Success Story in Fighting the Lottery.
This story comes from Florence, Alabama. How the Lottery was
defeated in a liberal area. The four-country area in North West Alabama is known for
turning out big margins for liberal candidates. This area, while about 80% white,
voted for Bill Clinton in 1992 and in 1996, and turns out big margins for liberal
candidates in big margins (60% to 65% average). This area is heavily union and has a
well financed and successful Democratic Party machine. This was an area that the
Pro-Lottery forces knew that they could count on to support the Lottery.
Read the following message (dated 10/8/99) from a minister of the Chisholm Hills Church of
Christ in Florence, Alabama and be inspired by an amazing story.:
The governor's problems are popping up everywhere: odds are they will have some effect on
the outcome Tues., but it cannot be told how. Do you have the news that he now is charged
with having put pressure on the Board of University of North Alabama to raise $10,000 for
his advertising campaign for the lottery. He was on campus Mon. and (after seeing
the signs in our yards and the billboards urging people to vote "NO" to the
lottery) within 3 hrs of his appearance here his office ordered over $4,000 of time
from Comcast Cable....I do not know about which other media they may have contacted to
beef up their efforts to influence the people of the shoals/Florence area.
Churches in the Shoals area have:
*posted nearly 3,000 signs
*put up 10 billboards
* put on 280 30-sec. spots on Comcast cable
*Put ads in the Times daily the last 12 days and 2 ads in the Courier Journal
*written scores of letters to the editor locally and sent them to editors throughout the
state
Willie Hamblen
Editorial note from Vern Bearden:
The above actions were taken entirely by local Churches of Christ in the Florence and
north west Alabama area. They deserve credit for leading the charge and setting the
example. Pastor Hamblen wrote dozens of letters to the editor. For anyone
wanting some examples of great letters that address the Lottery from the Biblical and
economic perspective, you are encouraged to contact Pastor Hamblen for sample copies.
In addition to this effort, the local Southern Baptist Associations were very active in
getting their churches to participate. There was also a noticeable effort from
independent churches, especially Charismatic, Baptist, and PCA Presbyterian.
Quite surprising were the efforts made by churches that are normally considered to be
liberal. All of these churches sponsored numerous newspaper ads, had church
bulletin notices, and scores of churches purchased "NO LOTTERY" yard signs
(7,000 including those purchased by the Churches of Christ) for distribution.
It was inspiring to drive thru the neighborhoods and see the tremendous number of yard
signs. The most important factor of all was the effort by local pastors as was
demonstrated by the number of sermons preached on the Lottery and signs in front of
churches. There was a rally held on the Courthouse steps in Florence, where
ministers of several denominations spoke.
The results were profound. The Pro-Lottery forces out spent us by big margins,
primarily on TV and bill boards. But against a bunch of fired up preachers, they did
not stand a chance. 3 of the 4 counties had margins of victory voting "NO"
on the Lottery by over 66%. The lowest county in this area had 62% against the
lottery.
The tremendous victory of Florence, Alabama is contrasted to the efforts of nearby Jackson
County. This county has similar graphics to the Florence area. However,
churches were poorly organized and there were very little visible effort on the lottery as
evident by a shortage of newspaper ads on the Lottery. Conservative Christians sent
a 100 yard signs the last week to a few volunteers in a last ditch effort. The
results of Jackson County, was a meager 48%. Quite high for a poor effort. 48%
is a loosing number, but fortunately a state wide average of 55% was big enough to provide
a resounding margin of victory to make up for their lack of effort..
NO LOTTERY Web Site
http://nolotto.faithweb.com/
Subject: Lottery church ads and bulletin announcements
Subject: Election Sunday Church Bulletin Announcement
Please give to your church secretary.
VOTE NOV 7. Remember your patriotic and civic duty to vote on Tuesday, Nov 7.
Use this opportunity to vote on the moral values of the Lottery and to elect
our leaders for the next four years.
In the Democratic and Republican primaries of spring, 1998, less than 30% of the
population voted in South Carolina. In most churches, only 25% of their members voted.
Only a very few churches had a high turnout of 40% to 50%. That means that a typical
church like yours, had 65% to 75% who did not vote. The number of participants can be
greatly increased by reminding people to vote and especially by pushing the importance of
voting from the pulpit.
Gambling Violates Biblical Principles
- Gambling is a covetous form of stealing (Exodus 20:15,17)
- Gambling promotes violence (Proverbs 1:10-19; 15:27, 21:25-26)
- Gambling is contrary to biblical stewardship (1 Corinthians 16:1-3: 2 Corinthians 8:1-9;
John 13:29; Ephesians 4:28; Matthew 22:21; Romans 13:7)
- Gambling appeals to "fate" or "chance" (Isaiah 65:11)
- Gambling violates the biblical work ethic (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12)
- Gambling violates the law of love (Matthew 22:34-40)
- Gambling exploits the poor (Amos 5:6-7, 10-15)
- Gambling creates a stumbling block (Romans 14:21)
LOTTERY
The Lottery encourages our society to violate many biblical principles. Violators suffer
because of it. See Matthew 25: 28-30. Gen 3: 19, "In the sweat of thy brow shalt thou
eat bread." Each person is to "bear his own burden," Gal 6:5, to "eat
his own bread," 2 Thes 3:12, and "to work with his own hands." 1 Thes 4:11.
We are warned to "take heed and beware covetousness." Luke 12:15. Lottery
violates these Biblical principles, resulting in the personal destruction of many as well
as the corruption of our society.
Gambling and a form of it, the lottery, violates the commandment , "Thou shalt not
covet," The fruits of gambling include devastated family budgets, marriage conflicts,
divorce, poverty, hungry children, as well as the corruption of society and politicians.
The promotion, legalization and taxation of anything that is evil such as drugs,
prostitution, gambling or the lottery will only result in more evil Anything that is evil
cannot benefit our society even though some proceeds may go to promote public education.
Our forefathers, who wrote the South Carolina Constitution, banned evil vices that corrupt
our society like gambling, lottery, drugs, and prostitution Lets respect the wisdom of our
forefathers, lets keep gambling and the lottery out of our society.
NO LOTTERY Web Site
http://nolotto.faithweb.com/
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