According to Larry J. Michael, chairman of the Christian Life Commission, the CLC seeks to “give voice to the godly pursuit of truth and its application to our lives.”
Michael said the CLC gives special emphasis to World Hunger Sunday, Sanctity of Human Life, Racial Reconciliation, Substance Abuse Prevention, Citizenship and Religious Liberty, Social Issues, Anti-Gambling and ALCAP Sunday.
This past year the Christian ethics/chaplaincy office helped to develop a videotape to instruct churches how to minister to the military and their families.
In the Book of Reports, Michael said that “while the Iraqi regime of terror has been removed, we are all concerned about our troops that still serve there and other places.”
Michael introduced to the convention a member of First Baptist Church, Clanton, Master Sergeant Al Blankenship of the Marine Corps Reserve. Blankenship served in Iraq for six months.
“Our church lifted up this man and his entire unit in prayer. We had meals for the wives of the soldiers and tried to take care of them while their spouses were away. We prayed much, and we prayed hard. And on Sept. 28, Al and his entire unit came home,” said Michael before showing a video of Blankenship.
In the video Blankenship said when he and others were deployed they were reassured to know that their churches would help take care of their families. He said this reassurance affected his ability to perform in field operations.
As Blankenship approached the podium dressed in full uniform, everyone on the convention floor rose to their feet in applause. Blankenship just shook his head until the applause died down and everyone was seated.
“I appreciate that, but I don’t deserve it. If it had not been for that prayer shield made by my church and you and the good body armor of the U.S. Marine Corps, instead of two cuts under my arm, I would have two holes in my chest. I want you to know that your prayers are felt by the warriors across the ocean,” said Blankenship.
Skewed presentation of reality
Blankenship said the message received by Americans about the war is shaded.
“The media has a personal agenda to sway people to give up the commitment we made to our commander in chief. When I first had the opportunity to watch a news broadcast, I could not believe what I saw. Everything they reported was negative,” he said. “You can’t say you support the military but not support the President. He is our commander in chief, the first soldier.”
Blankenship said the lack of commitment is an epidemic in American society today.
“We are falling from commitment — from marriage, to church, to our President, to the countries we wanted to help. The truth is that 80 percent of the Iraqis are begging and crying daily for us to stay,” he said.
“The reason the Iraqi leadership won’t step up is because they don’t want the U.S. to leave.
“I helped to train the police force, and every day they asked if I was leaving.”
American’s resolve to “finish what we’ve started” needs to be restored, he explained.
“I’ve had the opportunity to speak in many schools since I returned. I compare this to when children get in fights at school. They get called to the principal’s office and he asks who started it. Well, they (terrorists) started it the day our towers fell. They brought it to us and attacked us. We have direct proof that Osama bin Laden is linked to Saddam Hussein, and I personally found documentation of biological weapons,” said Blankenship.
“The reason you’re not hearing all of this is because if you heard it, we would have to admit that we did something right and need to stay and help these people,” said Blankenship.
He said “now more than ever” we need to pray for the Iraqi people. “I’ve seen how these individuals have been tortured and killed. I’ve uncovered mass graves. The only thing I know to compare it to is Nazi Germany. We need to pray for the Iraqi people.
“With God’s help and the patience of America, we will finish what we started,” said Blankenship as he stepped away from the podium and the convention floor filled with applause as attendees rose to their feet.
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