From October 30 through November 1, state lawmakers gathered in Branson, Missouri for the “Statesmen of Faith” Annual Meeting and Awards Gala of the National Association of Christian Lawmakers.
I’ve been privileged to be a member of the National Advisory Board for this group since its inception five years ago, and under the leadership of its founder, Rep. Jason Rapert (former State Senator in Arkansas), have seen it grow consistently in size and influence. There are now state chairs for 41 states, and Indiana Congressman Marlin Stutzman is our chair for the US House of Representatives.
President Trump is aware of the organization, and Dr. Ben Graham, Faith Director for the U.S. Department of the Interior, was present for the entire conference as well, which drew several hundred participants.
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One of the themes that emerged early and often in this gathering was that America is now undergoing a third great awakening. The way in which voters of faith turned out for the 2024 elections and rejected the woke agenda, the way the Trump Administration as well as the US Supreme Court have super-charged religious freedom, the increase in conversions, bible sales, and church attendance, the recent survey of Catholic priests showing them to be more conservative, and the impact of the assassination of Charlie Kirk (who was memorialized during the conference), all lend credence to this assertion.
Christian leaders who spoke at the conference and unpacked this theme from various angles included Dr. Ralph Reed, Former Attorney General John Ashcroft, Andrew Wommack, and Kenneth Copeland.
All this can only mean good things for the prolife movement, which was also well represented at the conference and clearly a deep priority for all the public officials who were present. The topic of abortion arose in many of the presentations, and there was an entire segment of the meeting dedicated to an update on the prolife movement. I was privileged to kick off that session with an overall update on the state of the prolife movement. Other presenters on that panel included Allan Parker (The Justice Foundation), Julie Scott-Emmons (Human Coalition), Terri Marcroft (Unplanned Good), Emily Hoegler (Americans United for Life) and Dr. Bill Lile (ProLife Doc, and Medical Advisor for Priests for Life).
Among the points in my presentation were that the incrementalism with which lawmakers approach prolife legislation is not something that we choose; rather, it chooses us. When a legislative body does not have the votes to pass more protective laws, that is a limit that is imposed on us, not one that we decide. While working to persuade the other legislators to protect all babies, we work with them to protect the ones they are willing to protect now. The right of babies to be protected today doesn’t depend on whether anyone else also has protection today.
I pointed out that one of the key opportunities to advance such protection is in the arena of late-term abortion, where there is a strong consensus across the nation and across the political divide.
Moreover, one of the facts to keep in mind about chemical abortion is that approximately 80% of abortion drugs are distributed in brick and mortar facilities rather than through the mail. One of the presentations on the panel explained the Texas law recently passed, prohibiting the distribution, in or out of the state, of deadly abortion drugs.
The conference was marked by regular prayer and worship, fellowship and shared meals, as well as the adoption of formal resolutions of the Association to promote model legislation across the country. The purification of our schools from harmful reading material for students, and replacing it with the wider availability of the Bible, was another main topic of discussion, as was the real and present danger presented by Islam in America and around the world. The need to support Israel, and the many ways that support should be manifested, were also discussed widely.
Dr. Ralph Reed brought his vast political experience and insight to the conference and, looking back at the 2024 elections and ahead to the 2026 midterms, spoke of having a bold, clear agenda as one of the essential ingredients of a successful political campaign. Citizens will work hard on a campaign if they are inspired by a vision that their candidate embraces with the same vigor and passion as they themselves do.
The National Association of Christian Lawmakers (ChristianLawmakers.com) has arisen at an ideal time in American history, and is a great ally of the prolife movement. Its acronym, NACL, is also the chemical abbreviation for “Salt,” reminding us that Christians are the salt of the earth, including through the vocation of lawmaking. Prolife Americans would provide a great benefit, encouragement, and network for the Christian, prolife legislators they know by introducing them to this crucial organization.
May the efforts of this group bear ongoing fruit as we seek to conform our state and federal laws to the respect and protection that our unborn brothers and sisters deserve.
LifeNews.com Note: Frank Pavone is national director of Priests for Life and the national pastoral director of Rachel’s Vineyard Ministries and the Silent No More Awareness Campaign.
