Posted on 11/25/2020 7:20:27 AM PST by SeekAndFind
The Rev. Franklin Graham reacted to a Kansas middle school’s decision to sever ties with his charity project, Operation Christmas Child, and expressed doubt that “our country will ever come together.”
“We don’t solicit necessarily from schools,” Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse, said on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle” Friday. “Anybody can participate and what this is, this is just children there at the school that did this on their own and got their school involved."
The atheist group Freedom From Religion Foundation had sent a complaint letter dated Nov. 3, to Superintendent Tony Helfrich, urging the district to take "immediate action to cease promoting and endorsing Christianity in its schools." FFRF specifically cited Liberty Middle School, based in Pratt, Kansas, where morning announcements often include references to Jesus and Operation Christmas Child is promoted.
After contending that the Samaritan’s Purse website states that “the purpose of the shoe boxes is to attract children in the developing world to convert to Christianity,” FFRF Staff Attorney Christopher Line argued that “organizing a donation drive that for all intents and purposes employs school staff and resources to convert people to Christianity violates constitutional principles.”
In response, Helfrich sent a letter to FFRF explaining that the district was discontinuing the collaboration with Operation Christmas Child “upon learning that its mission is more sectarian in nature than we realized.”
Though the school has pulled out of participating in the shoebox gift donations, Graham encouraged students at Liberty Middle School to send gifts directly to the ministry instead.
“I want every child that gets a box to know that God loves them and that he cares for them,” Graham said. “We don’t hide the fact that we’re Christians. … It’s on our website, we’re very upfront about our … position and our faith.”
He added that “if we would just turn from our sins, that God would forgive our sins and heal our sins.”
When asked by Fox News host Laura Ingraham to respond to Pastor John MacArthur's recent comments that “America’s in a moral free fall,” Graham responded: “I do share his concerns and I think we are in a moral free fall in this country.”
According to Graham, “the only hope for our country, I believe, is God. … For that to happen is we’ve got to come to Him in repentance, turning from our sins and putting our faith and trust in His son, Jesus Christ. And I think if we do that, then God will hear our prayers and He’ll heal this country.”
Addressing the question of what it will take to “bring this country together,” Graham argued: “I don’t think our country will ever come together. I think we’re so divided now and it’s only going to get worse and the hatred that we see from many … in the public square toward Christians is incredible.
“I’m not going to back down. I’m just going to keep telling people that God loves them and He cares for them and Christ died for their sins.”
This is not the first instance of an atheist group targeting public schools for their collaboration with Operation Christmas Child. In 2013, the American Humanist Association sent letters to public schools in West Columbia, South Carolina, and Douglas County, Colorado, threatening them with legal action if they did not terminate their relationships with the charitable organization.
Both schools complied with the AHA’s demands, citing a desire to avoid the legal fees and media attention that would accompany a lawsuit by the atheist group.
Shouldn’t we have a constitutional freedom from atheists action?
Apparently the Reverend is finally realizing that we cannot coexist with leftist psychopaths.
and the islamo fascists
Separation
Having dealt with these “leftist psychopaths” since the late 60’s, I agree their hearts have grown harder.
Very sad.
It’s a battle and it will only get worse. God warns us but makes a way for us to be delivered...
Ephesians 6:12 (KJV): “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV): “If my people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
He needs to talk with Dennis Prager who knows all about Leftists
People under 40 either don’t like, or hate this country. muslims, who are slated to be imported en masse hate this country. Mexicans don’t really care, but will vote Democrat because it’s in their best interest.
That’s the long way of saying, I agree. There will never be unity, and the only way the divide is closes is by us dying off. Then it will be a socialist paradise.
Our small Church in Florida filled and sent 470 boxes this year for his ministry.
It’s the teachers.
Truth.
I don’t want our Republican leaders working across the aisle with democrats either... and NONE OF US NEED TO ‘heal’ with white antifa thugs or BLM black thugs who burned our cities down. So stop asking.
Get real democrats...
We don’t want to be friends with people doing voter fraud or people who want to take away our freedom of speech and religion either.
Go away democrats...
Deport them all to Venezuela...give them a taste for what they are trying to bring here.
Amen sister.
Trail Life USA, the Christian boys outdoor adventure organization partners with OCC. Many of our troops participate. We just dropped 47 boxes off the other day.
The daughter in law of a friend of mine was raised in India. As a child, she was typically poor growing up and the local mission school distributed OCC boxes. She received a box of love from America (her words) and was absolutely astonished that someone in America loved her enough to give her a gift. She’s in her early 30’s now and actually still has some of the things she received.
She worked for the mission school and was able to distribute OCC boxes. She later married an American and now she packs boxes. Full circle.
For the last few years, my wife has had a small part time job. She gets paid to handle the nursery for a home school co-op. She anonymously donates all of her earnings to cover shipping for the Trail Life troop OCC boxes.
It’ll come together. The only question is who will win and who will lose.
Notice the date they filed? These maggots are now resurfacing. After their 8 year reign of terror during the obama regime, they believe Biden is going to be installed and they can now pick up where they left off.
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