After 16 years of writing FRC's Prayer Targets, I will be retiring from FRC at the end of this week, Friday, May 14. Last Thursday we observed the National Day of Prayer (NDP) in our Staff Chapel Service and will be turning attention now toward the Call2Fall. This year, Call2Fall will land on Independence Day, Sunday, July 4, 2021.
This Thursday, May 6, marks the 70th annual National Day of Prayer. Created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman, the National Day of Prayer observance encourages Christians to unite publicly and pray for our nation.
FRC Prayer Team Targets readers greatly appreciate Dr. Kenyn Cureton's (bio) Lost Episodes from American History. Here are excerpts from the introduction of his book and Dr. Benjamin Rush:
Dr. Wayne Grudem, Research Professor of Theology and Biblical Studies at Phoenix Seminary, has taught biblical ethics for 43 years. A graduate of Harvard (BA), Westminster Seminary (MDiv), and Cambridge (PhD), he has authored more than 15 books.
David Closson, FRC's Director of Christian Ethics and Biblical Worldview, researches and writes on issues related to religious liberty, human sexuality, and the development of policy from a biblical worldview. A graduate of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div., Th.M.) and the University of Central Florida (B.A., political science, cum laude), he is completing a Ph.D. in Christian Ethics at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. This is a summary of David's Biblical Principles for Human Sexuality: Survey of Culture Scripture and Church History, edited for space:
This important piece was written by Fred D. Jarvis and published by Herald of His Coming. I found this compelling to use today in its entirety.
Dr. Daniel Juster (Wheaton College, B.A., McCormick Theological Seminary, M. Div., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Philosophy of Religion, New Covenant International Seminary, Th.D.) is an ordained Presbyterian minister and has been involved in the Messianic Jewish movement since 1972. The founding president, then general secretary of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations for nine years, and senior leader of Beth Messiah Congregation (Rockville, Md.) for 22 years, he is now part of the apostolic team that governs Tikkun International Ministries. Director of Tikkun America, Dr. Juster provides oversight to 23 congregations and ministries in the U.S. Author of many books, he and his wife Patty live in Israel outside Jerusalem and travel four months every year. They minister under the name, Restoration from Zion. These excerpts are from his article "Revival: Is There Anything We Can Do?":
The "Equality Act" (HR 5), if made law, would amend existing civil rights laws that protect persons from discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, and sex to make sexual orientation and gender identity a specially protected class (see a secular overview of bill and prospects for passage).
Gordon G. Chang is a lawyer and the author of The Coming Collapse of China and many other books. Born and raised in New Jersey by his Chinese father and Scottish-American mother, he graduated Cornell University and Law School.
William J. (Bill) Federer, an accomplished speaker and best-selling author, is President of Amerisearch, Inc., and publisher of America's Christian Heritage. Bill's American Minute is aired daily nationwide. His Faith in History program is aired on the TCT Network and DirectTV.
Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn (1918-2008) was born into a line of Cossack intellectuals.
Our praying readers highly value Dr. Kenyn Cureton's (bio) Lost Episodes from American History
Strength for the Days and Years Ahead -- You may have noticed that FRC is intentionally putting the source of our policy thought and ideas out front and public. Unapologetically, our biblical values and worldview are at the core of our ministry. We make every effort to be sure our beliefs, viewpoint, ideas, reasoning, philosophy, opinion, and judgment regarding American public policy flow from and square with the Truth of God's word as enlightened by the Holy Spirit.
Over the last 18 years, Tony Perkins has organized a network of thousands Christian pastors and churches across America who see Jesus's call to be salt and light in their communities to include influencing the public debate and public policy from a biblical worldview. Following the tragic breach of the U.S. Capitol building last Wednesday, January 6, Tony sent a note to pastors across the nation. Here is an excerpt from that message.
The Scripture above, Isaiah 64:1-2, was a hallmark in the prayer life of Presbyterian minister, Rev. Richard J. (Dick) Simmons, in his prayers for God's people, for our own nation, and the nations as onslaughts of evil have multiplied in recent decades.
William J. (Bill) Federer, an accomplished speaker and best-selling author, is President of Amerisearch, Inc., and publisher of America's Christian Heritage. Bill's American Minute is aired daily nationwide. His Faith in History program is aired on the TCT Network and DirectTV. These excerpts are from Washington Crossing the Delaware
Pastors are called by God to lead, feed, and guide their people with the whole word of God, teach them how to apply the word in their own lives in the real world, and communicate that word to a fallen world in all circumstances of world history.
Our praying readers love Dr. Kenyn Cureton's (bio) Lost Episodes from American History
Thanksgiving is unique in America. And while many countries have observed harvest feasts and holidays, only a few nations, most notably Canada, celebrate Thanksgiving as a day to truly give thanks to the God of the Bible, and most of those derived their celebration from America.
John Adams (1735-1826) (see bio) was inaugurated the second President of the United States on March 4, 1797. A diplomat in Europe during the American Revolution, he helped negotiate the peace treaty to end the war. In 1788, he was elected Vice President for two terms under President Washington. Adams said, "A decent respect for Christianity [is] among the best recommendations for the public service."
Dr. Kenyn Cureton, FRC's Vice President for Christian Resources, wrote Lost Episodes in American History, which is 366 daily documented vignettes that reveal the powerful influence of Christian faith in American public life. Today is the 400th anniversary of the signing of the Mayflower Compact, a milestone in the advance of Christianity and what some consider "The Birth Certificate" of America
Despite the fact that there were continuing acts of violence in some cities, the wholesale outbreak of violence across our nation, about which we were warned, did not happen last night. Nevertheless, thousands of businesses in large and small cities have boarded up their windows until the coast becomes clear. Churches and prayer groups across America have been interceding for this outcome as they have prayed for the election.
Election Day is just six days away. Most believe it will be the most important election in our lifetimes - for all Americans, whether they know it or not. May each of us "pray without ceasing" between now and Tuesday that God, who sees all things, will act on our behalf to expose the unseen efforts to illicitly sway the vote.
On June 16, 1858, Abraham Lincoln was chosen by the delegates of the Illinois State Republican Convention as their candidate for the U.S. Senate. That evening, Lincoln delivered a speech to the assembled delegates.
Dr. Francis A. Schaeffer (see bio) delivered this address in 1982 at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, based upon a book he wrote the year before entitled A Christian Manifesto.
Christian theologian-philosopher Francis A. Schaeffer (1912-1984) (bio) is remembered for his biblical, prophetic insights into the church, America, and the western world.
Rev. Franklin Graham, son of the late Dr. Billy Graham, has risen to a remarkable level of spiritual leadership in America, as Chairman of both Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA).
David Closson is the Director of Christian Ethics and Biblical Worldview at Family Research Council.
The Return will take place on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. just 10 days from today - on Saturday, September 26, 2020.
Below is yet another important historical episode from FRC's Vice President for Christian Resources Dr. Kenyn Cureton's collection of Lost Episodes in American History, which so powerfully remind us of God's sovereignty and grace in our nation's history.
In his inspirational 366-day devotional, Lost Episodes in American History, Dr. Kenyn Cureton gives short accounts of great American leaders (mostly governmental) and how their faith in Jesus Christ impacted their contribution to our nation. Each story stirs believers today and helps us be salt and light for Christ in exercising our rights and responsibilities as Christian and American citizens. A former pastor, denominational leader, and VP for Church Ministries, Dr. Cureton, is currently FRC's VP for Christian Resources (read his bio). From his "Lost Episodes"
Dear Praying Friends, Cathy Ruse is Senior Fellow and Director of Human Dignity at Family Research Council. These excerpts are from her recent publicationSex Education in Public Schools: Sexualization of Children and LGBT Indoctrination: Most of us remember what sex education was like when we were in school. Things are very different today. The "facts of life" have not changed, but "inclusivity" and "sex positivity" and other popular buzz-word concepts have changed sex education.
The American Heritage Education Foundation (AHEF), along with other professional historians and educators, recognize the need for civic education: "America is in such significant social, cultural, philosophical, governmental, and educational decline, experts affirm, that if such educational neglect continues, the country will not survive as it was founded."
Dr. Kenyn Cureton (bio) is FRC's Vice President for Christian Resources. His mission is to equip Christians to be "spiritually active, governance engaged conservatives" (i.e., "SAGECONS").
Os Guinness is an author and social critic. Born to medical missionary parents in China during World War II, he witnessed the climax of the Chinese revolution in 1949. Expelled with other foreigners in 1951, he returned to England and received education, earning an undergraduate degree from the University of London and a D.Phil.
With over 30 books written and multiplied thousands of radio programs hosted, Dr. James Dobson (bio) has dedicated his life to preserving the family.
Dr. Corinthia Ridgely Boone, a native Washingtonian, has served as chairman of the Capital City National Day of Prayer since 1985. A distinguished educator (Bowie State U., B.D., M.A., and Union U., Ph.D.), career teacher, principal, and instructional specialist in Prince George's County outside Washington, D.C., she served as Minister of Education at Evangel Temple, one of D.C.'s largest churches.
On Monday evening, Tony Perkins hosted an FRC webcast entitled "Arise & Stand." With the present threats to our nation of the pandemic, rioting and destruction, the strategic criminal demolition of America's historic monuments by extremist ideologues and thugs in an effort to erase America's unique history, and shocking new rulings that show Americans are still in danger from an activist U.S. Supreme Court, FRC's Arise & Stand event was thoroughly informative, inspirational, and prayer-filled - both a compelling learning experience and virtual prayer meeting. Here are excerpts:
Why the Call2Fall this coming Sunday, June 28, 2020? When Tony Perkins was first tasked by the Lord to initiate the Call2Fall in 2009, the church and America were already amid clearly measurable, long-term spiritual and moral decline. Many hoped that things would "get back to normal." But, overall, the decline has persisted in our churches, society, public institutions, and policy.
H.A. "Harry" Ironside (1876-1951) was a prominent Bible teacher and pastor who wrote 60 books and numerous articles and pamphlets on biblical themes during 50 years of fruitful ministry. Ironside pastored Chicago's Moody Memorial Church from 1929 to 1948. Here are excerpts from his book Unless Ye Repent
There is Godly wisdom in these prayer points that every church and prayer group in America can put to use right away!\r\r
William J. Federer is a well-known speaker, best-selling author, president of Amerisearch, Inc., and publisher of America's Christian Heritage. Bill's American Minute is aired nationwide daily via radio and internet. His Faith in History is aired on the TCT Network and DirecTV. These excerpts are from "France's Godless Revolution," American Minute, July 13, 2017.
Five-Star General Douglas MacArthur commanded in the First World War and rose to become General of the Army and Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in the Southwest Pacific during World War II. He gave his last address to the cadets at West Point on May 12, 1962.
The works of E.M. Bounds (1835-1913) are essential reading for pastors and prayer warriors. He wrote for many audiences but was especially burdened for his fellow pastors. He believed their secret prayers and praying example were key to discipling praying churches. Here is an excerpt from his The Necessity of Prayer
