Each year, as my family celebrates Thanksgiving, I find my thoughts drifting to the
first Thanksgiving. Pilgrims who came to escape religious persecution...to worship God freely and in peace without government intrusion. What a Thanksgiving that must have been!
It is easy to focus on the ways that our country has strayed from its original foundations, as groups like the ACLU and its allies have chipped away at our religious freedom. But we still have much to be thankful for, and America's best days are yet to be.
In two weeks, we will send you our "year in review" letter, looking back at the victories won for religious freedom, the sanctity of human life, marriage, and the family.
Those victories include:
...a university student who was able to graduate with her religious freedom intact, after ADF intervened on her behalf and won a decisive victory for Christian students everywhere.
...a young man who, after barely surviving a tragic automobile accident, was cut off from water and nutrition – until ADF interceded to give him a second chance at life and affirm the importance of defending those who can't defend themselves.
...a young mother who, with ADF's help, won the right to raise her daughter without interference and dealt another crucial defeat to the homosexual legal agenda.
The battle is far from over, and we must continue to prepare for the challenges ahead, and to work vigorously to defend our liberties in the courtroom. But at this time of year it is especially important to remember what God has already accomplished. As our family sits around the table this Thursday, we will thank God for the pilgrims and the religious freedom they celebrated that first Thanksgiving, and for ministry friends like you who, through your generous gifts and prayerful support, are helping to reclaim their dream of freedom.
Thank you, and may God richly bless you and your family and this great work we are doing together for His glory.
Yours for religious freedom in America,
Alan Sears
President, CEO and General Counsel
Your support makes it possible to fight - and win - for religious freedom.