to have the freedom to share the Gospel with our fellow Americans without being taken to jail and possibly sentenced to death. Pray especially for Pastor Saeed Abedini and his family. Saeed is an Iranian-born, U.S. citizen who was arrested and imprisoned for his faith while visiting Iran. He has been sentenced to eight years in the notoriously brutal Evin Prison, essentially a death sentence. There is hope for his life and for his release, as the national outcry of the American people is growing, our Congress has taken action, and he was finally allowed to be examined by doctors for his internal bleeding. Please pray that the U.S. State Department would finally fulfill their responsibility and act on his behalf. Pray also for peace and strength for his wife, Naghmeh, and for their two beautiful, little children. CWA interviewed Naghmeh last week, and we promised her that we would spread the word to you, our members and leaders. If you would like to make your voice heard, please sign the petition at savesaeed.org and share with your friends.
“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.”
2 Corinthians 4:8-11

Concerned Women for America
1015 15th Street, N.W., Suite 1100
Washington, D.C. 20005
www.ConcernedWomen.org

CWA encourages all PALs to call their legislators as private citizens and members of CWA whenever an issue arises. The Director and the Communications Coordinator are the only ones authorized to speak on behalf of CWA.

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