The RECORD

The League is raising up 500 churches to give $50 a month. The ministry is giving itself five years to reach the goal. This amount of funding will cover the regular annual operating costs for the century old pro-family ministry.

The League has been associated with the national mega-ministry "Focus on the Family" for 17 years. While the association benefits the League in many ways, the two ministries do not share financial resources. Focus on the Family does not fund the League.

The League is very prudent with the funds that it raises each year. Many people are surprised when they learn the size of the League's budget. The ministry is often quoted in the news, and has stood virtually alone against the homosexual juggernaught in Maine.

Recently the League's outspokenness led to the withdrawl of a politician's proposal to vaccinate 5th grade girls for a sexually transmitted disease. The proposal mandated the vaccine for girls attending public schools.

Churches and individuals who are interested in becoming part of the 500-50-5 program should email mike@cclmaine.org or call our office at 1-800-769-4132.

Wickedness entered the world with Satan's rebellion against God. The Bible declares, "What the wicked construct finally falls into ruin." As we watch wicked families and individuals fall into ruin all around us it is important to notice the good along with the bad. This Proverb ends, "while the roots of the righteous give life, and more life."

The League is blessed everyday by people who give, sometimes sacrificially. Today we have been blessed in multiple ways by givers.

The snow storm yesterday came at a bad time for the League. For a month we planned to get our mailing stuffed on Wednesday, Valentines Day. God had other things in mind, like a foot of snow. Needless to say we weren't blessed with enough volunteers yesterday. One brave soul ventured out into the whistling noreaster and worked until noon. We weren't surprised to see him. John Jordan is a former military special forces soldier. Snow is nothing to him!

The storm quieted yesterday afternoon for a short time, after which it turned to a wintry mix of snow, sleet and rain. Overnight the storm generated heavy snow. This left us wondering whether we would be able to get the mailing out on time.

We create nearly 2,000 personalized letters each month. Each letter has a date on it. This makes it important for us to meet our deadlines.

God answered our prayers with four volunteers today making it possible for us to reach our deadline. The letters will go in the mail on Friday, February 16th.

We want to thank our volunteers who helped us this month. This ministry would not exist without donors and volunteers like Dan Hutchins, Cathy Basham, John Jordan, Jodi Shaw and Paulie Heath. THANK YOU!

The roots of the righteous give life, and more life. Our volunteers give the League life! If you would like to volunteer for the League please email mike@cclmaine.org The League has developed a two page volunteer form that we will mail out to you. You don't have to live in the Augusta area to be a League volunteer. We look forward to hearing from you.

The League's executive director, Mike Heath, attended Brian Camenker's MassResistance Banquet last night in Boxborough Massachusetts. The League has been so effective encouraging citizens in Massachusetts to support the pro family cause that MassResistance has included Heath in all three of their recent banquets over the past two years. Heath appears at the close of the banquets to invite people to support the group financially.

Camenker, a Jewish father, takes a very direct approach when he addresses "gay" rights issues. Demonstrating great courage while projecting a dry sense of humor the veteran pro family activist agitates throughout the Commonwealth. His activities earn him pain and praise everyday. This is typical for all leaders everywhere at all times. Brian and MassResistance are no exception. They get a lot done with a little.

The featured speaker at the banquet was Steven Bennett. The Connecticut resident and pastor lived as a gay man for over a decade. Eleven years ago Jesus Christ healed him. He has been married for eleven years and has two young sons. Bennett's words had the ring of authenticity to them as he described his experiences, and his hope in Christ.

Brian Camenker offered his thoughts on the situation in Massachusetts after Bennett spoke. Notwithstanding the fact that Massachusetts is the only state in America with same sex marriage, Camenker said that he is hopeful. He was critical of efforts in the State House by Christians that include accepting the idea of civil unions while protecting the word marriage. Pro family activists have not been successful using the referendum process to create positive change. Legislators have the power to deny citizens access to the ballot in Massachusetts. Maine's politicians do not have this power.

Camenker suggested that the political tactics of pragmatism including deal-making and compromise will not work for pro family activists. He said that the only thing that will work is truth-telling and confrontation. To prove his point he held up a fund raising letter by popular Christian preacher D. James Kennedy. The recent letter to his national following highlighted a number of actions that MassResistance had undertaken that produced national media storms. The Kennedy letter did not mention MassResistance. Camenker quipped good naturedly, "God bless him."

David Parker followed Camenker. Parker was arrested in April of 2005 for requesting to be notified by teachers before his 7 year old son was exposed to pro homosexual propaganda in the Lexington Elementary School. Parker and one other family are now suing the school district.

Heath closed the banquet with an appeal for funds. He announced that one donor who was present had committed $30,000 to MassResistance. This donor committed to giving this generous sum when MassResistance raised an equal amount from other donors.

Just nanoseconds ... it seemed ... after the League announced the matching funds campaign in our email yesterday afternoon a donor responded by email. He wrote, "I am mailing you a check today."

This great friend of the family continued, "It was great to learn about the matching funds. This will help. Keep up the good work. I am praying for you and the team."

The really great thing about this story is that this businessman just sent $500 in August! With generous Christians like that in Maine how can we lose? The fact is that we can't lose. God's truth always prevails. His Word never returns void.

After raising and spending more money in a single year than ever before in its history last year the League has struggled financially in 2006. Last year Christians rose up to defend marriage. It seems that they are taking a rest now.

Notwithstanding this financial challenge the League accomplished a lot this year. The League revealed that Governor John Baldacci's December 2005 trip to communist Cuba included personal time with brutal dictator Fidel Castro. This story put the League in the international media commenting on foreign policy!

Maine's struggle with all things "gay" is far from over. The League revealed this year that Maine's public schools are increasing their commitment to "gay" indoctrination. The League knows that gay indoctrination is widespread in Maine public schools. The century old group expects the problem to get much worse before it gets better.

A revealing meeting with Maine Attorney General Steven Rowe two years ago provided a glimpse into the reason why. He met with League Director Mike Heath. Rowe defended his efforts to normalize the thinking of Maine's impressionable young people about all consensual sex, gay and straight, using the "discrimination" argument. He said that his "Civil Rights Team" program had nothing to do with morality.

Some Mainers are aligning themselves with Rowe's efforts and conceding that Mike Heath is indeed mean, and hateful. Ignoring the countless Biblical passages about morality, righteousness, ethics and judgment, these people often remind others about how important it is to be loving, affirming and non judgmental.

Heath says of the efforts to distort his views, "I've never hated anyone. Hate doesn't motivate me. I do what I do -- take the abuse, lies, spin and attacks -- because I love the truth about human nature. I love people. I love sinners. I hate to think that more young people are going to be led into sexual sin because adults don't have the courage to confront this thing, and resolve it."

The League's efforts to get the truth out about the "Civil Rights Team" project was thwarted by a hacker who destroyed the League's online forum and posted pornography in its place. A spokesperson for politically active "gays" was recently banned from the League's new forum for making inappropriate posts. The hacker who destroyed the League's first forum was never found. A police report was filed.

Over 110 supporters attended the 2006 Christian Civic League of Maine's annual banquet Friday evening, October 6. Held at the Senator Inn in Augusta, the banquet featured Pastor Sandy Williams who leads the First Baptist Church of Freeport. Table sponsors at this year's banquet included China Regional Church of the Nazarene, Mr. and Mrs. George Shaw III, Mr. and Mrs. Michael S. Heath, Dr. and Mrs. George W. Rodrigues, Mrs. Diane W. Anderson, MassResistance, Bangor Baptist Church, the Oxford Hills Pastors Prayer Fellowship, Pastor Sandy Williams and the First Baptist Church of Freeport, Mr. and Mrs. Richard W. Kurtz, Mr. and Mrs. David P. Bridge, and Mr. and Mrs. Brad Perry.
Christian Civic League Board of Directors President Pastor Dallas Henry gave the opening remarks and prayer. Following the meal Executive Director Mike Heath introduced Pastor Sandy Williams, who gave the keynote address entitled "Separation of Church and State: Why I Am Glad America Is Not a Christian Nation." Pastor Williams was the leader of the League's Coalition for Marriage effort in 2005, is the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Freeport, is the current Vice President of the American Baptist Churches of Maine, and currently serves on the Christian Civic League's Board of Directors. His remarks centered on the Baptist vision of America as not a Christian nation, but rather as a nation with religious freedom, where citizens can freely choose to be Christians or not. It began with historical background and observations from the beginning of the colonization of America and transitioned into 15 interesting and thoughtful observations regarding religious liberty and the separation of church and state in America. He concluded with the observation that "...it is better for America to be a free nation than to be a Christian nation." Pastor Williams graciously answered several questions from those in attendance after his remarks concluded.

Mike Heath then recognized Tim Russell for his three years of service with the League as its Legislative Liason. The banquet attendees gave Tim a standing ovation as he was asked to give a few comments on his tenure at the League. MassResistance founder Mr. Brian Camenker of Waltham, Massachusetts gave a testimonial to the work that the Christian ministry of League and its Executive Director, Mike Heath, are doing for the State of Maine and its traditional way of life. Mr. Camenker noted how the State of Massachusetts has given in to the demands of the homosexual lobby regarding marriage and public school education, and how the League is the most effective organization in Maine to promote pro-family issues and protect traditional marriage. He read from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's "Letter from the Birmingham Jail" to illustrate the point. Christian Education League Board of Directors President Elaine Bridge finished the evening's remarks with an appeal for support of the League.