Real Citizenship

REAL CITIZENSHIP:
Practical Steps for Making an
Impact on Your Culture
By Tim G. Echols
Copyright © 2004 by Tim G. Echols
All rights reserved. No part of this book, except brief passages for
purposes of reviews, may be reproduced in any form or by any
means without permission by the publisher.
Contact address: Tim G. Echols, P.O. Box 9, Jefferson, GA 30549.
All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of
the Bible.
Cover photo provided courtesy of Intercollegiate Studies Institute,

W ilmington, Delaware.
ISBN 0-9758614-1-7
Printed in the United States of America

T ABLE OF C ONTENTS
Acknowledgments ............................................................................. i
Foreword ......................................................................................... iii
Introduction ................................................................................... vii
W here Activism Falls Short ............................................................. 1
No Such Thing as a “Junior Christian” .......................................... 7
Having the M ind of Christ Is No Passive Endeavor .................... 13
Communicating Sacred Truths in Secular Settings ...................... 21
Rewriting American History .......................................................... 27
The “Power of One” ....................................................................... 31
Courage Is Caught ......................................................................... 35
Contrary to W hat You M ay Have Heard,

It’s N ot All About You ..................................................... 41
The Importance of “Taking People W ith You” ............................ 49
You Can Be an Expert ................................................................... 55
W hy You Need to Know and Be Known by Elected Officials ..... 63
Proximity to Power is Power ......................................................... 71

Activism Begins at Home .............................................................. 77
Don’t Be Threatened by a Little Competition ............................. 85
Slow Judicial Tyranny ................................................................... 89
Help! M ore Christian Journalists Needed ................................... 95
The Preeminence of Christ ......................................................... 101
Developing Your Family Name ................................................... 105

A CKNOWLEDGMENTS
M y thanks to my friend N ed W illiams for his fine work in
editing this book and preparing it for publication.

F OREWORD
In 1789, America needed change. The government under
the Articles of Confederation simply was not working. M en that
were brave and wise had drafted a proposed solution— a new
Constitution of the United States, drafted in the name of “W e the
People.”
But other men—equally brave and wise, opposed the
ratification of the Constitution. Patrick Henry, George M ason,
and others wanted America to succeed but doubted that the correct
path for the future had been found in the Constitution. Although
there were concerns about taxation and excessive federal power, the
central criticism of Henry and M ason was that the lack of a Bill of
Rights would eventually cause our national government to become
an agency of tyranny.
On June 4, 1788, on the floor of the Virginia ratification
convention, a hero of the Revolutionary W ar stood as one of the

iv R EA L C ITIZEN SH IP
first speakers. George N icholas had fired the first shot in defense
of Virginia when the British invaded. He was a supporter of the
Constitution and rose in its defense with this observation: “An
enlightened people w ill never suffer what was established for their
security to be perverted to an act of tyranny.”
W hile Henry and M ason failed on their immediate
objective— securing amendments to the Constitution before
Virginia’s ratification, they were ultimately successful in gaining the
Bill of Rights. But their success did not detract from the truth of
Nicholas’ observation. Unless we have an enlightened citizenry,
our government will turn from a protector of liberty to a source of
tyranny.
The reality is that we have marched too far down the road
toward tyranny. But it is not too late for America. If we train the
next generation of leaders to believe in the principles of freedom,
our constitutional Republic is capable of securing the blessings of
liberty for us and our posterity.
Tim Echols and TeenPact have been an incredibly dynamic
force in training future leaders. At Patrick Henry College we are
blessed to have a number of his alumni as key leaders who are

R EA L C ITIZEN SH IP v
being prepared for careers that will enable them to lead the nation
and shape the culture.
This book will open a door for the future of our nation by
opening the minds of many young people to both their
responsibility and their opportunity as citizen leaders. I can’t wait
to see what these young people will do to help return America to its
godly heritage.
M ike Farris
Chairman and General Counsel, HSLDA
President of Patrick Henry College
December, 2004
INTRODUCTION
Ask several “men on the street” for their opinion about
politics or government and you’re bound to get some combination
of blank stares, opinions regurgitated from the typical newspaper,
and apathy— lots of apathy. It is difficult to say whether apathy is
a product of being uninformed or vice versa; nevertheless, making a
difference is the last thing on the average person’s mind. In fact,
most people would say it can’t be done, certainly not by one
person, and most certainly not by a person who has yet to reach
voting age.
I feel comfortable in assuming that because you are reading
this book, you are at least somewhat concerned about America’s
political and popular condition. Nonetheless, you may still
question your ability to help reverse the moral decline. So, can one
person really make a difference? And is it possible for one person
to m ake a difference if that person is too young to even cast a

viii R EA L C ITIZEN SH IP
ballot? I believe that if the principles in this book are taken to
heart, you and your family will become a significant part of the
solution to America’s woes. I believe this book will help you
become a better steward of the God-given opportunity of living in
America. M ost importantly, I believe this book will challenge you
to live a life more pleasing to God.
Each chapter concludes with a “chapter challenge” section
to spur you to make some application of the principles presented in
the text. I hope you will finish each and every challenge. If you
do, please write me so I can send you a special award.
Is the term “real citizenship” presumptuous? Perhaps. But
as I will explain in the coming pages, believers in Christ are called
to more than simply remembering to vote. As we live out Christ-
like consideration for our fellow citizens, and Christ-like respect for
the p rocedures an d p eop le in volved in the p olitical
process— attitudes which can only come from placing our hope in
Christ, we will be examples of “real” citizens.
In sum, as believers we are called to something greater than
earthly citizenship or electoral “success”— we are called to be

R EA L C ITIZEN SH IP ix
faithful citizens of heaven. M ay God bless you as you seek to
faithfully live out your “dual” citizenship.
Tim G. Echols
P.O. Box 9
Jefferson, GA 30549
August 2004
C HAPTER O NE
Where Activism Falls Short
ow many emails, newsletters and calls do you get
H from organizations wanting you to make a phone
call to some elected official somewhere? How many zillions of
times have you been asked to boycott, picket, turn-off, tune-out or
protest something? W hat would you think if I told you I believe
m ost of what you and I do in the way of political activism has very
little impact? Yikes! that would be a little discouraging.
That was my feeling as I heard Dr. James Dobson, founder
of Focus on the Family, make the following statement to a small
group of Christian public policy leaders: “Everything you all are
doing [to impact public policy] is just stopgap until God sends
revival.” The statement was sobering but true, because Dr. Dobson
was reminding us that America’s social problems are too severe and
pervasive to be solved in the power of the Flesh.

2 R EA L C ITIZEN SH IP
Lately, it seems that society’s drift away from God has
become an outright sprint, and the culture is growing more and
more hostile toward Christianity. Inspired by the works of Darwin
and Freud, American liberals have attacked all that Christians hold
dear and the principles which are, in m y opinion, the foundation
upon which this country w as built. Additionally, the M odernist
movement has been a poison pill inside our society, turning our
citizens against the best ideas of W estern Civilization and wreaking
havoc on families and communities. That brings us back to revival.
America’s social problems

are too severe and pervasive
to be solved in the power of
the Flesh.
Revival, as portrayed in the Bible, is a theoretical concept
to most of us. It has long been a tradition in certain southern
denominations to spend a week each year doing “revival” services.
But the revival that America needs is a massive return to God— an
awakening of sorts. Biblical revival is accompanied by repentance,

R EA L C ITIZEN SH IP 3
brokenness and people coming to Christ. These three “fruits”— not
clever marketing of any man or ministry, would bring about
societal change. Although there have been pockets of revival in
America, there have been none that have occurred across
denominations or nationwide . . . at least not in my lifetime. This
is the kind of revival that we all need to be praying for.
In II Chronicles 7:14, God says, “If my people, which are
called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my
face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from
heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” This
verse explains why I have linked revival to prayer, because God
promises to heal our land if we, His people, do certain things. I
believe the prerequisite to revival is repentance— or a change of
heart and action concerning sin. And repentance is evidenced by
humbling ourselves and giving voice to our belief that God is the
only one who can relieve us of the judgment we deserve and the
only source of societal healing.
Prayerlessness is a sin that has dominated my life and only
God knows the price I have paid and will pay for it. Perhaps you
feel the same way. In those times when prayer has been a priority
in my life, great things have happened: Family Resource Network, the
ministry I founded in 1993, was born in private prayer; TeenPact
was conceived amidst a regular prayer meeting I participated in at
the Georgia Capitol; and at various tim es God has revealed
direction for my family through prayer. One would think that with
all of these experiences I would pray more. But no, I allow the
busyness of life to crowd out this most important of Christian
disciplines. Like any other spiritual discipline, prayer doesn’t come
naturally (with the exception of so-called “foxhole prayers”), and
we are often too busy to pray.
M y good friend Allen Parker, of the Justice Foundation, has
found a creative way to pray for revival. Every morning he hosts a
prayer “conference call” with other men across the country. I
encourage you to consider how you can make prayer, or humbly
seeking God, a central part of your life. Think of ways to make
yourself accountable to others about prayer, and develop a means
by which you can be reminded of ways God has previously blessed
you through prayer.
Certainly, this failure to pray must be the Achilles’ heel of
the Am erican church, and we cannot expect revival or radical

change in our society if we do not change our habits. I urge you to
be resolute in addressing this deficiency.
Chapter Challenge
1. Start a weekly prayer group with some friends that
meets either in person or by conference call. See
www.freeconference.com to set up a free call for up
to 100 people.
2. Read Sammy Tippett’s book, The Prayer Factor
(M oody Publishers, 1988).
3. Begin journaling your prayers each day, and take
the time to w rite down prayer requests that others
share with you.
4. Plan a prayer walk. See the book Prayerwalking,
(Steve H awthorne and Graham Kendrick, Creation
House, 1993), for more information.
5. Begin to pray daily for revival, on behalf of those in
authority and for your family.

C HAPTER T WO
No Such Thing as a “Junior
Christian”
here is something you should know about me right
T up front (or at least pretty close to the front).
believe in the spiritual capacity of young people. Do you? Not

I
sure? W ell, ask yourself if you think children and teens receive a
“kid’s portion” of God’s spirit when they become Christians. Years
ago, my friends at Youth W ith a M ission (“YW AM ”) persuaded
me that God can use younger Christians in powerful w ays because
He has equipped them with the same capacity to believe, trust and
obey God as any adult. Ever since that time I have been
challenging young people to trust G od for big things, even though
they may possess less life experience and may not be deemed
“competent” by the world.
Ephesians 2:10 states, “For we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before
ordained that we should walk in them.” Some of these good works
are for our children and teens. I remember when my oldest
daughter was only eight years old. She cam e to me quite burdened
in her heart about sharing the Gospel with a visitor to our home.
Thinking it was not a good time for her to share her faith, I was on
the verge of suggesting that she wait. In this case though, the Holy
Spirit “checked” me. I remember her saying, “Dad, where is the
booklet about Jesus?” I told her and the next thing I knew she had
her little pink Bible out and was reading her favorite verse to the
visitor. The visitor called me the next day and confided that he
had placed his faith in Christ as explained in the booklet Emily had
given him. Two weeks later I baptized him at our church, and
learned an unforgettable lesson about doubting the spiritual
capacity of youth.
W e live in a culture that expects very little from young
people. In fact, our culture presumes that teens will be
We live in a culture that

expects very little from
young people.
disrespectful, disinterested and irresponsible. Thus, it follows that
our culture generally “under-challenges” youth. This low view of
our youth can seep into the Church with the result that our young
people can miss out on the blessings that come w ith obedience.
The task of reaching this culture for Christ is daunting, so giving
our youth a “pass” and encouraging them to just “enjoy” their teen
years amounts to squandering a valuable resource for fulfilling the
Great Commission.
In his book The Rise and Fall of the American Teenager,
Thomas Hine asserts, “Teenagers m ust be treated and educated as
the young adults they are and encouraged to participate more fully
in our social, economic, and political life.” I agree wholeheartedly;
thus, a theme verse in TeenPact is, “Let no m an despise thy youth;
but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation,
in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” (I Tim, 4:12) David Alan
Black emphasizes a similar principle in his book, The M yth of
Adolescence: Raising Responsible Children in an Irresponsible Society.
(Davidson Press, 1999) Black writes,
the theory of adolescence undermines the Christian

understanding of human nature. It underscores the
modern disinclination to treat a person as
responsible for his or her actions. W hen we assert
the “fact” that teenagers are to act like
irresponsible children rather than like responsible
adults, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. And
when school, church, and family treat 16-year-olds
like young children, teenagers act in ways that
justify that treatment.
In TeenPact we believe young people are really young
adults— capable of enormous impact now . . . and later. Have you
ever heard a parent say something along the lines of, “I’ll be happy
if my kid just stays off drugs, stays out of jail, and doesn’t make me
a grandparent”? I know young people make mistakes and they do

not always live up to our expectations, but don’t you think we have
set our standards too low?
I believe we need to consistently communicate to our
children that God has called them to dedicate themselves to His
service, to engage the culture, to make an impact on their
community. I know we cannot guarantee how they turn out, but I
believe we should seek God’s face about their unique calling and
the role we can play to prepare them for the future. W indy and I
prayed before each of our children was born that God might give us
some hint about how to steer them. In five of seven of those cases,
we are confident that we have received specific direction on which
we have acted and continue to act.
A couple of years ago my oldest daughter and some other
TeenPacters around the southeast brought suit against the Federal
Election Commission. Tucked away deep into the bowels of the
M cCain-Feingold Campaign Reform Act was a provision which, by
prohibiting minors from making monetary contributions to
candidates in federal elections, exemplified the overbearing and
overreaching regulatory impulse of big government.

Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel for the American Center for
Law and Justice (“ACLJ”) contacted Em ily to ask if he could
represent her and her colleagues. After a deposition, many
interviews and a trip to the Supreme Court, Emily emerged just
about the only winner from that landmark case. I will never forget
seeing my 14 year old step in front of a bank of television cam eras
with M r. Sekulow and make a statement. Because of Emily and
her friends, minors’ constitutional right to contribute to federal
campaigns has been restored.
In TeenPact w e challenge students to dream big and believe
that God can use them to change their culture. W e ask students to
step out of their “comfort zones.” For some, that will mean doing a
better job in their own family— cooperating with parents or serving
brothers and sisters. For others, it m ay mean changing their
ambitions or taking seriously G od’s leading in their lives. W e have
seen students become effective legislative aides in their state
capitols at 15 years of age. W e have watched tireless campaign
workers who are only 14 years old. W e have seen eight-year-olds
learn how to speak in public. W e have seen young people of all
ages pour their heart out to God in prayer.

W hile all of the above are examples of the skills we teach in
TeenPact, students need to be challenged in a variety of areas and
on a variety of issues—learning to trust in Christ all along the way.
I believe that we must prepare the next generation of political,
business, and cultural leaders. Scripture admonishes the older to
train the younger, (Titus 2:3-5) and our failure to do so will have
grave consequences in our country’s future. God has important
work for the next generation of believers to do— starting today.
Chapter Challenge
1. Read Rick W arren’s The Purpose Driven Life: W hat
on Earth A m I Here For (Zondervan Publishing Co.,
2002). See also, www.purposedrivenlife.com.
2. Take a spiritual gifts test and ask God to show you
more ways to use your gifts. See www.Lifeway.com
for a great booklet containing a number of tests like
this.
3. Read the stories of Daniel, Esther, and Joseph
again, and ask God to speak to you about your
future. But be careful, He might do it!

C HAPTER T HREE
Having the Mind of Christ Is
No Passive Endeavor
hink Hard, Think W ell.” That’s the motto for
“T W orldview Academy, a ministry established by my
buddy, Randy Sims. Randy and his crew believe that students face
tremendous challenges in our world today: a popular culture that
encourages selfishness and mediocrity; an education system based
on atheistic and/or New Age assumptions; and cultural leaders
driven by a lust for power and personal gain. W ho can stand firm
against such forces? I agree with Randy that only the Christian
who courageously pursues a deeper relationship with Christ,
learning to think His thoughts and follow Him, will be able to
make a real impact.

The Apostle Paul wrote that w e, as believers, have “the
mind of Christ.” (I Cor. 2:16) So, how Christ-like is your
thinking? Or, viewed differently, how “worldly” is your thinking?
It’s kind of difficult to tell unless you can compare it to something
else, so ask yourself: how does the way I approach life or make
decisions differ from the way in which my non-Christian friends do
the same? W hat we are talking about here is the importance of
having a “biblical worldview.”
Essentially, one’s worldview

provides a basis for
understanding reality—for
understanding how and why
things are the way they are.
A “worldview” is just like it sounds; it is our perspective
on— or a way of viewing, the world around us. It would seem
logical to conclude that every person views the world around them
the same way, after all, the world is what it is. But the challenge in
life is comprehending how things became the way they are and
predicting the consequences of certain acts and events. Essentially,
one’s worldview provides the basis for understanding reality— for
understanding how and why things are the way they are.
Needless to say, a Christian has a different understanding
of reality than an atheist or even a deist. And I would contend that
a Christian worldview is the most accurate and m ost reliable view
of economics, politics, religion, education, social issues and any
other subject. As a result, I believe that every idea or plan that is
devised in conflict or without regard to a Christian worldview is
destined for abject failure or, at best, ineffectuality.
Often students and adults alike are surprised to see how
much the culture, media and secular educational institutions have
handicapped their ability to think and reason from the Bible;
nonetheless, ministries, organizations and churches are increasingly
offering intense worldview training and materials with the goal of
helping the next generation think and reason from a biblical
perspective. This is an encouraging development, but while “going
back to the Bible” for clarity may sound simple, it really isn’t.
Indeed, the American Christian culture has “blurry vision.”
Christians disagree on issues such as the proper role of government

in society, when or if abortion should be allowed, what level of
taxation is acceptable, and a myriad of others. W hile arguing a
position on these issues is beyond the scope of this text, every
Christian needs to develop the habit of going to the Bible in search
of how God would have him stand on issues of the day.
Eventually, as you spend time in God’s W ord and become
saturated with it, biblical reasoning becomes easier. I tell young
people to stock their mental warehouse with Bible verses and
biblical principles so that when issues or situations arise, their mind
can go to the warehouse and pull the appropriate truth to apply.1
Let’s consider a simple illustration of this principle. You are asked
by a sincere friend w hether you think abortion is wrong. The
popular culture insists that, when it comes to abortion, women
should be in control of their bodies and that this principle trumps
all others. How should you answer? And m ore importantly, what
biblical principle is operational?
The counsel of Scripture— both Old and New Testaments,
is that God places the baby in a woman’s body and that no
1
See Gary Ezzo’s treatment of this in Growing Kids God’s W ay (M icah
6:8 Publishers, 1997).
government or individual should destroy innocent human life. So
the right conclusion is that a Christian cannot support abortion.
H aving the biblical principle in his or her warehouse allows a
student to retrieve it and take the appropriate action. The same is
true on more complicated issues although considerably more
reasoning may be required.
W hile storing the principles in the “warehouse” is one
element of the process, ordering the principles and reasoning with
them is another skill altogether. George Barna, Christian author
and founder of the m arket research company Barna Group, has
stated, “Our research among people who have a biblical worldview
shows that it is a long-term process that requires a lot of purposeful
activity: teaching, prayer, conversation, accountability, and so
forth.” I agree, and that’s why I highly recommend that young
people— or any person, acquire at least a year’s worth of
argumentation and debate training. If possible, a person should
participate in a cross-examination debate league, moot court

program, or m ock trial club. 2 Even if an organization is secular, it
can teach valuable reasoning skills.
Cultivating your Christian worldview is something you can
start doing right now. M any of our country’s Founding Fathers
excelled at reasoning on public policy from the Bible. Accordingly,
I suggest a thorough study of select w ritings, speeches and sermons
from Am erica’s founding and colonial periods.3 Developing a
library of general reference materials is a good idea as well.4 If you
want a tool to help you assess how you are doing in biblical
worldview training, use an instrument like the “PEERS Test”
(Politics, Economics, Education, Religion, and Social issues Test).5
This 70-question test— which can be taken at home, will help
uncover faulty, unbiblical thinking in adults and students alike.
2
Consult the Bar Association of your state for m ore details about
their young lawyers programs. Also, most schools have literary
programs that include competitive debate. Homeschoolers can get
involved through www.ncfca.org .
3
See www.face.org for their famous “red and blue books” that contain
copies of originals.
4
I suggest Josh M cDowell’s book, Evidence that Demands a Verdict
(N elson Reference, 1999), and David Noebel’s book, Understanding
the Times (Harvest House, 1994).
5
The PEERS Test is available from TeenPact (1-888-343-1776) or the
Nehemiah Institute at www.nehemiahinstitute.org.
Finally, I recom m end participating in one of various
intensive training programs like W orldview Academy, The Summit,
Focus on the Family Institute, Patrick Henry College Summer Camps,
and, of course, TeenPact. 6 I believe these intense programs are more
beneficial than books, because they provide an inspirational
environment. Participants in these programs are challenged by
highly-trained speakers to step out of their “comfort zones.”
Participants see their peers getting excited about cultivating the
mind of Christ and engaging the culture; and that excitement rubs
off. M ost im portantly, participants can store up biblical principles
on the shelves in the warehouse of their minds.
Having the mind of Christ is no passive endeavor, and as
you seek to have God’s perspective on the issues of the day, I know
He will lead you to resources that can help you and your family.
Chapter Challenge
1. Attend a Christian worldview camp. See
www.worldview.org for more info.
6
See www.worldview.org, www.summit.org, www.family.org,
www.phc.edu, and www.teenpact.com respectively.
2. If you are in college, sign up at www.isi.org to
receive complimentary literature that will help you
develop your mind.
3. Begin memorizing scripture daily.
4. If you are interested in journalism , attend the
W orld M agazine Journalism Institute. S ee
www.worldmag.com.
C HAPTER F OUR
Communicating Sacred Truths
in Secular Settings
nfortunately, just thinking biblically is not enough.
U Christians are ambassadors to a lost and dying
world; therefore, we must learn to com m unicate biblical truth in a
relevant, attractive manner. M y friend, David Barton, models the
importance of this concept.7 The idea is that we should know our
audience and adjust our speech accordingly . . . without
comprom ising our core values. For example, if you have the
opportunity to speak to a secular audience for a fundamentally
secular purpose (e.g., a lecture on horseback riding, babysitting, or
making a m odel car), then remove any “religious” words from your
prepared rem arks. Think through how you might communicate a
7
Order the tape by the same name from www.wallbuilders.org.
given biblical principle without citing chapter and verse in the
Bible. I am not saying that you should not seek opportunities to
share your testimony, the Gospel, or even something as direct as
“The Four Spiritual Laws.” Indeed, you should always pray for
evangelistic opportunities and be ready to share on a moment’s
notice. Rather, I am thinking of opportunities you might have in
front of a civic club, in a classroom experience, in a legislative
Your ability to influence the

audience toward one or all of
your positions represents a
stewardship opportunity.
committee hearing, or even in a one-to-one meeting with an elected
official. These are situations when you need to be ready to share
your “biblical worldview” in a secular manner. This is not as easy
as it sounds.
Your ability to influence the audience toward one or all of
your positions represents a stewardship opportunity. As I
mentioned earlier, Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God

hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” If God has
given you opportunities to get in front of people, it is incumbent
upon you to take the “good works opportunity” soberly. As the
verse above reminds us, God prepares many “good works” ahead of
time specifically for you to do. Have you ever asked yourself,
“W hat if I don’t do these good works?” M aybe if we do not obey,
God will have to recruit someone else in our place.
For example, how could you communicate the devastating
impact of an abortion without saying, “God hates abortion”? If
your goal is to persuade your audience (which it usually should be),
then you must ask some questions: W here is m ost of my audience
spiritually? W hat part of the country am I in? H ow old is my
audience? W hat organizational affiliation do they have? How
familiar are they with medical technology, such as ultrasounds?
How am I being introduced? W ill I have a chance to respond to
questions? W ill I have a chance to speak to the group again? How
should I dress? . . . you get the idea.
Incidentally, Ephesians 2:10 applies to more than just
public speaking opportunities or personal appointments. There are
what may seem like tiny things God wants us to do and about
which we need to be faithful: maybe that is good works at home
that God has uniquely prepared you for; maybe something at
church or on a mission trip; possibly something as simple as a note
or call by which God wants to bless others through you.
Regardless, our objective as Christians should be to prevent use of
religious words or term s to distract from the principles we are
trying to communicate. That requires us to be intentional in how
we communicate.
Chapter Challenge
1. Begin by writing an outline of how you would
communicate the plan of salvation to a totally
secular audience without actually quoting chapter
and verse from the Bible. Hint: you can use a
biblical principle or concept, just put it into a
“speech format.”
2. Now, prepare an evangelistic presentation of only
three minutes to a “church audience.” Assume that
some in the audience are not Christians. U se only
four Bible verses in the presentation. Practice at
home.
3. Begin compiling clever and compelling phrases that
you hear other speakers use to communicate

biblical truth to a secular audience. Remember
always to give a person credit if you use their
quotations.
4. Order David Barton’s video, “Communicating
Biblical Truth to a Secular Audience” at
www.wallbuilders.org.
C HAPTER F IVE
Rewriting American History
y any objective measure, the United States of
B America is the freest, most prosperous nation in the
history of the W orld— clearly, our country is a remarkable success
despite its faults. It should not surprise us, therefore, that
members of various schools of thought consistently clamor to take
credit on behalf of their ideological school of thought for America’s
success. And one outworking of this struggle is the Left’s
determination to obscure America’s religious heritage.
Public school textbook authors are removing any references
to our Christian heritage. Entire generations of school kids are
graduating from high school ignorant about some of the most
important facts in our American experience. Even those attending
Christian, private or homeschools often receive a minimal amount
of historical information due to tim e pressure from competing

subjects. And our ideological opposition is constantly pushing for
dominance over what is taught in our schools. Alan Sears of
Alliance Defense Fund says that if a M artian came to earth in the
21 st Century he would think there were more gays than evangelical
Christians in America.
Unfortunately, the situation is not any better in higher
education. As M ark C. Henrie of Intercollegiate Studies Institute
(“ISI”) has noted, college education in America has deteriorated
from the acquisition of a body of knowledge to merely the
“cultivation of abstract instrumental rationality— divorced from
any content and divorced from any end.” For this reason, I highly
recommend that families supplement their student’s education
with additional historical material— regardless of what textbook is
being used. The entire family can be exposed to this information
via books, videos, or even family read-aloud times. Regardless,
students need a steady diet of historically-accurate textbooks,
stories, and inspiring biographies. W here can you find this info? I
believe every home should have a “big red and blue book” sold by
the Foundation of Christian Education. 8 These reference books
contain copies of original letters, manuscripts, sermons, speeches,
and other writings that have been all but forgotten from modern
culture. ISI, our college ministry partner, specializes in texts that
promote order, liberty and justice and offers any number of books
available at www.isi.org.
America’s history is being hijacked by atheists, multi-
culturalists, and humanists— many posing as nice people. If we are
not careful, we will find ourselves on the outside looking in.
Translation: the direction of our society is at stake. There are
people who want to see Am erica go in a different direction and
want to erase the record of America’s spiritual roots. You can
counter this by making it a habit to gain a working knowledge of
America’s Christian heritage. And be prepared to use that
knowledge in conversations, speeches, and even letters to your local
paper. W e cannot afford to forget all that God has done for us.
8
See w w w .face.net for how to order. Also,
www.providencefoundation.com and www.wallbuilders.org supply
great historical material.
Chapter Challenge
1. Purchase a “red book” or “blue book” from
www.face.net and begin reading portions to your
family on a regular basis.
2. View videos produced by David Barton, of
W allB uilders, or Steven M cDowell, of The Providence
Foundation.
3. W rite a letter to the editor of your local paper
about some aspect of America’s Christian heritage.
4. If you attend school, cover Am erica’s spiritual
heritage in a speech or paper, or find other ways to
expose others to the truth.
5. Join ISI and receive free journals and materials at
www.isi.org.
C HAPTER S IX
The “Power of One”
o, now you are praying for revival, thinking hard and
S getting the word out that America was and is a
“Christian” nation. But can one person really make a difference in
such a “big” country? You probably have heard that one person
can make a difference, but maybe you doubt that it could be true
of you. M y friend Randy Hicks introduced me to the phrase “the
power of one.” It refers to the incredible change that can occur
when one person submits to God and becomes obedient to God’s
plan for his life at that moment. W e all know stories about
extraordinary men and women who, by sheer magnitude of their
gifts or stature, were able to seemingly change the course of history.
But, I want to demonstrate how it can happen on a much smaller
scale as well.
Recently, I took a Delta flight to Colorado Springs for the
taping of a guest appearance on a Focus on the Family radio
broadcast. The in-flight video feature was a variety of news,
entertainment and sports. Included in all of this was a M ariah
Carey music video that was incredibly lewd. I was concerned
because so many of our young people fly Delta around the country
as they lead TeenPact classes, and when I got back to Atlanta, I
quickly emailed a complaint to Delta via the company’s web site.
Before long, a generic response came back apologizing for
the “impression” I received, and the letter had a name at the
bottom. I wrote again asking this person to personally view the
video and confirm that the video, in fact, accurately reflected the
values of Delta Air Lines. A few days passed and this time an email
came back saying that they had forwarded my comments to their
marketing department.
In time, I received another email with the words I had
hoped to hear. The letter read, in part,
Again, let me restate that it is always a question of

judgment on what is considered acceptable content.
The video presented did meet broadcast television
editing requirements. Traditionally, we follow and
in most cases exceed broadcast television standards
when displaying content on our aircraft. However,

with the above stated, we agree that this does not
meet Delta's standards and have removed the video
in question from display onboard and are reviewing
the music video policy with our programming
service to ensure that this content is not presented
in the future.
I couldn’t believe it. Not only did Delta pull the video from all of
their airplanes, but they w ere going to make sure that “this
content” was not presented in the future.
So, three emails from my home computer resulted in
thousands and thousands of people being spared the polluting
influence of M ariah Carey doing inappropriate things in a music
video. This seems too easy, doesn’t it? Countless times I have
challenged a grocery or convenience store manager to remove or
cover inappropriate magazines. O nce, I even persuaded a tanning
salon (no, I was not a customer) to rem ove a giant poster of a
scantily-clad woman from their front window.
You can be a catalyst for this kind of change as well. But
you have to exercise courage. Learn to challenge evil and speak up
for decency. Ask God for the courage, creativity and influence to
make an impact. You never know when H e will open the door for
you.
Chapter Challenge
1. Identify blatant forms of evil in your community
and begin to ask God to overturn them.
2. W rite a letter to the editor exposing an evil in your
community. Call your community to action.
3. Look for opportunities to speak out, and do it
often and effectively.
4. Compile a list of people who have demonstrated
the “power of one” and interview them to discover
why they do what they do.

C HAPTER S EVEN
Courage Is Caught
ourage is something that is hard to teach. You can
C read stories on it, write papers about it, and even
aspire to have it. But more often than not, you attain a courageous
spirit by catching it— that is, by being around people who already
have it. For me, it was caught from people mentoring me in my
early 30s: a pastor, named John, who alerted m e to the plight of
the unborn; a congressional candidate, named Dan, who ran for
office and addressed the issue of abortion head-on; a wom an,
named Nancy, who ran for m ayor of Atlanta and was unafraid to
challenge a corrupt system of politics.
I cannot overstate the importance of courage and of seeing
it firsthand. As courage takes root in your life, you are not afraid
to take a stand for your convictions or to risk losing important
positions as a result. There is no better example of this to me than

my friend Judge Roy M oore— the former Chief Justice of the
Alabama Supreme Court. Four years before he was removed from
office, I saw his courage and was drawn to it. His courage was
borne out in personal conversations with him on several occasions:
this m an was on a mission for God. He was determined to “force
the hand” of the Supreme Court of the United States and give
them the opportunity to make the right decision regarding the
public display of the Ten Commandments. 9 T herefore, he set a
course for making that happen: first, getting elected to the position
of Chief Justice w here he would have control over the Alabama
Supreme Court building; next, placing a display in the building that
opposing groups could not resist suing to remove; and finally,
resolving not to back down, no matter the cost.
Judge M oore’s courageous spirit is like that of Esther in the
Bible. He was born “for such a time as this.” (Esther 4:13) In the
face of losing his position as Chief Justice, he refused to back down,
temper or water down his statements regarding his motivation for
9
Unfortunately, on October 31, 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court
decided not to grant certiorari to Judge M oore and his case was dead
in the water. Nevertheless, he accomplished his goal by giving the
High Court a chance to make the right decision.
taking a stand. Regardless of whether one agrees with what Judge
M oore did, none can argue that he lacked courage. Those closest
to Judge M oore, through all of this, have gained courage
themselves. And the hundreds of TeenPacters, w ho m et Judge
M oore and interacted w ith him, had an opportunity to see this
man’s faith being lived out in one of the greatest displays of
courage in our day.
Recklessness can be confused with courage, but to discern
whether an act is courageous or reckless requires close examination.
Throwing away a judicial career may seem reckless, unless you
understand Judge M oore’s calling. Judge M oore was called to bring
the Ten Commandments issue to the forefront of national debate
God reserves the right to

allocate His kingdom
resources however he pleases
to accomplish a “calling” he
has placed on our hearts.
and urge America’s governmental institutions to acknowledge God.
He simply used his position as Chief Justice of the Alabama
Supreme Court to make that happen. In our way of thinking that

may seem wasteful or wrong, but God reserves the right to allocate
His kingdom resources however he pleases to accomplish a “calling”
He has placed on your heart.
I saw this happen on another occasion. Earlier in this
chapter, I mentioned a congressional candidate named Dan who
ran controversial ads on television in his 1992 campaign. Here
again was a man called by God to use a position— this time as a
candidate for U.S. Congress, to confront our culture with God’s
truth. D an Becker was neither an officeholder nor a candidate
when he learned that federal election law required owners of
television stations to air political ads unedited— regardless. So,
D an decided to run for office, make commercials that depicted the
truth about abortion, and run them on television. Dan used the
campaign as a way to widely publicize the devastation of abortion.
Up to this point, TV stations had been able to refuse, edit, or
otherwise discriminate against “pro-life” commercials. Under these
circumstances, however, federal campaign law did not allow them
to edit even for a second. They were not happy campers. We
were, though, and D an Becker (with me as his campaign manager)
ran graphic pictures of the horrific consequences of abortion to the

disbelief of a previously-indifferent Atlanta citizenry. People were
stunned that someone would do this. W ell-wishers said to Dan
that he was throwing away a great opportunity to be elected. Even
“certified” pro-life groups thought we had gone too far. H owever,
Dan felt called to play a prophetic role in his sphere of influence,
and we may never know in this life the extent to which God used
Dan’s actions to prick men’s consciences.
W hen God burdens men like Dan Becker or Judge M oore
with a mission, they are compelled to carry it out. Both m en have
had death threats on their lives and the lives of their families. Both
men have been criticized by prominent Christians and political
leaders. And for those of us who have had the opportunity to see
their courage up close and personal, our lives are changed forever.
I personally have caught the “courageous spirit of Esther”
that I have seen in Judge M oore and Dan Becker. It helps me
move forward and stay on course. It causes me to live with a
seeming reckless abandon in an effort to fulfill God’s call on my life
at any given time. I highly recommend that students be exposed to
those with great courage. Having an opportunity to listen to, talk

with, and w ork w ith courageous folk will do more than any lecture
on the subject.
Chapter Challenge
1. Ask God to build courage into your life by giving
you the opportunity to work closely with a person
of great courage.
2. Read and/or have your children read books from
the G . A. Henty series (available from Vision
Forum).
3. Read W itnessing W ithout Fear (Bill Bright, Here’s
Life Publishers, 1987); and Foxe’s Book of M artyrs,
(John Foxe, W hitaker House Publishers, 1981).
4. M ake a list of the three things you most fear doing
in your life. Pray about the list and call on God for
the courage you will need to accomplish these
tasks.
C HAPTER E IGHT
Contrary to What You May
Have Heard,
It’s Not All About You
inning the culture war is a mammoth task that
W will require strategic partnerships, shared
resources, and a servant’s spirit. Unfortunately, Christians have
had a hard time accepting this truth. For most of my adult life, I
had a hard time with this truth as well; however, in my late
thirties, I began to form partnerships and develop alliances. I tried
to serve other ministry leaders as often as possible. The older I get,
the more convinced I am that we need to make serving and blessing
others a top priority in our lives. After all, Jesus Christ cam e to
serve, right? If His overarching motive was to serve, ours should be
as well.
Regardless of your age, you have people in your life that
you can serve— even if it is only immediate family members. W hen
I was 16 years old, I was presented with a Rotary Club “Student of
the Year” award by Truett Cathy, the founder and CEO of Chick-
fil-a, Inc. After the presentation was over, M r. Cathy asked me to
come by his office just down the street. There, he presented me
with a tape recorder, a set of Zig Ziglar See You at the Top tapes, a
set of Charles Stanley Supernatural Success tapes and a check for
$50. He asked me to listen to the tapes and promised they would
If Jesus’ overarching motive

was to serve, ours should be
as well.
help make me a successful person. I did listen to the tapes and I
still remember hearing Zig Ziglar say, “You can get everything you
want in life if you w ill just help enough other people get what they
want.” W hile that is not biblical advice per se, it is generally true.
Unfortunately, I waited a long time before I actually began to apply
Zig’s advice—a very long time. Too bad for me. Because once I
adopted this as a life principle, I saw a drastic change in my
relationships. Let me explain.
I am talking about pro-actively looking for ways to bless
others, serve others, and make the projects and activities of their
lives successful. If it is within your power to help them, you
probably should. I am not talking about losing your focus, getting
ultra-distracted or meddling. You must be able to genuinely
help— not just get in the way.
In 2001, my family experienced a crisis when my wife,
W indy, fell ill. The illness resulted in W indy needing a year of
semi-bed-rest and extraordinary care from our family. Needless to
say, these increased demands on my time had the potential to bring
my vocational ministry to a standstill. Fortunately for me, four
young employees surfaced to give me aid: Curtis W hatley, his
sister Jenny, Cindy Cha, and my personal assistant for that year,
Gabe Bratcher.
A certain degree of willingness would be expected from
them because they were on the payroll; nevertheless, they served
tirelessly and well beyond the call of duty. I could not ask too
much of them, it seemed. Nothing prompted a complaint or

grumble. They anticipated my needs and the ministry’s. W e had a
record year, despite my family’s difficulty. This effort on their part
demonstrated their character. Their confidence grew, and together
we moved our ministry forward during a year in which the ministry
could have “gone south.” I will always be grateful for their help
during that difficult time.
Likew ise, I try to work toward the success of others.
Offering to share my mailing list, my money, my advice or even my
employees proves to people that I care about them, their
organization, and their mission. For example, I actually promote
other fine organizations to the greater TeenPact fam ily. N o one has
influenced me more than our friends at Focus on the Family in this
regard. Dr. Dobson and his staff promote the success of thousands
of organizations and ministry leaders. And God has blessed them
for it.
In TeenPact, w e hire “guest directors” from other ministries
who need revenue in their “off-season” to provide for their families.
W e offer as many scholarships as we possibly can. W e try not to
negotiate ourselves into the bad graces of vendors, and we pay our
bills. W hen I can, I actually promote others in public or over the

airwaves: through my talks, in print, and in radio appearances.
People often find out that I have mentioned them or their ministry,
and they really appreciate it. If I have an opportunity to host or
serve someone, I strive to do an excellent job with the aim of
making him or her more successful. M aybe a friend just needs an
introduction to someone important, a referral, a meal, or simply
Whenever possible, I look for

ways to make a colleague’s
life’s work easier, more
successful and more reflective
of Christ.
being walked to his car. W henever possible, I look for ways to
make his or her life’s work easier, more successful and more
reflective of Christ.
For m any reading this book, you can start applying this
principle at home with your family. Ask yourself, “How can I make
m y siblings more successful?” “How can I make my parents’ lives
easier?” “How can I build my family’s name and reputation?”
(See Proverbs 22:1)

You may feel inadequate, right now, to do some of the
things I have suggested. But, over time your relational assets will
grow. Build a file of business cards from people you meet. Get in
the habit of asking people how you can help them or even how you
can pray for them. Begin to anticipate the needs of those around
you and do things without being asked. Start giving your money
(regardless of the amount) to the legitimate needs you see around
you. Help whomever you can to succeed and G od w ill bless your
work.
Chapter Challenge
1. M ake a list of needs of the people closest to you.
Think through the things you can do for them that
might assist them. Pay close attention to any
feedback they give, and adjust your help
accordingly.
2. Ask your parents or your children for a list of three
things you could do to make their lives easier. (Be
careful to prevent the frustration of unmet
expectations; it is better to under-promise and over-
deliver.)
3. Begin to notice small things you can quickly do to
make the lives of others easier: returning a

shopping cart that has been left in a parking lot;
giving an apple or bottle of water to a panhandler
you might pass on the street or at the end of an
exit ramp; picking up after yourself or others at
home without being asked; publicly praising other
people, etc. There are thousands of these things
you can do without spending any money or more
than a minimal amount of time. It is a mindset
and a lifestyle.
4. H int: be careful. Avoid flattery! Learn the
difference between meaningful praise and deceitful
flattery. This subject merits further study.1 0
10
See Gary Smalley’s book, The Five Love Languages (M oody
Publishers, 1996), concerning meaningful praise.
C HAPTER N INE
The Importance of “Taking
People With You”
y convictions about the importance of mentoring
M really began to develop my freshman year of
college when the president of the Baptist Student Union offered to
“disciple” me along with another friend. I knew there were 12
disciples who followed Jesus, and I could sing the little song about
it, but that was the extent of my knowledge of “discipleship.”
Foolishly, I turned down the offer and it was not until years later
that I benefitted from a discipling relationship courtesy of my good
friend, Dave H ill, of the Christian Business M en’s Committee
(“CBM C”) of Atlanta. Through CBM C’s weekly meetings,
Scripture memory and prayer times, God prepared me for the

national ministry I founded and now oversee. Dave Hill and the
men of the Atlanta CBM C chapter took me with them on
evangelistic appointments, prayer breakfast meetings, and even
retreats in order to build into me certain character qualities. I am
forever grateful.
Of course, the idea of

mentoring is not a new one.
Jesus selected a small group of
disciples and spent untold
hours with them.
After I went into full-time Christian ministry, others
stepped up to mentor me in the Faith. M artin M organ, M ark
M cGoldrick, and Kevin Young of Campus Crusade for Christ’s high
school ministry, Student Venture, spent countless hours training me
by exam ple and formal instruction. After I struck out in ministry
on my own, my dear friends John F. Rowell and Dr. Ron Crews did
more of the same. Tagging along with these men, watching them
work, and having them speak into my life has had more impact on
me than any other experience in my life (with the exception of
receiving Christ as my personal Savior).
Of course, the idea of mentoring is not a new one. Jesus
selected a small group of disciples and spent untold hours with
them. And despite having Christ’s ultimate example of how we
should operate in personal m inistry, the busyness of life, the pride
of the Flesh, emotional insecurities— among other issues, deter us
from following Christ’s mentoring model.
Second Timothy 2:2 says, “And the things that thou hast
heard of m e among many witnesses, the same commit thou to
faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” As a result of
my experiences with personal discipleship, I have adopted this
same commitment to II Timothy 2:2 in relating to my own
children, employees, and staffers. Our ministry is built on this
apprenticeship or disciple-making model. W e try to bring people
along— giving them greater and greater opportunities as faithfulness
is demonstrated. W e stress humility, teachability and respect.
Assuming a mentor is trustworthy and worthy of
emulation, this type of training is unquestionably superior to “book
knowledge.” Along those same lines, I highly recommend that due

diligence be performed on a potential mentor’s character and
background before a young person is released into his or her
tutelage. W e live in a perverted world.
But mentoring does not have to be a long-term or rigorous
commitment. Numerous apprenticeship opportunities require a
lower level of commitment. For example, m ost state legislators hire
students to serve as their aides or assistants. This seasonal position
usually lasts only as long as the legislature is in session;
nevertheless, these relatively brief experiences give the student
intensive interaction with elected and non-elected government
officials. Similarly, congressional campaigns usually have the
money to hire students that last 90-120 days of an election. These
positions can also put the student in regular contact with the
candidate.
Your church might be a good place to look as well.
Internships with a youth or college pastor are usually available in
the summer. There are sometimes even opportunities for extended
mission trips that put you under the direction of a missionary.
Probably the m ost convenient, and most important,
mentoring opportunity is that of parent to child. I frequently take

one of my own children or a friend with me on ministry trips or
even while running errands. Conversations during these times can
be very fruitful and life-changing. But more importantly, extended
time together makes it possible for me to teach and train formally
and informally about the need to develop a biblical worldview.
Too often, as humans we believe we can invent a novel or easier
means of accomplishing a given objective, but much of
effectiveness is sim ply making ourselves available and faithfully
committing to execute a simple plan of attack. M ake time for
mentoring relationships in your life and God will bless your efforts.
Chapter Challenge
1. P ra y about a sk in g so m e o n e in your
comm unity— even one of your parents or
grandparents, to mentor you. (Going through a
chapter of a book together each week can be fun
and challenging).
2. Read The Lost Art of Disciple M aking (Leroy Eims,
Zondervan Publishing Company, 1978).
3. M aybe you need to be someone else’s mentor.
Consider challenging a younger person in the faith
to meet with you on a weekly basis.

C HAPTER T EN
You Can Be an Expert
y family loves the G.A. Henty adventure books
M that my friend, Doug Phillips, sells through Vision
Forum. W e own practically the whole set. A common “device” in
the books is a H enty lead character acquiring an expertise in some
skill. M aybe the skill is in language, marksmanship, oratory, or
intellect. An additional quality found in most of Henty’s lead
characters is faithfulness, even in the little things. I don’t think
these two qualities are unrelated.
One reason we like these books, I think, is because we
vicariously enjoy someone who is proficient at a skill. I think we
enjoy imagining ourselves as someone who rises to the occasion or
creatively uses a skill to meet a challenge. But I also like the books
because they contain a lesson for all of us: we are wise to become
experts in one or two areas, and such expertise comes from being
faithful in small things.
Developing a “niche” skill can make you extremely valuable
to employers, political campaigns, your church, and even your own
family. For example, I think virtually every student these days
should become an expert in using computer programs for
spreadsheets, databases, word processing and em ail. If you are
really ambitious, tackle desktop publishing or graphic design
software. W e live in the digital age of personal computing, and you
We are wise to become experts

in one or two areas, and such
expertise comes from being
faithful in small things.
will consign yourself to mediocrity if you are not comfortable with
using these productivity tools.
The ability to speak in public is next on my list of “must
have” skills. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of learning
to communicate your faith, beliefs, and values in a one-to-one or
group setting. The Apostle Peter wrote in I Peter 3:15 to “. . . be

ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a
reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear . . . .”
There are a variety of excellent ways to develop this skill: joining a
cross-examination debate team, participating in a Toastmasters
group, or competing in a m oot court program like the TeenPact
Judicial Program (www.tpjudicial.org) are some examples. Programs
like this force you to practice, which, in truth, is the only way to
get better. W ith public speaking, it is easy to assume that we can
never gain expertise simply because it doesn’t feel natural, but the
reality is that even the most accomplished speakers get butterflies
in their stomach at the thought of addressing a crowd of people.
But I have seen hundreds of students dramatically improve their
speaking abilities through participating in these types of programs.
After computers and public speaking, pick something that
really interests you and take that interest to the next level: try to
master it. This interest might be raising horses, breeding dogs,
learning foreign languages, waxing cars, studying stars, teaching
swimm ing, playing an instrument, drawing cartoons, painting
pictures, photographing weddings, arranging flowers, mowing
lawns, editing books, or building furniture. The list is never

ending, but the key is to become highly skilled at something. This
pursuit of expertise will pay great dividends for you down the road.
I remember a friend of mine who started, as a youngster,
collecting half-dollar coins that were minted 1964 or before. He
would ride his skateboard from bank to bank on “bank row” in
Atlanta buying all their half-dollar coins each morning. He would
keep the coins with high silver content and sell the others back at
face value. He had to rent a safe deposit box to hold them
eventually, and his interest in coins led to an interest in rare coins.
Now, he is so good that people pay him to appraise their coin
collections for insurance purposes.
I consistently counsel students to seek God’s will and His
calling on their lives. Specifically, I suggest that they ask God to
direct them in the preparation that they need. By doing this, they
will be ready for those “good works” that God has prepared ahead
of time for them to walk in. (Eph. 2:10) So, if God is leading a
person to the mission field, that person should be busy mastering
language and cross-cultural skills. M aybe that person should
consider doing without luxuries and other “American” things to
“buffet” their body and mind. (I Cor. 9:27) Learning to share the
Gospel with foreigners, who are in America, would be a good idea
as well.1 1
On the other hand, God might be calling a young person
into law. Such a student m ight consider serving as a legislative aide
or working in a law office during the summ er. Regardless, I highly
recommend that students pursue an apprenticeship opportunity in
a field of interest. Being mentored, learning about an “interest”
firsthand, and moving beyond “book knowledge” accelerates your
acquisition of expertise.
Being mentored, learning

about an “interest” firsthand,
and moving beyond “book
knowledge” accelerates your
acquisition of expertise.
On the subject of apprenticing, it is the educational model
at the center of all TeenPact programs. Our staffers mentor our
interns who then mentor our student staff. The entire experience
11
I recommend the ministry of International Students, Inc., for learning
to share with international students who are in the U.S. See
www.isionline.org for more info.
for our students puts them in the middle of the action at their state
capitol during a legislative session. W hat they see, the people they
meet, and the spontaneous opportunities that occur on capitol
grounds bring to life the lawmaking process more than any
textbook ever could. For m e, inspiring students to be involved for
a lifetime is my ultimate goal. That involvement is made even
more effective by having your skills honed, so that you bring a
degree of excellence to every project you are involved in.
I cannot close this chapter without emphasizing the
importance of growing in the Faith. Too many of us are still
“infants” in regard to the things of God. (See I Cor. 3:1-3). Relying
simply on Sunday school lessons to prepare you for the spiritual
battles that loom ahead will leave you too vulnerable and
unprepared. You must discipline yourself to do more. Let me
suggest a few things: first, ask someone— maybe a pastor or parent,
to disciple you by taking you through a Bible study or Christian
biography.
Second, learn how to inductively study the Bible.
Especially helpful would be learning to use a Bible study computer
tool like Online Bibleâ or BibleSoftâ. W ith this type of program,

you can double-click on a word and the software pulls up the Greek
or Hebrew equivalent with the original definitions. Learn to study
entire books of the Bible and not just small portions, so you can get
the full context.
Next, consider going to a Bible college for a year before you
attend a secular college (if that is your intent). Getting “grounded”
in God’s W ord should be a priority for all Christians— especially in
your teens.
Finally, learn to share your faith. Completing a course like
Evangelism Explosion, MasterLife or a similar training program will
equip you for a lifetime. As believers, our first or fundamental area
of “expertise” should be our Christian faith.
Chapter Challenge
1. M aster a com puter Bible study program or use
tools like www.crosswalk.com.
2. Buy a G.A. Henty book from
www.visionforum.com and note the expertise
developed by the hero.
3. Pray about having someone meet with you on a
weekly basis to help you further develop your
targeted skills.
4. Begin an inductive, verse-by-verse study of the
book of Acts.
C HAPTER E LEVEN
Why You Need to Know and
Be Known by Elected Officials
f you ran into your state representative on the street,
I would you know him or her? M ore importantly, for the
purposes of this chapter, would he or she know you? W e conduct
our TeenPact Four-day State Capitol classes because we want young
people to see that legislators are just, well, regular folks. W e want
them to meet and converse with their elected officials. Ideally, we
want an ongoing relationship to begin.
First, I want to emphasize that all legislators deserve some
degree of respect and honor simply by virtue of the position they
hold. Even if you totally disagree with an official’s political views,
you are wise to build a relationship w ith them, pray for them, and
speak kindly to them. W hy? Because the Bible commands us to

pray for those in authority, (I Timothy 2:1-2), and lifting up those
in positions of authority, even our political enemies, shows our
Christ-like love for them.
In addition, speaking kindly and treating elected officials
with respect is not just a TeenPact distinctive, it is how the Bible
teaches us to treat all persons. Though it might please our Flesh or
“seem” right to treat certain politicians with disdain due to their
personal or political faults, our hope must be in God and in the
truth of His word. And practically speaking, angry Christians at
Speaking kindly and treating

elected officials with respect is
not just a TeenPact
distinctive, it is how the Bible
teaches us to treat all persons.
Our hope must be in God and
in the truth of His word.
the Capitol usually do not accomplish much (though anger and/or
passion has its proper biblical role).

That leads me to my second point: building a relationship
with even your most bitter legislative enemy might pay off some
day. Let me explain. The former governor of Georgia was pro-
abortion, pro-gay agenda, and fairly hostile to traditional family
values. However, I began a friendship with him when he was a
state house member. He was articulate, humorous and rather
likeable. He was elected Governor of Georgia, and we continued to
talk with him, honor him , and introduce our students to him. He
even dropped in one night and spoke at a TeenPact banquet.
During his administration, our Board of Regents for the
state university system had developed a hostile admissions policy
for homeschool students: specifically, the Board required that each
homeschool applicant take seven— yes, seven, SAT2 subject tests
and score at an “Ivy-League” level. This hurdle was unfair and
discriminating, but homeschoolers did not have the political muscle
in the Democrat-controlled House and Senate to change it via
legislation. So, I (along with others, I am sure) asked the Governor
to use his political influence to correct the inequity. H e did! Even
up until his defeat in the next election, he continued to be a friend
of TeenPact. Unfortunately, m any Christians have a hard time

working with people on anything if the person is not in “lockstep”
with them on everything. This probably hurts us more than we
know. W e need to learn to build relationships with people and it
may surprise us how often they will be willing to work with us.
As scripture explains in I Chronicles 29:11-12, “This realm
is [God’s] kingdom” and H e can turn the heart of the King (or
President or Governor or Legislator). In 1994, the U.S. Congress
was considering an omnibus education bill. Unfortunately, there
was an amendment passed in committee which required anyone
teaching their own child to be certified in every subject they taught.
Yikes! This bill, as amended, w ould have placed an enormous and
unnecessary burden on families who chose to homeschool their
children, with possible ramifications for private schools. So, I
quickly organized a lobbying trip of 45 people. One of the
congressional offices we visited was that of notoriously liberal
Representative Cynthia M cKinney, an African-American Democrat
from metro Atlanta. Rep. M cKinney was overtly hostile to
anything that resembled a Conservative public policy position.
I will never forget going into her office accompanied by two
African-American students from her district who were armed with a

scrapbook, of all things. This scrapbook contained photos,
mementos, and sample schoolwork from African-American
homeschoolers. I decided to have the two young women do all the
talking. After a five-minute appointment turned into a 30-minute
Unfortunately, some
Christians have a hard time
working with a person on
anything if the person is not
in “lock-step” with them on
everything.
pow-wow, we emerged from the meeting as tears trickled down
Rep. M cKinney’s cheek. She hugged the students and said
goodbye, and promised to vote against the anti-homeschooling
amendment. And she did. Am azing! This congresswoman had
never met a black homeschooler and was completely unsympathetic
to homeschooler’s concerns. However, with simple initiative and
gentle persuasion, a friend was made on that issue.
As real citizens we must realize that elected officials are just
people like you and me. M ost legislators serve for little pay at
some sacrifice financially. These part-time public servants usually
have a full-time job, not to m ention a family, back home in their
district and comm uting between their competing duties is rarely
feasible. If you will treat them the way you want to be treated,
take time to get to know them and their staff, and maybe volunteer
in some capacity in their district office, you might be surprised at
what you can accomplish. And as I tell my children, it is hard to win
a person to Christ if you cannot even carry on a conversation with him.
In closing, I have to give you a word of caution. Some
Christian activists in your state have more of an “attack dog”
mentality and will dismiss this approach as too diplomatic or soft.
Hopefully, they w ill learn from your example and eventual success.
M ay God bless you as you honor Him in your future relationships
with people in “high places.”
Chapter Challenge
1. Do a survey of a few Christian activists you know,
and ask them for the “top five” potential enemies
of Christian causes in your state legislature. Then,
start praying for these officials and look for ways to
cultivate relationships with them.

2. Order an “adopt-a-leader” kit from the National
Day of Prayer task force. Begin praying for those in
authority on your list.
3. Invite your state representative or state senator to
your home to meet your family. Hint: this works
better during an election cycle.
4. Bonus: do #1 again and include unelected
potential “political adversaries.” Begin praying for
them as well.
C HAPTER T WELVE
Proximity to Power
is Power
ne of the best ways to learn about leadership is to
O be near “real” leaders. “N ear,” in this context
means close enough for regular interaction with them . This may
surprise you, but in our culture, those closest to the “powerful”
actually wield almost as much power as the person whom they
serve. Consequently, one of the things we try to teach young
people in TeenPact is that simply being close to those in power can
give you a surprising degree of influence. Christians need more
influence— not less, and too often, we in the Christian com m unity
not only are denied a “place at the table,” but we are not even “in
the house,” so to speak.

David, Joseph, and Nehemiah of old are illustrative of this
principle. By occupying a position of service to those in authority,
they exerted considerable influence that subsequently impacted
families of their day.
If you ever go to W ashington, and walk through the House
Office Buildings, you will see “twenty-somethings” running
congressional offices. These aides, staffers, and interns make up
the layers that separate mem bers of Congress from those seeking to
influence them. These young people are the gatekeepers.
W e encourage graduates of our state capitol program to
consider becoming a staffer for a representative or senator in their
hom e state’s legislature. I have walked in offices at some state
capitols and seen a former TeenPact student sitting at the
representative’s desk, answering his phone, responding to his
constituents and deciding who gets an appointment and who does
not. TeenPact graduates have had the opportunity to research and
draft amendments to bills that subsequently get voted into law. In
one instance, a TeenPact student’s mock bill was taken up by a

sitting state senator and adopted into law.1 2 Hundreds of TeenPact
students have received national attention for their work in a
successful campaign, and as students get close to those in power,
they gain influence. W hen used properly, the influence can pave
the way for biblical and traditional family values to be reflected in
public policy.
One bit of caution is in order, however. Lord Acton, a
British historian of the late nineteenth and early twentieth
centuries, is famous for stating, “Power tends to corrupt; and
absolute power corrupts absolutely.” 1 3 As a person begins to lust
for power and influence, he or she will be tempted to make
detrimental compromises.
W ashington is awash with “intern” stories of young people
who sacrificed their integrity to climb the ladder. And, there are
those in authority who will take advantage of young people and
their desire to gain influence. One should exercise extreme caution
12
Chris Cottrell from Arizona had his bill hiking the bail rates of
certain criminal offenses taken up by Senator Dean M artin and then
signed into law by the Governor of Arizona after passing the Senate
and House.
13
For more on Lord Acton and his writings, visit www.acton.org.
the closer you get to power. Carefully research the person or
persons you plan to work for to make sure they have a good nam e
and reputation. Have accountability partners who can keep an eye
on you and ask tough questions. Find a like-minded Christian near
your job location and encourage each other when possible. The
tide of moral compromise begins to pull some out to sea. Be
willing to walk away if inappropriate situations arise.
In the sense that proximity to power is power, we need
right-th inking people— young and old, near law m akers,
policymakers and their staffs, to ensure that our priorities are
addressed and our ideas are considered.
Chapter Challenge
1. Review the stories of Nehemiah, D aniel, and
Joseph, taking note of the influence they had as a
result of their proximity to power.
2. Ask around about Christian legislators at your state
capitol who might allow you to intern (N ote: pay
is, at best, limited to a small stipend).
3. Become a regular volunteer at your local
congressman’s district office.

4. Select a candidate with character and volunteer
regularly in his or her campaign.

C HAPTER T HIRTEEN
Activism Begins at Home
t has been said that politics is “showbiz” for ugly
I people. And most people can appreciate the allure of
holding a prestigious office or having a vast amount of
governmental resources at your disposal. W hile some of you
reading this book are champing at the bit to obtain one of these
important jobs, others of you are intimidated by the aura that
surrounds such people or positions. But it is crucial that any
person who aspires to have a great influence in our culture
understand that the best place to get involved is in your local
community.
This principle is one reason I start training students at their
own state capitol instead of the daunting city of W ashington, D.C.
Not only does this discourage them from overlooking the
opportunities that are more “local,” but when students go to their

state capitol, and meet state legislators, government becomes m ore
familiar and less intimidating. This effect is amplified when a
student is involved with a city council or county commission.
The problem with starting your “civics” education in
W ashington is that Capitol Hill is so complex (I still get lost in the
basements of those buildings myself). You rarely see your own
member of Congress and you leave the city feeling like you have to
be a millionaire to get elected to the U.S. House of Representatives
or the U.S. Senate. On the other hand, going to one’s state capitol
for four to five days leaves students feeling like they “own the
place.” And the reality is, we do kind of own it, don’t we?
M y goal at TeenPact is for students to leave a capitol class
saying something like, “M y dad (or mom ) could be a state
representative!” I want students to see that such positions are
attainable. I want students to leave the capitol at the end of the
week believing that Christians not only need to be in many of these
positions, but can reasonably aspire, plan, and work to attain them
in God’s time.
Another aspect of this principle is plain ol’ supply and
demand. Students who get involved with local cam paigns for
“lower” offices can be assigned significant roles. I have seen young
people given the opportunity to run campaigns for state house and
mayoral races. The experience gained gives these students a
lifetime of ambition to influence government. Indeed, one of the
first few interns in our program, Stacie Stone, actually ran for the
State House in Georgia at only 21 years of age.
M any Christians are frustrated that our culture’s mores are
moving away from biblical standards. W e go to the polls to vote
and have to choose between the “lesser of two evils.” This should
not be so. To see more immediate impact, get involved on a local
level. W hen we moved to Norcross, Georgia, just after leaving the
staff of Campus Crusade for Christ, our little town of 5,000 people
had a five-member city council, a mayor and a $10 million budget.
A council seat came open and I helped persuade a friend to run.
This fine Christian man did not exactly fit your small-southern-
town profile of a councilm an. H e was a recent immigrant with a
non-native-sounding name; he was a hairdresser by trade and had
been a drug dealer prior to becoming a Christian. I offered to be
his campaign manager, and the fun began.

W e bought a voting list from our county registrar, analyzed
it, and then mailed personal, handwritten notes to everyone who
had voted in the last three elections. Surprisingly, that turned out
to be only around 700 people. Yes, 700! I discovered that most
people were apathetic, uninvolved and uninformed. W e won that
election with just over 250 votes, defeating a candidate who had
previously served six terms on the council. M y friend wound up
serving two terms, and God used the experience to teach us many
things. M y family and friends learned about tax rates, zoning laws,
mosquito eradication and constituent services as we rallied around
“our” councilman. And I concluded from the experience that God
was leading me to launch TeenPact.
Your local church is perhaps the most local community you
belong to. If you are like me, you attend church with people you
would consider pretty conscientious. I think it would really
surprise you how many people in your church do not vote. You
would likely be even more surprised to see how many of them
aren’t even registered to vote. Apathy has crept into the pews today
and many Christians have succumbed to the lie that they are not
needed in the “culture war.” That is one reason we are losing the
culture war.
Aside from your immediate family, your local church is the
first community you should begin to influence toward real
citizenship. Generally, all that is needed is a little initiative and a
servant’s heart. M y friend, Nancy Schaefer, began what she called
a “Family Concerns Committee” in her church because she was
concerned about what was happening in the culture w ar and the
impact on the family. Through that vehicle, she kept church
members and staff informed of im portant legislative goings-on in
her state, the U.S. Capitol, and even the United Nations. Nancy’s
committee idea grew, and other churches followed suit. Through
her encouragement, many churches have mobilized their members
toward real citizenship. Nancy has since been elected to the
Georgia State Senate.
M aybe you could exercise leadership to begin something
like a Family Concerns committee in your church. These
committees usually m eet once a month, have a short program and
cost very little to operate. Another great idea is to conduct a voter
registration drive in your church. Young people can help staff a

table and you will likely have 10% to 20% of your congregation
register. Through this initiative you make it easy for them to be a
better citizen.
Some have had success at asking their pastors to mention a
particular public policy issue at significant times during the year.
For example, many churches observe a “Sanctity of Life” Sunday in
January around the anniversary of Roe v. W ade. 1 4 You could also
feature something on “Christian Action” around the time of an
election or near the Fourth of July.
Sometimes, a pastor will be hesitant to speak out on
political issues—especially during the Sunday morning service.
Although some pastors’ concerns are based on a misunderstanding
of the law and although there are resources to give clarity to the
issue, it is best not to pressure your church leadership. 1 5 You can
offer to play a role of keeping members informed of important
issues affecting the Body of Christ at large. M aybe you can make
14
Roe v. W ade is the infamous 1973 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that
effectively legalized abortion in all 50 states. The decision was
announced by the Supreme Court on January 22, 1973.
15
The Alliance Defense Fund (alliancedefensefund.org) and American
Center for Law and Justice (aclj.org) are examples of helpful resources on
this point.
announcements in Sunday school classes, set up an information
table, or even produce a church-wide newsletter. M y church owns
a radio station, so I volunteered to do daily reports on the station
during the legislative session for their local newscast. It is only 45
seconds of air time, but it is a simple way I can keep believers
informed about issues before the state and federal legislatures.
I am always on the lookout for potential political
candidates in my church as w ell. M aybe you have someone who
would make a good mayor, city councilman or state officeholder.
Challenge them to run and offer to be on their team.
Getting involved in campaigns and politics on a local level
is the first overt step to making an impact on your culture. I hope
you will begin today!
Chapter Challenge
1. Go to your city council or county comm ission
meeting. Afterwards, go up and introduce yourself
to each of the elected officials.
2. Participate in a program like TeenPact, City on a
Hill, Student Statesmanship Institute or a similar
local Christian program on government.

3. Sign up to work in the campaign of a good
candidate for a local, state, or federal office.
Volunteer on a regular basis for best results. The
Student Project program, which I conduct separately
from TeenPact, is also a great experience. (See
www.studentproject.net).
4. Call your county registrar and ask for details about
conducting a voter registration drive at your
church.
5. Start a Family Concerns Comm ittee, Right-to-Life
chapter or similar group at your church after
conferring with your church staff.

C HAPTER F OURTEEN
Don’t Be Threatened by a
Little Competition
s you are developing into a leader and fine-tuning
A your own ministry, you may be discouraged by
“competing” organizations or even individuals who seem
threatened by your success. I am constantly amazed at how
territorial we are as Christians. The idea of a little competition
scares some people to the point where they can be downright ugly.
Being a fan of free-market economic theory, I am
convinced that competition can bring out the best in us and can
help us to more efficiently allocate scarce resources in the face of an
immense challenge. W e need more churches and more ministries
carrying the standard for real citizenship. W e need more people

sharing the Gospel and more like-minded people running for
elected office. Though our Flesh wants to have a monopoly on
whatever we are doing, practically speaking that inclination is
usually counterproductive.
Economics aside, most believers would acknowledge that
we are called to regard others as more important than ourselves,
(Phil. 2:3-5) and to concern ourselves more with God’s glory and
purposes than with our own. So, while we may not need to be
convinced that we should do things “God’s way,” we often need to
be reminded of that fact.
While Christians may not

need to be convinced that we
should do things “God’s
way,” we often need to be
reminded of that fact.
In TeenPact, we had a ministry in California that would
write and call us once a year asking us not to bring our program to
their state. “You are not needed,” they would say, “You might
jeopardize our legislative agenda by bringing those kids into the

Capitol.” Because I am convinced of the need to be a team player
and really want to be a blessing to Christians in states where we
work, we have not entered that state yet. W e keep asking God to
provide clear leadership and give us “favor” by opening all doors
necessary for expansion.
A frank discussion of turf wars in the Body of Christ is
necessary because I believe that each of us can play a peacemaking
role and take the lead in creating more of a “team environment” for
our work. The ability to “compete” in a friendly manner is a
crucial character trait and is not limited to “pee wee” sports. W hen
we see other Christians as a threat to us, it often stirs up the Flesh
and results in disunity within the Body. Obviously, such conflict is
not attractive to those outside the Church.
I highly recommend the Peacemaker series from Ken Sande
at Peacemakers M inistries. 1 6 One high-ranking official in the George
W . Bush administration employs the principles put forth by M r.
Sande. This official has told me, on more than one occasion, that
m uch of his day-to-day activity involves helping people work out
16
See www.peacemakerministries.org.
their differences. If a student learns these principles and begins to
apply them now, he or she will be better-equipped for God’s future
use. At first it may only be within families and peers, but as they
(and we) are faithful, God will expand our influence and our ability
to bring peace amidst conflict. After all, Jesus said, “Blessed are the
peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.”
(M atthew 5:9)
Chapter Challenge
1. Examine your life for broken or damaged
relationships and ask God to show you any
necessary action steps.
2. Read Ken Sande’s book, The Peacemaker: A Biblical
Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict (Baker Books,
2004).
3. Have a frank discussion with your pastor about
“turf wars” in the Body of Christ, and ask your
pastor what you can do to promote unity within
your church.
C HAPTER F IFTEEN
Slow Judicial Tyranny
hen is the last time you read about a Federal
W judge being impeached? Never? That’s w hat I
thought. And while it is possible and has occurred in the past, it is
a very infrequent event.1 7 Because its members are literally
appointed for life, the Federal judiciary is the least responsive and
least accountable sector of government. Of course, the non-
democratic character of the Federal judiciary would be less
significant if more judges acknowledged their constitutionally-
prescribed role of interpreting legislative intent rather than
legislating from the bench. Unfortunately, without ethical restraint
on the part of judges, and without the feasibility of impeachment,
17
One modern example is the impeachment of Federal District Judge
Alcee L. Hastings in 1988, who, in an ironic turn of events, was
elected in 1993 by the citizens of M iami to serve in the U.S. House
of Representatives.
the best plan to m ake sure that good people end up on the Federal
bench is to make sure there is a pool of qualified prospects from
which an adm inistration can choose when making judicial
nominations.1 8
It is crucial to make the

judiciary a long-term priority
and to encourage a figurative
judicial “farm team.”
As we adopt such a plan, we must realize that the judicial
branch, more than any of the three branches of our government, is
least conducive to meteoric rises to the top. W hy is that so?
Probably because there are certain professional prerequisites to
being a judge, while any person may conceivably serve in the other
branches as long as they meet basic age and residence
requirements. But regardless of the causes, it is crucial to make the
18
Incidentally, there also must be enough U.S. Senators willing to
confirm those nominees, and that is one reason you often see so much
energy, time and money invested in senate elections.
judiciary a long-term priority and to encourage a figurative judicial
“farm team.”
The vast majority of lower court and non-federal judges are
elected— this includes trial court judges and appellate court judges.
These judicial candidates are attorneys, most of whom have never
before run for elected office. And while judicial elections are
characteristically non-partisan, the candidates most definitely
approach the job w ith political views, philosophical convictions,
and character strengths or weaknesses. You might not think the
office of local trial judge is that important, but such offices provide
important experience: experience that might put a person in better
standing for advancement within the judiciary of your state or
position him or her for an appointm ent to the Federal bench. In
addition, such jobs can even help them acquire “name recognition”
for future political races. 1 9
Aside from the professional prerequisites mentioned above,
judicial politics is similar to legislative politics— both usually are
19
For a scholarly treatment of the judicial process, see David Barton’s,
Original Intent: The Courts, The Constitution and Religion (W allbuilder
Press, 3 rd ed., 2004), available at www.wallbuilders.org
stair-step in progression. A simple formula for judicial politics is as
follows: good lawyering + politics = a judgeship. M aybe you
know of a good attorney who might make a good judge. To qualify
as a candidate, such a person simply must have several years of
practicing law, pay a qualifying fee, and then, of course, be willing
to campaign for the seat. The same principles that apply to other
campaigns apply here: develop your message, identify your voters,
and get them out to vote on Election Day. 2 0 And because these
people need help to get elected; you can participate as a campaign
manager, as one of many committed volunteers or as a financial
supporter.
Unfortunately, most people cast their vote for a judge with
little or no interest or information on the matter. Christian
conservatives need to be proactive in our efforts to move good
lawyers into judicial politics. Only then w ill w e begin to see
judicial tyranny recede.
20
The Leadership Institute in Arlington, Virginia offers some of the
best campaign schools I know of. Find out more about them at
www.leadershipinstitute.org.
Chapter Challenge
1. Think of five Christian attorneys you know, and
ask them for their opinion of the current state of
the judiciary. If you don’t know any Christian
attorneys, ask your pastor for some names.
2. Go to www.aclj.org and look at current cases being
handled by Jay Sekulow and the other attorneys at
the ACLJ.
3. Call your local county voter registration office and
ask when the next judicial elections will take place.
4. Go to www.tpjudicial.org and find out about
TeenPact Judicial’s Summer camps.

C HAPTER S IXTEEN
Help! More Christian
Journalists Needed
used to relentlessly criticize and complain about the
I M edia. That is until I started my ow n tiny, semi-
weekly capitol newspaper in Georgia. And while we only operated
that paper during one legislative session (I have also served as a
capitol reporter for two different Christian radio stations), I began
to appreciate the challenges of producing a publication of any size:
keeping good help, meeting deadlines, and managing the ongoing
costs, to name a few. W hile I agree that journalists have an ethical
obligation to be honest in their reporting, I have concluded that if
you are hiring the reporters, paying the rent and buying the
proverbial ink, then you have the right to determine the point of
view from which you report the news. Unfortunately, the “Big
Three” Networks try to pretend they are unbiased.
Another turning point in my attitude about the M edia was
the result of a talk by M ike Farris, of the H ome School Legal Defense
Association (“H SLDA”), to a TeenPact National Convention. In his
speech, Farris described the importance of viewing writers,
reporters, and editors as individuals. W hile campaigning to
become Lt. Governor of Virginia, M ike reaped the benefits of “fair
and balanced” reporting of his campaign, but it wasn’t because the
journalists covering his campaign were ideologically different than
journalists anywhere else in the country. Rather, it was primarily
because M ike took the time to extend common courtesies to the
journalists covering his campaign. Indeed, even when dealing with
members of the M edia, we are not exempt from demonstrating a
Christ-like attitude and proper respect.
In light of these principles, I believe we need to complain
less about the M edia and concentrate more on getting Christian
conservatives to become reporters, photographers, and even owners
of media outlets. Nevertheless, I’m very concerned about the lack
of Christian young people even aspiring to enter the field of

journalism. How can we really expect to see a more “Christian-
friendly” media when we have little or no stream of talented young
people heading that way? A pro-traditional-values media will not
just happen. W e must encourage more of our young people to
pursue journalism as a career.
Further, if we are constantly criticizing or complaining
about the M edia, our children and others around us are likely to
A “fair and balanced” media

will not just happen. We
must encourage more of our
young people to pursue
journalism as a career.
assume that we view the field of journalism to be sordid or
unsuitable for a Christian. Incidentally, this is exactly what has
happened regarding the field of politics in general. Believers view
politics as “dirty,” full of compromise and incompatible with the
Christian life. In actuality, journalism is a much safer field in that
regard. H ow often do you see a reporter attacked for his personal
views? How many times have you seen a media personality

dragged through the mud? Not too often; but it happens all the
time in politics.
Not unlike Academia, the field of journalism is largely
hostile territory for Christian conservatives. Accordingly, w e must
make sure young journalists are ready for the opposition they will
face. I highly recommend that students with a journalistic bent
attend the W orld Journalism Institute or the TeenPact M edia Training
camp in Colorado Springs. 2 1 These programs are two examples of
conservative training programs for budding Christian journalists.
M edia professionals like Cal Thomas, Pat Robertson, and
Janet Parshall are too rare. And publications like W orld M agazine
are even rarer. If we are going to change mainstream media, we
must send some of our best and brightest into the newspaper
rooms, radio booths and TV studios around the country.
21
See www.worldji.com for the latest schedule of classes. Our friends
at W orld Magazine founded this program. Find out about the TeenPact
M edia Course at tpmedia.org.
Chapter Challenge
1. W rite a letter to the editor of your local paper
about an issue that concerns you. Keep it short
and to the point. Better yet, write your letter
specifically addressing an article, op/ed or letter
recently printed in the paper.
2. Call your local Christian radio station and ask to
volunteer in some capacity so that you can learn
more about broadcasting.
3. Subscribe to W orld M agazine (see
www.worldmag.com) to learn more about a
Christian perspective in the news.
4. Consider attending the W orld Journalism Institute,
TeenPact M edia Training, or the Focus on the Family
Institute (see www.family.org).
5. Read W hy You Can’t Stay Silent (Tyndale House
Publishers, 2002) written by Tom M innery who is
an ex-journalist and current vice-president of Public
Policy at Focus on the Family. Pray about letting
your voice be heard in some capacity.

C HAPTER S EVENTEEN
The Preeminence of Christ
s Christians, our loyalty to Christ should trump
A everything, including loyalty to our country and even
loyalty to our family. Therefore, knowing and honoring Christ
should go to the top of our priority list as Christians and should
permeate our every decision. This is the concept of “Lordship.”
Jesus is not our genie or cosmic Santa. W e serve Him, not the
other way around, and we too often selectively apply this principle.
But guess what! Jesus wants all of us. If you are uncomfortable
with this concept, you might want to look into another religion.
Biblically, there is no other option.
One of the snares awaiting politically-active Christians is
the temptation to assign more loyalty to a political party than to
Jesus and His precepts. Party politics can become a religion unto
itself. Indeed, political parties covet your time, talents and
treasures. That said, I should tell you that at press time I am very
involved in the Republican Party, and there are areas where my
faith and party loyalty come into conflict. The bottom line is that
I am politically active to promote a biblical worldview in political
campaigns, legislative chambers and on battlefields of the culture
war. Any party involvement or other affiliation that I have must
help to further that agenda in the long term. Note that I said “long
term.”
There are instances where I support a measure that is at
least arguably “neutral.” That support, however, usually procures
for me greater leverage in lobbying on behalf of issues that I have
strong convictions about. Therefore, strategically supporting
certain neutral issues can benefit your core objectives. For
example, maybe you decide to support creation of a bike path in
your community. In m ost instances, this is not a “biblical issue”;
however, your vocal support of this arguably amoral initiative could
allow you to be part of a coalition w ith certain individuals (e.g.,
environmentalist-types) with whom you may disagree on many
issues. Such a collaboration can give you influence and favor which
could come into play later on as other issues of deeper concern to
you are considered (e.g., H om eschool or private education issues).
This kind of strategic thinking is too rare in the Christian political
community. Sometimes our people are so passionate, so narrowly
focused or so “black and white” on issues, that we are unable to see
the value in coalition building. As a result, we often lose important
legislative battles or guarantee that traditional family values will be
shut out of the discussion. W e can change that with common-
sense resolve to look for ways to work with others.
Speaking of black and white, let me say a word about the
importance of racial coalitions in the Christian com m unity. Too
often, black Christians and white Christians are pitted against one
another in political battles. For people who plan on spending
eternity together, this should not be the case. As fellow Christians,
we should make an extraordinary effort to understand the issues
important to our respective communities, and when possible, show
up to support one another. For example, blacks and whites came
together in 2004 on the traditional marriage issue wielding
influence beyond that of any single political party. Imagine the

impact men and women of faith will have when we exhibit this
kind of cooperation on other areas of importance to Christians.
Chapter Challenge
1. Think of an issue that might be considered
“biblically neutral” in your state and ponder what
coalitions might be built by your involvement.
2. Check out the party platforms of the Republican,
Democratic and Constitutional Parties at their
respective national websites. See w hich of the
parties best reflects your biblical convictions.
3. Consider m aking a contribution to a political party
or candidate to show your support.
4. Read Garland Hunt's book, "The M andate: A Call
to Biblical Unity," available through TeenPact by
calling 1-888-343-1776.
C HAPTER E IGHTEEN
Developing Your Family Name
y purpose in writing this book was to inspire
M others, particularly young people, to aspire to real
citizenship. One byproduct of such a pursuit is that you, and
perhaps your family, will be a pillar in your “city” or community.
But how can you help ensure that this pursuit doesn’t begin and
end with you? I believe it is by seeking to cultivate a “good” family
name.
M y longtime mentor, Truett Cathy, signs his books with
Proverbs 22:1: “A good name is rather to be chosen than great
riches . . . .” M r. Cathy invented (as he likes to say) the chicken
sandwich and is probably the most generous person I have ever

known.2 2 As a result of years of Truett Cathy’s faithfulness to
Christ and stellar success in the business world, the Cathy name is
now synonymous with generosity, integrity and quality in the State
of Georgia and beyond.
Have you ever thought about your family name and what it
means to others? M aybe it is tainted by the actions of a relative up
the family tree. Regardless, you have an opportunity to change
that. You can prayerfully seek wisdom from God on what you
want your name to stand for.
Joseph Kennedy distinguished his family name as well as
anyone in America. Granted, his family name is now synonymous
with liberalism and personal tragedy, but Joe Kennedy undoubtedly
imparted to his nine children, his grandchildren and even his great
grandchildren a vision for their family. They have ascended to the
heights in American government propelled by Joe Kennedy’s vision,
and he built the family into a dynasty of sorts. It wasn’t always
that way. The Kennedy family bond was forged when it was
unpopular to be Catholic in Boston— they encouraged each other
22
Buy his book at any Chick-fil-a store or by calling 404-765-8000.
Ask for an autographed copy.
and were committed to see those with the Kennedy name persevere
and succeed. They worked to establish a legacy for their name, and
now they guard it tenaciously.
I challenge you to do the same. Talk to your parents,
grandparents and other relatives on both sides of your family to
find out exceptional character qualities in som e of your
descendants. Look for patterns, traits, achievements and blessings
from God which are manifested in your family history. Also,
consider qualities you would hope w ill be synonymous with your
family name. M aybe God will use you or your offspring to
continue or even initiate godly qualities.
I am grateful for the heritage passed to m e on both sides of
my family. M y dad, granddad, and great granddad were all
entrepreneurs. Their encouragement and mentoring of me
throughout m y childhood and teen years produced in me a
capability to try new things, overcome obstacles and compete
tirelessly. On my mom’s side, I gained the “Tum lin” fun-loving
attitude that is so prominent at family gatherings. M y grandpa
Tumlin is a man of integrity and character and always encouraged
me to stake the “moral high ground” in word and deed.

M y challenge to you is to discover or develop a family
mission statement. Seek God for the purpose H e has for your
family. Then, set your sights to accomplish that purpose. It will
require planning, preparing, and continuing to seek God for
refinem ent, insight, and help; but it will help determine whether or
not you leave a legacy of real citizenship. God bless your efforts!
Chapter Challenge
1. Look around your church and community and note
families of great influence or integrity. Set up a
meeting with a member of the fam ily and inquire
about their family nam e and any influence they
have had to make their name what it is today. I
think you’ll be surprised that it is no accident.
2. Interview your own relatives to discover the same
about your family.
3. Read a book on dynastic families like the Bush
family, Kennedy family or John Adams family.
Note things they did to develop their family names.
4. Seek God about how He wants you to develop your
family name. At the same time, consider if there
are aspects of your fam ily’s history that need to
change. Record all this in a journal.

To order more copies of the book, contact TeenPact
at 1-888-343-1776, or visit us on-line at
www.teenpact.com.

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REAL CITIZENSHIP:

Practical Steps for Making an

Impact on Your Culture

Cover photo provided courtesy of Intercollegiate Studies Institute,

Printed in the United States of America

Foreword ......................................................................................... iii

Introduction ................................................................................... vii

W here Activism Falls Short ............................................................. 1

No Such Thing as a “Junior Christian” .......................................... 7

Having the M ind of Christ Is No Passive Endeavor .................... 13

Communicating Sacred Truths in Secular Settings ...................... 21

Rewriting American History .......................................................... 27

The “Power of One” ....................................................................... 31

Courage Is Caught ......................................................................... 35

Contrary to W hat You M ay Have Heard,

The Importance of “Taking People W ith You” ............................ 49

You Can Be an Expert ................................................................... 55

W hy You Need to Know and Be Known by Elected Officials ..... 63

Proximity to Power is Power ......................................................... 71

Don’t Be Threatened by a Little Competition ............................. 85

Slow Judicial Tyranny ................................................................... 89

Help! M ore Christian Journalists Needed ................................... 95

The Preeminence of Christ ......................................................... 101

Developing Your Family Name ................................................... 105

M y thanks to my friend N ed W illiams for his fine work in

editing this book and preparing it for publication.

In 1789, America needed change. The government under

the Articles of Confederation simply was not working. M en that

were brave and wise had drafted a proposed solution— a new

Constitution of the United States, drafted in the name of “W e the

But other men—equally brave and wise, opposed the

ratification of the Constitution. Patrick Henry, George M ason,

Rights would eventually cause our national government to become

On June 4, 1788, on the floor of the Virginia ratification

convention, a hero of the Revolutionary W ar stood as one of the

of Virginia when the British invaded. He was a supporter of the

Constitution and rose in its defense with this observation: “An

security to be perverted to an act of tyranny.”

W hile Henry and M ason failed on their immediate

objective— securing amendments to the Constitution before

Virginia’s ratification, they were ultimately successful in gaining the

Nicholas’ observation. Unless we have an enlightened citizenry,

our government will turn from a protector of liberty to a source of

next generation of leaders to believe in the principles of freedom,

our constitutional Republic is capable of securing the blessings of

liberty for us and our posterity.

Tim Echols and TeenPact have been an incredibly dynamic

force in training future leaders. At Patrick Henry College we are

blessed to have a number of his alumni as key leaders who are

and shape the culture.

opening the minds of many young people to both their

responsibility and their opportunity as citizen leaders. I can’t wait

Ask several “men on the street” for their opinion about

politics or government and you’re bound to get some combination

of blank stares, opinions regurgitated from the typical newspaper,

and apathy— lots of apathy. It is difficult to say whether apathy is

a product of being uninformed or vice versa; nevertheless, making a

difference is the last thing on the average person’s mind. In fact,

most people would say it can’t be done, certainly not by one

I feel comfortable in assuming that because you are reading

this book, you are at least somewhat concerned about America’s

political and popular condition. Nonetheless, you may still

person really make a difference? And is it possible for one person

to m ake a difference if that person is too young to even cast a