By Ashley Robinson
On June 19, 2015, I could barely contain my applause as the Rev. Dr. Marvin A. McMickle addressed the BJC’s Religious Liberty Council Luncheon, urging us all to “keep the faith by breaking the silence.” I left that luncheon with a spirit of “YES! Let’s do this! Consider the silence broken!”
But, when I returned to the real world, I realized just how easy it is to keep the silence instead of keeping the faith. I encountered friends and family members supporting those who were trying to use religious liberty to further their own agenda and oppress others who didn’t hold their same religious beliefs. I wanted so badly to give them a gentle tap on the shoulder and say, “Pssssst. I don’t think religious liberty means what you think it means,” but I found myself opting for silence more often than I’d care to admit.
It was so easy to remain silent when I didn’t feel equipped to have difficult conversations, but the Baptist Joint Committee has given me the courage to speak up by helping me to better understand the true meaning of religious liberty and why it is essential for all people.
I give monthly to the BJC because I trust them to break the silence.
I give monthly to the BJC because they empower me to break the silence.
Join Ashley and others who support the Baptist Joint Committee on an ongoing basis. Become a monthly donor on #GivingTuesday, and help us reach our goal of additional monthly support for our ongoing programs.
Hear from other supporters on our Giving Tuesday page.
