Friends and supporters of the League should read this message
By Rev. Mark H. Creech, Executive Director
Christian Action League
At the end of September last year, the Christian Action League explained to its supporters that we were experiencing a serious drop in funds because of the recession. We responded to that crisis by starting a new fund-raising campaign called The Gideon 300.
I trust that you recall what the name of that campaign was based upon. According to the Bible, Gideon and his chosen army of a few warriors, 300 to be exact, went up to do battle against the Midianites – a superior force and secured the victory. Each year the Christian Action League faces superior foes from the alcohol industry to advocates for gay rights. These opponents of righteousness seem to have no lack of staff or resources, but the Christian Action League struggles financially each year and must depend upon the Lord and a few faithful warriors for victory. In order to meet our financial obligations for 2009, we simply sought to secure a commitment of 300, whether persons or churches, to give a gift of $100.
The Gideon 300 Campaign was going quite well and I was certain that we would have made our goal. But then my wife became seriously ill and was hospitalized, which forced me to put down the campaign until she was restored to good health. It is with a joyous heart I can report that she is recovering quite well today. Nevertheless, the League is still struggling financially and unless we can meet the goals of the Gideon 300 campaign, we will remain in the red as we move further into 2010.
What is more, not only do we need to catch up, we also need to get ahead. I have been serving as the League’s Executive Director for ten years and I have never seen a time as legislatively challenging as today. In 2009, the League addressed an unprecedented number of bills in the North Carolina General Assembly – 33 to be exact. If a sole donor had not provided enough money for an additional lobbyist to our staff, we would have failed to keep up and our losses would have been substantially greater. Furthermore, when you consider that the political landscape in the state tipped decidedly to the left in 2008, it is complimentary to the League’s efforts that we had as many victories as we did. The point, however, is that we must financially get out of the red and get far into the black to meet the challenges ahead. This is where we are going to need your help.
Currently, the Christian Action League is a little more than $21,000 in the hole. We were able to garner before the pause in The Gideon 300 campaign a membership of 110 Gideon contributors. Because many Gideon contributors actually gave more than a $100, completing the campaign of 300 members should clear out all, even possibly more than the debt.
Let me earnestly ask that you become one of the remainder of 190 Gideons needed to complete this project and get the Christian Action League on a firm financial footing. Of course, this will just be the start of our fundraising efforts, but this is where we must begin. First, we have to clear out the debt.
Would you join the Gideon 300 by giving a gift of $100 immediately? The Christian Action League just needs 190 commitments more. Whether those commitments come from an individual, a church, a Sunday School class, a men or women’s group, it does not matter. But we ask that you become a member of the Gideon 300 today!
It’s not much to ask. Rather than burden our brethren with request for substantial funds, we are simply asking many of our friends to give just a little – $100. If you can give more, then we welcome your generosity. If you can’t give $100, we would appreciate you best gift.
You can send your gift to:
Christian Action League of North Carolina, Inc.
809 Spring Forest Road
Suite 1000
Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
(It would help if on your check or money order, you write G300)
To give online, go to the homepage of the Christian Action League’s web site at www.christianactionleague.org and click on “Donate” in the lower right margin.
For those who have nothing to give, we thank you for your consideration and request that you remember the Christian Action League with an earnest prayer for God’s provision.