Radio Commentaries

Week: December 23rd - 27th, 2024

12/23/2024 - Religious Freedom Sunday is Almost Here!

To increase national awareness of the president’s annual proclamation of Religious Freedom Day, which is January 16th, we’re promoting Religious Freedom SUNDAY. It’s celebrated each year the Sunday before Religious Freedom Day.

Religious Freedom Sunday is a national event in which churches honor the educators within their congregations and inform their congregations about the freedom of religious expression students from kindergarten through twelfth grade have at school.

The theme for Religious Freedom SUNDAY comes from the Bible verse quoted on the Liberty Bell “proclaim liberty throughout the land” (Leviticus 25:10). This holiday acknowledges the importance of our religious freedom and unites this nation under God.

For information on what your church can do for Religious Freedom Sunday, visit ReligiousFreedomSunday.com.

12/24/2024 - Drawing Attention to Religious Freedom Day

Each year, the President declares January 16th to be Religious Freedom Day, and calls upon Americans to “observe this day through appropriate events and activities in homes, schools, and places of worship.”

The day is the anniversary of the passage, in 1786, of the Virginia Statute on Religious Freedom. Thomas Jefferson drafted the legislation and considered it one of his greatest achievements. It stopped the practice of taxing people to pay for the support of the local clergy, and it protected the civil rights of people to express their religious beliefs without suffering discrimination. The week leading up to, or following, Religious Freedom Day is a great time for students in campus Bible clubs to distribute information to classmates and educators.

For a free Religious Freedom Day DOWNLOAD explaining more this important day and Jefferson’s legislation, visit Religious Freedom Day DOWNLOAD.

12/25/2024 - The Message of Religious Freedom Day

Religious Freedom Day is coming up and it’s time we are aware of the message behind this important holiday. What students need to hear is that they shouldn't feel like they have to be “undercover” about their religion. Or that somehow, they have to keep their family's beliefs a secret.

School officials might be hesitant to acknowledge Religious Freedom Day thinking they will need to have a school assembly giving a platform to various religious speakers. This is not necessary.

Religious Freedom Day is an opportunity for a civics lesson regarding Americans’ freedom to express and live out their faith. It can also be used in a history lesson because of Thomas Jefferson’s authorship of The Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom, which is where it derived from.

You can be a gateway to better education. For a FREE download about Religious Freedom Day visit our RFD website.

12/26/2024 Commemorating Religious Freedom Day

As Religious Freedom Day approaches there’s no better time to start planning how you will be commemorating the day. Here are some ideas for acknowledging Religious Freedom Day at your school:

Read the Presidential Proclamation. Have students write a paper on “What religious freedom means to me.” Distribute copies of the U.S. Department of Education’s guidance on students’ religious liberties. Talk about countries where freedom of religion is not allowed. And distribute and discuss the Virginia Statute on Religious Freedom drafted by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison on January 16, 1786.

You can be a gateway to better education for students in your local schools. For more information about Religious Freedom Day visit Religious Freedom Day.

12/27/2024 - Salt & Light

When it comes to addressing a concern in your child’s school, what does it mean to be “salt and light”?

In Matthew 5, Jesus refers to his followers as salt and light. Today, many churches have salt and light committees to engage the congregation in social and political concerns. That’s great! But we need to remind ourselves that we use salt to make things better, not bitter. And our light should be a lamp, not a blowtorch.

Our model is Jesus. We need to address the issues of society with truth that shines light and makes things better.

For help on how to address an issue in your child’s school, visit our HOME PAGE.