National Strategic Center 
Join the movement in your state 
For APCN Members 
Read this and other attacks on faith from Weekly Prayer Update 4/16/18 to 4/23/18
“The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman….Prayer brings people together. Prayer builds bridges between opposing persons and even political parties. Prayer reminds us that we are created in God’s image and He desires for us to represent Him everywhere we go. Prayer brings UNITY. In 2018, our theme will be Pray for America – UNITY, based upon Ephesians 4:3 which challenges us to mobilize unified public prayer for America, “Making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.'” Find an event near you!
Prayer and Action
Living our faith means it impacts everything we do. Paul encourages unceasing prayer, and James makes a strong point that faith without works is dead. Have you considered how to positively impact your sphere of influence with the values and care that are derived from faith?
National Prayer Points
U.S. Senators Take Action On Behalf Of American Pastor On Trial In Turkey
“In an unprecedented show of bipartisan unity, 66 U.S. Senators – 2/3rds of the Senate– have sent a letter to Turkey’s President Erdoğan demanding the immediate release of wrongfully imprisoned American Pastor Andrew Brunson.”
Religious Test For Holding Office?
“Sen. Cory Booker announced on Friday that he will vote against CIA Director Mike Pompeo’s nomination to become secretary of state because of Pompeo’s beliefs on marriage and sexuality — beliefs consistent with Pompeo’s Christian faith. Conservative leaders are now denouncing Booker’s vote as a violation of the Constitution’s Religious Test Clause.”
Atheists Getting IRS To Bill Churches $1B?
“A prominent atheist group is suing the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and demanding that it bill churches and other religious organizations $1 billion in taxes, arguing that their tax-exempt status violates the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause.”
Army Chaplain Reprimanded For Adhering To His Faith
“First Liberty Institute is representing U.S. Army chaplain Scott Squires, who held a marriage retreat for soldiers but turned away a soldier involved in a same-sex marriage. That soldier filed a complaint and Squires has now been reprimanded after an investigation determined he discriminated.”
Help Defend The Ministerial Housing Allowance
CPCF is joining an amicus brief asking the Seventh Circuit to reverse a district court ruling that the tax code’s longstanding ministerial housing allowance is unconstitutional. CPCF is pointing out in its brief that the Constitution does not disallow legislation that favors religion in an evenhanded way, as this law does. ADF is also organizing a brief to demonstrate that revoking the housing allowance would bring financial harm to thousands of pastors and the churches they serve. ADF is requesting “as many pastors as possible to read and add their name” to its brief. Learn more.
Bills That Make Biblical Counseling Illegal Springing Up Across The Nation
Click here for talking points to use at hearing, or for advocating for Biblical counseling in the public square.
First Liberty created a cumulative compilation of recent documented instances of hostility toward free religious exercise. It is often cited by lawmakers, educators, opinion leaders, and the media.
International Prayer Points
Australia Calls World to Pray & Fast for USA 30 April – 3 May 2018
For the sixth year in a row, Australia is calling the nations of the world to join with them to pray and fast for four days for the United States of America, from 30 April – 3 May 2018.
Study: 90K Christians Were Killed for Their Faith in 2016
“90,000 Christians were murdered for their faith around the world this year, according to a study from The Center for the Study of Global Christianity. Amy Kellogg reported on “Special Report” tonight that the CSGC puts the number of Christians martyred in the last decade at 900,000, which amounts to one being killed every six minutes. She explained that their definition for a martyr is anyone who lost their life prematurely as a result of human hostility, while they were upholding Christianity.’This makes Christians the most persecuted religious group in the world,’ Kellogg said.”
State Prayer Points
Religious Liberty Legislation
Continue praying consistently and fervently for the successful passage of legislation that effectively protects our Judeo-Christian heritage and religious liberty. Also, pray that bills and resolutions that undermine our First Amendment Rights will be unsuccessful.
The CPCF legal team has researched best practices legislation and provided talking points on various religious freedom topics to assist legislators. Download their Report here. View a model school policy on invocations before games here.
AZ: Artists Facing Jail Time For Their Faith?
“Filing a lawsuit was not on Breanna Koski and Joanna Duka’s checklist when they began making preparations to open their own custom art studio, Brush & Nib. But facing jail time for running that business according to their faith was not really something they anticipated, either.”
The California State Assembly passed a bill that would actually — among other things — ban the sale of books expressing orthodox Christian beliefs about sexual morality. Yes, ban the sale of books.
Assembly Bill 2943 would make it an “unlawful business practice” to engage in “a transaction intended to result or that results in the sale or lease of goods or services to any consumer” that advertise, offer to engage in, or do engage in “sexual orientation change efforts with an individual.” The bill is now being
ADF: “At its core, AB 2943 outlaws speech, whether offered by a licensed counselor, a best-selling author, or even a minister or religious leader. It targets a specific message-that an adult who is experiencing unwanted same-sex attraction or gender identity confusion can find help to address those issues-for censorship. The breadth of this censorship is staggering.”
Use these Talking Points when calling your representative or the Governor.
CO: HB 1245 Seeks To Outlaw Biblical Counseling
“The bill prohibits a licensed physician specializing in psychiatry or a licensed or registered mental health care provider from engaging in conversion therapy with a patient under 18 years of age. A licensee who engages in these efforts is subject to disciplinary action by the appropriate licensing board. ‘Conversion therapy’ means efforts that seek to change an individual’s sexual orientation, including efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attraction or feelings toward individuals of the same sex.” When calling your senator, feel free to use these Talking Points.
NJ: High Court OK’s Discrimination Against Churches
“A controversial decision issued by the New Jersey Supreme Court maintains that churches in the Garden State should be prohibited from receiving historic preservation grants. In the case, Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF) v. Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that $4.6 million given to 12 churches violates the Religious Aid Clause of the state’s constitution.”
The Tennessee Bar Association recommended acceptance of the American Bar Association’s revision of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct for attorneys (almost all states use the ABA’s model rules as their starting point) to add a non-harassment provision relating to sexual orientation, gender identity, and other classes. After reviewing comments that CPCF and other organizations and individuals made in opposition, the Supreme Court of that state rejected the recommendation. The Supreme Court did not state its reasons, but, as CPCF and others pointed out, the proposed Rule 8.4(g) was written so broadly that, among other things, it would potentially classify as “unprofessional conduct” both religious and political speech with which others disagreed and participation in organizations that do not condone homosexual conduct and gender transformation.
National Prayer Opportunities
Prayer for the American Prayer Caucus Network, Their Families, and Staff
Congressional Prayer: Each week Congress is in session, members of Congressional Prayer Caucus meet before votes to pray in Room 219 of the U.S. Capitol.
The American Prayer Caucus Network is a nationwide network of nearly 1,000 federal and state elected leaders who are standing for faith and impacting the culture. Please join us in praying daily for them, their families, and staff.
Pray for our President and all Those in Authority
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” 1 Tim. 2, Psalm 91
Include: Judicial Branch, Legislative Branch, Executive Branch, Military, Faith Leaders, First Responders, Etc.
The Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation
The Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation, a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization created to support government leaders who wish to partner prayer with legislative and citizen action to protect our Judeo-Christian heritage and religious freedom. Please pray for the Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation team, our State Directors, legal team, Board of Directors, web developers, technical team, production team, design and graphics team, CPCF intercessors and donors.
Join the Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation Prayer Team!
Email me to join the CPCF Prayer Team! Commit to praying for the Members and families of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, The American Prayer Caucus Network, and the CPCFoundation.
Prayer for Anti-Faith Groups
Freedom From Religion Foundation
ACLU
AHA
Secular Coalition for America
Military Religious Freedom Foundation
For more information about this prayer initiative, contact Summer Ingram, National Director of Prayer and Mobilization for the Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation.
www.CPCFoundation.com
Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit, non-partisan organization. Contributions are tax-deductible in accordance with IRS rules and regulations. No funds are used for political or campaign activities.
