Author: Todd

Recent national surveys show that the number of Americans identifying as Christians is lower than at any point in our nation’s history. While the population grows, the percentage of people who know Christ and faithfully follow Him continues to decline. This trend should not discourage us—it should stir our hearts with renewed urgency.

Now more than ever, believers must share the love of God with clarity, compassion, and conviction. The light of the Gospel shines brightest when the world around us grows dim. Every conversation, every act of kindness, and every invitation to church matters eternally.

Scripture reminds us of this: “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”
(Romans 13:11)

The fields are still white unto harvest, and the opportunity to reach souls for Christ is as great today as it has ever been. Let us labor fervently, love boldly, and stand steadfastly for truth—so that generations to come may know the hope that only Jesus provides.

The start of a new year is a wonderful time for churches and ministries to pause, reflect, and prepare for the work God has called them to do in the months ahead. A small amount of preparation now can help prevent misunderstandings, legal issues, and ministry interruptions later.

Here are several important areas that every church and Christian ministry should “clean up” as a new year begins:

1. Review and Restate Church Policies

Many churches have written policies that haven’t been reviewed or updated in years. These include:

• Child protection & youth worker guidelines
• Facility use policies
• Marriage, weddings, and pastoral counseling policies
• Staff and volunteer handbooks
• Social media and communication policies

Updating and reaffirming these guidelines each year ensures everyone is on the same page and reduces confusion when situations arise. Consistency and clarity are essential to protecting both your ministry and the people you serve.

2. Confirm Documentation and Recordkeeping

A new year is the perfect time to make sure your ministry’s paperwork is complete, organized, and current. Items to review include:

• Articles of incorporation and bylaws
• Insurance policies and coverage limits
• Employment records and job descriptions
• Childcare worker background checks
• Copyright and media permissions

Well-maintained documentation protects the ministry should questions, audits, or challenges arise.

3. Verify Volunteer & Staff Training

Churches rely heavily on volunteers, and many serve faithfully without ever receiving formal orientation. Now is the time to:

• Reconfirm who is approved to work with children
• Re-train ministry workers on safety procedures
• Refresh ushers, greeters, and security teams
• Make sure transportation volunteers understand
  vehicle and insurance guidelines

Ensuring everyone understands expectations minimizes risks and strengthens the ministry’s testimony.

4. Update Financial Procedures

The beginning of the year is an excellent opportunity to:

• Confirm dual-control procedures for offerings
• Update check-signing authorization lists
• Review donor receipt procedures for IRS compliance
• Ensure proper documentation of designated gifts
• Conduct an internal financial review or audit

These steps provide transparency, protect your ministry from accusations, and uphold a high standard of stewardship.

5. Reevaluate Facility & Safety Measures

A brief safety check today can prevent significant problems later. Ministries should:

• Inspect emergency exits, lighting, and signage
• Review inclement weather procedures
• Update emergency contact information
• Check fire extinguishers, alarms, and first-aid kits
• Verify insurance coverage for special events

Many potential liabilities can be avoided simply by checking regularly for safety concerns.

6. Refresh Communication & Membership Records

Over the year, addresses, phone numbers, and membership statuses change more than we realize. Ministries should:

• Update membership rolls
• Refresh contact lists and emergency numbers
• Ensure privacy policies are being followed
• Clean up outdated email or text-alert lists

Accurate records help ministries care for their people more effectively.

7. Reaffirm Your Ministry’s Mission and Testimony

Above all, the beginning of a new year is a time to remind staff, volunteers, and the congregation of the spiritual mission of the church. Consider:

• Sharing the ministry’s core beliefs and purpose
• Encouraging leaders to renew their commitment to Biblical service
• Setting goals for outreach, discipleship, and evangelism
• Challenging the church to serve with excellence “as unto the Lord”

When everyone is aligned spiritually AND administratively, the ministry is positioned for a strong and faithful year of service.

Moving Forward With Confidence

The Christian Law Association is here to help churches and ministries operate with clarity, integrity, and legal confidence. By taking time now to refresh policies, strengthen documentation, and prepare your ministry teams, you honor the Lord and protect the work He has entrusted to you.

If your ministry has questions or needs assistance reviewing these areas, our attorneys are available to help — free of charge, as always.

As we look across our nation today, many believers sense a deep and unsettling shift. For generations, America was a place where Biblical values shaped the culture, where churches operated freely, and where Christian conviction was both protected and respected. But increasingly, pastors, ministries, and Christian families contact the Christian Law Association with a single question: “Are we losing America?”

The question itself is not born from fear—it is born from observation. We are witnessing changes in the legal, cultural, and moral landscape unlike any we have seen in our lifetime. The very protections that once guarded religious liberty are being challenged, reinterpreted, or quietly pushed aside. Christian educators are facing pressure. Churches are dealing with zoning disputes and government intrusion. Employees who simply want to live out their faith at work are told to remain silent. Students are told their Bibles must stay in their backpacks. And believers across the nation feel the steady tightening of a culture moving away from God.

Yet Scripture reminds us that the spiritual health of a nation is tied to its relationship with the Lord. Psalm 33:12 declares, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD.” When a people move away from Biblical truth, they naturally move away from the blessings, protections, and stability that truth brings. And as America’s spiritual foundation weakens, the ripple effects touch every area of life—our families, our freedoms, and our future.

But the story is not one of despair. Even in shifting times, God’s people are called to stand. The early church thrived in a hostile culture. The prophets spoke truth in dark days. And our nation itself has weathered spiritual storms before. What matters now is that Christians respond with clarity, courage, and conviction.

At the Christian Law Association, we see firsthand the rising number of believers seeking help because they chose to stand for Christ. And while the challenges are real, so is the opportunity. Every legal victory we are able to secure, every pastor encouraged, every ministry protected, and every child defended is a reminder that God is still at work in America.

But we must be honest: we are in a defining moment. If Christians remain silent, the culture will continue drifting. If churches retreat, the legal pressures will intensify. But if God’s people pray, engage, and stand firm on the truth of His Word, then even in changing times, America can still be reached—and lives can still be transformed.

As we move into a new year, this is our prayer and our commitment:

To stand beside every believer who calls.

To protect every church that faces pressure.

To defend every Christian school, ministry, and family trying to serve the Lord without fear.

To ensure that the freedoms with which God has blessed this nation remain intact for the next generation.

America may be changing—but our God has not changed. And His people are still called to shine as lights in the midst of darkness (Philippians 2:15).

Thank you for standing with the Christian Law Association as we continue the work. Your prayers and support ensure that when a Christian asks, “Are we losing America?”—The answer can still be, “Not if God’s people stand.”

Real victories. Real believers. Real results—because you care.

Outdoor Worship Restored
A church in Georgia was told it needed a costly permit to sing Christmas carols downtown. After CLA intervened, city officials reversed course, allowing the event to continue freely.

Student Speech Protected
In Kentucky, a high school senior was told she could not include a Bible verse in her graduation speech. CLA helped the school understand her constitutional rights—and she spoke boldly for Christ.

Church Zoning Victory
A congregation in Texas faced zoning restrictions preventing them from expanding their sanctuary. After legal counsel from CLA, the city approved the project.

Every victory represents a believer who didn’t stand alone—because faithful friends like you make this ministry possible.

2025 in Review

• More than 6,500 churches and Christians assisted
• Calls from all 50 states
• Legal help provided free of charge
  

1. Pray for Spiritual Revival
Ask the Lord to awaken hearts across our nation—to bring conviction, repentance, and a renewed hunger for truth. “Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?” (Psalm 85:6)

2. Pray for Courageous Churches
Pray that pastors and congregations will stand unashamedly upon the Word of God, even in the face of growing cultural opposition. “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”
(I Corinthians 16:13)

3. Pray for Lawmakers and Leaders
Ask God to give wisdom to those in authority and to raise up leaders who value righteousness over popularity. “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34)

4. Pray for Christian Families
As the home goes, so goes the nation. Pray for parents to lead their children in the faith, protecting their hearts and minds from the moral confusion of the world.

5. Pray for the Work of the Christian Law Association
Pray for our attorneys and staff as they defend believers across America—helping ensure that churches, schools, and ministries can continue to proclaim God’s truth without compromise or fear.

Across our nation, we are witnessing changes unlike anything in our lifetime. The moral and spiritual foundations that once shaped our laws, schools, and communities are steadily being replaced by values far removed from the biblical principles on which this nation was built.

From the earliest days of America’s founding, our leaders openly acknowledged the hand of God and the necessity of His guidance. Our Constitution and laws were crafted with the understanding that freedom can flourish only among a people who recognize moral truth. But as society moves further from those truths, we should not be surprised to see the resulting confusion, division, and instability.

The Word of God reminds us that “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12). When a people turn away from that truth, the blessings that once defined them inevitably fade. Yet, even in uncertain times, God calls His people to stand firm—to be light in the darkness and to speak truth in love.

The Christian Law Association remains committed to defending the rights of churches, ministries, and believers to live and proclaim those truths without fear. Every legal defense, every courtroom appearance, and every piece of counsel given to a pastor is part of helping our nation remember the principles that invite God’s blessing.

Now more than ever, Christians must pray for revival, live out their faith boldly, and support the ministries that help preserve our freedoms. America may be changing, but God’s Word never does—and it is on that unchanging foundation that we continue to stand.

As we step into a new year, our hearts are full of gratitude—and determination. Every week, the Christian Law Association receives new calls for help from pastors, churches, and believers who simply want to live out their faith without fear.

Your faithful, generous giving makes it possible for CLA attorneys to provide help at no cost in a variety of ways:

• Defending churches to ensure that they can preach and reach their communities without government interference
• Assisting Christian schools in standing firm on biblical values.
• Providing legal counsel to believers facing hostility at work or in public life.
• Equipping ministries nationwide to understand and protect their religious rights.
• Helping believers share the Gospel freely in workplaces, neighborhoods, and public spaces.

Your partnership makes it possible for us to be there—offering legal help, biblical counsel, and hope—completely free of charge.

As we begin 2026, will you prayerfully consider a special year-end or monthly gift to help us continue this vital work?

Together, we can continue standing for truth, defending liberty, and advancing the Gospel—until the Lord returns—“For we are labourers together with God” (I Corinthians 3:9).

Let’s begin this new year with renewed purpose—to do even more for the Lord!

As we approach the close of another year and celebrate the birth of our Savior, the Christian Law Association is deeply mindful of God’s goodness and the faithfulness of His people. Every phone call we answer, every church we help, and every believer we defend is a testimony of how the Lord continues to protect His work through friends like you.

This year, we have seen tremendous victories—pastors granted the freedom to preach without interference, Christian schools able to operate according to biblical conviction, and believers who stood firm in their faith despite mounting cultural pressure. Through it all, God’s grace has proven sufficient. Truly, we can say with the psalmist, “The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad” (Psalm 126:3).

The Christmas season reminds us that our hope does not rest in courts, governments, or changing opinions—but in the unchanging truth that “unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). Because of that Savior, our mission continues with renewed purpose: to ensure that the message of His gospel may always be freely proclaimed in this great nation.

As we look toward a new year, we are asking the Lord to help us do even more for Him. More churches protected. More Christians encouraged. More victories for religious liberty that allow the light of Christ to shine unhindered.

We are also asking Him to bless those who stand beside us in prayer and support. Every gift you send, every word of encouragement you share, and every prayer you offer make this ministry possible.

This December, as families gather and churches rejoice in the story of Christ’s birth, may we each renew our commitment to serve the Lord faithfully in the year ahead. The need is great, but our God is greater. Let’s enter the new year determined to do more, give more, and stand more firmly for the cause of Christ than ever before.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.”
(I Corinthians 15:58)

During the holidays, the request for help from Christians across America doesn’t pause. In fact, this season often brings an increase in calls from pastors, churches, and believers facing unexpected challenges.

At the Christian Law Association, our mission to serve God’s people continues every day of the year. Our attorneys and staff remain available throughout the Christmas season—because ministry moments don’t wait for office hours. In fact, each year, our team fields even calls on Christmas Day.

It is our joy and privilege to serve those who are standing for their faith, especially as we celebrate the One whose birth brought light and hope to the world.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was enacted in 1990 for the purpose of protecting people with disabilities from discrimination in employment and in many other aspects of life. When people think of the ADA, they often think of handicap accessible restrooms or the detectable warning surfaces at street corners that cue blind people that they are approaching an intersection.

The law also mandates employers with fifteen or more employees—including religious organizations—to provide qualified individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from the full range of employment-related opportunities available to others.

The ADA even restricts questions that can be asked about an applicant’s disability before a job offer is made. Under the ADA, employers must make reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals unless it is considered a hardship to do so.

If you have concerns about what you may or may not ask of a potential employee or about the kinds of accommodations you are expected to provide,  contact our offices for specific answers to your questions.