2014 has seen ISIS terror threats, Ebola perils, turmoil in Ferguson and a still struggling economy leaving many Evangelicals disheartened over the future of our nation, our freedoms and our families.
So as you gather for a Thanksgiving feast with friends and family (like the family above) wondering, “What on earth can I be thankful for?” remember that we serve a God of indestructible hope, love, joy, and restoration. So let us, once again, offer our thanksgiving to the Lord for what He has done this year through the workings of His Church.
1. Meriam Ibrahim Finally Free!
Meriam Ibrahim, a wife, mother and trained doctor, was sentenced to death by a Sudanese court after refusing to recant her faith in Jesus Christ. News of the 27-year old expectant mother made international headlines after Christian advocates (including the Institute on Religion and Democracy’s Director of Religious Liberty programs, Faith McDonnell) spread news of her captivity and childbirth in shackles. After being acquitted of charges by an appeals court and released, Ibrahim was re-arrested as she attempted to depart the country. Praise God Ibrahim was finally released on bail and she and her family found refuge in the United States. When later asked by Fox News’ Megan Kelly how she handled her brutal circumstances, Ibrahim answered, “I had my faith in God. My faith was the only weapon that I had…”
2. North Korea Releases U.S. Missionary Kenneth Bae
“Our Thanksgiving celebration this year will be one we will never forget,” wrote Terri Chung, the sister of American missionary Kenneth Bae, who has faced two years of hard labor in a North Korean prison camp. His crime? Following Jesus Christ. According to the Christian Post, Bae led a China-based ministry that led tour groups into North Korea. On November 3, 2012 Bae was arrested for allegedly plotting against the government since Christianity is outlawed by the dictatorship. Bae was sentenced to 15 years detainment, but thanks be to God he was miraculously released on November 8, 2014.
3. U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Religious Liberty in Hobby Lobby case
In Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. and Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp. v. Burwell, the Supreme upheld citizens’ First Amendment right to live and work according to our moral convictions. The point of contention arose when the Southern Baptist Green family, owners of the Hobby Lobby craft store, and Mennonite Wood family, owners of Conestoga Wood corporation, declined to pay for abortion-inducing emergency contraception, including Plan B, Plan B One-Step, Next Choice, and Ella as dictated by the Health and Human Services’ contraception mandate. We are grateful for their victories, but every Evangelical can also thank God for these families’ courage to defend their constitutional rights in the face of fierce hostility.
4. Pro-Life Candidates Win Big in 2014 U.S. Elections
The nation’s 2014 mid-term elections proved to be a victorious year for pro-life political candidates, with 9 nine pro-life candidates winning their races against Democrat opponents for Senate. According to National Right to Life’s Political Action Committee, pro-life candidates in Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Montana, North Carolina, South Dakota, and West Virginia were all victorious. In response to the tremendous pro-life results, the National Right to Life explained that this “means that not only will the life issues continue to play a significant role in our elections, but pro-life candidates will continue to enjoy a significant advantage over their pro-abortion opponents.”
5. Christian Nurses Healed of Ebola and Publicly Credits God
Nina Pham, a graduate of Texas Christian College and young nurse, contracted Ebola after treating Liberian national Thomas Eric Duncan at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital. Sadly, Duncan was the first person to die of Ebola in the United States. But we thank God that he choose to heal Pham of the deadly virus. Upon her hospital release, The Christian Post reported that Pham acknowledged her Christian faith as the source of her hope during quarantine. “I first and foremost would like to thank God, my family and friends. Throughout this ordeal I have put my trust in God and my medical team,” said Pham “I believe in the power of prayer because I know so many people all over the world have been praying for me.”
6. Supreme Court Protects Pro-life Rights in Abortion Clinic Case
In a unanimous ruling in the case of McCullen v. Coakley the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a 2007 Massachusetts law that created a “buffer zone” banning pro-life demonstrators from standing on sidewalks and public streets within 35 feet of abortion clinics’ driveways and entrances. This strategy was used by the pro-abortion movement to silence peaceful pro-life prayer warriors speaking up for the rights of unborn babies and the health of expectant mothers. As the Church, we should thank God this day for the Supreme Court’s steps to uphold citizens’ freedom of speech on public sidewalks and streets.
7. Christianity’s Spectacular Growth in China
In the midst of the Chinese government’s harassment of churches and demolition of 230 crosses atop buildings, Christianity in atheist China has experienced tremendous growth. According to the Economist, “The number of Chinese Christians could by 2030 have reached 250m—the largest Christian population of any country in the world.” Reportedly, Evangelicalism is especially growing in China’s countryside, which is farther removed from the state’s hostile eyes. While China’s ruling Community Party has not outlawed Christianity, established churches are forced to register with the state and experience constant scrutiny and persecution.
8. The 6th Circuit Rules in Favor of Marriage
In short, a 6th circuit panel held that Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, and Tennessee’s laws recognizing marriage between one man and one woman do not violate the U.S. Constitution.
“We have been awaiting this decision for some time and welcome it not only as a tremendous victory,” noted Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage. “But as a common sense recognition that it is not for the federal courts to substitute their judgment about whether same-sex ‘marriage’ is a good idea or not, but to leave it to the people to make the decision about this fundamental institution.”
9. Christian Rappers Collect Thousands of Canned Food for Hungry
This story just made me smile. Mostly because I believe that food pantries and feeding those in need can be one of the most effective hands-on ministries carried out by the local church. But when you add hip hop artists rapping for the hungry, well it’s just that much better. Texas’ South Houston Legacy Church hosted The Holy Hip Hop for Hunger Concert & Awards Show, bringing together Christian rappers dedicated to serving their neighbors in need. According to the Christian Post, the awards show gathered nearly 3,000 cans of food to donate to Houston’s food bank.
10. Evangelical Action’s Tremendous Growth
Let me share with you exactly what Evangelical Action’s ministry has achieved in 2014 to encourage faithful Christians to expose the Evangelical Left’s unorthodox doctrine and equip young evangelicals to boldly stand for traditional Christian teachings…
- We experienced a huge victory with the publication of my first book Distortion: How the New Christian Left is Twisting the Gospel & Damaging the Faith, a guide for faithful Christians ready to challenge the Evangelical Left.
- At Family Research Council’s Values Voter Summit, I called on over 100 Christian college students to reject today’s “hook-up” culture and defend our religious liberty.
- Working hard to expose liberal efforts to undermine Christian support of Israel, I joined National Religious Broadcasters’ “Christians in Solidarity with Israel” trip and heard firsthand from embattled Israeli civilians and young people whose lives are regularly the target of Hamas’ terrorism.
- Published interviews and op-eds in Townhall magazine, Charisma magazine, World magazine, The Christian Post, TheBlaze, the Southern Baptist Convention’s Cannon & Culture, Focus on the Family’s Citizen magazine, Patheos, and more!
And friends this was only Evangelical Action’s first year! Imagine what we can accomplish with your partnership in 2015.
Hold on! This list is not all-inclusive, but merely scratches the surface of what God’s children can offer their thanksgivings. What blessings are you thankful for in 2014?
Comment by Jason Wert on November 20, 2014 at 11:37 am
I’m thankful for Chelsen Vicari. 🙂
Comment by Dan Horsley on November 22, 2014 at 2:36 pm
Ditto.
Comment by Jason P Taggart on November 20, 2014 at 1:01 pm
Call this “spin,” but I’m thankful that the gay “marriage” issue is causing a divide between evangelicals and EINOs (“evangelicals” in name only). On the one hand, it’s a pity to see see people, especially the young, who are choosing to follow the example of Demas (“in love with this world,” 2 Timothy 4:10). But this kind of separation has to come, the separation of the wheat from the weeds.
Comment by Leigh on November 21, 2014 at 4:11 pm
I’m thankful for the separation of church and state. Especially when I read theocratic nonsense like this article.
Comment by Papa Mincho on November 21, 2014 at 5:54 pm
I know, right? I especially love how Chelsen Vicari is thankful for so many forced childbirth supporters getting the nod, when every prospective GOP candidate (e.g. Gardner, Ernst) bent over backwards to say that they wouldn’t actually do anything to force women to have babies they don’t want. It’s all about jooooooooobs.
Fat chance. Looking forward to the 2014 Congress looking a lot like the 2010 Congress, with countless failed bills aimed at turning America into the Christian Taliban.
Oh, well. At least if the GOP has their way, people like Vicari will be too busy raising their eighth kid, hiding behind their ankle-length veils, and fearing their husband to do anything ‘un-womanly’, like writing and expressing opinions.
Comment by Linda on November 22, 2014 at 9:59 am
You are seeing things that aren’t there, and you need to look up the word “theocracy.” As taxpaying citizens – and there are millions of us – Christians have a right to a say in the political process, and that does not constitute “theocracy.” You, on the other hand, in wishing to deny religious people any say, do fit the definition of “fascist.”
Comment by Leigh on November 25, 2014 at 9:30 am
You not only wish to have your “say”. You wish to enshrine your beliefs into American law. That, my friend, is THEOCRACY. Your end goal.
Comment by Kyle on November 23, 2014 at 6:53 pm
Which parts were theocratic? The periods, or the commas?