WASHINGTON — Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) President Ronnie Floyd and former SBC leaders called on President Barack Obama on March 2 to defend “the least of these” against the Islamic State (ISIS).
“Since ISIS is a continuing threat to world peace in a way unknown to us since the Nazis of World War II, we humbly call upon you to use the influence and power of your distinguished office to take the necessary actions now in this urgent hour to bring an end to these human atrocities,” wrote Floyd and his predecessors in an open letter to Obama.
Floyd, pastor of Cross Church in northwest Arkansas, was joined by 16 former presidents in the “urgent appeal” that came after recent reports that ISIS was responsible for the beheadings of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians in Libya and the kidnapping of more than 200 Assyrian Christians.
“You have been given a historical moment to lead in protecting the people and the principle of religious freedom in the world.”
The joint statement by Southern Baptist leaders assures Obama they are praying for him “to have wisdom and courage in this hour” and that he has the “unequivocal support of the vast majority” of members of the denomination in taking the fight to ISIS.
“The world will applaud your courage and compassion as you defend those that Scripture calls ‘the least of these,’” they wrote.
(RNS)
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