June, 2004

Dear Ministry Partners,

As we contemplate Independence Day, we all know our culture has been slowly "hijacked" over the last 40 years by a minority of Americans with an anti-God agenda. They have claimed that we should have "separation of church and state", but what they have really tried to do is simply stamp out God and the church, leaving only a secular state. But as we all work to rescue our nation, our traditional family values, and our western culture as we have known it, it helps to have some "ammunition" with which to combat this war of words.

There have been a number of court decisions recently which have implied that the traditional legal positions on public prayer, references to God, the 10 commandments, and the definition of marriage have all been "wrong and unconstitutional" for the last 200 years and the courts are now "straightening it all out". However, the historic facts are clearly otherwise. Consider the following topics:

Was America supposed to be a Christian nation? – There were 27 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence who had seminary degrees. 52 of the 55 founders of the Constitution were members of the established Christian churches in the colonies. The opening session of the Continental Congress (September 7th, 1774) began with a 3 hour prayer meeting (and there have been opening prayers by tax-payer paid chaplains ever since 1777 except for 1857-1859 when the practice was challenged on "church and state" grounds, but it was found appropriate and the U.S. Supreme Court reinforced this decision in 1983). Out of 250 people that are recognized as "founding fathers", only 12 would be considered not Christians by the documented historical evidence. John Quincy Adams, the sixth President, said "The highest glory of the American revolution was this: it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity. From the day of the Declaration…they were bound by the laws of God…and by the laws of the Gospel, which they nearly all acknowledge as the rules of their conduct."

Does America need to change to allow different religions now? – John Adams, the second President of the United States (and Vice President under George Washington), said there were 30 different religions in America when the Constitution was created. The first amendment was made by these same Christians: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…." Obviously they did not intend to crush or outlaw the public practice of Christianity in government, because they continued to inscribe scriptures and prayers in the solid rock of federal government buildings and monuments they erected (the White House fireplace mantle, the Supreme Court building, the Washington monument, etc.).

In fact, the aluminum cap which was placed on top of the Washington monument is inscribed "Laus Deo" which is Latin for "Praise be to God". When the cornerstone was laid, a Bible was placed inside it. Scriptures are inscribed on the stairway landings, including Proverbs 10:7, 22:6, and Luke 18:16. Also, as you walk up to the east side of the Supreme Court building you can see near the top of the roof a carved row of the world's law givers and each one is facing the one in the middle who is facing forward with a full frontal view – it is Moses with the Ten Commandments!As you enter the Supreme Court courtroom, the two huge oak doors have the Ten Commandments engraved on each lower portion of each door. As you sit inside the courtroom, you can see a display of the Ten Commandments on the wall right above where the Supreme Court judges sit!

Should Christians hold public office? – The very first Supreme Court Justice, John Jay, said, "Americans should select and prefer Christians as their rulers." James Madison, the fourth president, known as "The Father of Our Constitution" made the following statement, "We have staked the whole of all our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for 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." Ben Franklin said, "If men are so wicked with religion, what would they be without it?" Patrick Henry, the patriot and a founding father of our country said, "It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists but by Christians...not on religions but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ." The Apostle Paul said in 1st Corinthians 6:4-5, "If then you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church? I say this to your shame."

Should Christianity be in the public schools? – In the U.S. Department of Education in Washington D.C., there is a textbook museum. There are samples of most every school textbook used through the history of the United States. Up until about 1900, every textbook on every subject was full of illustrations and examples using the Bible! Today, kids have been sent home because they had a Christian slogan on their tee shirt. I own copies of New Testament and Old Testament Bible class text books from the 1940’s which were required courses in the Dallas public schools for decades – and these courses were more thorough than any of the Bible schools I have taught in! In 1962, the United Nations did a study of literacy rates in the nations of the world and the United States was first. In 1963, God was taken out of the public schools – and by the 1990’s, the same United Nations study showed the United States as last in literacy among the civilized nations of the world.We can see Christianity revived in America. All things are possible with God. "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2nd Chronicles 7:14). Prayer changes things. Prayer and fasting changes situations that have been wrong since childhood (Mark 9:21&29). But if we are not moved enough to even change our meal plan, God won’t be moved enough to change our nation. "Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, declares…Those who honor Me I will honor, but those who despise Me will be disdained." (1st Samuel 2:30). Fortunately, due to the spiritual seed principle, we don’t need a majority to rescue our nation. A minority have harmed our nation, but a "remnant" can reverse the damage and return the nation to spiritual health. We just need to each do our part!

Praying & Fasting,

Dale & Judi Leander

P.S. – Check out our resources at the bottom for your church to help stimulate more prayer for our nation!

Separation of God and State?
By William J. Federer, October 11, 2003, ©2003 WorldNetDaily.com

Somewhere along the way, the Federal Courts and the United States Supreme Court have misinterpreted the U.S. Constitution. America's founders did not intend for there to be a separation of God and state, as shown by the fact that all 50 states acknowledged God in their state constitutions. (Find your state below.)

Alabama 1901, Preamble. We the people of the State of Alabama ... invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution....

Alaska 1956, Preamble. We, the people of Alaska, grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land....

Arizona 1911, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Arizona, grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution....

Arkansas 1874, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Arkansas, grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government....

California 1879, Preamble. We, the People of the State of California, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom....

Colorado 1876, Preamble. We, the people of Colorado, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of Universe....

Connecticut 1818, Preamble. The People of Connecticut, acknowledging with gratitude the good Providence of God in permitting them to enjoy....

Delaware 1897, Preamble. Through Divine Goodness all men have, by nature, the rights of worshiping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences....

Florida 1885, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Florida, grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty ... establish this Constitution....

Georgia 1777, Preamble. We, the people of Georgia, relying upon protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution....

Hawaii 1959, Preamble. We, the people of Hawaii, Grateful for Divine Guidance ... establish this Constitution....

Idaho 1889, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Idaho, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings....

Illinois 1870, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Illinois, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors....

Indiana 1851, Preamble. We, the People of the State of Indiana, grateful to Almighty God for the free exercise of the right to chose our form of government....

Iowa 1857, Preamble. We, the People of the State of Iowa, grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuation of these blessings ... establish this Constitution....

Kansas 1859, Preamble. We, the people of Kansas, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges ... establish this Constitution....

Kentucky 1891, Preamble. We, the people of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties....

Louisiana 1921, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Louisiana, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy....

Maine 1820, Preamble. We the People of Maine...acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an opportunity...and imploring His aid and direction....

Maryland 1776, Preamble. We, the people of the state of Maryland, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty....

Massachusetts 1780, Preamble. We...the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging with grateful hearts, the goodness of the Great Legislator of the Universe... in the course of His Providence, an opportunity ... and devoutly imploring His direction....

Michigan 1908, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Michigan, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom ... establish this Constitution....

Minnesota 1857, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Minnesota, grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings....

Mississippi 1890, Preamble. We, the people of Mississippi in convention assembled, grateful to Almighty God, and invoking His blessing on our work....

Missouri 1945, Preamble. We, the people of Missouri, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness ... establish this Constitution....

Montana 1889, Preamble. We, the people of Montana, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty ... establish this Constitution....

Nebraska 1875, Preamble. We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom ... establish this Constitution....

Nevada 1864, Preamble. We the people of the State of Nevada, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom ... establish this Constitution....

New Hampshire 1792, Part I. Art. I. Sec. V. Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience....

New Jersey 1844, Preamble. We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.…

New Mexico 1911, Preamble. We, the People of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty God....

New York 1846, Preamble. We, the people of the State of New York, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings....

North Carolina 1868, Preamble. We the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for ... our civil, political, and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the continuance of those....

North Dakota 1889, Preamble. We, the people of North Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty....

Ohio 1852, Preamble. We the people of the state of Ohio, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings....

Oklahoma 1907, Preamble. Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty....

Oregon 1857, Bill of Rights, Article I. Section 2. All men shall be secure in the Natural right, to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their consciences....

Pennsylvania 1776, Preamble. We, the people of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance....

Rhode Island 1842, Preamble. We the People of the State of Rhode Island ... grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy....

South Carolina, 1778, Preamble. We, the people of the State of South Carolina ... grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish this Constitution....

South Dakota 1889, Preamble. We, the people of South Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberties ... establish this Constitution....

Tennessee 1796, Art. XI.III. That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their conscience....

Texas 1845, Preamble. We the People of the Republic of Texas, acknowledging, with gratitude, the grace and beneficence of God....

Utah 1896, Preamble. Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we ... establish this Constitution....

Vermont 1777, Preamble. Whereas all government ought to ... enable the individuals who compose it to enjoy their natural rights, and other blessings which the Author of Existence has bestowed on man....

Virginia 1776, Bill of Rights, XVI ... Religion, or the Duty which we owe our Creator ... can be directed only by Reason ... and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian Forbearance....

Washington 1889, Preamble. We the People of the State of Washington, grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution....

West Virginia 1872, Preamble. Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia...reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God….

Wisconsin 1848, Preamble. We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God....

Wyoming 1890, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Wyoming, grateful to God for our civil, political, and religious liberties ... establish this Constitution....

After reviewing acknowledgments of God from all 50 state constitutions, one is faced with the prospect that maybe, just maybe, the ACLU and the federal courts are wrong. How could all 50 states be wrong?

"Those people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants."
— William Penn