Posts Tagged stephen swisher

Hawaii Partners Ask for Help

Our BSU partners in Hawaii have asked for help with an issue that just surfaced this past week. A complaint has been filed by the Citizens of Separation of Church and State noting that too many Honolulu City Council meetings have begun with a Christian prayer. A news article in the Honolulu Advertiser newspaper states that this is a “loosely organized citizen group which has been mainly inactive.”

Council member Gary Okino is a devout Christian and is standing up for the practice of prayer before meetings. Friends, we have been here before with similar issues in California, Michigan and Texas and the Lord has helped us be victorious in every instance.

Again, I’m asking you to stand with us and our friends and partners in Hawaii. Here’s what you can do:

1) E-mail City Council Chair Todd Apo tapo@honolulu.gov and let him know of your support for prayer at the opening of his Council meetings

2) E-mail Councilman Gary Okino gokino@honolulu.gov and thank him for his strong stand for Prayer and Faith in Jesus

My family and I feel a closeness to the people of Hawaii and to the beautiful Islands that God has made for each of us to enjoy. I have been traveling there since the age of two and it has been an honor for us to have the opportunity to minister to our partners and friends in the Hawaiian Islands through the years. In fact, Kellie and I will be speaking there again in less than two weeks. Let’s make our voice heard together now and support the People of Hawaii, where the State Motto is, “The Life of the Land is Perpetuated in Righteousness.”

Blessings to you and remember,

JESUS IS LORD!

Dr. Stephen Lowell Swisher
Kenneth Copeland Ministries
www.believersstandunited.com

Keeping You Informed

Join Dr. Stephen and Kellie Swisher’s Fanpage on Facebook and stay connected!

Thank you again for joining us in this endeavor. Together we’re making a difference!

Kenneth Copeland Ministries

Kenneth Copeland Ministries Blog

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We Must Stand Up And Be Counted

NEWS ALERT:

Federal Judge Barbara Crabb of Madison, Wisconsin ruled yesterday that the National Day of Prayer violates separation of Church and State and therefore is unconstitutional.   This ruling was in response to a lawsuit filed in 2008 by the atheist group Freedom From Religion also based in Madison.

This is a critical time in our Nation and we must stand up and be counted.  President Obama says he will recognize the National Day of Prayer this year in spite of the ruling but that he would not be able to do so in the future if the appeal process fails.

I spoke personally with my good friend Jay Sekulow who is leading the appeal to this ruling on behalf of 31 Members of Congress.   He has asked me to work closely with him and the ACLJ as we plan a response to this unfair, unjust and frankly Un-American ruling by Ms. Crabb.

I will send another update next week to let you know how you can help, as I know you will want to be involved.

In the meantime, please pray for this Nation that specifically these assaults on the Freedom of Faith and Religion that is at the very core of our homeland be stopped in Jesus’ Name.

Your partner in Freedom,

Dr. Stephen Lowell Swisher
Kenneth Copeland Ministries

For More Information and To Sign The ACLJ Petition – Click Here

Kenneth Copeland Ministries

Kenneth Copeland Ministries Blog

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“In God We Trust” Doesn’t Violate Separation of Church and State

I’m very happy to celebrate with you another victory in the Courts of the United States. This time from the unlikely but important 9th Circuit in California. Most usually thought of as one of the most liberal courts in our Nation Judges from this Court voted 3-0 to uphold “In God We Trust” on coins and currency.

Judge Carlos Bea also affirmed that the Pledge of Allegiance with the words “Under God” does not violate the U.S. Constitution. The Judge stated, “The Pledge of Allegiance serves to unite our vast nation through the proud recitation of some of the ideals upon which our republic was founded.”

We applaud these Judges and the men and women across the United States who stay informed, involved and active in standing up for freedom of faith and religion…the principles upon which America was envisioned, founded and shaped.

May God bless each of you dear partners and May God continue to bless the United States of America,

Dr. Stephen Lowell Swisher
Kenneth Copeland Ministries
www.believersstandunited.com

Connect with Dr. Stephen and Kellie Swisher on their Facebook Fanpage and follow Dr. Swisher on Twitter.

For more information about this Court Case visit this link.

Thank you again for joining us in this endeavor.
Together we’re making a difference!

Kenneth Copeland Ministries

Kenneth Copeland Ministries Blog

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Victory for Freedom – For Ministries and Tax Exempt Organizations

NEWARK, Texas, March 1 /Christian Newswire <http://www.christiannewswire.com/> / — During the last week of February 2010 the Tarrant County Appraisal District (TAD) in Fort Worth, Texas, settled a dispute in favor of Kenneth Copeland Ministries <http://www.kcm.org/>  (KCM). Last year TAD denied a request from Kenneth Copeland Ministries for religious exemption from certain property taxes mainly related to aircraft belonging to KCM. Part of the requirement for this exemption was a request for the names, positions and salaries of each of the ministry’s employees (nearly 600 persons) even though the director of the Appraisal District stated publicly that this requirement was not law and that he and his staff never read the documentation.

Because Kenneth Copeland Ministries believes in the right to privacy afforded by the First Amendment as well as the U.S. and Texas Constitutions, KCM took a stand for religious freedom and determined it was not appropriate to surrender salary information of individual employees and invade their right to privacy. Originally TAD had requested a summary of the total compensation for employees, or a statement from an auditor that the Church or ministry’s finances were in proper order, which KCM was willing to provide. However, after a recent change in TAD personnel, a hard line was taken requiring complete and individual disclosure of salaries and employee positions. Because of that change in policy from TAD, KCM had to change their position.

KCM filed suit over this issue for two specific reasons: to protect the right to privacy for all of its employees and to stand up for the general privacy rights for all Churches. Kenneth Copeland Ministries believes that the salary information of Church or ministry employees should not be public record just as an individual taxpayer’s salary is not of public record. In addition, it is our position that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the only governmental agency with the authority to inquire and request this type of information from non-profit organizations, and of course the IRS has strict rules of confidentiality not afforded by other governmental entities.

The decision and settlement from TAD is a victory for Church freedom, the preservation of religious constitutional protections and the privacy rights of Church employees throughout the State of Texas. We appreciate our KCM partners and friends and the Believers Stand United internet response team for their prayers, vocal support and involvement in standing up for freedom and justice for all people of faith.

For questions or more information, please contact Dr. Stephen Swisher at media@kcm.org or 817-252-2792.

Kenneth Copeland Ministries

Kenneth Copeland Ministries Blog

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Copeland Family Meeting in Orlando, Flordia

Kenneth Copeland Ministries family
In late August the children and grandchildren of Kenneth and Gloria Copeland came together for a meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Pearsons, Swisher, and Copeland families each delivered a message that God had been laying on their heart, and on December 3rd these anointed family members will be meeting in Orlando, Florida for a weekend overflowing with blessings, hope, and joy.

Through God’s Word, their powerful insights and ministry speak to your heart, your concerns, and your life — today. No matter what your situation is, you can fill your heart with hope and a sense of peace. It’s time to rejoice in His blessings — to heal your body and spirit through faith in His power.  The Copeland family wants His strength to become your strength. After all, God desires for you to have a joyous, victorious life. You just may need a little direction.  And the Copeland family will show you the way.

Click here to PREREGISTER

Click here for event details including a speaker schedule

Below is a clip of Marty Copeland at the August 2009 Copeland Family Meeting.

Kenneth Copeland Ministries

Kenneth Copeland Ministries Blog

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