Register now for a meeting in your region
Christian Action League
Coming soon to a church near you is a chance to be informed on the issues, inspired by the speakers and involved in the action — Christian Action that is — as the CAL plans three convention meetings next month to equip people across the state.
“We’re extending our reach, not only geographically with locations from Taylorsville in the West to Jacksonville in the East, but also have designed the events to run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on a Saturday with lunch provided by the host churches,” said the Rev. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League. “We know some folks still have to drive a ways, even with the three locations, so we wanted to make it in the middle of the day for ease of travel.”
Vision Baptist in Raleigh will host the meeting for the Central Region on Oct. 16. Led by the Rev. Al Wright, the church is at 7633 Buffaloe Road.
The Rev. Wright said Christians need to take a more active role in government, “both on our knees and on our feet.” A longtime CAL supporter, he said many pastors fail to keep their congregations informed about the issues because they’ve been told to keep politics out of the pulpit.
“The Word of God is clear … the government was to be upon the shoulder of our Lord. We can’t separate ourselves from it,” he said.
Believers in the Western Region can attend the annual meeting at Little River Baptist, 2070 Little River Church Road, Taylorsville on Oct. 23. The Rev. Jeff Chapman will serve as host for the second year in a row.
The Rev. Jack Marshburn said his church, Tar Landing Baptist, is privileged to host the Eastern Region meeting.
“For many years, Tar Landing has been blessed to support the league financially. We are firmly committed to the mission of CAL,” said Marshburn, who also serves on the CAL Board of Directors.
“I would urge all Christians in Eastern North Carolina who share a burden for the moral erosion occurring in our state to attend this year’s meeting on Oct. 30,” he added. “The speakers always provide critical information for us to take back to our respective churches and communities. When we are better informed, we can become better involved.”
Tar Landing Baptist is at 3884 Richlands Highway, Jacksonville.
Among the speakers for the convention will be a Tar Heel lawmaker from each area: Rep. Mark Hilton, R-Catawba, in Taylorsville; Sen. Neal Hunt, R-Wake, in Raleigh; and Sen. Harry Brown, R-Jones, in Jacksonville, all of whom will address the state’s need for a Marriage Amendment as well as other important legislation that hasn’t yet made it to the floor.
“It would be nice to have an up or down vote (on the Marriage Amendment) so that people could see where their legislators stand on the issue,” Sen. Hunt said of the bill that would allow the voters to decide whether to amend the state’s Constitution to include the definition of marriage as between one man and one woman. He said he will also field questions about other legislation as well.
“This will give our Advisory Board members, CAL supporters and anyone interested in good government an inside look at the current situation in Raleigh and a heads-up about what to expect next session,” Creech said.
Jeff Mixon, North Carolina field coordinator for Americans for Prosperity, will address the crowd regarding key political races coming up in November. Founded in the late 1990s as Citizens for a Sound Economy, Americans for Prosperity works to reduce the size and scope of government to help ensure individual productivity.
Also on the agenda is a word from Alysse ElHage, associate director of research for the North Carolina Family Policy Council. ElHage will examine the impact of same-sex parenting on children, an issue that is especially timely as the N.C. Supreme Court is set to rule on a same-sex adoption case.
The CAL’s Director of Communications Luanne Williams will give a legislative wrap-up for 2010, highlighting bills both favored and fought by the faith-based lobbying organization.
“This is not only a time for those on our Advisory Board to get updated on what the CAL is doing, but also a great opportunity for all citizen Christians who are even the least bit curious to come and hear about some of the issues that may well impact our lives in the near future,” Williams said. “We also would like Advisory Board members to bring guests whom they may want to invite onto the advisory board.”
Other speakers from the CAL will include the Rev. Ernest Ferrell, who was named the organization’s director of development earlier this year.
After lunch, the Rev. Creech will lead the convention in a culminating worship service set to end at 2 p.m. “This event, with lunch included, is free of charge,” said the Rev. Creech. “All we ask is that, if possible, people let us know which event they will attend and how many people they are bringing so we can better plan to have hand-out materials prepared.”
To find out more and to let the CAL know how many to expect in your group, call 919-787-0606. Or, contact CAL by email at www.christianactionleague.org
Pastors are encouraged to promote the event among their congregations, make it a day trip and bring their buses. A ready-to-print bulletin insert specific to each region is available on the CAL Web site at the following links:
Eastern Regional Meeting, Jacksonville, N.C.
Central Regional Meeting, Raleigh, N.C.
Western Regional Meeting, Taylorsville, N.C.
“Our host churches are so wonderful to provide lunch, so convention attendees don’t have to bring a thing,” Creech said. “Just come, get informed, inspired and involved.”
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Alysse ElHage Pic courtesy of Jenni Farrow/The Daily Reflector