Vice President Pence dedicated the vice presidential debate on Oct. 7 to Christian martyr Kayla Mueller. He invited her parents as his special guests, setting the stage for the dramatic difference in the two visions for America’s future being debated Wednesday in Salt Lake City, Utah.
As a member of United Christian Ministries, Mueller was serving refugees in Syria while still in college. On Aug. 4, 2012, she was abducted by ISIS near the city of Aleppo and held hostage by Baghdadi, the head of ISIS. She was repeatedly tortured—and ultimately killed.
The day of the debate, two people who tortured her were charged in Virginia, representing justice and leading Pence to memorialize Mueller. He said her family believes she would be alive today if a proposed rescue would have been approved by the prior administration, an administration that included Joe Biden.
Echoing the words of Mueller’s father, Carl Mueller, Pence said, “We put all our faith in government, but the government let us down.” He pointed out the refusal of the previous administration to rescue her and the dedication of the current one to bring her murders to justice.
The debate itself was civil. It clearly delineated the dramatic differences facing voters, with the vice president challenging Sen. Kamala Harris with the words, “Your position is that abortions can be performed until birth, in the ultimate late-term abortion. I proudly stand for life.”
The differences ranged from climate change to the economy and to Harris’ claims that rioters who ravaged cities from New York to Portland were “peaceful protesters.” The topics also included the newly nominated Supreme Court Justice and the “New Green Deal.”
The debate contrasted the two views of America’s future and the way the two administrations treated Mueller—one ignoring her family’s pleas for help, resulting in her death, and the other honoring this precious missionary who gave her life for the people of Syria and the cause of Christ. The differences illustrated the voters’ choice as no other could.
Bestselling author of God, Trump and COVID-19 Stephen Strang wrote, “Endorsed by Senators Kamala Harris and Cory Booker … the guidebook for the democratic/communist revolution is now unfolding ever so slightly under the radar.”
“Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right hand or when you turn to the left” (Isa. 30:21).
Harris attacked Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearing for his Christian faith. She is the most liberal member of the Senate, to the left of Bernie Sanders. Pence is the man who, at his most recent speeches, said “the sweetest words” he and the president hear are the words of people saying they are praying for them.
With just 26 days left until the most consequential election since Abraham Lincoln, an election that will determine the course of America for decades, the choice between Harris and Pence was made clear. The reminder of the martyred Christian missionary Kayla Mueller should motivate the 59 million Christians who did not vote in 2016 to vote as if life depends on it—because it does. {eoa}
Amir George is the author of Liberating Iraq and directs The World Helpline at theworldhelpline.org.
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