2020年9月20日主日
蓬佩奥：各位早上好。这是叫我倍感荣幸的欢迎。真希望能把贵堂的唱诗班带着跟我走，随后一定好事连连。
葛佩里牧师，谢谢你的邀请。很高兴见到你，师母。
我和太太苏珊在过去的几个月里和你们大家一样没能去教堂，我们都是在家看我们的母会 - 东闵斯特长老会的网上直播。我们母会在堪萨斯的威奇托，从35号高速公路，开车大概两个多小时就到了。
在网上敬拜与跟亲爱的弟兄姐妹聚在一起敬拜很不一样。跟母堂的弟兄姐妹欢聚一堂敬拜上帝是何等美好。
在母会我是一名执事，那可是我初涉“政坛”。我和苏珊还一同教五年级的主日学。我们教了好几年。我教男孩们圣经课程，那简直是为作国务卿的完美预备。五年级的男孩跟世界各地的暴君有得一比。教一批五年级的男孩，我可以说，预备了我作现在的工作。
今天来到这里，所见所闻让我喜笑颜开。我看见停车场里停满了车，我看见教堂里坐满了跟随耶稣的基督徒。这就是我所认识，所热爱的美国。很高兴今天能和大家在一起。
三年多前，我还是中情局的局长。我去国外一个困难重重，局势黑暗的地方公干。飞机到达目的地时已是午夜时分。我爬下飞机的旋梯，一位年长的绅士向我伸出手。两手相握时，他在我手里塞了一本手掌大小，有些破旧的《圣经》。我不知道他给了我什么。我向他道了谢，跳上车，打开《圣经》，发现里面夹了一张他写的纸条，上面写着：“局长先生，你对我，对世界，一直是一盏明灯。祝福你。”后来我才知道他是国务院的一名雇员。我没预想到后来我会领导他的团队。但至少那一刻，对这个人来说，我是一盏明灯，是一座闪亮的灯塔。
我之所以提到这个故事，因为这就是我今天要讲的内容。并不是因为我做了什么。而是这个故事告诉我们每个人，我们有责任做出基督徒的好表率，成为这个世界上的光。
作为美国最高级别的外交官，我周游世界，与各种宗教信仰的人打交道。世人在密切关注美国是如何领导世界。我们有绝对的责任帮助他们理解我们的国家是建立在犹太基督教的信仰基础上的。我由衷地相信，对我们每个人来说，在公众领域的宗教信仰不仅是合法的，而且是正义的。信仰不仅是强有力的，而且是美国传统所要求的。特别是在这个充满挑战的时代，在公众领域坚持信仰不仅是可以接受的，而且是必不可少的。我们的总统和美国高层领导人相信这点。我们每天都努力帮助我们所有人，履行我们的责任，把信仰保持在公众领域，不论是在家，在职场，在足球场，在教师与家长会议，或是我们所在的任何地方。这对美国传统的核心部分是不可或缺的。
我知道我现在德州，你们有些人认为德州是一个国家。我知道不是。
我的团队提醒我，你要去圭亚那，苏里南，巴西，哥伦比亚，然后你要去德克萨斯。最初的新闻甚至说，蓬佩奥五天拜访五个国家。能作为国务卿为国效力是我莫大的荣幸，也是祝福。
我们不要忘记，能在公众领域实践我们的信仰是我们慈爱的主赐给我们，开国元勋撰写和保存在法律文件里的权利。这个权利不是来自政府，而是基于我们被造而为人这一事实。240多年前，我们的开国元勋，这些了不起的人们就在法庭文件中指出，事实上，信仰要存在公共领域。我们需要每天活出这种权利。他们虽然信仰不同，但是他们都认识到，人是按照上帝的形象被造的，因此每个人都有人的尊严。这对美国人如此，对所有人都如此。乔治·华盛顿写道：“在产生政治繁荣的各种性情和习俗当中，宗教和道德是不可缺少的支柱。”想想他说的这句话吧。当时他们正在独立战争中，正在建设一个新的国家。他们把目光转向这些核心理念，把保护人类尊严和自由尊崇为我们立国文件的核心。他们知道宗教自由，人民有以自己选择的方式去敬拜的空间对一个国家的福祉至关重要。直到今天，在美国依然信奉这一原则。而国务院在世界各地所做的工作也必须反映这一理念。
我来举个例子。就在这周，我在巴西北部靠近委内瑞拉边境的地方。从委内瑞拉来的难民们纷纷逃离残酷的马杜罗政权。在那里你可以看到美国人，一些是为政府工作，但很多人是义工还有很多宣教士，为那些水深火热中的人民提供人道主义援助和深思后发出的祷告。
我们知道，当我们在公众领域实践我们的信仰时，美国就在最好的状态。我们在国界内外捍卫人权，这是文明史上任何一个国家都比不上的。
但我们并不完美。有时候我们也会犯错。事实上，美国承受最大的失败的时候，往往是我们否认信仰在我们生活中的地位的时候。在美国，人们有广泛的共识：如果你没有信仰，那是你的选择。我们非常明智地禁止国家政府建立国家宗教。
在座的每一位都知道，当宗教自由被剥夺，公共领域中信仰被叫停时，一个国家会变成什么样子。这样的例子比比皆是。今天的古巴就是这样的。葛佩里牧师提到我年青时曾在东德和西德边境服兵役。那时我坐在坦克里，亲眼目睹生活在东德GCZY警察国家里人们那阴沉的面容。你们也知道希特勒和他那信奉无神论的集权下的恐怖。令人难过的是，数以百万计的人今天仍然生活在这种集权之下，他们不允许在公众领域拥有信仰，甚至不许有“上帝”的概念。今天最大的案例也许发生在中国GCD统治下的中国西部地区，一个鲜为人知的，叫新疆的地方。在那里，有100多万中国人被关进拘留营，被全天监视，被强制绝育，强制堕胎。他们许多人遭受酷刑，或更糟糕的待遇。这只是中共多年来对宗教人士的迫害行径之一。是该国几十年来对宗教的绵延战争的一幕。在川普总统的领导下，美国这么多年来第一次严肃对待这个问题。
今年初夏时，我收到了一位中国女士的来信。她的丈夫是一位牧师，现被当局囚禁。她写道：“亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，我恳求你们为我和我的家人祈祷。我丈夫被监禁已经6个多月了。一开始的时候，他还会打电话来告诉我他无恙。如今希望越来越渺小，越来越煎熬。我每天盼望的就是能跟他在电话上说上几分钟话。我所作的只有祈祷了”。
我们应该牢记我们的义务，责任和能力，坚持我们在公众领域的信仰，在众人前发光。上帝呼召我们这样作，我们有这样的责任。而且这从根本上就是美国精神。我们应该祷告。祈祷是最重要的。我能感受到人们的祷告。我经常收到人们寄来的信，告诉我他们在为我们祈祷，我和苏珊和儿子都为此感激不已。你们还应该支持那些你们教会和其他地方派出的传教士去做出色的工作。我在世界各地公干时，就见到这些传教士所作的，把光和盐带到世界最黑暗的角落。
你们也可以在日常生活中，在教会，在查经班，在职场，在你所到任何之处，在每一次与人互动中行使你拥有的宗教自由。对自己基督徒的身份坦诚布公，毫不含糊，如果千千万万的美国人都行使他们的宗教自由，所产生的影响将是巨大的。这也将給我这个美国国务卿加添力量。你们将展现給世界美国是一个怎样的国家。你们将带给那些因宗教冲突而四分五裂的人们一个希望，就是不同宗教信仰的人们能够团结在一起。这是我们这个国家能作的独一无二的事情，而且我们能把这个信念传到世界各国。如果我们在美国这样一个开放的社会藏匿这光，我们就給那些生活举日维艰，或因公开自己的信仰而生命遭受威胁的人民传递一个惨淡的信息。我督促在座的各位好好使用你宝贵的自由为我们的国家，为上帝的国度，作大事。
如今全世界都盯着着我们。会有喋喋反对声，会有严厉批评者。如果你公开你的信仰，一定有人会说你这样作是不对的，但不要气馁。这只是意味着你信仰坚定而且你毫不掩饰。
我就亲身经历过这样的事。我并没有受迫害，但我经历过。前国家安全顾问说，迈克·蓬佩奥公开信仰宗教是有问题的。前些时候，“时代”杂志还说我的太太苏珊对我这点很不满。报道说：“近几十年来没有哪个国务卿像蓬佩奥先生这样公开和热情地在讨论基督教和外交政策时，給两者同样的广度”。
我的儿子尼克已经快30岁了，他的主要职责就是让我保持谦逊。他读了那封信，就发短信給我说：“这两个广度之间应该有多大距离呢？”这个问题由一个优秀的年轻基督教信徒提出来，合情合理。将信仰与美国的外交政策联系起来是必须的，是非常重要的。这是件好事。
我想起，上周星期二，我在白宫参加了一个仪式：两个穆斯林国家的首脑与犹太国家以色列签署了一项和平协议。我们为这个和平协议的签署作了大量工作。川普总统决定承认这个圣经上所记载的国家，承认耶路撒冷为以色列的合法首都。事实是，双方的首脑，不论在公开场合或私下，都非常肯定他们的信仰在我们共同取得的这一成就中处于中心地位。尽管这些国家在今后可能还会在许多问题上存在分歧，我坚信，他们的信仰将促使他们到达正确的地方，为两国人民做出正确的决定。阿拉伯联合酋长国和以色列能签署被称为“亚伯拉罕协定”的历史性和平协议绝非偶然。我们知道上帝的名有时为邪恶所宣称。但当世界各地的领导人感受到一个来自更高的力量的束缚，要他们寻求国与国之间的和睦相处时，我们应该予以支持。这是一件光荣的事，一件合乎基督教原则的事。信仰加强，而不是削弱美国的外交。
还有更多的好消息：在国务院，我不是唯一一个对此坚信不疑的人。最近部里有一批为主发光的基督徒组织了国务院史上第一个以信仰为基础的雇员小组。其中一个领头人对我说：“迈克，你来之前，我们觉得因为我们对耶稣基督的信仰聚在一起也许不太明智。现在因为你的榜样，我们明白了，我们必须宣扬在国务院使命中信仰的价值”。这是多么的光荣！他们的心在对的地方。所以不要让任何人告诉你信仰跟我们作为美国人的生活没有关系。
我旅行的地方很多，从以色列到印度，从南韩到塞内加尔。各国领导人总是跟我谈到他们的信仰。是的，他们也跟他们的民众谈论他们的信仰。信仰是世界各地人民生活的中心。事实上，正是在信仰受到压制、被消灭的地方，我们看到了残暴、邪恶和人性惨遭压迫。就在这里，就在美国，我们有特殊的责任在公共领域保持信仰。
来看看这巨大的祝福：我有此成为美国第70任国务卿的殊荣，担当如此光荣的使命，完全因为上帝在我生命中的恩典。我在办公室右手边的桌子上放了一本圣经。我每天都找时间默想上帝的话语。但当事务越忙，这样做就越难。在华盛顿上班时，我每天需要花20秒乘电梯去办公室。在电梯里我会低下头，用祷告开始我的一天。这与“圣经”的教导是一致的。加拉太书第六章第9节说：“我们行善不可丧志，若不灰心，到了时候就要收成”。
我知道如今世事艰难。我们的教堂和学校重新开放了，这太棒了。我们要与主同行，作此善工。我们大有帮助，因为祂的大能使软弱得以完全。
“祂对我说：「我的恩典够你用的，因为我的能力是在人的软弱上显得完全。」所以，我更喜欢夸自己的软弱，好叫基督的能力覆庇我。”
所以，在座的朋友们，在其他地方的朋友们，永远不要放弃照亮世界，永远不要放弃在公共领域的信仰，当有机会在众人面前见证我们的信仰时，绝不要放过良机。与主同行，坚持真理，保持信心。我们众志成城，让这个国家为世界发光。
感谢你们让我今天来到这里。愿上帝祝福你们每一个人。
牧师：
非常感谢。我们刚刚从你这儿听到，恰恰是我们需要听到的、也是我们想听到的、也是我们期待听到的。我们教会正在讲授一个世界观系列，讨论我们应该如何透过圣经看待世界。刚才你清楚地分享了，你有一个基督教的，基于圣经的世界观。你是怎么开始的？你是如何在个人生命层次上认识基督的？你在前面的敬拜中涉及了这个经历。现在可以跟我们再多分享一点吗？
蓬佩奥：
我是在南加州长大的，小时我去教堂，但我的梦想是成为一个NBA篮球明星。
然后我被美国军事学院录取。入学时，有两位大三的学长开了个查经班，查经时有曲奇饼吃。曲奇饼我可不会错过。但他们查经很认真。他们把耶稣介绍給我，教我读圣经。我与主同行始于他们，而且从那时起，从未间断。随着周游世界和观察世界，我的信心不断增长。有时有人会到我身边，悄悄地告诉我，他们为我是一个基督徒，一个领袖而感恩。这提醒我耶稣基督是我生命的中心，每一次有机会我都必须分享这个信念。我的信心和理解也得以坚固，就是只有通过祂，美好的事情才能在这个世界发生。
牧师：
真是太美妙了，川普总统身边有像迈克·蓬佩奥这样的人，他们都是耶稣的信徒和追随者，还有你们熟悉的来自中西部的迈克·彭斯，白丝·迪瓦斯，本·卡森，以及我们亲爱的州长里克·佩里，他已从内阁离职。对于我们这些耶稣的追随者信徒来说, 知道我们的国家的领袖是一批寻求上帝，寻求上帝的智慧的人，实在是太重要了。为此谢谢你。这个人的生命如明光照耀。与他近距离接触过，我可以告诉你们，他本人就像他在台上这样，热情，温和。谢谢你坦诚布公地分享你的信仰。这对我们在座的每位都大有启发。如果美国的国务卿可以成为耶稣基督的使者，我知道我们都可以。
当我们谈到世界观，我们的世界观时，圣经上有一条重要教训，教导我们生命的神圣性。正如你上次谈到，生命为上帝所造，因此我们知道生命有价值。我们确信生命的神圣，因此我们信奉“生命至上”。从摇篮到坟墓，都是如此。因此我们开办了“孕妇中心”和一个移动小组，专事拯救胎儿。我说，国务卿，我们相信“生命至上”，也把“爱至上”的信念付诸行动。这就是作盐作光来影响世界，这就是作基督的使者。跟我们谈谈你对生命和生命的神圣性的看法吧。我知道你对此深有见识。
蓬佩奥：
你们在这个问题上立场正确，恰如其分。这非常重要，永远不要改变。永远不要在人的尊严和保护每个人的生命这一核心问题上妥协。我本人有机会在世界各地做这项工作。在全世界范围，我们都是一个极其慷慨的国家。我们在全世界向那些生存最艰难的地方提供人道主义援助，我们做得非常出色。不幸的是，在某些总统的管理下，好些时候，我们的政府资助用堕胎来中止胎儿生命。本届总统说：“不，我们不可以这么做。”作为国务卿，我有机会实施这一政策。我们确保没有美国纳税人的钱用于资助与堕胎有关的组织。
牧师：
我们有多少人知道现在最高法院有一个空缺？在生命至上的问题上，我们实实在在正处在一个关键时刻。我记得我多次告诉年轻人，我们的千禧代，你们可以成为结束美国这场大屠杀的一代人。现在时间近了，我们需要为我们的总统祈祷，因为他将任命最高法院的下一位大法官。祈祷上帝给他智慧，让一切顺利。
让我们再谈谈中东。我知道, 我们一直都有谈这个问题，国务卿。我曾经和其他一些基督教领袖一起，坐在你的会议室，探讨在耶路撒冷的局势，和把大使馆迁移到那儿。除此之外，促成阿拉伯国家与以色列达成某种协议。为此我们在一起祷告。国务卿表达了全心全意的赞同。最近，正如你所言，这事成了。他们签署这个协议，就是“亚伯拉罕协议”。你能跟我们透露一点内部人士可以透露的内幕吗？
蓬佩奥：
这个协议好像是一蹴而就，但其实所花时间甚巨。我们确实为此作了许多工作。总统将其优先级别排得很高。他首先提出了他对中东和平的愿景，而最终我们认识到，带来许多伤害的巴以冲突并不是问题。真正的问题是来自伊朗的威胁。然后我们做出了改变，我们誓言要捍卫以色列，和以色列人民一起努力。我们要建立一个尊重他们，承认他们存在的权利的联盟。这就是解决问题的关键，它为我们提供了这个不可思议的机会。如今，多个不同宗教信仰的卓越的领导人宣称：我们承认犹太人生存的权利，这里的确是犹太人的家园。我们愿意与他们合作，与他们同工，我们就在那里一起祈祷。
你们中有幸去过以色列的人，还记得在圣殿山上往下看，看到清真寺，教堂，犹太会堂。三大宗教汇集在那里。本周所签署的协议提供給我们一个巨大的机会。我们有望在这个协议的基础上，创建一个持久的共识，来打造一个较为安全的中东，和给在伊拉克，叙利亚和黎巴嫩这样的地方的基督徒以更大的机会，摆脱他们政府的压迫，去实践自己的信仰。
牧师：
棒极了。我们教会的祈祷事项之一是求上帝祝福和保佑美国。谢谢你刚才提到开国元勋们。我认为现在有很多人想要改写美国历史。它以一种不好的方式开始，还在以一种不好的方式继续。我们爱美国，我知道也是。跟我们谈谈你对历史的看法。在我们当下这个取消文化的文化环境下，我们作为基督徒如何看待和爱我们的国家?我们还可以像应该的那样爱我们的国家吗？
蓬佩奥：
不仅可以，而且是必须的。这就是为什么今早我会选择这个话题。我是一名美国外交官，但我敏锐地意识到在我们国内正发生的这些冲突和斗争可以削弱我对外作为灯塔的能力，就是这个非凡的国家在人类文明历史对世界作为灯塔的作用。来回答你刚提出来的问题，我听有些人说这个国家的建国时间，不是开国元勋所定的1776年。我们每天要更努力，努力奋斗，以创造更完美的合众国。我认为，有两件事是我们必须要做的：第一，我们要履行公民的职责，还要在这个世界上表现自己。第二，我们需要回到开国元勋对信仰的理解，这个犹太基督教国家对整个世界举足轻重。我们必须坚持这个原则，不能让任何人试图用改写历史来否认这一历史事实。坚守这些传统，将它延续子孙万代，至为重要，至为关键。
牧师：
同意。今年是大选年。我们都知道，有趣的是，在2016年，2500万自称为福音派基督徒的人没有投票，很多人甚至没有作选民登记。在我们教会，我们号召会众去登记，投票。我们也为此祷告，我们要求你们去投票。国务卿，我们作为公民的参政责任是什么？我们应该怎样参与？我们在这个关头该如何为你，为我们的总统祈祷？
蓬佩奥：
我们应该为距今还有四十余天的大选祷告，祷告这次大选能安全地进行，每个人的选票只数一次。我想起当我在世界各地旅行时，我们试图帮助各国建立选举制度。这个工作很花时间。
我在圭亚那时，他们正好在进行长久以来第一次民主选举。我惊异地看到当地民众对美国人来帮助他们在他们国家建立一个民主制度的反应。若在数选票时有欺诈，是不可接受的。我们要确保投票运作正常，这是我们的职责。有人说我们不能谈政治，但我们有责任保证你的选票作数，站出来选你看中的人。你有责任到投票站去，运用我们所得到的自由。我们的政府官员和保安团队应该确保我们有机会去投票，去运用我们的自由。劝你的朋友们也这样作。上帝就会做工。我们就可以经过这场大选而成为更好，更强大的国家。
牧师：
我对此深信不疑。阿门！所以请大家去作选民登记，去投票。我们为总统，副总统，你，迈克·蓬佩奥和整个内阁祈祷，但我们今天有一个独一无二的特权来为上帝带到我们中间的这个人祈祷。今天他用他的话语祝福了我们。谢谢你。我们一同站起来为国务卿祈祷。我们请求上帝的祝福，信实继续与他同在。我知道上帝一直与他同在。让我们来祷告。
主啊，我们感谢祢呼召我们成为基督的使者，也感谢祢以独特而有策略的方式将这个人带到这个职位，給他这些任务。在祢的预备和神圣计划中，他对外代表着祢，我们的国家，代表着我们的宪法。我们为他如此公开地为祢发光而感谢祢。
我们为他的妻子，他的儿子和他的家人祈祷。我们祈祷祢用平安保护他的身心灵，赐给他能力。保守他全心全意地爱祢，爱我们的邻舍，爱祢放在他心上的，这个国家的邻舍，世界各地的邻舍。在绝望之地，请用他带去希望之光。
在这旅程中赐给他平安与喜乐，帮助他成为一个和平的使者。赐他信心和力量，以便担好祢放在他肩上这副巨大的重担。主啊，祢知道他肩上压着的是美国和世界各国政权的沉重担子，我们求祢給他力量负重前行。
求祢赐他的信心强大真实，足以支撑着他。也求祢赐他智慧。。
我们今天向他致敬。我们感谢他把这荣耀归还给祢。
主啊，我们为我们的国家祈祷，我们为世界和平祈祷。
我们为川普总统，彭斯副总统，和内阁所有成员祷告。
哦主啊！我们祈祷，在最高法院大法官的选择上，愿祢的旨意行在地上，如同行在天上。
我们知道祢爱每一个出生或未出生的婴儿。祢是生命的创造者和赐予者。我们祷告祢帮助我们为我们所在之地带来改变。
主啊，我们立下誓言，要恒久为迈克·蓬佩奥祈祷。求祢继续使用他来荣耀祢的名。奉主耶稣基督的名，阿门！
谢谢你，国务卿！
英文：
Secretary Pompeo's second remarks at the Prestonwood Baptist Church
Good morning，everyone。Good morning，welcome。I think i'm gonna take that quiet with me wherever I go。 Good things which surely follow past grand。Thank you for having it。It's been delightful to meet you first lady。Nice to see you。 My wife susan I for these past months much like many of you haven't been able to go to church。 We've been streaming our home church。He's missed to presbyterian。I've been what you，talk kansas system a couple hours up by thirty five from here。 It's not the same thing as gathering with our fellow believers。 Those people at least mister near new to our hearts to our friends，the people we love to worship with I was a deacon there that was my first entry into politics。 I then I taught 5th grade sunday school，susan，and I taught a class together there for for a number of years。III would try to teach the boy scripture。It's been perfect to become secretary of state。5th graders and tyrants around the world share certain common characteristics。Having one set of 5th grade boy myself，I would have to say，look，I put a normal smile on my face to come in here。Today。I see the parking lot for a big truck and I have to see the fuse filled with christian believers follow of jesus。This is the america that I know in the america that I love it's that's great to be with you all here today。 Just a little over three years ago。I was the director of the c I a I was traveling to a pretty difficult dark place in the world。I was climbed off the airplane。It was in the middle of the night came down the steps and older gentlemen reached out his hand to me and we shook hands and into my hand he placed a small palm sized bible。Many pattern grabbed it。II didn't know exactly what it was。I thanked himself low and hopped into my vehicle，got the car and opened it up。And there was a note from him inside the bible said， mister director，you have been a light to me。To the world bless you。 I later learned that he was a state department employee， no idea that someday I would lead his team。But I didn't know that for at least one person at that moment in the time I had been a beacon and I had been a light I I had shown for him。III tell you this story because this is what I want to talk about today。It's not because of something that I did。I tell you that story because it tells each of us about how we have a responsibility to model christian behavior and to be alive into the world。 I i'm now america's most senior diplomat。I travel the world。I I with people of many face how america leads in the world is being watched。 There is an absolute responsibility to make sure that they understand our founding。That's a duty of christian nation。 I believe deeply with all my heart that faith facing the public square for each of us，but the public square is not only lawful but righteous。A faith is not only powerful but required by the american tradition。And especially this challenging times keeping faith in the public square is not simply acceptable，but it's an imperative。Our president believes that and the senior leaders of america believe that and we every day strive to help all of us for all of us to have a responsibility to keep faith in the public whether that's home or work soccer fields with our kids or p t meeting wherever we may find ourselves，yeah。 This is essential to the central part of the american tradition。No，I know i'm in texas and some of you think it's a country。I know it's not。 My team reminded me that so you're headed to ghana，sir， brazil，columbia，and then you go to texas and the original press release the five countries five days。It was enormous privilege to service secretary state and a blessing to identify For us，this this right that comes down to governments，fact that we are human beings。Our founders recognize that and these men these amazing men back 240 plus years ago in our court documents that faith would in fact be in the public square。We need to live up to that each and every day they knew they came from different faith walks themselves，but they knew that each of us had human dignity because we were because we are created the image of god that certainly accounts for us in american accounts for all people。It was george washington who wrote of all the and habits which lead to political prosperity。Religion and morality are indispensable supports about that。The fighting a revolution，the working to build out a nation and they turn to those central ideas upon which stability they put protection of human dignity and human freedom at the heart of our founding documents。 They knew the religious freedom，the capacity to us to worship in the way that she wanted was central to the well being of a nation。And to this day while in perfect america reflects this， our state department，the work that we do all across the world must reflect this as well。I give you a good example from just this week。I was in the northern part of brazil on the near the venezuelan border and the refugees were fleeing from the brutal material regime。And you saw americans there，some of them working for the government，but many they're volunteering。There were mission work taking place as well，providing humanitarian assistance help and a thoughtful prayer for those people who are in such difficult conditions。 We know america is its best when faith in the public square，we defend human rights inside of reporters and outside of reporters like no other nation in the history of civilization。What a perfect we get it wrong sometimes indeed in america our great some of our greatest failings have been when we didn't acknowledge the place to face。Can we have an understanding if you have no faith in that is your choice。We rightly don't permit a national government to establish a state religion。Everyone in this room knows what nations look like when religious freedom is stopped out and faith in the public square is eliminated。Examples that are going today，we see what's happening in places like cuba。Pastor graham spoke about the fact that I served as a young soldier on the western and eastern border。I said my take Sadly，millions of people still live under regimes，they want to vanish，they from the public or any notion from a specific life。Today，perhaps the greatest example is the chinese communist party in the west part of china place and of us might know。Let's go to xinjiang more than a million chinese have been forced into internment camps being surveillance twenty four seven four forced abortions today in the world in which we have their submitted subjective to torture and worse part of the chinese communist party constant attack on faith。What's the war they have been happening for decades？United states for the first time in many years is taking this on the president trump in a serious way。Imprisoned in china she wrote to me， beloved brothers and sisters I honestly ask for your prayers for me and for my family，it's been over six months since my husband has been incarcerated。At first，he would make phone calls and hear from him。For steve not seek All I have left is prayer。We should be mindful of our responsibility to your obligation and our capacity to keep our faith。All right。In the public square，as questions were called to do that，we have that responsibility。Fundamental american too。We should break。That's the first of all things I feel prayers。I get notes for people who say they're praying for me。II can feel that my wife，my son，we all appreciate it。 You should keep supporting the missionaries to come from your church and from others doing remarkable work。I see it as I travel all around the world，they are。You can also do it in some ways and every interaction that you haveThat is a very good idea of face exercising these freedoms every day，the human effect is massive。It wouldn't power me。secretary state the united states，america，you will be telling the world who we are as a nation to your that are um that are torn apart by religious conflict，hope that people of different things can live in unity。It's something we do here that is really american。We have that on。if you hide your life in an open society like ours that sends a terrible message to places that are more difficult to have trouble or who are threatened if they choose to be bold in their face energy every one of you to use your precious freedoms to do big things for our country alongside of doing the big things for our kingdom。When you get in there，the world is watching us and there will be nice，there will be critics。If you speak up about your faith，it is undoubtedly the case that someone will suggest that's not the right thing to do，but don't be discouraged。It means you've got conviction no one。Everything。 I know this first hand，i'm not a victim，but i've seen it。 The previous national security advisor said that it was problematic that mike popia is overtly religious。There are times wrote a piece that my wife still gives me trouble about it said says，quote，no secretary of state in recent decades has been as open and fervent as mister pompeii about discussing christianity and foreign policy in the same breath。My my son nick，who's the almost 30 now his primary function life is to keep me humble。 He read that in texas。He says how many breasts is supposed to take between the two a reasonable question from a a wonderful young christian believer，but connecting faith to america's foreign policy is imperative。It's important。It's a good thing。II was reminded of that just this week，just this past week on tuesday，a 2000at the white house force ceremony，the leaders of two muslim nations may peace with the jewish state of israel。many things that we did enable that president is the decision to recognize this biblical land。of this accomplishment，what it is we were collectively able to achieve even though these nations added and likely will have disagreements on many things for time to come。I'm confident that their faith would drove them to be able to get to the right place to make this good decisions for both of their peoples。 It is no coincidence that the historic agreements is real and the united arab emirates and israel about rain are known as the abraham courts。 I know for evil，but we should welcome it when leaders across the world feel bound by a higher power，feel bound by a higher power to pursue harmony with other nations。It's a glorious thing。It's a deeply christian thing。the right heart So don't let anybody tell you to india from south korea to set a goal。World leaders always talk to me about their faith。Yeah。 They tell their people about their face to us at the center of lives all across the world。Indeed。It is in the places where faith is suppressed，a target for total erasure that we see brutality，md，and where humanity is most oppressed。 We have a special responsibility to keep faith in the public square here in the united states of america。Look at this great blessing。II get to carry out this mission， This privilege to serve as america's 70th secretary of state。It's only because of god's grace in my life that I have have this chance。II keep on the table over on the right hand side of my office，a bible。II try to dig into the word each and every day it's a little harder as I get busier。I use as an elevator，I ride every day into work，it's about 20seconds。I use that about my head。Set myself for the day to play when i'm in washington。 It's consistent with what the bible tells us and galatians chapter six first nine。It reads let's not become weary and doing good for the proper time。We will reap a harvest if we do not give up。 I know these times are difficult，we're getting our churches and our schools back open this is fantastic。 We will do this good work alongside the lord we have great help it is his power that has made perfect in weakness。So here present with my my friends and everywhere else don't ever give up shining the light，don't ever walk away from an opportunity to make faith in the public work All of us together win this nation a light to the world。Thank you for letting me be here today。Make up bless each and every one of you。 Yeah。Good morning。thank you so much。And just what we wanted to hear needed to hear now we were here。II was just wondering tell us a little bit more about how are you good christian world you were in a world view series right now talking about how we see the world in this picture that you have a world view that man and christian and biblical clearly you share that。 How did that start for you？How did you come to no christ in a personal way you shared a little bit about that in the early service a little more。So I grew up in southern california，I went to church， but I was gonna be a basketball star。Yeah。We'll hold the bible study in the africa。I was always but they did more seriously than the problem in jesus。They taught to be the bible。 I walk with the lord really began with them and it has been with me ever since and my faith grows as I travel around the world and I watch people。I'll have people come tug on my sleeve and thank me for being a christian for being a leader。It reminds me of the centrality of who jesus christ is in my life responsibility that I have to share that each time I get an opportunity to do so and reinforces my faith and understanding that it is only through him。The good thing it's really incredible to see how president trump has surrounded himself with people like mike pompeo who are believers and followers of jesus like mike pence。Do you know quite well from the midwest？ That's a divorce I i have been carson，of course，and our own governor rick perry who is here now retired from the cabinet，but it's very important for us who are believers and followers of jesus that we know people who are leading our country， seek god and seek god's wisdom and thank you for doing that。 And this man's life shines shines and I can tell you up close and personal he's warm。He's winston just to see appears here thank you for being so genuine in your fate and open about your fate。That's an inspiration for every one of us， if the secretary of state of the united states of america can be an ambassador for christ first，then I know we all can as well one of the one of the key issues for us when thinking about world view and our view of the world。And the bible is the sanctity of life and you see it because life is valuable because life is created by god。As you talked about，we believe life is sacred and that we are therefore very much a pro life。We are from the world to the two。Actions and that salt and light that's being making a difference that's being an ambassador tell us your views on life and the sanctity of life。I know you have some so you all have the right end of the stick on this and that's important，never walk away from that，never never round edges on that central issue of human dignity and protecting every human life。 I get a chance to work on this now all around the world。 We are enormously a generous nation。We provide humanitarian assistance all across the loop to some of the most difficult places and we do real good。 It is unfortunate from time to time under certain administration，some of that money goes to underwriting the termination of life to abortions。This president has said，no，we're not gonna do that。And I as a secretary state get the chance to enforce that。 We underwrite these places。We make sure that no u s taxpayer tower，none of the money you provide will ever go to funding an organization that is connected to abortion。 How many of that we have a supreme court vacancy now？And on we are at the tipping point on the issue of life in america，we really are。I believe I tell young people all the time hear a lot about millennial。I say you can be the generation that ends this holocaust in america and we're getting close and we need to pray for our president as he appoints the next justice of the supreme court。Pray，the god will give him wisdom and that will go。 Let's talk a little bit more about the middle east。 I know， in fact，we met，I think somewhere along the way，but I got to sit down with the secretary rather and a few other christian leaders in your office in your conference room actually and we talked about this situation in jerusalem and moving the embassy there，but beyond that，trying to create some kind of an agreement of the arab nations in israel，we had a time of prayer。The secretary expressed his heart and intentions on that。And now，as you mentioned， is happening with this recent agreement， the abraham agreement。 Can you tell us a little bit more little inside scoop on some of that the abraham records of the classic overnight success that took forever？So much work in the president made this such a priority。He first laid out his mission for peace in the middle east。Recognized in the end， the problem wasn't the conflict between the palestinians of the israelis that was driving so much of the harm。It was the threat from iran。And when we made that shift that we said we're gonna defend，we're gonna work with the people of israel。We're gonna build out coalitions that respect and honor them and recognize their right to exist。And that was the thing that unlocked the key that gave us this incredible opportunity and now to the remarkable leaders。It is the jewish homeland。We're gonna partner with them。 We're going to work with them。We will pray together right there。And those of you who have the first to travel to israel of，seeing you write you bend to the temple mount。You've seen a locks of moscow scene where these three religions come together and we now have an enormous opportunity to build out on what happened this week and hopefully create a lasting set of understandings that will create a much less dangerous middle east and give christians that are in places like iraq and christians that are in syria and christians who are in lebanon，a greater chance to practice their faith without being oppressed by their leaders very nice。One of the things that we pray about is the blessing of the protection of god upon america。I think the reference to the founding fathers there are a lot of people who want to seemingly rewrite american history。 This somehow it started in a bad way，continues in a bad way。We love america and I know you do tell us your thoughts of history a little bit and in this whole cultural castle culture environment that we have right now，how can we as christians think of our country and love our country？Can we love our country like a man man？ We must it's actually a picture that's why I pick this topic this morning to talk about I served as america's diplomat to the world when i'm you can wear the conflict and strive here in the united states undermines my capacity to be a beacon to have this most exception exceptional nation，the history of civilization be that way to the world。So when I to your point I when I see people suggesting that somehow this nation beast，the art，school， we're making more perfect union that we work on this every day and then we strive towards it。I think there's two things when we have to do this in our civic life in the way we carry ourselves in the world。But second we need to return to the founder central understandings about really and how this junior christian nation is central to the world and we must stand with it and we can't let anybody try and rewrite history to suggest otherwise。It was an absolute imperative that we stand on these traditions。I it's for our kids and for our grandkids。It's absolutely imperative。Yes。and how this is an election year。And we all know that interestingly enough，in2016，25million people who identified themselves as evangelical christians did not vote many were unregistered to vote。 Here presto，when we want you to register about what is our civic responsibility just to participate， secretary and how can we be involved and how can we pray for for you our president in our country right now。So we should pray that the elections that will have in sun。And I just I I I am reminded when I travel the world and we try to help countries build out election systems。We spent a lot of our time and I went to ghana because they had their first democratic election in an awfully long time。And it was amazing to see the responses people alongside the road for america coming to help them build out a democratic system in their country to stand when there was fraud in their vocabulary to say we work on accepted we have a responsibility as the sector said，i'm not allowed in politics。 I I can do duty。 It is everyone's duty to be counted to stand up and express your preference，the things that you want to go to the polling place and exercise that freedom that we have been given and that are officers and security teams will ensure that we have the opportunity to go exercise that right，make sure everyone of your friends does the same。And then the lord will pass upon it and then come back， So register， we do pray for a president vice president you， mike pompeo and the entire cabinet，but we have a very unique privilege today to bring this man。The god has brought our way and has he blessed us today just with his words and thank you。So and the secretary and i'm going to pray for him with you and we're going to ask god's favor which is always present to continue to be upon him。I know god's presence is with him。 We want to pray to that in lord。We thank you that you have called us to be ambassadors ambassadors for christ and you have uniquely and strategically place this man in his office and assignment。And in your providence in your divine plan，he is there representing you a nation，the constitution。We thank you that he so and openly let's his light shine，we pray for his wife，his son。It's family，we pray that you would watch over him with your peace body。My soul and strength that he would love you with all his heart。I love our neighbors，neighbors here in this country and neighbors around the world and it is hard to do where there is despair。May he be a light of hope，give him joy in this journey？Give him peace and make him a peace maker or give him faith the strength that he needs to do the job that you have given him a huge job，a big assignment and literally so often the weight of governments in the world in this country is on this man shoulders。So we pray that you would help him by your strength to bear this up and that his fate is strong and true。We sustain him and give him。Anna。As we honor him today。We thank you that he turns that honor back to you，but we pray for our nation，we pray for peace in the world。We pray for our president trump advice president has this cabinet。 We pray god in the selection of a supreme court justice that you will be done on earth，is it isn't that we know your heart？It's for every baby morning i'm born。 Are the giver and the author of life。We pray that we can make a difference where we are。 We promise we pledge to pray from Mike pompeo and lord that you will continue to use him for your glory in name and everyone said， amen，thank you。Secretary。
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