As America and Western civilization have spiraled downward, the pulpits of America have been notably silent. But if America is going to turn things around, it will require Christian leaders to understand the centrality of God's Word to every challenge we face in American society today, and to preach it!

Thankfully, many pastors are waking up to this responsibility. One is Pastor Jim Garlow of Skyline Church near San Diego, California, who has fearlessly stood for righteousness, including when he led the successful effort to approve Proposition 8 in California which amended the California constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman.

Now he's calling pastors and leaders to meet him in La Mesa, California, June 14-17 for an event called The Future Conference.

I'm writing this to encourage pastors and Christian leaders to attend in order to be equipped to speak up and speak out. I believe the conference is so important that Charisma Media has signed on as one of the sponsors. I also will be in attendance.

"This is not the typical pastors conference," Garlow told me. "We are addressing many of the nation's most challenging issues with gutsy, cutting-edge solutions.

"Many pastors don't seem to take seriously the fact that there are biblical principles that can be applied to every component of community and national life. The purpose of the Future Conference is to educate, embolden and activate pastors, Christian leaders and serious followers of Jesus Christ."

Garlow told me he believes if America's 325,000 churches were preaching and teaching distinctly biblical economics, the American people "wouldn't have elected 535 representatives in Congress who are spending the nation into economic oblivion."

"What's missing?" Garlow asks rhetorically. "It's the Word of God applied to national life—in this case economic issues."

This is only one of 20 issues being covered by 50 speakers. The conference also will address the catastrophic loss of religious liberty in this nation and its future implications. In addition, speakers will address the topic of terrorism at home and abroad, as well as poverty, racism and human trafficking.

"Speakers will not be philosophical. There's no time for that," Garlow told me. "Each will be highly practical with takeaway points."

The list of speakers is distinguished and the topics are crucial for America. You can find them both here by clicking on skylinechurch.org.

I urge you to encourage your pastor to attend, and maybe offer to pay his way! Think of it as an investment in your church and America's future at a time we need every pastor to be bold and help change the direction of this nation.

Steve Strang is the founding editor and publisher of Charisma. Follow him on Twitter @sstrang or Facebook (stephenestrang).

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