“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing,” according to Edmund Burke.

We, the Gatekeepers Association of Alabama, a few “good” men and women, are tired of seeing evil triumph, especially in the governmental and political realms of society. Therefore, we have accepted Charles Finney’s premise that the Pulpit Is Responsible, and as a result, have formed a covenant together realizing our failure to take action at this point would make us guilty of the truth of James 4:17, which states,”To him that knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

God is looking for a “few good men and women” to build a wall and stand in the gap before Him on behalf of the land that He should not destroy it (Ezekiel 22:30), or allow us to destroy ourselves. Tragically, in Ezekiel’s passage, it says, “God found NO ONE!” That will not happen on our watch!

A generation hangs in the balance waiting on the pendulum of cultural morality to swing toward biblical righteousness and justice once again (Psalm 89:14). We must BE and we must TRAIN UP and we must ELECT the voices of truth to speak in our modern day gates, or places of decision-making, such as City Council meetings, School Board gatherings, State and U.S. halls of Congress, as well as Judicial and Executive branch offices at every level of government. Psalm 127:5 and Genesis 22:17 jointly remind us that “the seed of the righteous shall speak with their enemies in the gates and possess the gates of their enemies.”

So “Why do we exist and stand?”, you ask. The answer, the same as our Founding Fathers, for posterity’s sake. America is here because of the faith of our Founders. What kind of Alabama and America will we leave for our children and our children’s children?

Join us as a fellow Gatekeeper, and have a voice in the answer to that question!

1. “By educating, preaching and teaching a biblical worldview and the constitutional basis of our laws and government in regard to the issues and events that confront our culture communities and churches” (Hosea 4:6-9).
2. “By encouraging prayer and establishing Prayer Warriors and Intercessors to pray for all governmental leaders while attempting to be of genuine relational bridges with them” (1 Timothy 2:1-6).
3. “By exposing the works of darkness in the governmental realm” (Ephesians 5:11).
4. “By empowering voters by evaluating incumbents and candidates during election cycles on the probability that they will exemplify a biblical worldview on a scale of 1 to 5. The evaluation is based upon an individual’s adherence to the Commandments of God, wisdom of God, and the virtue of God as exemplified by their known personal behavior, stated principles and supported policies” (Exodus 18:21; Luke 6:44).
5. “By empowering congregations to help them develop Civic Action Teams in their churches. These are men and women with an interest in the political arena that develop as a small group in a church to assist the pastor and keep the church aware of elections, events, legislation and topics that will have an impact on the body of Christ”(Acts 6:1-7).
6. “By empowering communities by conducting voter registration drives, coordinating candidate forums and distributing candidate evaluation guides” (1 Kings 3:9).
7. “By empowering individuals by identifying possible future governmental leaders that sit in our churches right now and equipping them to become involved as public servants” (Ephesians 4:12-14; Proverbs 29:2).
8. By communicating with governmental officials with the intent of relating a biblical worldview as it pertains to legislative issues and then holding them accountable as servants of the people
9. By rating candidates according to the probability that they will vote and represent a biblical worldview in the execution of their service to the people and providing that rating to the body of Christ so that its members might make informed decisions when they execute their right to vote.
10. By conducting candidate and issue forums where information maybe disseminated to the Church and general public.
11. By conducting voter registration drives in our respective churches at least once a year and encouraging our congregations to watch and pray regarding the political process.
12. By encouraging open communication and fellowship with the Gatekeepers Association Pastors with respect to our diversity regarding issues that will affect the Body of Christ and offering our services as unbiased mediators whenever they are needed.
13. By seeking out capable men and women within our congregations and encouraging them to become involved as public servants.

1. The Bible is the inerrant Word of God that reveals to us Jesus Christ as Lord of the universe who will one day hold every man accountable for his words and deeds based upon the standard contain therein.
2. We believe it is our responsibility as Shepherds and leaders in the Body of Christ not only to preach and to teach the church but also to protect the church by making it aware of events in society that may affect it. Then, to help the church act in such a way to lead society to act in a manner that will receive the favor and blessings of Almighty God.

1. The Executive Committee provides general direction and proposes policies for review by the Steering Committee. They are selected by the Steering Committee.
2. The Steering Committee : The governing body of the association made up of Pastors and biblical principled persons.
3. The Association : The general assembly of the organization
4. How To become a member : If you are a Pastor, Elder or a leader in a recognized church, complete the contact us form with membership as the subject. In the message area provide us with information regarding you and your church information.

1. Our sense of right and wrong and our sense of wisdom come from the use of reason and common sense, but most importantly, from the Bible which, by faith was considered by our Founding Fathers to be God’s inspired text. Not just from the mind or heart of man. This faith lead to the mottos: “In God We Trust” and “One Nation under God.” Our Founding Fathers were believers in the God of the Bible, even if some were not orthodox Christians, they put that faith into the Declaration of Independence, into our laws, into our national monuments, and into our culture. Faith is a part of American Culture, something Atheists, Secularists, Humanists and those of other religions should acknowledge and accept as historically accurate truth. To attempt to remove the results of Biblical Faith from America is to undo what the Founding Fathers have intended to create.
2. Truth is Sacred; there can be no liberty or justice, and little happiness without it. Jesus connected truth and liberty when he said “the truth shall make you free.” In the Book of Exodus of the Hebrew Bible God describes Himself: “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth…” In Deuteronomy God is described this way: “He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice.” Listen to King David in Psalm 25: “Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me your paths. Lead me in Your truth…”; and in Psalm 51: “Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.”
3. Human life is sacred and the first gift of God, and it is of infinite value since man is made in the image of God. Judeo-Christian Values have lead to a culture of life in America, not a culture of death. Americans with Judeo-Christian Values will defend innocent God-given life.
4. Our Liberty is a gift from God and stated so in the Declaration of Independence. It is also stated in the New Testament Christian Bible: “Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty.” Americans with Judeo-Christian Values will defend their God-given Liberty from tyranny and terror.
5. Human creativity is also a gift from God and is not to be unjustly suppressed by totalitarian, tyrannical or excessively taxing government. The work ethic is an important part of Judeo-Christian Values since honorable work is a reflection of God-given human creativity. Human reason is also a part of God-given human creativity, and it has led to scientific knowledge and technological progress. Reason and science are important aspects of Judeo-Christian Values. Human creativity is central to the pursuit of happiness, but does not guarantee it; totalitarian systems such as Communism or Islamic Sharia Law guarantee utopian happiness, but don’t deliver it.
6. “Establish justice.” This is commanded repeatedly in the Hebrew Bible. This is how it has been done in America: Honor Life, Liberty and Creativity. Liberty in practical terms means: Freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, no established or state-supported religion, right to bear arms and act in self-defense, uninterrupted elections and the division of powers into its three branches. Where our culture is now headed in the wrong direction, in my opinion, is to provide special rights for certain groups of people. Our Founding Fathers acknowledged these basic rights for all people, and our Civil War enforced it for the American slaves when they were denied their God-given Liberty.
7. “Hate Evil“. This is commanded three times in the Hebrew Bible; this is from the book of Proverbs: “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.” Hear the Prophet Isaiah: “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness….” Americans with Judeo-Christian Values, as opposed to Europeans, still believe in the death penalty for pre-meditated murder, and America is still the nemesis of terrorists and tyrants – see the seal of the state of Virginia.
8. “Love your neighbor” – commanded in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles. “Love your enemy” – commanded in the New Testament Christian Bible. Generations of Americans, starting with our Founding Fathers, have had to square the values of “Hate Evil” with “Love your enemy.” This has been done by hating the evil within the enemies of God-given Life and Liberty, but not hating the evil-doer him/herself.
9. In the Judeo-Christian Value System there is a natural and common-sense balance between compassion and courageous confrontation of evil. This can be seen metaphorically as a natural balance between femininity and masculinity; both good and necessary. The secular culture of Europe and of many in the United States today have unwisely suppressed the masculinity of Judeo-Christian American Culture, and this has put our society out of balance.
10. From Many, One: e pluribus unum. Ethnicity and race don’t matter, but values do matter. We Americans should consider ourselves blessed to live under God-given Liberty in the same melting pot; and we are privileged to pursue happiness through creative work and play, unencumbered by excessive government. Those things that divide us, such as race or ethnicity, can be viewed metaphorically as our various styles; and are not very important. Those things of lesser importance should melt into what is very important and which should unite us: our value of Life, Liberty and Creativity – those rights defined by the Declaration of Independence, and rightly identified as the gifts of God.
11. The natural resources of the Earth, including the animals, along with the rest of creation should be honored and well cared for, but also used and enjoyed; and never worshiped.

We, the undersigned, do firmly acknowledge and agree with Charles Finney’s words in his article, “The Decay of Conscience” published in The Independent of New York, Dec. 4, 1873, “Christ crucified for the sins of the world is the Christ that the people need. If immorality prevails in the land, the fault is ours in a great degree. If there is a decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the public press lacks moral discrimination, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the church is degenerate and worldly, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the world loses its interest in religion, the pulpit is responsible for it. If Satan rules in our halls of legislation, the pulpit is responsible for it. If our politics become so corrupt that the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away, the pulpit is responsible for it. Let us not ignore this fact, my dear brethren; but let us lay it to heart, and be thoroughly awake to our responsibility in respect to the morals of this nation.”

Therefore, we covenant together according to Paul’s words in Ephesians 4:1-6 which states, “I (WE), therefore, the prisoner (S) of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, andthrough all, and in you all.”

As such “prisoners of the Lord, walking worthy of our respective callings, keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”, we will commit to pray with and for another as children of God, pastors, community influencers, gatekeepers, watchmen and wall builders holding one another accountable as “iron sharpens iron” (Proverbs 27:17) and not given to offense as “dead men walking who have no rights” because “we have been crucified with Christ and it is He who lives in us and through us” (Galatians 2:20).

Accepting Finney’s words above concerning “The Pulpit Is Responsible”, acknowledging him as a key voice for the Second Great Awakening and realizing we are in desperate need for a Third Great Awakening, agreeing to the Spirit’s words through the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:12, we undertake together to “equip the saints for the work of ministry”, while “giving ourselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4) and listening for the Holy Spirit to guide us as it relates to the selection of candidates for public office and such presentation of candidates within our circles of influence.

The mission statement and action steps, including suggested pastoral participation areas, are contained in a separate document.

Becoming Sons of Issachar while daily recognizing and developing our Ephesians 4 relational five-fold functions with you all

1. EXPOSE through prayer and preaching the works of darkness in the governmental realm.
2. EDUCATE us by identifying and studying all candidates who have qualified for county, state, and national offices up for election.
3. EDUCATE our congregations by preaching sermons, presenting teachings and sharing upcoming election information, Hot Topics and issues gathered as a result of EDUCATING ourselves as outlined above.
4. EDUCATE current and future candidates on biblical principals who sit in our midst right now.
5. EDUCATE within our circles of influence by communicating our sense of urgency as it relates to any cultural crisis.
6. EMPOWER our congregations by creating CIVIC ACTION TEAMS within our churches.
7. EMPOWER a point person to work alongside you that can help facilitate the development and implementation of that newly created team within your church.
8. EMPOWER current and future candidates by communicating and building relationships with them.
9. EMPOWER our congregations and communities by establishing VOTER REGISTRATION drives.
10. EXISTING elected official must be held accountable. Therefore, identify your local; state and nationally elected officials and CONTACT THEM letting them know who you are, who we are, what we expect of them and what GATEKEEPERS are doing in Central Alabama!
11. EXPAND: We will seek to impact whatever Alabama city elections are coming. Once we know which Alabama cities are having elections we will reach out to each respective city’s clergy members to offer assistance in formulating a strategy to help them “extend God’s kingdom into their local governmental realm.” Possible NEW wording added to go with the above statement… Expansion also includes the possibility of adding Gatekeepers Association chapters in other Alabama cities and charters across the nation.

We believe that marriage gives order to civilization from which governments are created.

We believe that while people may choose their relationships the institution of marriage, as a male and female relationship, cannot and must not be redefined.

Three different areas of Biblical teaching make an impact on our rating decisions: God’s explicit Commandments, the virtues spelled out as the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and wisdom. Since God’s truth is unified, these areas will constantly overlap, but it is worthwhile making the distinctions among them as well.

Further Clarifications

1. The Commandments of God – does a candidate have a reverence, a fear of God exemplified by respect to the Commandments of God. Has this fear of God been evident in the candidate’s known private and public life up to this time of desiring office? For example, if they are an existing legislator, have they publicly voted for legislation in favor of abortion, which violates the 6th commandment, “Thou shalt not kill.”? Privately, has he/she been proven guilty of adultery, and therefore, broken the 7th commandment, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”? Moreover, the 10 commandments form the bottom line of moral expectation below which a person can never go with impunity. Disrespect of the commandments of God would bring in the question one’s ability to faithfully execute the responsibilities of the office of service to the people. Want to know more?
2. Virtue – to represent the trustworthiness of the candidate. Virtues are the attributes that are inherent to a person’s inner character and personal strength. This speaks to the appearance or absence of Godlike qualities in the candidate. The Bible is replete with men and women exhibiting more or less virtues of God. Want to know more?
3. Wisdom – would dictate the capability of a candidate to hold a position of service to the people. The concept of wisdom exceeds one’s ability to simply qualify for the basic requirements of an office and speaks to the ability to apply wisdom in the execution of the position being desired. This would mean a candidate would need to have in addition wisdom regarding not only the position but the constitutional foundation for the position. The candidate would have to have exemplified wisdom in all their decision-making processes to date to indicate they are capable of holding office and applying wisdom in the execution of their duties. (In addition to meeting ballot requirements as well as a working knowledge of the U.S. Constitution, Alabama State Constitution or Mayor Council Act (depending upon which office is being sought) outlining positional duties of the office, do they have the experience, education and skill set necessary to effectively function in the desired seat?)Want to know more?

• December, 2015 – Gatekeepers Association of Alabama (GAA) Facebook page is launched with close to 700 likes thus far.
• December, 2015 – GAA, through Attorney Eric A. Johnston’s office, secures Gatekeepers Association of Alabama name with Alabama Secretary of State’s Office.
• February, 2016 – GAA signed up over 40 new registered voters during its first Voter Registration Drive.
• February, 2016 – Newly formed Civic Action Team at Guiding Light Church helps plan, organize and lead first GAA sponsored candidate forum.
• February 17– Gatekeepers Association of Alabama introduced for first time through the media via al.com: Link Here!
• February 22 – Gatekeepers hold Jefferson County Judicial Candidate Forum where over 250 were in attendance with 22 candidates to be rated by over 15 pastoral members of the GAA: Link Here!
• February 26 – Gatekeepers release 2016 Presidential Candidate ratings (See attachment 1 for Press Release)
  http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2016/02/whos_most_biblical_clergy_rate.html
  http://yellowhammernews.com/faithandculture/alabama-clergy-rates-2016-presidential-candidates-on-biblical-five-star-scale/
• February 29 – Gatekeepers release 2016 Jefferson County, Alabama Judicial Candidate ratings (See attachment 2 for Press Release): Link Here!
• March 1 – Gatekeepers as guests on Rick and Bubba on Super Tuesday: Link Here!
• March 10 – To date, inquiries concerning how GAA was formed and operates have come from pastors and/or lay leaders in other Alabama cities as well as the states of Georgia, Mississippi, Texas and California.
• March 10 – Website development is well under way. GAA tri-fold flyers are available now for recruiting and informational purposes. Business cards are being created. Blank Voter Registration forms are readily available for on-going voter registration drives in churches and communities.
• March 10 – Strategic partnerships are deepening with like-minded Alabama organizations such Alabama Policy Institute (Katherine Robertson- Vice Pres); ALCAP (Alabama Citizens Action Program; Dr. Joe Godfrey-Exec Dir); and the Southern Law Institute (Attorney Eric A. Johnston.)
• March 11 – All votes from March 1 are officially certified by Alabama Secretary of State’s Office.
• March 18 – Runoff Sample Ballots for all 67 Alabama counties will be available through www.alabamavotes.gov by searching for “Sample Ballots”. (See attachment 3 for complete 2016 Voter Guide from Alabama Secretary of State’s Office)
• March 28 – Voter Registration Deadline for April 12 Runoff Elections
• April 12 – Runoff elections
• May 16– approximate day of last 2016 Alabama legislative session
  http://www.legislature.state.al.us/aliswww/default.aspx
  (NOTE: Refer to like-minded Alabama organizations/Strategic Partnerships listed above for details on current legislation and best places for GAA to get involved if GAA feels compelled to do so.)
• November 8 – General Elections