AL PERROTTA — For most of two days, last week’s Watchmen on the Wall Summit in Plano, Texas proceeded with admirable precision. The hundreds of gathered pastors and faith leaders called to Prestonwood Baptist Church by Family Research Council President Tony Perkins absorbed practical instruction on how local churches can address these changing times. They learned strategies for preparing congregations for the likely persecution ahead. They heard Sen. John McCain via video detail why the Iran nuclear deal is such a disaster.

But as a final afternoon panel session on “How to Prepare Your Church for Crisis Ministry” neared its close, Carter Conlon, Senior Pastor of Times Square Church veered off script and past his scheduled time. Or more accurately, the Holy Spirit wanted the floor.

Pastor Conlon had been describing how in the months before 9/11 God warned him an awful event was coming to New York and to prepare his congregation. He went on to say he was feeling a similar prompting now. Then Conlon fell into prayer:

Dear God … Thank you for doing what you had to do to wake us up. Thank you for stirring your church again. Thank you, God, for lifting us out of our slumber. … You’re waking your church up in this generation. … Give us the power, oh, God, to stand as living vessels. If we go to jail we go to jail. Paul’s greatest effectiveness was found there, and so will ours. Give us the power to be yielded to you. We will not be ashamed of the gospel, nor those who have to endure chains to preach it.

When Pastor Conlon finished, rather than move onto the next item on the agenda, Bishop Harry R. Jackson jumped up to the platform insisting the moment of prayer was not over. He began offering his own poignant prayer. Those who felt the call to fully commit to the truth regardless of cost came forward. Pastors huddled at the altar. Soon all across the room the gathered fell to their knees and lifted their voice to God.

Whether while mingling, at meals or in the meeting room, these pastors had spent two days telling each other, “It is coming.” Now they were crying out as one.

It was a deeply felt calling to the Lord, an understanding that the hour has come and our enemies have entered the garden.

Amid the spontaneous prayer and petition, Pastor Conlon began singing, “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” All joined in, many in tears because, indeed, a battle is at hand. A battle for the Republic, and for religious liberty.

The hymn was followed by retired Lt. General Jerry Boykin. He affirmed that a battle’s afoot. “I’m not here to tell you it’s going to be easy. I won’t tell you there won’t be casualties. There will be.” He suggested that when it comes to Biblical truth and the U.S. Constitution, too many churches, leaders and parishioners want to compromise and “take the easy way out.”

“But,” he said, “when we fight, we win.”

Winning Takes More Than Will

Steve Riggle, Senior Pastor of Grace Community Church in Houston, is on the front line of the fight for religious liberty. He’s been in a nationally-publicized struggle with Houston’s LGBT activist mayor, Mayor Annise Parker, over a new ordinance that, among other things, would allow transgender individuals to choose whether to use a male or female restroom. Mayor Parker demanded Pastor Riggle and several other local pastors hand over their sermons. She eventually backed down on that. However, as Pastor Riggle pointed out, much groundwork for that victory had been laid in advance. “Before you can speak to your city,” he said, “you have to serve your city.” Also:

1. You have to educate the congregation.
2. You have to challenge them with the cause.
3. You have to prepare them to fight for the cause.
4. You begin to engage by standing up and speaking up. “The giant shouts,” he said. “Make up your mind to shout back.”
5. You have to run to the battle.

This doesn’t only apply to congregations and church leaders. It also applies to individuals, be it a baker in Oregon, a clerk in Kentucky, or a kid just hoping to mention Christ during commencement.

The Benham Brothers, who lost their show on HGTV because of their commitment to natural marriage, said they were able to withstand the barrage of negative press, to say nothing of the loss of TV stardom, because “we knew our identity” and “we knew our assignment.”

“How many fear being falsely accused?” the brothers asked. These days when the culture falsely accuses you of being a hater, a bigot or brainless, you’re expected to retreat. No, the Benham Brothers said. “We chose reverence over relevance.”

As Elisha’s servant learned, when we choose reverence over relevance, God over man, we are joined in battle by a mountain full of “horses and chariots of fire.” (2 Kings 6:17 RSV)

Note: Bishop E. W. Jackson kicked off the Tuesday morning session with a message titled “Time to Take Up Your Cross.” Afterwards, he spoke with The Stream’s Alan Eason. You can find that conversation here.