American Pastors Network: Now Is the Time for Pastors to Unite and Say, ‘We Will Stand’

***NEWS RELEASE***

For Immediate Release November 21, 2016

CONTACT:
Beth Harrison, Hamilton Strategies, 610.584.1096, ext. 104, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, or Deborah Hamilton, 215.815.7716, 610.584.1096, ext. 102

American Pastors Network: Now Is the Time for Pastors to Unite and Say, ‘We Will Stand’

New ‘We Will Stand’ Initiative Unites and Mobilizes Pastors to Preach, Pray, Encourage and Engage, as the Election Opens a Small Window of Opportunity and as the Nation Has Been Granted a Stay

PHILADELPHIA—Many Christian voters are still breathing a sigh of relief after this month’s election, thankful for a presidential team that seems to be focused on their values heading into the White House.

The American Pastors Network (APN, www.americanpastorsnetwork.net) has been communicating to pastors and churches since the election that the nation has been given a small window of opportunity to move forward with the stay that has been granted by God.

“Now we ask ourselves, what must be done in that window?” asks APN President Sam Rohrer. “God has given us grace and mercy, so what can we do with that gift? God answered the pleas and the prayers of His people and provided a reprieve. His continued blessing will be linked directly to our level of obedience. Yes, He has given us a stay, but the length of that stay is dependent on whether God’s people will be obedient or will go back to sleep. We will very easily return to the same comfortable, status quo ways if we fail to lead appropriately. This is about much more than winning an election; it’s a complete lifestyle shift and a change in the hearts of God’s people. And it starts at the pulpits of America’s churches.”

To that end, APN recently launched the new “We Will Stand” initiative to help mobilize and encourage pastors to preach biblical truth about all issues, as well as unite pastors in their calling to stand boldly for truth.

“At perhaps no other time in history has it been more important for the nation’s pastors and churches to work diligently to cultivate real change in our society,” Rohrer said. “By adding their names to the American Pastors Network’s ‘We Will Stand’ initiative, pastors nationwide can join with thousands of other courageous and faithful pastors in leading their local church family to be Ambassadors of Christ by committing to preach, pray, encourage and engage.”

Pastors who sign the “We Will Stand—Preach, Pray, Encourage, Engage” pledge will commit to preach passionately, pray fervently, encourage their congregations and engage as a minister together with civic leaders.

  • I WILL PREACH PASSIONATELY the whole counsel of God, with a biblical worldview that communicates the priority of the Gospel to a fallen, broken humanity. It means exhorting the saints to apply biblical principles to their own lives, the lives of their family, and the culture of their neighborhood, state, and country.
  • I WILL PRAY FERVENTLY with faith, obedience, discipline, fasting.
  • I WILL ENCOURAGE CONGREGATIONS to be salt and light by engaging the culture with truth, practicing good citizenship and voting informed by sound information and biblical principles.
  • I WILL ENGAGE AS A MINISTER TOGETHER with civic leaders through prayer, encouragement and education on critical issues.

The American Pastors Network is the first and largest national network of Bible-believing pastors committed to teaching and applying biblical principles as the moral compass and source of truth for all matters of life. Through “We Will Stand,” APN will reach out to pastors in four different areas:

  • State- and country-wide chapters uniting like-minded pastors and churches who take seriously Jesus’ command to be “salt and light” into the culture.
  • “Stand in the Gap Radio” programs featuring discussions, sermons and daily “doses of encouragement” to inform, educate and impact listeners on a wide range of issues.
  • Initiatives designed to restore the relationship between pastors and elected officials on a biblical, not political basis.
  • Valuable support and information through email updates, website resources, social media and conference calls, all designed to connect with pastors on a more personal level.

APN’s mission, which will be carried out through the “We Will Stand” initiative, includes: to identify, encourage, equip, educate and network pastors and church members to “Stand in the Gap for Truth”; to be a voice for truth and an advocate for pastors in the public square by providing Bible-based and constitutionally consistent analysis and recommendations on matters of public policy; and to strengthen the biblical relationship between pastors and elected officials, through various private and public meetings for prayer, study and policy discussion.

The American Pastors Network brings listeners the daily one-hour radio program, “Stand in the Gap Today,” which airs on 425 stations nationwide, as well as “Stand in the Gap Minute” and “Stand in the Gap Weekend.” For more information on the entire lineup of APN radio programming, visit www.StandintheGapRadio.com.

APN encourages pastors to visit www.AmericanPastorsNetwork.net to commit to the pledge online, as well as sign up to receive email updates on “We Will Stand” and other news. Online, pastors and engaged believers can also learn about events, initiatives and opportunities to become involved, and receive valuable information and links to resources designed to help pastors and church leaders in their ministries.

APN offers pastors numerous online resources that help clergy choose sermon topics and find information for other church ministries. With some free and some paid resources, topics include abortion, apologetics, creation, the cultural crisis, economics, education, the environment, history, homosexuality, Islam and marriage, along with many others.

The American Pastors Network is the largest, national network of pastors who believe in the authority of scripture; who boldly preach the whole counsel of God with a disciplined application of a biblical worldview to public policy; who are building a permanent infrastructure of biblically faithful pastors and lay leaders; and who are mobilizing congregations to participate in the political process on a non-partisan basis. For information on APN, visit www.AmericanPastorsNetwork.net, its Facebook page or follow APN’s Twitter feed, @AmericanPastors. Those interested in forming a chapter in their state may contact amy@papastors.net.

The American Pastors Network is a Ministry Program Affiliate of Capstone Legacy Foundation (a 501(c)(3) non-profit Christian Public Community Foundation registered nationwide). APN’s daily short radio feature, “Stand in the Gap Minute,” airs on approximately 290 stations, “Stand in the Gap Weekend” airs on nearly 180 stations and the live one-hour show, “Stand in the Gap Today,” airs on about 425 stations nationwide. 

###

To interview a representative from the American Pastors Network, contact Beth Harrison at 610-584-1096, ext. 104, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, or Deborah Hamilton at 215-815-7716 or 610-584-1096, ext. 102.