Polish citizens are fighting back against abortion.

A bill that removes exceptions from the nation’s abortion laws and provides total protection for preborn children from the moment of conception is set for a parliamentary vote this week.

A citizen-led initiative drive worked to get the issue on the ballot. Sponsors were required to collect 100,000 signatures over the course of three months. The grassroots effort reportedly collected 600,000 signatures in just two weeks.

“Across the globe, God is moving in the hearts of so many to protect the preborn. America could stand to learn something from Poland, Hungary, Mexico and so many more nations protecting all human life,” said Keith Mason, co-founder of Personhood USA. “The people of Poland are right—every person should enjoy the full protections of the law.”

Currently, the Polish law allows for abortion in cases related to maternal health, if the pregnancy is the result of “illegal activity,” or if the preborn child is disabled. Polish abortionists have manipulated the exceptions to kill children with minor defects including cleft palates. Reports of fraud concerning fetal age are prevalent, and “illegal activity” is often misrepresented to include a wider range of criminal activity.

Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, a former assistant to Pope John Paul II, told Poland’s largest opinion weekly, Gosc Niedzielny, “The Church clearly teaches that it is the obligation of Catholics not to protect the current ‘compromise’ but to aim at complete protection of life. This is a solution, which the Church calls for.”

The Nazi invasion first brought decriminalized abortion to the predominately Catholic nation. Under Soviet rule, Communism accounted for a continuation of the anti-life policies. In 1993, finally free from their oppressors, Poland tightened abortion restrictions but did not institute a complete ban.

A survey conducted earlier this month demonstrates a shift in the population’s attitudes about abortion. The numbers could be attributed to differences in age demographics as the former regimes’ influence has faded and younger generations have been raised without the prejudices.

Sixty-five percent of Poles agree that the law “should unconditionally protect the life of all children since conception,” and 76 percent of those aged 15 to 24 favor total protection. While still a majority, the numbers are lower for those aged 55 to 70 at 57 percent.

We are witnessing the precipitous decline of our traditional value system in America. Upholding the sanctity of marriage as God intended, ‘between one man and one woman’ is one of the bedrock principles of our nation.

While I have compassion and pray for those who choose to lead a homosexual lifestyle, New York’s decision to allow same sex people to marry is another government sledge hammer used to shatter our Judeo-Christian culture.

As a black American, proud of our Civil Rights progress, I speak for most black citizens when I say it is offensive that sexual preference has been elevated to the equivalent of a racial characteristic such as skin color. The two could not be more dissimilar.

One is an outward characteristic. The other is sexual behavior. It denigrates the illustrious struggle for equality for Americans of African descent to associate us with the homosexual demand that society accept and approve their behavior.

Churches, faith-based institutions and organizations, the public school system, private businesses and most importantly, individual citizens will be forced to accept the new amoral and anti-Christian order or pay the consequences. Marriage counselors and adoption agencies will be pressured to condone a corrupt and degenerate belief system or close their doors to the many people they help.

Marriage should be between ‘one man and one woman’ and children should be adopted by parents that consist of ‘one man and one woman.’ I am proud to have supported the Constitutional amendment in Virginia and it is clear that until there is a federal constitutional amendment, the effort to sully marriage will march forward with the help of radical homosexual activists and corrupt politicians.

E. W. Jackson is a Marine veteran, Harvard-trained attorney, businessman and conservative activist who is running for the United States Senate in Virginia. Jackson believes that faith, integrity, hard work and serving others are the keys to success in America, not government programs. You can find him online here.

She’s in. And she says she’s a bold choice.

She’s Rep. Michele Bachmann, a Christian voice with a Lutheran background who has officially declared her candidacy for president of the United States. And she’s off to a good start.

Bachmann, an Oral Roberts University graduate, is neck and neck with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in the Des Moines Register Iowa poll, garnering 22 percent of the vote.

“We have to recapture our founders’ vision of a constitutionally conservative government if we are to secure the promise of the future,” Bachmann told supporters at her Waterloo, Iowa, campaign kick-off this week.

Bachmann grew up a Democrat and even worked for Jimmy Carter’s election in 1976. She switched allegiances after she witnessed Carter’s big spending plans. And she still remembers her grandmother’s prophetic words about the future of America.

“I remember standing in the kitchen of my grandma’s house on Lafayette Street in Waterloo listening to my dad, a Democrat debating the merits of the Great Society with my grandmother, a Republican,” Bachmann said. “I remember her prophetic admonition to my father that the Great Society wouldn’t work because it wouldn’t be my father’s generation who paid for it, but rather my brother, David, and me. And now that prediction has come true and neither my Democrat father nor my Republican grandmother would have condoned this spending and debt.”

Elected in 2006, Bachmann is the first Republican woman to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota. From the beginning, she has demonstrated bold reform, pushing to fix what she calls Washington’s broken ways.

Prior to serving in the U.S. Congress, Bachmann was elected to the Minnesota State Senate in 2000 where she championed the Taxpayers Bill of Rights. Before that, she spent five years as a federal tax litigation attorney, working on hundreds of civil and criminal cases.

“My voice is part of a movement to take back our country, and now I want to take that voice to the White House,” Bachmann said. “It is the voice of constitutional conservatives who want our government to do its job and not ours and who want our government to live within its means and not our children’s and grandchildren’s.”

In July 2010, Bachmann hosted the first Tea Party Caucus meeting. Her values include the call for lower taxes, renewed focus on the Constitution and the need to shrink the size of government. She received her J.D. at the O.W. Coburn School of Law at Oral Roberts University and an . in Tax Law at the College of William and Mary.

As an offensive lineman for the University of Missouri, Mark Hill knows a thing or two about getting physical.

On the Mizzou football field, he lives in the trenches.

But the redshirt freshman, who spent his elementary school years growing up in Joplin, Mo., could hardly imagine the physical labor that it would take to clean up and rebuild the city many of his family members still call home.

“It almost brought tears to my eyes as I was driving around, having to hold it back,” Hill said. “Road after road, just gone.”

On the evening of May 22, Hill was on a vacation in Texas when his phone started going crazy. Buzz after buzz, texts started flooding in about 30 minutes after the massive tornado tore through Joplin.

His family was all OK, but no word on anyone else.

The F5 Twister claimed 156 lives to date, making it the deadliest tornado in the modern era (since 1950), but Hill had no inkling at first of the devastation that had occurred.

“I thought it was one of those dinky little tornadoes that took out a few houses,” he said.

The following week, Hill and 31 of his Missouri teammates loaded up in a team bus and drove four hours from Columbia to Joplin to lend a hand to the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team and Samaritan’s Purse.

“It was completely voluntary,” Hill said. “It was like they were helping me. This is my community as well so it’s awesome to see my brothers on the team coming to help me and my family and the people we know and love.”

To date, the 28 Rapid Response chaplains have prayed with over 3,800 survivors in the Joplin area, providing emotional support and spiritual care. The deployment is set to wrap up by this weekend.

“Having someone there to talk to means more than anyone picking up any amount of wood,” Hill said.

One of Hill’s teammates, Tigers wide receiver Terry Dennis could tell immediately that the comfort and prayer offered by the Rapid Response Team was making an impact.

“What the Billy Graham Association and this Rapid Response Team is doing … it’s more than just the house, it’s more than just the people coming to volunteer,” Dennis said. “They’re offering the love of Jesus Christ.”

Hill concurs.

“You just have to go through the grieving process,” he said. “The ones who do have that relationship with God will put that in perspective of what’s important … that I’m safe and my family is safe, but God protected me and He’ll bring us out of this.”

Dennis, who had a chance to talk with some of the survivors, wasn’t about to miss an opportunity to share his faith.

“I would tell the people look to Jesus Christ to anything you’re going through,” Dennis said. “He’s got the true answers to everything you need as far as love or health, just look to Jesus Christ.”

Used with permission from the Billy Graham Evangelical Association.

Surprise flash mobs. That’s one strategy to demonstrate a committment to traditional marriage—and that’s just what Worldwide Marriage Encounter couples from across
North America are doing in the month of July.

“It is our hope that this flash mob activity is another
way to place a positive emphasis on couples committed to marriage,”
explain Jose and Marilyn Garcia and Mitch Walters, the North
American Ecclesial Team for WWME. “This reach out effort demonstrates
that marriages can last and be happy. It is the perfect time to
capitalize on a phenomena that is spreading across North America.”

The organizers are speaking about the same-sex marriage phenomena and the battle for traditional marriage in Christian circles. The specific locations of the flash mobs are under wraps, but organizers say to expect to see happily married couples making a point to let the world know that marriages can stay strong and vibrant for the long-term.

As the turbulent ’60s concluded and a new decade began, Billy Graham appeared at a July 4 event in Washington, D.C., called “Honor America Day.”

More than 400,000 people attended, while millions watched on television or heard it on the radio in 123 other countries.

Bob Hope, Dinah Shore, Jack Benny, Glen Campbell, The New Christy Minstrels and Teresa Graves were among those who performed that day.

According to liner notes on the album, Honor America Day was denounced by the extreme right and the extreme left, but was supported by ordinary Americans, “rich and poor, black and white, Republicans and Democrats, Christians and Jews.”

The idea reportedly stemmed from a telephone conversation between Billy Graham and Hobart Lewis, editor-in-chief of the Reader’s Digest, with hotel executive J. Willard Marriott later taking over the bulk of organizational work.

Organizers hoped the event would provide an “antidote for the poisons of defeatism, cynicism, and disillusionment that boil[ed] from the wells of America’s unsolved problems.”

One commentator noted that Graham’s message was a “moving, articulate plea for unity, faith and courage amid the strife of the seventies.”

Read Part of Graham’s Message:

“Pericles built a civilization upon culture and it failed. Caesar built a civilization upon power and it failed. Our forefathers founded the United States upon faith in God, and our country will survive only as it honors God.

“Our nation was built on a foundation of moral law, in which a person’s rights were also balanced by a person’s responsibilities. Why should I, as a citizen of heaven and a Christian minister, join in honoring any secular state?

“The Bible says, ‘Honor the nation.’ As a Christian or a Jew, or as an atheist, we have a responsibility to an America that has always stood for liberty, protection and opportunity.

“There are many reasons why we honor America today. America has opened her heart and her doors to the distressed and persecuted of the world. America has been the most generous nation in history. We have shared our wealth and our faith with a world in need.

“America has never hidden her problems and faults. With our freedom of the press and open communication system we do not sweep our sins under the rug. America defends the right of her citizens to dissent. Dissent is the hallmark of our priceless freedoms. But when dissent takes violent forms it becomes anarchy.

“We may be a vastly different people today than we were 200 years ago. Our society is far more complex, more pluralistic. But of this we can be sure. God has not changed and His laws have not changed.

“He is still a God of love and mercy. But He is also a God of righteousness and judgment. Any individual or nation, which ignores His moral and spiritual laws, will ultimately face His judgment.”

Used with permission from BGEA.

Throughout South Asia, many of Jesus’ followers—especially those who have recently committed their lives to Him—face persecution from their communities. Within the past year, the following Christians have experienced threats and abuse because they claim the name of Jesus.

Man’s New Infectious Faith Provokes Village Unrest
Kantimoy once devoutly followed the religion traditional to his people group. He, his wife and their three children got up early every day to worship their deity. Kantimoy was even in charge of maintaining the property of the temple in his village.

But the gods and goddesses he worshipped couldn’t heal his three children. His 10-year-old son, Jugnu, suffered from seizures, his 8-year-old daughter had a hole in her heart and his youngest daughter experienced night terrors that disrupted his entire household, robbing them of sleep.

One day, a Gospel for Asia-supported pastor told Kantimoy about Jesus. This pastor continued visiting him and praying for his family. Jugnu stopped having seizures, and Kantimoy started to have faith in Jesus. Finally, Kantimoy gave his heart to the Lord. He stopped working at the temple and even opened his home for a prayer group. Three neighboring families ended up joining!

But the other villagers—including his relatives and family members—turned against Kantimoy. They started opposing his congregation and are causing problems for his pastor.

Justice Denied for Christian Villagers
In a part of South Asia where believers have experienced unimaginable hostility and violence in recent years, believers in one village still face opposition. In September, some villagers attacked the believers, beating one individual. When a group of Christians protested against this violence, police jailed 10 of them. Although they were released on bail, hostility in the village continues.

Gospel for Asia-supported pastor Sulekh Kapoor reported in January that the villagers were cooperating with an anti-Christian extremist group to prevent the believers from going to the market.

In light of this situation, Pastor Sulekh has requested prayer for protection and safety for the Christian families in this village.

Choosing Christ’s Family or Earthly Family
Kanan Tamang, 20, recently chose to give his life to Jesus. He worships with a growing congregation led by GFA-supported missionary Rehmat Chatterjee. However, his parents have threatened to disown him if he continues to follow Christ. The other villagers are also opposing Kanan’s decision, saying that if he makes his decision to follow Jesus final, they will chase him from the village.

Pastor Rehmat requests prayers on behalf of Kanan that God will give him courage to remain faithful. Also pray that Kanan’s witness will draw his family to Christ, and Pastor Rehmat will point many people to Jesus as he continues abiding in the Holy Spirit.

Counting the Cost at a Young Age
On May 10, two adolescent boys decided to give their lives to Jesus. Sixteen-year-old Bodhan Tambe gave his life to Jesus after his friend and schoolmate Yash, a Christian in a GFA-supported congregation, shared the good news with him.

When Bodhan’s parents found out, they angrily threatened to kick their son out of the house if he went to church. However, he is still trying to attend worship services.

The other young man, Kiranmay Mehta, faces a similar dilemma. When his parents learned that he chose to follow Christ, they started abusing him and prevented him from going to church.

Please pray that Bodhan and Kiranmay will stand strong in their new faith and be able to worship with other believers. Also, please pray that their families will receive salvation.

Please intercede for God to work mightily in each of these situations, strengthening the believers and transforming the hearts of those who are against Him and His followers.

AP Photo

Polish citizens are fighting back against abortion.

A
bill that removes exceptions from the nation’s abortion laws and provides
total protection for preborn children from the moment of conception is
set for a parliamentary vote this week.

A citizen-led initiative drive worked to get the issue on the ballot. Sponsors were
required to collect 100,000 signatures over the course of three months.
The grassroots effort reportedly collected 600,000 signatures in just
two weeks.

“Across the
globe, God is moving in the hearts of so many to protect the preborn.
America could stand to learn something from Poland, Hungary, Mexico and
so many more nations protecting all human life,” said Keith
Mason, co-founder of Personhood USA. “The people of Poland are right—every person should enjoy the
full protections of the law.”

Currently, the Polish law allows for abortion in cases related to
maternal health, if the pregnancy is the result of “illegal activity,”
or if the preborn child is disabled. Polish abortionists have
manipulated the exceptions to kill children with minor defects including
cleft palates. Reports of fraud concerning fetal age are prevalent, and
“illegal activity” is often misrepresented to include a wider range of
criminal activity.

Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, a former assistant to Pope John Paul II,
told Poland’s largest opinion weekly, Gosc Niedzielny, “The Church
clearly teaches that it is the obligation of Catholics not to protect
the current ‘compromise’ but to aim at complete protection of life. This
is a solution, which the Church calls for.”

The Nazi invasion first brought decriminalized abortion to the
predominately Catholic nation. Under Soviet rule, Communism accounted
for a continuation of the anti-life policies. In 1993, finally free from
their oppressors, Poland tightened abortion restrictions but did not
institute a complete ban.

A survey conducted earlier this month demonstrates a shift in the
population’s attitudes about abortion. The numbers could be attributed
to differences in age demographics as the former regimes’ influence has
faded and younger generations have been raised without the prejudices.

Sixty-five percent of Poles agree that the law “should unconditionally protect the life
of all children since conception,” and 76 percent of those aged 15 to 24 favor
total protection. While still a majority, the numbers are lower for
those aged 55 to 70 at 57 percent.

We
are witnessing the precipitous decline of our traditional value system
in America. Upholding the sanctity of marriage as God intended, ‘between
one man and one woman’ is one of the bedrock principles of our nation.

While I have compassion and pray for those who choose to lead a
homosexual lifestyle, New York’s decision to allow same sex people to
marry is another government sledge hammer used to shatter our
Judeo-Christian culture.

As a black American, proud of our Civil Rights
progress, I speak for most black citizens when I say it is offensive
that sexual preference has been elevated to the equivalent of a racial
characteristic such as skin color. The two could not be more dissimilar.

One is an outward characteristic. The other is sexual behavior. It
denigrates the illustrious struggle for equality for Americans of
African descent to associate us with the homosexual demand that society
accept and approve their behavior.

Churches, faith-based institutions and organizations, the public school
system, private businesses and most importantly, individual citizens
will be forced to accept the new amoral and anti-Christian order or pay
the consequences. Marriage counselors and adoption agencies will be
pressured to condone a corrupt and degenerate belief system or close
their doors to the many people they help.

Marriage should be between
‘one man and one woman’ and children should be adopted by parents that
consist of ‘one man and one woman.’ I am proud to have supported the
Constitutional amendment in Virginia and it is clear that until there is
a federal constitutional amendment, the effort to sully marriage will
march forward with the help of radical homosexual activists and corrupt
politicians.

E. W. Jackson is a Marine veteran, Harvard-trained attorney, businessman and conservative activist who is running for the United States Senate in Virginia. Jackson believes that faith, integrity, hard work and serving others
are the keys to success in America, not government programs. You can find him online here.

As an offensive lineman for the University of Missouri, Mark Hill knows a thing or two about getting physical.

On the Mizzou football field, he lives in the trenches.

But
the redshirt freshman, who spent his elementary school years growing up
in Joplin, Mo., could hardly imagine the physical labor that it would
take to clean up and rebuild the city many of his family members still
call home.

“It almost brought tears to my eyes as I was driving around, having to hold it back,” Hill said. “Road after road, just gone.”

On
the evening of May 22, Hill was on a vacation in Texas when his phone
started going crazy. Buzz after buzz, texts started flooding in about 30
minutes after the massive tornado tore through Joplin.

His family was all OK, but no word on anyone else.

The
F5 Twister claimed 156 lives to date, making it the deadliest tornado
in the modern era (since 1950), but Hill had no inkling at first of the
devastation that had occurred.

“I thought it was one of those dinky little tornadoes that took out a few houses,” he said.

The
following week, Hill and 31 of his Missouri teammates loaded up in a
team bus and drove four hours from Columbia to Joplin to lend a hand to
the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team and Samaritan’s Purse.

“It
was completely voluntary,” Hill said. “It was like they were helping me.
This is my community as well so it’s awesome to see my brothers on the
team coming to help me and my family and the people we know and love.”

To
date, the 28 Rapid Response chaplains have prayed with over 3,800
survivors in the Joplin area, providing emotional support and spiritual
care. The deployment is set to wrap up by this weekend.

“Having someone there to talk to means more than anyone picking up any amount of wood,” Hill said.

One
of Hill’s teammates, Tigers wide receiver Terry Dennis could tell
immediately that the comfort and prayer offered by the Rapid Response
Team was making an impact.

“What the Billy Graham Association and
this Rapid Response Team is doing … it’s more than just the house, it’s
more than just the people coming to volunteer,” Dennis said. “They’re
offering the love of Jesus Christ.”

Hill concurs.

“You
just have to go through the grieving process,” he said. “The ones who do
have that relationship with God will put that in perspective of what’s
important … that I’m safe and my family is safe, but God protected me
and He’ll bring us out of this.”

Dennis, who had a chance to talk with some of the survivors, wasn’t about to miss an opportunity to share his faith.

“I
would tell the people look to Jesus Christ to anything you’re going
through,” Dennis said. “He’s got the true answers to everything you need
as far as love or health, just look to Jesus Christ.”

Used with permission from the Billy Graham Evangelical Association.