Influence is a powerful tool, and uniting Christians around the state to influence the political process is one of the goals of Alabama Citizens Action Program (ALCAP).
“God has given us the gift of living in a nation where we can influence our government,” said Joe Godfrey, executive director of ALCAP. “If churches are not influencing their elected leaders at the city, county and state level, we could lose that wonderful gift of freedom.”
Under Godfrey’s leadership, ALCAP maintains an active presence in Montgomery, especially when the Legislature is in session, like right now. When the discussion turns to issues like gambling, alcohol sales and drug legalization, Godfrey works to mobilize church members to speak for the moral position. The goal? To influence the culture for good to pave the way for the gospel.
“If we don’t speak out on these moral issues, the ultimate outcome is that sharing the gospel becomes more and more difficult,” Godfrey said.
In this year’s legislative session, lottery proposals and efforts to legalize daily fantasy sports websites like DraftKings and FanDuel are being discussed in Montgomery. Godfrey is walking the halls daily, speaking to legislators and addressing the moral implications of not only gambling but other issues like alcohol, biblical sexuality, abortion and tobacco and other drug issues. However, people in the pews need to know that ALCAP cannot fight the battle alone, Godfrey said.
“We can be down here talking to legislators about the issues and bills, but if they don’t call their own senator and representative, things won’t happen,” he said. “They don’t listen so much to us, they listen to constituents.”
Pastors and church members need to be involved in the political process, just as Old Testament prophets spoke out against evil in their communities. Involvement is a New Testament command as well, Godfrey said.
“Jesus tells His followers to be salt and light, to influence the culture in which we live,” he said.
The political process is one way ALCAP does that but not the only way. The organization actively engages young people through American Character Builders, an education program that seeks to prevent bullying, drug abuse and addiction. Thousands of students participate in American Character Builders programs each year, and upcoming changes in the format of the programs will make them more user-friendly for youth ministers, teachers and young people.
Samford University students are working with ALCAP to shift the programs to a video-based curriculum. The videos, along with lesson plans, Bible study materials and discussion questions, will be available as downloads once they are ready.
The first topic to transition to the new format will be the anti-bullying program, and Godfrey hopes to have the videos ready by the start of the 2016 school year. Other programs will be revised as funding allows. American Character Builders is a 501(c)3 organization, so all donations are tax-deductible and helpful to providing the program without cost to student groups.
Educational resources
“We want to be able to offer these resources free to anyone who can use them with students,” Godfrey said.
Through the support of partner churches, organizations and individuals, ALCAP will continue to monitor legislation on moral issues and inform legislators of the social and moral implications of such legislation. The organization will continue to keep constituents involved as well, an effort that Baptists like Webb Adams and Franklin Kirksey appreciate.
Adams, a member of Shades Mountain Baptist Church, Vestavia Hills, in Birmingham Baptist Association, responded to a recent social media update by Godfrey regarding the false promises of lottery revenue, noting the fact that lotteries take money from the poor and increase crime, bankruptcy, suicide and divorce. Kirksey, pastor of Spanish Fort Baptist Church in Baldwin Baptist Association, joined the discussion as well, voicing his appreciation for the work of Godfrey and ALCAP.
“Thank you for standing for truth and righteousness,” Kirksey posted online.
Educating voters will continue to be a large part of ALCAP’s mission, as will voicing concerns to lawmakers as “Alabama’s moral compass,” Godfrey said. He desires prayer support for the work of ALCAP and American Character Builders. Financial support also helps continue the mission. The third leg of the stool is influence, specifically that of voters who care about moral issues in the state.
Call your legislators
“We need people calling their legislators to say that in addition to the morality of the issues, some, like the lottery, are just terrible economic policy,” Godfrey said. “Whether it’s Sunday alcohol sales, wet/dry votes or lottery proposals, we need people to be engaged and to vote ‘no’ on those proposals.”
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