Christian Educators Encouraged in Rapid City

Tonight at South Canyon Baptist Church in Rapid City, Christian educators of all flavors came out to hear Finn Laursen of the Christian Educators Association International.

Laursen spoke to Christian public, private and home school educators about showing God's love and truth in the education environment.

He directed attenders to http://www.raiseyourhand.us/ where the organization is looking for people who will volunteer to be prayer coaches in each school to highlight and share the prayer needs of each school so that others can pray for them.

Laursen said that our current culture is one that denies the truth of God, and while we (rightfully) support missions to other countries to bring them the Gospel, we can bring the Gospel to a "foreign" culture right here in our communities. He pointed out that only 4-6% of those in our culture actually hold a Christian worldview.

He said that every day in America

- 1440 teen girls become mothers
- 1106 teen girls get abortions
- 1000 teens are drinking alcohol
- 3601 teens are assaulted
- 4320 teens are arrested

Laursen said that prayer has never been legally removed from schools, only forced prayer. He said that while our Constitution prohibits forcing religion on others, it cannot prohibit the free exercise of religion:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof

He also pointed out the Christian foundations of the United States, stating that 52 of the 55 signers of the Declaration of Independence were deeply committed, orthodox Christians. He also said that the first act of the Continental Congress after signing the Declaration was to purchase 20,000 Bibles for the nation.

He also provided the following quotes, illustrating the faith of the Founders:

"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists but by Christians, not on religion but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ." - Patrick Henry

"I am a Christian, that is to say a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus. I have little doubt that our whole country will soon be rallied to the unity of our Creator and, I hope, to the pure doctrine of Jesus also." - Thomas Jefferson

And this one, of which I took a picture in the Jefferson Memorial on the National Mall in Washington D.C. just a few weeks ago:




Laursen also pointed out that the famous "wall of separation between church and state" quote was taken from a letter Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptists to reassure them that because of constitutional protections, government was not allowed to interfere in religious matters.

"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports...And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion." - George Washington's Farewell Address 1796

"We have staked the future of all of our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind of self-government; upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God." - James Madison

"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." - John Adams

"Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers." - John Jay, First Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court

"Our laws and our institutions must necessarily be based upon and embody the teachings of the Redeemer of mankind. It is impossible that it should be otherwise. In this sense and to this extent, our civilizations and our institutions are emphatically Christian." - Richmond v. Moore, Illinois Supreme Court, 1883

Laursen talked about the "No Child Left Behind" education law and said that while it has it's good points and bad points, it spells out clear protections for religious liberty in schools in Section 9524 covering:

Prayer During Noninstructional Time
Organized Prayer Groups and Activities
Teachers, Administrators, and other School Employees
Moments of Silence
Accommodation of Prayer During Instructional Time
Religious Expression and Prayer in Class Assignments
Student Assemblies and Extracurricular Events
Prayer at Graduation
Baccalaureate Ceremonies

Laursen encouraged people to participate in programs where they "adopt" a Christian educator and support them in prayer. He also encouraged attenders to be active with school groups, attend school board meetings, and to share their worldview at parent-teacher conferences.

He encouraged people to make a difference and have a positive impact in their communities.

Laursen will be speaking at similar events in Aberdeen and Sioux Falls Thursday night, Nov. 8.

The event was hosted by the South Dakota Family Policy Council. SDFPC President Chris Hupke and SDFPC Director of Pastoral Ministries Dale Bartscher were on hand, as well as Rapid City SDFPC coordinators George and Carol Black.