June 24, 2008
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Jeremiah 29:11
Fourteen years ago, 35 ministry leaders joined together with much hope that their dream of the Alliance Defense Fund was part of God’s plan for this country. When I look at how far we’ve come – I am humbled. God has incredibly blessed their vision. God is building the alliance they dreamed of: a servant organization, unlike any before, engaging in legal strategy, training, funding and litigation – and this unique alliance, in case after case, is preserving religious liberty in America and defeating the ACLU and its allies.
Thanks to your support we’ve now trained nearly 1,100 of the world’s best and brightest Christian attorneys through the ADF National Litigation Academy and more than 600 of the most gifted law students in the country through our Blackstone Legal Fellowship. We’ve funded more than 1,500 cases at all levels of the state and federal courts including the Supreme Court of the United States. We’ve worked hand in hand with more than 300 like-minded organizations that are transforming the culture. Though there are many setbacks and many hard battles along the way we are seeing our dream unfold: restoring our nation back to what our forefathers intended, a nation that affirms religious liberty, protects the sanctity of life, and upholds marriage and the family.
In spite of this success, we must continue to increase our capacity. The Associated Press reported this month that the ACLU is currently undergoing the “largest fundraising campaign in its 88-year history,” expanding into the heartland states and other perceived conservative strongholds. Apparently, the ACLU, which has gnawed on the support beams of this nation and compromised its foundational values, will continue to do so, with even more office space, manpower, and donor dollars -- $24 million from one billionaire alone!
If that’s not enough to get our attention, ACLU executive director Anthony Romero also said they will dramatically increase legal attacks on American freedoms following the November election. “We can be sure the religious right will be much more active on the state level - our work will be critical there.''
We know we’ll see an increased level of litigation – and we’ll need to be more vigilant than ever. We also know we have a strategy that can and will win… no matter how much money the ACLU can raise. We are prepared to meet them in battle, in courtrooms in the heartland and all across America – if God’s people allow us to – with prayer and enough lawyers and resources to do the job. We know Who is behind us and we know we have a proven track record of winning. So, we will carry on with the vision shared by our ADF founders and our nation’s forefathers… all for one reason: to win for a better tomorrow for your children and mine!