As Kim Davis, the Kentucky county clerk jailed for her refusal to issue same-sex marriage licenses, regained her physical freedom last week, a new debate was opened across America about the shackles that still remain for Christians and their religious liberties.

Now more than ever before, the Pennsylvania Pastors Network is committed to helping Christians, pastors and churches defend their religious liberties and “stand in the gap for truth.”

“The headlines surrounding Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis are a stark reminder that the religious liberties battle in America is far from over,” said Gary Dull, executive director and vice president of PPN. “Our First Amendment rights are under fire more than ever, so the American Pastors Network is working to equip churches and pastors with the tools they need to stand boldly and united for their beliefs, convictions—and their liberties.”

PPN is offering several tangible ways to help the faithful stay on top of the religious liberties debate, as well as keep the issue in front of legislators who craft laws concerning religious freedoms.

Tennessee Pastors Network ‘Stand in the Gap for Truth’ Rally

This Thursday, Sept. 17—Constitution Day—Sam Rohrer, president of the American Pastors Network (APN,www.americanpastorsnetwork.net), of which PPN is a state chapter, will be a featured speaker alongside religious liberties champion Rafael Cruz, evangelical leader Dr. Richard Land, Tennessee Pastors Network (TNPN, www.tnpastors.net)president Dale Walker, Tennessee Rep. Judd Matheny and Bishop E.W. Jackson at the “Stand in the Gap for Truth” Rally at 11 a.m. at the Legislative Plaza, 301 6th Ave N in Nashville.

Pastors throughout Tennessee who are part of TNPN, also an APN state chapter, will partner with state legislators to host this event, which will engage Tennesseans to address the most talked-about issues of the day, such as shifting marriage and family foundations, an unworkable immigration system, weak terrorism laws, failing education, a damaging nationalized health care system, lack of religious freedom protections and the blatant violation of the U.S. Constitution.

The rally, in response to many months of judicial and political decisions that have taken away states’ rights and stripped Americans of their religious liberties, will give Tennesseans a voice and equip them to call for change. For more information on the rally, visit www.tnpastors.net.

“U-Turn: A Roadmap for Renewal—A Conference for Pastors and Church Leaders

The groundbreaking “U-Turn” conference for pastors and church leaders hosted by PPN earlier this year has been called “transformational” and “life-changing” by pastors who said they were “inspired” and “moved” by the event. Now, plans are in the works to take the conference to Iowa on Dec. 1. Location and registration details will be announced in the coming weeks.

The initial conference in March at Lancaster Bible College in Lancaster, Pa., titled “U-Turn: A Roadmap for Renewal—A Conversation with Pastors on Society, Culture and Leadership,” equipped pastors, church leaders and laypeople to focus on how cultural trends can be strategically impacted with the truths of God’s Word.

PPN and APN hope that future “U-Turn” events will equip pastors to leave transformed in their personal ministries, help lay people and church leaders see the need to come alongside their pastors in greater prayer and support, and enable attendees to realize a biblical conviction to more fully understand scripture, as well as their responsibility in civil government.

“I was really blessed by the U-Turn Conference,” said one pastor in attendance at the March event in Lancaster. “This was truly life-changing and transformational. I don’t remember the last time I have been so inspired to want to make a difference in the kingdom of God after attending a conference with such great impact. I was thoroughly energized to know what, how and why we should take back our country for Jesus Christ.”

Stand in the Gap Radio

PPN focuses on topics such as religious liberties and other pressing issues for Christians during three radio programs that air across the country. The daily one-hour radio show, “Stand in the Gap Today,” airing on over 20 stations in America, is hosted by Dull, Rohrer and Dave Kistler, president of the North Carolina Pastors Network (NCPN, www.ncpastors.net),and addresses the cultural and moral issues of our time from a constitutional and biblical perspective.

The program communicates to listeners the importance of applying a biblical and constitutional worldview to every aspect of their lives, provides tools to respond to attacks against biblical truth in the culture, and encourages them in their critical responsibility, as ambassadors of Christ, to speak truth in the culture. “Stand in the Gap Today” considers current hard news topics from a biblical, pastoral point of view making it unique amongst other radio programs in the U.S., and welcomes guests, including caller comments during “Phone-In Friday.”

Additionally, “Stand in the Gap Minute” is a daily one-minute radio feature that airs on more than 40 stations, and “Stand in the Gap Weekend” is a one-hour program on Sundays that features a sermon from an APN pastor, followed by a short commentary with Rohrer and others. The weekend program airs on more than 150 stations, including the American Family Radio Network. For details about all three programs, visit www.StandintheGapRadio.com or email Mike Hamilton atmhamilton@hamiltonstrategies.com.

Online Resources for Pastors

PPN also offers pastors numerous online resources that help clergy choose sermon topics and find information for other church ministries. With some free and some paid resources, topics include abortion, apologetics, creation, the culture war, economics, education, the environment, history, homosexuality, Islam and marriage, along with many others.

PPN, a state chapter of APN, the largest national network dedicated to equipping pastors to be a voice for truth in the public square, is a group of biblically faithful clergy and church liaisons whose objective is to build a permanent infrastructure of like-minded clergy who affirm the authority of Scripture, take seriously Jesus’ command to be the “salt and light” to the culture, encourage informed Christian thinking about contemporary social issues, examine public policy issues without politicizing their pulpits and engage their congregations in taking part in the political process on a non-partisan basis.

The Pennsylvania Pastors Network encourages pastors to bring together biblical and constitutional principles in their sermons and provides resources to pastors throughout the state.

The American Pastors Network is the largest, national network of pastors who believe in the authority of scripture; who boldly preach the whole counsel of God with a disciplined application of a biblical worldview to public policy; who are building a permanent infrastructure of biblically faithful pastors and lay leaders; and who are mobilizing congregations to participate in the political process on a non-partisan basis. For more information on APN, visitwww.AmericanPastorsNetwork.net, its Facebook page or follow APN’s Twitter feed, @AmericanPastors. Those interested in forming a chapter in their state may contact amy@americanpastors.net.