American Pastors Network: At Thanksgiving, Being Thankful and Obedient Gives Way to Peace Only God Can Give

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The American Pastors Network (APN, www.AmericanPastorsNetwork.net) is reminding Christians this Thanksgiving season that, even in the face of trouble and trials, thanking God daily—not only on November 27—brings us peace that passes all understanding.

“We’ll soon celebrate Thanksgiving Day,” said APN President Sam Rohrer in one of APN’s recent “Stand in the Gap” radio features. “But giving thanks to God every day is important if you want God’s peace. In these uncertain days of disease, daily Islamic threats, economic uncertainties, and attacks on God’s institution of marriage and on pastors themselves, peace can be elusive. Yet we’re told in Philippians 4 that we must not be anxious for anything. To worry and fret is to doubt God’s ability to meet our needs and His love for us.

“To try to work it out for ourselves rather than seek God’s help relegates God to the back seat,” Rohrer continued. “We’re told instead to pray and give thanks in everything, and God will give us great peace even in the midst of the biggest storms. Praying and being thankful go hand-in-hand. While giving thanks starts with obedience, it alone yields the kind of peace that only God can give.”

Rohrer added that while giving thanks has great benefits, it is ultimately an act of the will and often requires a determined choice when emotions say that there is little reason for thankfulness. He emphasized that the Christian life has very little to do with emotions but everything to do with making a decision to obey, follow and trust God regardless of where feelings might pull. True thankfulness is not a feeling, but a decision.

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The American Pastors Network is a Ministry Program Affiliate of Capstone Legacy Foundation (a 501(c)(3) non-profit Christian Public Community Foundation registered nationwide).
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To interview Sam Rohrer, President of American Pastors Network and Pennsylvania Pastors Network, contact Deborah Hamilton at dhamilton@hamiltonstrategies.com, 215-815-7716 or 610-584-1096.

American Pastors Network Marks Year of Growth and Impact

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PHILADELPHIA—More than a year after its formation, American Pastors Network (APN, www.AmericanPastorsNetwork.net) is looking back at the issues that touched Americans and how APN has responded—in word and in deed—and looking ahead to increasing its impact on the culture, nationwide and beyond. 

“As we reflect on nearly 14 months since our inception, American Pastors Network has taken the lead on many pressing cultural and societal issues from a Biblical and constitutional perspective,” said APN President Sam Rohrer. “From protecting the sanctity of marriage here in America to helping our brothers and sisters in Christ in Ukraine, APN is committed to fulfilling our mission of encouraging, equipping and educating pastors and church members, urging them to ‘Stand in the Gap for Truth.’ At the same time, APN will continually strive to provide Bible-based and constitutionally consistent insight on matters that affect all of us every day.

 “Our ‘Ministers Together’ program bridges the gap between ‘Church and State’ and rebuilds the biblical worldview perspective as ordained by God.  It is a prime example of how we are working to bring together pastors, who uniquely possess the command to ‘Preach the Word’ (II Tim. 4:2), and those in elected office, who are not just ‘politicians’ but who occupy an equally ordained position as ‘Ministers of God,’ with the clear job description of servants of God and God’s servants to the people (Rom 13:4).” 

APN’s first official move as a new organization in September 2013 was hosting a press conference regarding the forum on “Politics, Religion, And LGBT Equality” in North Carolina, organized by gay activist and business/furniture mogul Mitchell Gold. The event, which included CNN news personality Wolf Blitzer as the moderator and two liberal North Carolina pastors, aimed to tell the public that attitudes in the Christian church are becoming more favorable toward the LGTB community. APN’s press conference countered this claim with biblical truths and explained what God’s word says about marriage and human sexuality.  

Then in February, APN supported 100 pastors in Michigan who were standing for marriage protection in their state. And APN helped lead the effort in Pennsylvania to urge Gov. Tom Corbett to defend his state’s Defense of Marriage Act. Throughout the remainder of the year, APN commented extensively on issues such as the dangers of Islam and Sharia Law, abortion, religious liberties—including the Hobby Lobby ruling—and pastors’ freedom of speech rights. Issues in states from Indiana to Arizona and Idaho to Florida are the focus of the American Pastors Network as they continue to expand state networks across the U.S. 

APN also supported or participated in several pastor-focused events in 2014, including the “Washington—Man of Prayer” webcast event and National Day of Prayer in May; the Washington, D.C., March for Marriage in June; as well as October’s nationwide Pulpit Freedom Sunday initiative and the recent “I Stand Sunday” event, which supported the subpoenaed pastors in Houston. 

In 2014, APN also grew its radio program, “Stand in the Gap,” with both short daily features and a one-hour weekend program. By mid-summer, APN debuted its newest program, “Stand in the Gap—Freedom Focus,” a one-hour daily program consisting of national and international news analysis. APN radio programming now airs on more than 40 stations. 

“These efforts represent just the beginning of APN’s work to encourage pastors to speak Biblical Truth with a united voice into the family, the church and civil government,” Rohrer continued. “We are looking forward to continuing to build state chapters across the nation, with the goal of establishing 50 state chapters representing 100,000 pastors and 10 million Americans by mid-July 2016.”   

Taking the biblical principles of constitutional government beyond our nation’s borders, APN also has taken an active role in rebuilding the country of Ukraine—politically, culturally and spiritually. In June, APN was invited to host a leadership summit aimed at teaching pastors and elected officials about constitutional and biblical principles. Future summits focusing on education and the Constitution are in the works. 

As a result of the summit, Rohrer reported that Ukrainian governmental and pastoral leaders composed a 14-point resolution for President Petro Poroshenko, urging the nation to move forward and incorporate the principles presented at the summit into government reform and a new Ukrainian Constitution. In response, Poroshenko formed a Spiritual Restoration Committee.

To communicate its commitment to Ukraine, APN unveiled its special “Ukraine Initiative: Out of the Ashes | Freedom Reborn” web site at www.ukraineinitiative.com. The web site is a centralized place for Ukraine updates and ongoing projects.

 

The American Pastors Network is a Ministry Program Affiliate of Capstone Legacy Foundation (a 501(c)(3) non-profit Christian Public Community Foundation registered nationwide).

Pennsylvania Pastors Network is a state chapter affiliate of the American Pastors Network.

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To interview Sam Rohrer, President of American Pastors Network and Pennsylvania Pastors Network, contact Deborah Hamilton at dhamilton@hamiltonstrategies.com, 215-815-7716 or 610-584-1096.

America Split, As Extremism Takes Hold

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Pastors around the country saw an unthinkable scenario play out in America last week—one many never thought they’d see in their lifetime. In a country built on freedom, five pastors in Houston were served subpoenas, and attorneys demanded the submission of sermon notes and conversations with congregation members relating to homosexuality or transgenderism. 

Sam Rohrer, a longtime legislator and President of American Pastors Network, a national network that provides Bible-based and constitutionally consistent analysis and recommendations on matters of public policy, says the recent news out of Houston proves there are three distinct extreme movements happening simultaneously in America—all aimed at stripping freedom of religion and freedom of speech from Christians.

“This disturbing news about our fellow pastors in Houston has far-reaching implications,” Rohrer said. “I see three sectors of the American culture, which by their own actions, are demonstrating hatred toward God, Christianity, Jesus Christ, religious freedom, morality, decency, the Rule of Law and the Constitution. While their intentions and goals are different, the extreme tactics and messaging of Islam, Communism/Marxism/atheism and the well-organized, well-funded homosexual agenda have frightening similarities: all demand agreement with them, or else. This is where political correctness and forsaking God has brought this nation. It’s time that all those who would not subscribe to the ideologies of these three groups stand together, or we will hang separately.

The issue in Houston began last year, when the city elected its first openly lesbian mayor. This spring, Mayor Annise Parker and two City Council members pushed an ordinance that gave special rights to homosexuals and the transgender individuals. The Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO) allowed men to use women’s restrooms and vice versa, all in the name of “equal rights.”

The people of Houston protested and gathered more than 50,000 signatures on a petition opposing the ordinance—well over double the number necessary to put the issue in front of voters. But Parker and the Council threw out the petition, citing irregularities. The mayor and the city are facing a lawsuit over the ordinance, and while fighting it, attorneys subpoenaed five pastors for their sermon notes dealing with homosexuality, gender identity or Parker herself. Last week, Parker admitted that the subpoenas may have been ‘overly broad,’ but they have yet to be recalled.

“While the issue in this case is homosexuality,” Rohrer continued, “the underlying philosophy of thought policing is exactly the same as what we see with Islamic Sharia law. In each case, dissent is not permissible. This is yet another reason Sharia law is incompatible with our U.S. Constitution. Under our Constitution, religious leaders are free to teach against Christianity, but Sharia law would mean pastors would be targeted for preaching Christ. And already, this is happening, as pastors are facing pressure by groups who have their own extreme agendas.”

How long will it be, Rohrer asked, before pastors will be quieted about educating their churches on the dangers of the infiltration of Islam and Sharia Law in America? One pastor was already censored in August when his videotaped sermon on ISIS was removed from YouTube and his account was frozen. YouTube has since reversed its ban on Pastor Daniel Ausbun of First Baptist Church in Moreland, Ga., and his account is live again.

Alliance Defending Freedom is helping the Houston pastors, and one of its attorneys, Christina Holcomb, said in a statement that “political and social commentary is not a crime. It is protected by the First Amendment.”

To interview Sam Rohrer, President of American Pastors Network and Pennsylvania Pastors Network, contact Deborah Hamilton at dhamilton@hamiltonstrategies.com, 215-815-7716 or 610-584-1096. 

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A Wake-Up Call to Pastors

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On Wednesday, October 13th, Sam Rohrer interviewed with Jim Schneider from VCY America Crosstalk.  (Please click on the audio file above to hear Sam Rohrer’s interview on VCY America Crosstalk titled “A Wake-up Call to Pastors”.)

This Crosstalk featured Sam bringing a biblical perspective to two attacks facing America. The first dealt with the state of Texas where Houston officials have issued subpoenas demanding that a group of pastors turn over copies of sermons and sermon notes that deal with homosexuality and gender identity. In addition, some pastors were also ordered to turn over all communications with members of the congregation regarding Houston’s non-discrimination law. Those pastors that fail to comply could be held in contempt of court. Sam believes this is intimidation in order to jump over the protections of the First Amendment and is reminiscent of the activities of the old Soviet Union.

Sam also discussed what he feels is the greatest threat to the gospel and to religious freedom. It’s the threat of Islam. He pointed to the Oklahoma City beheading and the continuing terrorism of the Islamic State (ISIS).

Why are so many pastors silent on this issue? Sam noted that pastors either don’t know what to say, they’re afraid to speak what they do know or they’re afraid that if they say something counter to what Islam is, it may harm their ability to preach the gospel to a Muslim who needs the Lord.

Sam also gave brief mention to those who adhere to a Communist/Marxist/atheistic philosophy, a philosophy that is also antithetical to God and Jesus Christ. Together with the organized homosexual lobby and Islam, they all have a common goal to destroy Christianity, the Bible, decency, morality, the rule of law and our constitutional frame of government.

Commentary taken from: http://www.vcyamerica.org/blog/2014/10/15/a-wake-up-call-to-pastors

Answers on ISIS

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Sam Rohrer, President of the American Pastors Network,  was recently interviewed on Fox News alongside one of the nation’s leading converted Muslims, the Rev. Majed El Shafie, human rights advocate and founder of One Free World International (www.onefreeworldinternational.org).

Before the interview, Rohrer said APN leaders had been discussing how to educate American pastors about Christian persecution, and Islamic terrorism in particular so that they could better teach their congregations about how to respond to persecution. After his time with El Shafie, Rohrer said he posed several key questions weighing on the minds of American citizens, as well as pastors, churches, and Christians generally.

SAM ROHRER: How real/imminent is the ISIS threat to the United States and American and/or Western Christians?

MAJED EL SHAFIE: This is not simply about ISIS. There were other organizations before ISIS, there are others operating as we speak, and if ISIS is defeated others will rise up to take its place. The issue is an extremist ideology that manifests in a multitude of organizations with varied methods but one common goal. Each attack by these groups against Americans abroad or groups actually or symbolically perceived as representing American interests and ideology, such as local Christians, without a credible response from the U.S., diminishes American stature in their eyes and consequently its ability to counteract future attacks. As a result, ISIS and its likes are a very real and imminent threat to the U.S. and American interests at home and abroad.

SR: What practical distinction is there between a moderate Muslim and ISIS/fundamentalist Muslim, of which some say there are 300 million?

MES: There are various estimates of the numbers of fundamentalist Muslims and one must be cautious because the numbers experts use depend on how one defines a “moderate” or “fundamentalist” Muslim. Some people only consider the number of active or potentially active terrorists relevant, which limits the number by age and demographics to a finite maximum depending on the metrics used. On the other hand, if one counts the percentage of the population who support the activities of such terrorists either through active logistical and other operational support or through promoting or simply espousing an extremist interpretation of Islam, the number is much larger. At the same time, polls, as I’m sure you are aware, can be misleading because of the way questions are phrased and/or the willingness or unwillingness of respondents to be candid with their answers. In this case, such polls are all over the map, indicating anything from 20% to 80% support among Muslims for extremist ideologies and activities. Having said this, a conservative view of 20% or even 10% of an estimated 1.5 billion Muslims in the world, amounts to 150-300 million people which is a significant number capable of almost anything.

SR: Other than pray, what can American Christians do to help the persecuted Christians in the Middle East in particular and around the world generally?

MES: American Christians must become interested in the lives and circumstances of their brothers and sisters around the world and educate themselves about the persecution that is taking place, not only in Muslim countries, but elsewhere as well. They must educate themselves about Islam generally speaking and about Islamic extremists in particular and about the U.S. government’s policies and actions in this regard, going behind the headlines and the reporting by the liberal mainstream media to seek the truth. Finally, they must get involved, both on the inside and outside, to influence their government to take effective and credible action against this threat.

SR: What should the American church/Christians do to help prevent persecution in America?

MES: American Christians must vote for and promote a strong and determined policy overseas and at home that puts the freedoms for which our ancestors died first, and clearly and directly, from a position of strength, confronts all ideologies and actions that are not compatible with those freedoms. They should get involved and educate themselves and their neighbors to take a respectful but strong and uncompromising stand against any threat to our freedoms.

SR: What would be the most important message we can give to the Christians of America?

MES: To the Christians of America: Our brothers and sisters in Muslim countries have been on the frontlines of this spiritual war for hundreds of years. We must not leave them without our support nor expect that this war will not touch us. If we manage to escape without being persecuted we should be grateful, but we should also know that we will be judged for how we use the freedom that we have been granted. If persecution does come our way, we must remember that we are in this world but not of it. They can kill the dreamer but they cannot kill the dream, or paraphrasing our Lord, “they can kill the body but they cannot kill our soul.”

Rohrer added that on a recent trip to Ukraine for a leadership summit with pastors and elected officials, he made the distinction that the United States was a nation based on biblical principles from a Christian perspective, rather than a “Christian” nation. He acknowledges that while America is home to people of many faiths, the religious freedom we’ve enjoyed by law arises only from a Biblical worldview that recognizes that while God loves every soul, He will not force people to accept His salvation. However, when other religions exist to force people to convert or be killed, this not only threatens freedom but directly attacks our Constitutional system of law and must be opposed.

It is the firm conviction of the American Pastors Network that Islamic sharia law is incompatible with and mutually exclusive to our Constitutional form of government.

Pastors That Inspired My Ministry by Dr. Gary Dull

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 The month of October is dedicated as Pastors Appreciation month.  I was recently asked if there were any pastors that influenced my ministry over the years and certainly I could name more than a few.  Pastors have the unique opportunity to live a rather public life and speak thousands of sermons which profoundly affect those around them.

As we look back over the history of America, we see that there were many pastors who stood in the pulpit and proclaimed the truth of God no matter the cost. In fact, some of those pastors were willing to take off their robe, walk away from their pulpit, put on a uniform and literally go to war to fight for freedom because they believed in truth and wanted to see a nation founded on the principles of the Word of God. Many of those pastors had an influence upon our founding fathers and early leaders in our nation, which led them to establish America on biblical principles.

But personally there are several pastors who come to my mind who had a great influence upon me.  One, particularly, did not even live in the United States of America. He ministered over in England, and his name was Charles Haddon Spurgeon, often referred to as the “Prince of Preachers.”  I find it very interesting that when you pull his sermons off of the library shelf and begin to read them, he addressed issues back in the 1850s and 60s that are very similar to what we face today in 2014.  Early on in my ministry, after reading some of his particular sermons, I was challenged to determine that no matter what the circumstances, it would be important for me to ‘stand in the gap’ and preach truth and righteousness into the church and the culture from the pulpit. One particular sermon he preached still rings in my mind that was entitled, “THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT,” in which he emphasized that Christians are to be good soldiers of Jesus Christ. Personally, I took from his words that preachers are to be the generals leading the church in the battle of spiritual warfare. He was a tremendous example to follow for those of us who are pastors.

Another pastor who also impressed me was Peter Marshall.  At one time, he served as the pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C., and eventually became the Chaplain of the United States Senate.  He was another pastor who was willing to speak to the issues, and bring the matter of truth and righteousness to the forefront. He often had people who served in government visit his congregation, but he never backed down from the strong message of the Word of God. He consistently ‘stood in the gap’, as it were, to proclaim truth to his hearers, many of whom had the opportunity to go to work the next day in the Capitol of the United States of America and make decisions based upon the sermon  he gave to them the day before from the pulpit. I’ve always been impressed by the way he used his pulpit to preach to those in government, particularly those in the federal government in Washington, D.C., on the important issues of truth and righteousness.

But in my lifetime, the pastor who made the greatest impact upon me regarding preaching the truth into the culture was Dr. Jerry Falwell.  I remember when he started out with his Moral Majority. Although he received a lot of criticism from Christians and non-Christians alike, he was not afraid to ‘stand in the gap’ for truth and righteousness. Because of his strong and fearless stand upon the Word of God, He led a core of pastors and Christians in this nation to commit to truth and righteousness, which I personally believe contributed to the establishment of a better nation in the 1980s and 90s.  Then of course, there was Dr. D. James Kennedy, who, along with Dr. Falwell, led Christians and morally minded Americans to ‘stand in the gap’ for truth and to make an impact for biblical principles in the nation.  And so there have been numerous pastors through the years whom I have looked up to and still do with great honor and respect, even though they are at home with the Lord.  Those I mentioned above were national speakers, with a national voice, and there is no doubt in my mind that they made an impact for truth and righteousness upon our entire country.

Along with those I have mentioned, I must also speak about my own Grandfather, Pastor Michael Theodore Hulihan, who was a pastor for nearly 60 years.  “Poppa”, as I called him, served five small churches in the years of his ministry but always preached the Word of God without compromise.  As I recall, in four of those five churches he had community leaders in his congregation Sunday after Sunday to hear his sermons (many of which I have in my files today). In addition, he would often be invited to city or township meetings to give his advice on various issues the community was facing at that time.  Believe me, he never backed down from the truth of the Word of God, and that made a very great impact upon my life as a youngster growing up in western Pennsylvania.  Even to this day as I face the issues of the ministry, I often wonder how Poppa would have responded to contemporary society.

We need more pastors like those I have mentioned in America today.  I’m very thankful for individual pastors who are in their local churches, standing for truth and righteousness on the local level like my grandfather. But more and more I pray that God will give us national voices like a Jerry Falwell, like a Peter Marshall, or like a D. James Kennedy, to lead this nation according to the truth of the Word of God that will bring honor and glory to the Lord.

During Pastor Appreciation Month, let’s pray for those who are preaching the truth of the Word of God into society without compromise.  In addition, let’s be sure to thank them for their service unto the Lord, the church and their community. But let’s also pray that God will raise up pastors into the pulpits of America who will ‘stand in the gap’ for truth and righteousness in order to lead the way back to the biblical principles upon which this nation was founded.

If you are a pastor, perhaps this would be a good time for you to examine what kind of an influence you are having for truth and righteousness in your community, your state or even the nation. Years ago, an older pastor asked me, “Gary, if you were to leave this town today, would anyone notice?”  His point was to get me to think about what kind of an impact I was having in the community outside the four walls of my church. And he was successful.  He made me think, and so I acted.

So, what about you, Pastor?  What impact are you making upon the society outside the four walls of your church?  Do people take notice?  That is something to think about today.

Pastors Need Your Appreciation!

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Pastor Appreciation Month Rotator
Pastors are some of the most hard working individuals in our communities. Fortunately, October is Pastor Appreciation Month, a time when congregations are encouraged to show appreciation for their faithful leaders. Here are some simple ways to express gratitude for the pastor in your life:

Pray for Your Pastor
Let him know your personal concern for his physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional well-being. Even ask your pastor if there are prayer requests he would like you to pray for.

Become a Pastor’s Friend
Be compassionate and supportive of the pastor’s faithful ministry. You could even invite him to a family activity or community event. He’ll appreciate the invitation, even if he is unable to attend.

Write a Letter of Thanks
Handwritten notes of appreciation hold a special place in everyone’s hearts, including a pastor’s heart.  These letters can be cherished forever, and serve as words of encouragement for the pastor when needed.
Celebrate His Special Days

Whenever members of a pastor’s congregation recognize their leader’s ordination or birthday, this acknowledgement shows the pastor how much he is valued amongst his people.

Give Your Pastor Compliments

If the sermon your pastor just gave from the pulpit really inspired you, don’t be afraid to tell him after the service. Pastors like to receive reassurance that they truly are making a positive impact in people’s lives.

Offer to Help

Pastors will always accept help from members of his congregation, if you’re able to assist with various tasks.  Just be realistic with your time, whether you can only offer to volunteer once a month or once a week.

What the Bible Has to Say About Honoring Our Pastors (contributed by Dr. Gary Dull)

1) Pray for him daily – 2 Thessalonians 3:1,2

2) Encourage him regularly – Galatians 6:6

3) Honor him biblically – 1 Timothy 5:17,18

4) Approach him respectfully – 1 Timothy 5:19,20

5) Follow him faithfully – Hebrews 13:7

6) Obey him spiritually – Hebrews 13:17

7) Support him financially – 1 Corinthians 9:14

Ukraine Appeals for Freedom

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As Poroshenko Addresses Congress, APN Helps Ukrainian Leaders Rebuild Country on Constitutional and Biblical Tenets

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PHILADELPHIA—Newly elected Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko told a joint session of Congress this morning that the Ukrainian people have demonstrated their commitment to freedom and that their fight to throw off oppression is a fight for which all free peoples must stand in solidarity.

 

As Washington’s eyes are on Ukraine, at the invitation of Ukrainian leaders theAmerican Pastors Network (APN, www.AmericanPastorsetwork.net), a national network that provides Bible-based and constitutionally consistent analysis and recommendations on matters of public policy, has taken an active role in the rebuilding of Ukraine—politically, culturally and spiritually.

In June, APN participated by invitation in a national summit on leadership in Ukraine, providing government and pastoral leaders guidance and a pathway  for establishing a new government based on biblical principles and the Rule of Law. Future summits focusing on education and the Constitution are already being planned.

APN President Sam Rohrer said Poroshenko’s speech today is clear proof that the country is yearning for freedom undergirded by a Constitution that only biblical principles can build.

Rohrer said, “The President’s speech this morning to Congress appealed to the one body of leaders who have it within their power to advance the cause of freedom or fuel the fires of tyranny. He didn’t say, ‘fight our battles for us’, he asked for help with the tools necessary for them to fight the battle – that in reality is our battle today. Ukraine’s quest for freedom is reminiscent of the voice of our Founders who, generations ago, appealed to the God of Heaven to hear their prayers to build a new nation that would be a shining city on a hill. The question is, will we in America stand by them and let our light shine so theirs does not flame out?”

In his address, Poroshenko said, “It’s impossible to imagine how I am feeling right now – how symbolic is the unity of the United States Congress and solidarity with Ukraine. This is exactly what Ukraine needs most right now – unity and solidarity, not only with the United States, the United States Congress, but with the whole world.”

Earlier this month, APN unveiled its special “Ukraine Initiative: Out of the Ashes | Freedom Reborn” web site at www.ukraineinitiative.com, a centralized place for Ukraine updates and ongoing projects. Key to APN’s current efforts is providing humanitarian aid, and APN’sInternational Projects Coordinator, Pastor Dale Armstrong, has traveled to Ukraine numerous times over the past few months. After his time there, APN has committed to meeting some of the most immediate and crucial humanitarian needs, including water purification tablets, QuikClot® Bandages™, which help stop bleeding quickly, and individual medical kits for soldiers.

“The move towards freedom in Ukraine shows that the desire for liberty is universal and knows no national boundaries,” Armstrong said. “Our nation became the beacon of liberty because it was built on Judeo-Christian principles and the Rule of Law. As APN is providing much-needed humanitarian aid in Ukraine, we’re continuing to build relationships that will open doors to answering the call of the Ukrainian people to help them strengthen their government through the integration of Biblical principles into a new Constitution.”

According to a White House statement, today and in the coming days President Barack Obama will communicate “the United States’ firm commitment to stand with Ukraine as it pursues democracy, independence and stability.” Furthermore, “President Obama looks forward to discussing with President Poroshenko efforts to pursue a diplomatic resolution to the crisis in eastern Ukraine as well as our continued support for Ukraine’s struggle to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

 

To learn more about what the American Pastors Network is doing in Ukraine, please visit: www.ukraineinitiative.com

 

 

17 States Ask US Supreme Court to Rule on Same-Sex Marriage

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The attorneys general of 17 states, led by Colorado, have urged the U.S. Supreme Court to decide whether the U.S. Constitution includes a right to same-sex marriage. The Mormon church and a few Christian groups have also filed a friend-of-the-court brief.

“There are scores of cases requiring thousands of hours to litigate the same legal question presented in this petition,” the filing by 17 statesreads, asking the high court to take up the cases challenging gay marriage bans in Oklahoma and Utah, noting that 89 ongoing cases across the country challenge traditional marriage laws.

“These cases are divisive and costly, not only in terms of money and manpower, but in terms of respect for the democratic process and deliberation undertaken by millions of voters where the nature of marriage has recently been debated,” adds the brief, filed Thursday. “Once resolved, the legal issues presented in the Utah and Oklahoma petitions are well positioned to provide the necessary guidance to the other states with traditional marriage laws.”

The 17 states include: Colorado, Oklahoma, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Montana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

The Associates Press reports that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and four Christian organizations have also asked the Supreme Court to settle once and for all whether states can outlaw same-sex marriage.

The friend-of-the-court brief — joined by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the National Association of Evangelicals, the Ethics & Religious Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod — urges the high court to hear Utah’s marriage case.

“The time has come to end the divisive national debate as to whether the Constitution mandates same-sex marriage,” the brief states.

“Legal uncertainty is especially burdensome for religious organizations and religious believers increasingly confronted with thorny questions,” the brief adds. “Is their right to refrain from participating in, recognizing or facilitating marriages between persons of the same sex, contrary to their religious convictions, adequately shielded by the First Amendment and other legal protections? Or is further legislation needed to guard religious liberties in these and other sensitive areas?”

Federal judges in many states have struck down state amendments and laws banning same-sex marriage as unconstitutional since the U.S. Supreme Court last June squashed a key part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA.

Same-sex marriage is currently recognized in 19 states: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia.

American Pastors Network Plays Key Role in Ukraine Humanitarian Aid

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Recent Leadership Summit Opened Doors to Meet Critical Needs

PHILADELPHIA—The people of Ukraine have many needs in the wake of the recent political, economic and cultural upheaval.

One of the greatest immediate needs is bandages to help treat the wounded soldiers. Recently, the American Pastors Network (APN, www.AmericanPastorsetwork.net), which this summer participated in an International Leadership Summit in Ukraine with more than 100 elected officials and pastors, helped deliver 54 packages of much-needed QuikClot® Interventional Hemostatic Bandages™. These are soft, white, double-sterile, hydrophilic pads with the mineral kaolin, and they are applied topically to control bleeding.

APN Board Member Dale Armstrong, who just returned from Ukraine, says that the most immediate need in Ukraine is humanitarian aid, including water purification tablets and individual medical kits for each soldier.

“One of the greatest specific needs is this quick-clotting bandage that stops the bleeding of the injured fast,” Armstrong said. “Delivering the QuikClot bandages during these recent trips was not only life-saving to some of the injured, but the initiative has also cemented trust and opened further doors. I believe this act of care proved our trust and friendship, in their terms and in their culture.”

The bandages APN delivered coast approximately $2,500 demonstrating that even some of the smallest critical items are in short supply.

“Churches and pastors in Ukraine have taken a tremendous role in meeting the needs of the army,” Armstrong continued. “Just as pastors came together with elected leaders at the summit this summer to help Ukraine work towards a biblically based, constitutional government, now pastors are playing a major role bringing aid to the soldiers on the front lines of battle.  All of these efforts together will help Ukraine as the nation seeks stability and direction that will lead to freedom for the people of Ukraine.”

Armstrong, who also serves as secretary and treasurer for the Pennsylvania Pastors Network (PPN, www.papastors.net), has taken several trips to Ukraine this spring and summer, with more planned.  Earlier this summer, he and other APN leaders visited Ukraine for the International Leadership Summit at the invitation of Bishop Valery Reshetinsky, who also serves as the Chairman of the Ukrainian Interchurch Council that represents 20 different evangelical denominations. At the Summit, APN trained Ukraine’s political and pastoral leaders in the biblical principles necessary for constitutional government. Future summits on the Constitution, education and economics are in the works.

Having recently traveled to Ukraine on a humanitarian trip, Armstrong plans to return to further the work and build relationships, especially as APN is in the planning stages of formulating its Ukraine Initiative, which will send help where help is needed most and work toward rebuilding the country through its pastors and leaders. Projects are in the works so that others can donate the much-needed bandages and raise funds specifically for this purpose.

Armstrong sent daily email updates from Ukraine, and, after being given a personal tour of two military hospitals by high-ranking officials and seeing first-hand the pressing needs, he recently wrote: “Our immediate needs are extra funding, as I do believe the humanitarian aid is building a stronger bridge of trust, apart from the fact that we are saving lives.”

Armstrong noted that these hospitals were working at capacity to meet the needs of a nation at peace, and they simply weren’t prepared for the overwhelming demands of war.

The pastor and APN leader is working to purchase more bandages, approximately 100, as well as up to 1,000 tourniquets, which will cost about $15,000 total.

“I believe it’s a part of the friendship process that ensures greater cooperation and promotion of our main goal,” Armstrong said, “which remains the most important thing in Ukraine’s future—a Constitutional summit focused on the biblical foundations of government.”

Armstrong began ministering the gospel at the age of 16 and has pastored several churches in Pennsylvania and ministered in many nations of the world. He and his wife, Teri, lead the Armada Network, a missions organization with more than 60 members including pastors, missionaries and Christian leaders.