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Generation Joshua
We have already seen in several posts and diaries here at Talk to Action that the religious right is intensely interested in getting young people involved with their political goals as early as they can. One such effort is called Generation Joshua. |
Unlike other efforts which seem to be more about general cultural or religious indoctrination, this effort is explicitly political. Given our constitutional commitment to religious freedom and political pluralism, one would think such direct agitations for Christian nationalism would be more cleverly hidden, but this is not the case as you can see from the excerpt below:
Generation Joshua is designed for Christian youth between the ages of 11 and 19 who want to become a force in the civic and political arenas. Our goal is to ignite a vision in young people to help America return to her Judeo-Christian foundations. We provide students with hands-on opportunities to implement that vision.
In America today, battles are being waged over many issues--from judicial activism to attacks on traditional marriage to the moral disintegration of our society. In the midst of the battles, we can lose sight of where our nation has come from, and these pressing concerns could crush our hope for America's future.
John Winthrop, then governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony, wrote in 1630 concerning New England and America: "We shall be as a City upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us." He warned that "if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause him to withdraw his present help from us, we shall be made a story and a byword throughout the world."
Generation Joshua wants America to be a perpetual city on a hill. We seek to inspire every one of our members with the kind of faith that sees beyond our present circumstances to what America can become--if each one of us consistently impacts our sphere of influence for Christ and for His glory. [ ]
To give young people a vision for taking America back to its Judeo-Christian foundations, Generation Joshua offers an online civics curriculum. Teens will not only learn how government works, they will also learn how it should work if the original intent of the Constitution is followed. [ ]
Generation Joshua trains the newest generation of young people to be effective leaders today in order to change governmental policies tomorrow. Encouraging people of faith to vote is an important part of that goal. In 2004, the number of Christian voters increased dramatically, and the results could be seen across the nation as more men and women of faith were elected into office. But there is still more to do. Just a small increase in Christian voters could make a big difference in the outcome of any election. Generation Joshua encourages its members to register new voters, especially Christian voters, because voting is a vital part of every Christian's civic responsibility. Christians have a duty to rebuild the walls of American politics that were originally constructed on the foundation of biblical values and self-government. [ ]
The rewards for achieving the three levels in the program include scholarships to Patrick Henry College, certificates of achievement, and for the top five national winners, an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C.
Generation Joshua's Student Action Teams, fully funded by HSLDA's federal political action committee, provide young people the opportunity to turn their knowledge into action by volunteering in political races on behalf of conservative candidates. In the fall of 2002, seven teams of high school and college aged students worked on federal House and Senate races across America, phone banking, literature dropping, and campaigning. Of those seven races, six were victorious. In 2004, fourteen teams of youth were involved in nine races across the nation. Eight were victorious. It is evident that dedicated young people can positively impact the political world and learn how to run for office someday; the Student Action Teams are the vehicles that help tomorrow's leaders elect the leaders of today. [ ]
GenJ Clubs help maximize opportunities for Generation Joshua members at the local level. [ ]
Imagine hundreds of clubs of Christian youth across the nation, praying for America, and then putting their faith and vision into action. If there are enough Christian youth being salt and light in their local communities, America cannot help but be changed for the better.
Generation Joshua | 7 comments (7 topical, 0 hidden)
Generation Joshua | 7 comments (7 topical, 0 hidden)
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