Last week marked the first Turning Point USA America Fest event without the presence of its founder - the late Charlie Kirk. Because we wish no one to be in darkness regarding the ominous events coming along the prophetic timeline, a group of Adventists went to Phoenix to spread the message to conference attendees and sponsors through literature and personal interaction. We were by no means invisible.
The Kremer Family Foundation put up the substantial money for a booth and materials. We were armed with the appropriately titled “Freedom” edition of The Great Controversy from Remnant Publications, a beautiful Sabbath magazine from Amazing Facts, Cliff Goldstein’s A Pause for Peace, stickers, tote bags, and t-shirts. What we didn’t realize until we got on site was that there was another army of workers led by Michael Degeraty and friends who were passing out the same edition of Great Controversy outside the convention center.
Their work paved the way for conversations inside and helped us to underscore the importance of the book. We gave out roughly 2000 copies of Great Controversy inside the convention center. I was told that the outside workers distributed roughly 8000.
There will be some who will assail us for going to a conference where there were “Christian Nationalists” at the microphone.
But here’s the reality - Turning Point is not nearly as monolithic as such people imagine. Did we hear some concerning rhetoric? Yes we did. Did we see evidence of the workings of a false revival? Yes we did. Did we see racism? No we didn’t! Did we run into hate spewing Antifa (French Revolution) protestors outside the event? Yes we did.
Did we meet genuine Christians who love America and its true principles? Yes we did. This last group was not the majority, but still a significant number. We were honestly unprepared for the receptiveness of the attendees to the literature. Often we would tell them something like this:
“This book chronicles the history of the struggle between liberty and tyranny from the time of Jesus until the present time, showing the underlying spiritual issues in the conflict.”
I often mentioned that there was an entire chapter on the French Revolution in the book, and that understanding that chapter was crucial in order to understand the challenges happening today in America. When I brought up the idea that the principles of the French Revolution are being substituted for the principles of the American Revolution, their interest was aroused, since they could see that this is exactly what has been going on in this country.
Another feature of our exhibit was the freestanding wall on which attendees could write messages about why they thought the Sabbath was important. About four hundred chose to express their thoughts. There was a high level of engagement on this subject - much more than we anticipated, and while it is true that some may have written in reference to the first day of the week, many others made specific reference to the seventh-day Sabbath in their comments. The conversations were friendly and fruitful.
Further Observations
These folks are friendly and engaging. We had no trouble talking with people from all over the country and from all backgrounds - from Massachusetts to California (lots of these!). There were ranchers from Wyoming, farmers from Illinois, professionals from Washington, pastors, teachers, truckers, electricians, and much more. I personally had productive conversations with a pastor from Virginia, a retired DHS officer from Minnesota, a South Dakota congressman, the whole group from Moms for Liberty (who had the neighboring booth), a real live Christian Nationalist from Idaho, a husband and wife from Iran, and too many others to mention here.
Sequins were definitely on full display, with plenty of red, white, and blue, plus cowboy boots and hats. As Coloradans we felt right at home.
We found common ground in something that the Spirit of Prophecy extols - love of country. I am not ashamed to affirm American exceptionalism. God was at work in the founding of this nation, and despite its mistakes it is still the greatest nation to ever exist on planet earth. What we know about its future does not negate its glorious past.
“The Lord has done more for the United States than for any other country upon which the sun shines. Here He provided an asylum for His people, where they could worship Him according to the dictates of conscience. Here Christianity has progressed in its purity. The life-giving doctrine of the one Mediator between God and man has been freely taught. God designed that this country should ever remain free for all people to worship Him in accordance with the dictates of conscience. He designed that its civil institutions, in their expansive productions, should represent the freedom of gospel privileges.” Mar 193.4
People are not afraid to get into conversations about the Sabbath these days. To many, the idea that the Sabbath was a day that emphasizes freedom was a new and welcome thought. The creation of earth was the creation of a free society. The first day of life for Adam and Eve was the Sabbath - a free day. This concept gets magnified when we consider that Jesus - the Lord of the Sabbath - is also a Liberator. Another concept that was new and welcome to many was that the Ten Commandments is a Bill of Rights given by God to govern a free people.
In my conversation with Denise from Save the Storks I pointed out that her organization is focused on the sixth commandment (they provide ultrasounds for women as a means to encourage them NOT to have an abortion). I then pointed to the Moms for Liberty booth and said that they were focused on the fifth and seventh commandments (by protecting parental rights and seeking to get pornographic literature out of school libraries). Then I pointed to our booth and said that we were focused on the fourth commandment (the one that presents God as the Creator and Governor of the universe). She immediately saw the connection. I am more convinced than ever that God’s remnant must come out forcefully for ALL the commandments of God or we will look like complete fools when called to answer for our faith.
I’ll close out this report by citing this statement from Testimonies Vol 5.
“When the religion of Christ is most held in contempt, when His law is most despised, then should our zeal be the warmest and our courage and firmness the most unflinching. To stand in defense of truth and righteousness when the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when champions are few—this will be our test. At this time we must gather warmth from the coldness of others, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty from their treason. The nation will be on the side of the great rebel leader.” 5T 136.2.
True Christianity is held in contempt today by those on the political Left. It is also held in contempt by many on the political Right. Now is the time where must engage with all who are willing to hear the voice of the true Shepherd. This can’t be done by remaining in our comfortable, familiar churches. The message must be taken to the people where they are. There will be more opportunities coming to do similar things - will you step forward and get involved?
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Skip Dodson
“Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).