I asked Mark DeMoss, Christian PR mogul who earlier said Obama was making real inroads in the evangelical community, whether it was now "game over" for Obama and his evangelical outreach efforts. He paused and thought for a moment. "Yes. I think so." Obama has been hurt by three things:
- Obama's poor performance on abortion at the Saddleback candidates forum
- Obama's position that faith based charities couldn't get federal money if they hired people only if their own faith
- McCain's pick of Sarah Palin.
"That's three strikes," said Demoss.
I think there's one more variable: if Obama pushes a plausible abortion reduction agenda, he might still convince moderate evangelicals that he has a moderate approach. But early signs are that the Obama campaign is not headed that way. A new radio ad hits McCain for opposing abortion, without mentioning Obama's abortion-reduction ideas.
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Obama's outreach to Evangelicals--as misguided was it may have been--was premised on the assumption that McCain is not popular with the Evangelical community. Once he picked Palin--the movement choice--the likelihood that he could attract Evangelicals disappeared.
Obama's position on the civil right for women to access health care and make medical decisions is a position that is supported by his party and by a majority of Americans. While softening that position to appeal to allegedly disaffected Evangelicals and a small number of Catholics may have had its appeal, it put him at odds with his party and at a disadvantage politically.
The choice of Palin means the GOP is going to fight another culture war election. The battle is now for Independents--who are largely pro-choice--with Evangelicals no longer a voting group up for grabs.
It depends on how you define "evangelical." If you mean fundamentalist, hot-button-single-issue, low information voters, then you're right. But those voters were probably never going to vote for Obama anyway. If your definition includes Christian believers who embrace the teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, and live out their understanding of their faith in their relationships outside the church, then I would venture to say that Obama is more likely their candidate of choice (and just as likely not to vote for McCain just because of his choice of Gov. Palin to be on the ticket.) Either way, I think the selection of Gov. Palin to run as VP only entrenches voters who had already made a decision in the decision that they've made.
The recent Pew Poll showed again, that the Evangelicals and the Traditional Black church see eye to eye on most issues when it comes to religion than any other two groups in America.
Most Traditional Black churches are socially and theologically conservative, even more so than the white evangelical counter-parts. They are more religious, and they go to church more often. The reason they vote Democrat is because their hot button issues, such as equality and justice are not on top of the list of the Republican party. And the reason Evangelicals don't vote Democrat is that their hot button issues, such as abortion is not found on the list of the Democratic Party.
If you add to this, that after watching the Faith Forum, I ahve no doubt evangelicals would feel just as comfortable or more comfortable with Obama in a prayer meeting, than John McCain. Obama uses language that evangelicals are very familar with, John is clueless.
You might think I am crazy, but this is what I have experienced in a blended church I attend. I think those who are not evangelicals do not know how large and diverse the movement is.
The recent Pew Poll showed again, that the Evangelicals and the Traditional Black church see eye to eye on most issues when it comes to religion than any other two groups in America.
Most Traditional Black churches are socially and theologically conservative, even more so than the white evangelical counter-parts. They are more religious, and they go to church more often. The reason they vote Democrat is because their hot button issues, such as equality and justice are not on top of the list of the Republican party. And the reason Evangelicals don't vote Democrat is that their hot button issues, such as abortion is not found on the list of the Democratic Party.
If you add to this, that after watching the Faith Forum, I have no doubt evangelicals would feel just as comfortable or more comfortable with Obama in a prayer meeting, than John McCain. Obama uses language that evangelicals are very familar with, John is clueless.
You might think I am crazy, but this is what I have experienced in a blended church I attend. I think those who are not evangelicals do not know how large and diverse the movement is.
Dear Brother in Christ,
I, Pastor, N.YESUDASU which means servant of Jesus introducing myself and my testimony to your good presence.
PRAISE THE LORD
I Want to tastily of a wondrous miracle and Act of the spirit that god has done for me.
Our is family of idol worship. When I was three years old as our family is traveling to a temple to keep the covenant to goddess and when we are getting in to a railway compartment one after the other, while my father stepping in to the bogie drowned himself on to the platformleaving me away from his hands. I fell down in between rail track and platform. Suddenly the train started and departed. Meanwhile all screened by loosing their hope upon me and fearfully prayed God along with a suggestion of a pastorn who meet there.
When train departed it had come to know that I am alive with just a small seratch on my heel. At that moment our parents vow to God ``if the boy is alive we will offer him into Lord`` and kept their promise.
Thus the Lord by his great mercy his ferreted out the spirits of darkness that sought to destroy hisn people and brought forth a new out pouring of love in my and our lives. In this way God has choosen me to be a servant in his harvest and using me as a tool since my child hood on account of his plan.
Even though I am apart from God in my youth I have been caught and pulled and saved by hiss grace.
I was baptized in 1992 confessing my sins. I got trained my service under god`s person upto 2000. Then by the grace of Almighty and on a vision to me I started a small congregation in a small villages called UPPALAPADU, 15 kms away from our city, guntur which is in the state of A.P. in south India . Now it is extended to 5 more villages which is being continued by all of our prayers. The people living in these villages are very poor physically. They are daily wage some times starves due to lack of money and also having no proper clothing.
As Lord provided me I use to serve them encouraging to trun to God by listening the word of God. And also I encourage Christian by conducting cultural programs, games with my talents which God has given me by his great grace and love. Many of the children were encuouraged by the songs of action, stories of bible which attach them to grow in the word like of God.
More over I prepared 10 members in youth to develop child Ministry which is special part and pastieaple of us which God has put the burden upon me to fulfil my vision I believe.
Along with this we are also serving
1) The orphan children who lost theor parents in HIV/AIDS.
2) Helping old aged.
3) Medical assistance for the poor. Etc. By doing all this we are encouraging the village people to learn the word of God and trust in him by getting baptism.
In this connection we celebrate Healing Festivals in the from of conducting revival meetings all over our area. And it is a great privilege for us to meet you a God person to expose our need for the Ministry we are serving to God. This is all by his great graced only but nothing else.
Therefore we humbly requsest your good presence to please recollect all the work in our ministry and put your small helping hand for the need and deed and to be a partner of his harvest until we live physically in this world (which is temporary) to fulfil the vision that God has given to us.
So kindly reollect all these thing every day in your prayers. We are all always praying for you, your family, your congregation and especially your service to God almightly. Please pray.
LABORS IN THE VINEYARD OF THE LORD WILL BE GREATLY REWARDED.
GOD BLESS YOU,
THANKING YOU,
IN HIS SERVICE
PASTOR NAMBURI YESU DAS
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