Released: Wednesday, April 24, 2019

ONE Voice for Liberties Conference will be September 26-27, 2019!

Future conference dates: Sep. 24-25, 2020; Sep. 23-24, 2021; Sep. 29-30, 2022

Strengthen

With elections on November 5 for the House of Delegates and Virginia Senate, candidates are popping up like dandelions! The final primaries or conventions to select these candidates is in June, but if you want to have a voice in determining who will run, you need to get involved. Each locality and each political party has its own way of operating. Prayer is important and so is your voice (vote) in this process.   

Educate

The VAIB/NCLL legal seminars were fantastic! Attendees told us they got so much helpful information. More than one hundred fifty pastors and individuals attended the five seminars from Tidewater to the Blue Ridge Mountains. If you were unable to attend, remember you can still obtain this much-needed material. Government officials will not be sympathetic if you say, “I didn’t know!” Ignorance is not an excuse.

ONE Voice for Liberties Conference: Registration Open!

Please register for the conference and the Richmond Capitol tour (September 26-27) at https://vaib.org/education/one-voice-for-liberties-conference/. The conference is free! Transportation to and from the Capitol will be provided at no charge. (The only thing you’re responsible for is your lunch when we arrive at the Capitol.) You’ll love this historic opportunity.

Virginia March for Life: A Family Conversation

The first annual Virginia March for Life was a tremendous success for the issue of life. I visited with folks from at least eight VAIB member churches (some from long distances). Praise the Lord for their sacrifice of time and effort to come and make their voices heard.  

But let me speak candidly. A big disappointment was that more VAIB churches didn’t attend . . . while other religious groups brought in groups by the busload. Virginia independent Baptists should be standing together and leading the way when it comes to defending life.

What does the Bible tell us about getting involved with government?

As Christians, it’s important to remember “there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God” (Romans 13:1). As American citizens we have a right and responsibility to elect our leaders at every stage of the process as “ambassadors of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20).

You and I are called to pray for all men and women, including our leaders, “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty . . . [and for] all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:2).

Government has great ability to influence our lives and the lives of others. As we first BELIEVE what’s right, we then lovingly and strongly SPEAK what’s true, and finally DO what’s right for the good of our communities and for God’s glory. “Ye are the salt of the earth . . . Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid . . . Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:12-16).

So as the process unfolds: PRAY for wisdom for Christ-exalting leaders, and also pray for officials who don’t trust Jesus (for changed hearts and that their efforts to glorify and codify sin are thwarted). VOTE for and SPEAK out on biblical truths at every stage of the process—from nominations to general elections. “Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:14-15).

There are times when we must show our numbers, especially to legislators. We must vote and then communicate with elected officials. As I speak on your behalf to the General Assembly, it is so much more effective when like-minded delegates and senators have been elected to office. Help yourself and VAIB—vote and financially support VAIB.

Sincerely,

Eddy Aliff

Executive Director