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.
The atheist group Freedom From Religion Foundation
My wife’s hometown used to display a lighted cross on their water tower. FFRF complained and demanded it be taken down. The village couldn’t afford the expense of the lawsuit and took the cross down. The people in town made it a point to crosses on private property everywhere they could. FFRF couldn’t do anything about that.
Great post.
It's like being told that we need to heal by rolling out the welcome mat for cancer.
Come to think of it, Esther the hidden (crypto) Jewess did exactly that... invited that wicked Haman to a very special banquet.
With everyone wearing masks, and the weird-o-meter pegged in the secular realms (God nowhere in the story, or so it seems), you'd think people would catch on that Purim time is here.
Crazy stuff. If it weren't in the Megillah, who would ever believe it?
It puts PM Netanyahu's congratulations to Joe Biden in a different light entirely.
"I have a personal, long and warm connection with Joe Biden for nearly 40 years, and I know him to be a great friend of the State of Israel..."
I don’t like what I’m seeing. I’ll refrain from saying anything, so no one will think I’m pushing the theory that the left wants to eliminate Christianity.
See my tag line.
L
“...people who want to take away our freedom of speech and religion either....”
I truly consider them enemies after this stunt.
There is no going back for me.
To quote the great radio Talk show host Mark Levin: “That’s Right, I Said It!” :)
But if it were, Operation MOHAMMED’S Child, or for that matter Operation Flying Spaghetti Monster’s child, ¡no problemas!
Postal and Federal workers who work on federal holidays get 2x their base salary. Those who work on Christmas Day receive at least 2.5X basic pay. I worked with people who are Moslem or Bhuddist who gladly volunteered to work on Christmas. When Dec 25 falls on a day an employee is regularly off, they can work the previous day and still get that extra bonus. I dare any atheist group to sue the govt and civil Service unions over this.
Useful idiot snowflakes with their constant silly virtue signing can’t provide cover for democrats much longer...
I know what you’re saying NFHale - it’ll be hard to ever see them as good people again.
“..it’ll be hard to ever see them as good people again...”
All I see over there is people who want me and my people erased.
So I will treat them accordingly.
Your story, I consider as a Christmas gift; thank you.
Wow, that made my day FRiend.
Better late than never.
It’s not a theory.
They have been actively working for it for decades.
True. But this is no time to be naive and believe that we can ever get along with the psychotic maniacs on the Left.
They want us erased, and the sooner people on our side realize that and prepare to stomp on them, the better.
Many people are waking up to that fact based on conversations I have had.
Good to hear, but waking up isn’t enough; be prepared to fight.
This isn’t going to be peaceful, if history is any guide - and it generally IS a very good guide.
I have no problem with the Bible being read in public schools or the study of the bible in its historical context. But I do have a problem with Mr Graham trying to use schools to proselytize students to his particular theological bias.
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