In June, players from the Cleveland Browns hosted an event called Cleveland for Christ, during which several players spoke about their faith in Christ Jesus. The gathering featured worship music, personal testimonies, prayer, and baptisms as players shared their faith with the community. Carson Schwesinger, the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, was among those baptized.
They are not alone. Here in Pennsylvania, York Revolution players chose not to wear their team's Pride Night jerseys because doing so would violate their biblical and moral convictions. They personally have faced public anger over it and even scorn from their own front office. This past week, we delivered hundreds of letters of encouragement and appreciation to the players from people like you. We’ve been told that those notes encouraged them tremendously. Thank you for partnering with us to encourage their bold stand for truth!
Across Major League Baseball, many players quietly write Bible verses on the underside of their caps or on their equipment as a testimony to their faith. Whether through public prayer, personal witness, or a conscientious stand, these athletes remind us that following Jesus extends beyond the walls of the church.
Their example also highlights one of America's greatest blessings: the freedom to live out our faith publicly. As our nation celebrates 250 years since the Declaration of Independence, we are reminded of the timeless truth proclaimed by our Founders: that all people "are created equal" and "are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights."
Because our rights come from God, not government, and they cannot rightly be taken away by government or culture. That conviction has shaped our nation for two and a half centuries and has protected the freedom of Americans to worship, pray, speak, and live according to their biblical convictions. Religious liberty is not merely the freedom to worship on Sunday. It is the freedom to honor Christ in every sphere of life, including our workplaces, schools, communities, government, and even the playing field.
As pastors, we have the privilege of helping steward that freedom. Scripture calls us to pray for those in authority (1 Timothy 2:1–2), and Romans 13 reminds us that governing authorities are God's servants, called to commend what is good and restrain what is evil. Through the ministry of the Church Ambassador Network, pastors like you can encourage public officials, pray with them, and bring biblical truth into the public square with grace and conviction. Please join us at the Capitol – click here to learn more and sign up.
The witness of the USMNT, the courage of the York Revolution players, and the quiet faithfulness of MLB players all ask the same question: Will we be courageous to use the freedoms God has given us to make a difference in this world?
As America marks its 250th anniversary, may we thank God for the gift of religious liberty, faithfully pray for our leaders, and boldly live out our faith so that Christ is glorified and our communities are blessed for generations to come.
"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom He has chosen as His heritage." — Psalm 33:12
In Christ,
_20241017102741578.png)
