Please, before going from this point, take
your time to pray and be very careful to advance toward PINS only with the
leadership of God’s Holy Spirit.--- Prayer, faith and obedience are the main
ingredients to have prayer in any school system.
John 15:5---I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing.
Serving as Crusade Ministries Pastor, I
personally expended countless hours and visits, over a period of time, to our
county officials (County Executive, Attorney, Court and School Board Members,
Director of Schools, Principals, Teachers, Judges, Sheriff, State and local
politicians) as well as Pastors and citizens of our area. It can not be
stressed too much that days, weeks and months of agony in prayer and laying the
proper groundwork with God and the political machinery is a “must do” in order
to be successful in achieving PINS. It is vitally important to provide these people
with the right information to educate them on the current law, according
to our Constitution, as to
what is legal for us as American citizens. Much misinformation has been told
them and many are confused as to their rights. I found many of these people
were delighted to be informed with the truth and some were informed already,
they were waiting on someone to come along and take the lead in exercising
these rights and privileges.
When, through prayer, we knew the time
was right to approach our school board, we requested to be put on the monthly
agenda for the purpose of beginning PINS. Before the meeting you should know
how many votes you have. This makes you to believe the time is right. You will
know where many principals and teachers stand on the issue by this time. It is
much easier to win them with honey than with vinegar. Christian Statesmanship
is hard to beat when God is leading. It is very difficult, but not impossible,
when you have to fight “City Hall” to get PINS. If presented and informed
properly many officials are willing to not only allow PINS but will help with
PINS. They know that John Q. Public will remember who was for and against PINS
when next election rolls by. They also know the polls and public sentiment for
prayer to be put back in schools across America
We drafted a
letter
to every box holder in our County and area, explaining how the Lord was leading
us and to ask for their support for PINS. We purchased a bulk rate permit from
the Postal Service and the cost was about six cents per letter plus paper cost.
We also published the letter in all our area newspapers. Advertisement in the
media was utilized. We had a press release for the local media, which stirred
much interest. At present, PINS is a very hot topic.
With God working with many of the above-mentioned
officials and knowing where we were with them, and God, we were put on the
School Board Agenda to ask permission to proceed with PINS. It is of utmost
importance that we realize that this must be student initiated and student led
PINS. They have to have someone to stand for them in these matters and work out
the details, which in most cases takes an adult or organization with a vision.
At this point the board members need to be informed in public with what is
legal according to law, as interpreted with a competent attorney and in our
case we let Liberty Counsel issue an
opinion. We read excerpts of this opinion audible to all who attended and when
finished the room broke out in applause in support of PINS. The Board joined
with the crowd but never officially voted either way. Take what you get and run
with it. They knew this was legal and to vote against PINS would be political
suicide. We have more than 75% support in our County for PINS.
From this point move to helping the
students in an off campus setting so as not to disrupt the administration in
school. We helped the students organize at our Church. I opened the meeting to
help them to elect a chair and co-chair. I then moved to advisor capacity. The
students then took this with zeal to the school and got permission for a time
and place to begin PINS. If the school allows secular (Equal Access)
groups to meet before or after class, then they are required to allow religious
groups to meet also. Teachers are allowed to participate with students in the
Prayer as long as they do not initiate the Prayer. They need to not be “on the
clock” at this time. Our student’s meet at 8:15 a. m. and class begins at 8:30
a. m.
Permission Slips are of great
importance. Each voluntary participant must have a signed permission slip from
their parent or guardian to voluntary participate in PINS. The student team
will want to file these slips with the school as well as to provide, in our
case, Crusade Ministries with a copy. When other religious or non-religious
groups want to meet at given times at school and the school sets a policy that
permission slips are required then this lets the parent or guardian have
control of their children’s activities.
Prayer shirts are provided to the
students as a gift from Crusade Ministries. Each voluntary participant is offered
a T-shirt (link to picture of student wearing shirt and logo printed to read)
with a logo developed by our students concerning PINS. This is a copyright
shirt that you can use with our permission. We contacted a local businessman
who was willing to help our students and printed the shirts at his cost. His
name is Bob Rhael and his business is American Sportsware in Maynardville,
Tenn. 37908 Our community has been great to help with PINS. The student keeps
records of receivership of shirts. You will notice in the letter mailed to our
County that the shirt was mentioned, from which we received funds sufficient to
pay for the shirts. God always provides for his work!
Summary to prayer in school
(PINS)
1.
Prayer,
faith and obedience to God.
2.
Build
good relations with your school and County officials.
3.
Go
through proper channels of authority (chain of command) to obtain permission
and approval for PINS.
4.
Assist
students in organizational procedures off campus and begin in one
school-remember this must be student initiated and student led at school.
5.
Provide
prayerful and financial support for PINS
i.e. prayer shirts etc.
6.
Maintenance
for PINS;
A-support for students by pastors, youth leaders,
etc.
B-occasional visits to school officials and staff.
C-occasional visits to PINS as invited by students
and cleared by office with visitor’s pass.
D-encouragement to all parties involved in PINS.
p.s. If it becomes necessary for Pastor Beeler to come to your area to speak, train and equip your organization with the tools to enable your students to put prayer in their school, then send a request to:
Pastor Gary
Beeler Home Phone: (865) 992-8639
Crusade Ministries
P.O. Box 40
Luttrell, TN 37779-0040
Fax: (865) 992-1143
