Fighting For Freedom For 35 Years - Chuck Baldwin June 25, 2010
This column is archived at
http://chuckbaldwinlive.com/home/?p=1800
As many readers know, my youngest son, Tim Baldwin, is a constitutional
attorney, historian, and author who writes his own syndicated column and who
also hosts his own web site.
See Tim’s web site at:
http://libertydefenseleague.com/
See Tim’s archived columns at:
http://newswithviews.com/Timothy/baldwinA.htm
Today, Tim is writing a special edition to my column. What follows are his
words.
On Sunday, June 27, 2010, I, and the rest of our family, will be helping to
celebrate the 35th anniversary of Crossroad Baptist Church (CBC), with my
dad, Chuck Baldwin, as the founding pastor–the church having held its first
service on June 22, 1975, with only 6 people in attendance. I was born in
1979, so I missed the first several years of Crossroad Church’s existence. I
have heard the stories from my parents and grandmother, and I have seen the
pictures of that ministry before I arrived. Its beginnings were of the most
humble nature, I can assure. Crossroad Church has not been without its
problems. No church is perfect, because people are not perfect. Still, God
has used and continues to use Crossroad Church to transform my life and my
family’s life, and God has used and continues to use Crossroad Church to be
a voice of truth, of motivation and of courage for many thousands of people
across this country. There is not a church like it in the entire United
States of America.
I remember as a child wishing I could spend more time with my dad,
especially on the weekends. When I was young, Crossroad Church was young,
and my dad was very busy with tasks that had to be done to ensure that the
church functioned “decently and in order” (as scripture tells us). On almost
every Saturday morning and afternoon, he was visiting people in the
community, sharing the gospel and inviting them to attend our church. I
still have vivid memories of crying as my dad got in his car and left our
home. On Saturday nights, Dad would go over his sermons for the next Sunday.
He worked late many nights and would not come home until it was almost time
for bed. Through this, God had a purpose in mind, and my life would not be
what it is today were it not for my dad’s sacrifice in those early years.
My childhood was not like most kids–not physically speaking, but
psychologically speaking–not just because I was the son of a preacher, but
because of the unique leadership my dad possessed, the manner in which he
led Crossroad Church and the manner in which he opposed political and social
immoralities. There was not one child I grew up with that could relate to
the life I was born into, even those whose parents were involved in gospel
ministry. Many kids, even “religious” ones, made fun of my family and my
dad, and reflected the sentiment and attitude that their parents trained
into them. I knew at a very young age that my dad was different–just how
different, I did not know. Time would tell just how different.
I personally witnessed men and women over my 30 years of living who tried to
undermine and destroy the ministry of Chuck Baldwin at Crossroad Church,
those who were supposedly his friends in the beginning but who proved to be
otherwise in the end. Yet, my dad was faithful. I watched as my dad handled
those unnerving situations in ways that almost defied human nature. If it
were me in his position, I would have been in “fight mode” to destroy the
enemy. But it was not so–not my dad. I have heard him say before: the
hardest part of it was not people’s treatment of him, but of his family. How
true that must be. Yet, I do not remember my dad criticizing or revenging
those talebearers and Judases, even when he was alone with his family in his
own home. He stood upon principles of truth, and not personal feelings and
emotions. He knew the church was not his, but God’s. I was amazed at my
dad’s honor and self-control, and still am. It was and is that kind of
leadership and discipline that I have observed at Crossroad Church my entire
life.
It is hard to recall the countless times my dad engaged in our local
community on a variety of issues and concerns. I remember my dad going to
the school board meetings, the county commissioner meetings and the Florida
State legislature declaring truth and sound reason. (I wish I had listened
more as a child.) I remember watching my dad on television as he debated
those unfriendly to faith and freedom. I remember hearing my dad on his
first radio show, “A Preacher Views the News,” where he commented from a
biblical perspective on local, state and national events. He spoke to
thousands at universities and colleges about abortion, evolution and
government.
I remember when Bill Clinton was first elected President of the U.S. my dad
felt the urge to do more for freedom, so he started the radio talk show,
“Chuck Baldwin Live.” I began to understand just how passionate my dad’s
love for freedom was. It only grew as time passed, along with his
discernment and understanding of freedom’s principles and God’s science of
it. I remember going to watch him in the studio as he performed the show. I
have some fond memories of those days. Late nights were common as Dad
studied in his office. My siblings, my mom and I would have been sleeping
for hours before Dad turned in for the night. He became a very notable
influence in our local area, but that was only the beginning of God’s will
for Chuck Baldwin.
Through these many platforms, my dad was nominated the Vice-Presidential
candidate for the Constitution Party in 2004 and the Presidential candidate
in 2008 for the same party. During the 2008 campaign, Dad traveled over
30,000 miles proclaiming the message of liberty and constitutional
government. We all felt honored when Congressman Ron Paul publicly endorsed
Dad for President.
My dad did not seek these positions, but God presented them to him. From
those opportunities, my dad proclaimed the truth as he saw it, just as he
had for the past three decades. He has become a national leader, a spokesman
and statesman for freedom, and a source of light for those searching for
truth.
In addition, my dad led a national movement of “Black Regiment” pastors to
publicly identify themselves as such for the purpose of giving
liberty-loving patriots across America the opportunity to find likeminded
pastors with whom to worship. So far, more than 300 pastors and preachers
are listed on Dad’s Black Regiment directory.
See the Black Regiment directory at:
http://chuckbaldwinlive.com/home/?page_id=23
Yet first and foremost, my dad was the pastor of Crossroad Church, and he
never shirked his responsibilities to it for the sake of other tasks.
To some people, my dad became “the preacher who meddled in politics,” and
they despised him for it. But to others, he was the proclaimer of the whole
counsel of God and the defender of faith and freedom, and they loved him for
it. As one knows instinctively in today’s geo-religious-political culture,
this type of preacher is unusual–very unusual. Naturally, the people who
Chuck Baldwin would attract to his church would likely reflect this
uniqueness. Indeed it has. Not just anyone will become a member of Crossroad
Baptist Church. Some may attend for a while, but inevitably, for many
people, the deep message of truth and the leadership of Chuck Baldwin has
become difficult to accept and inconvenient to practice. Has this hindered
the message delivered from Crossroad Church? Not at all. To the contrary, it
has grown.
Over the years, my dad’s leadership and stand for freedom created a sifting
process. This process has left Crossroad Church with people who genuinely
love the truth of God in how it relates to all of life, including politics.
I have seen the lives of hundreds of people become transformed and
enlightened through the ministry of Crossroad Church. My best friends in the
world are at Crossroad Church. I teach their children in my Sunday School
class; I sing for them and alongside them on Sundays; I help lead them in
worship; I pray with them; I laugh and fellowship with them; I share their
burdens and concerns. Crossroad Church has become a family; and as of
recently, our church has provided a way for people all across the country to
join us in our Sunday services through the Internet, as we livestream our
services each Sunday morning at approximately 10:30 a.m. (Central time). I
especially encourage readers to join with us during our 35th anniversary
celebration, this Sunday, June 27. Go to:
http://crossroadbaptist.net/live.html
These people at Crossroad Church love and support Chuck Baldwin as their
pastor; they support the word of God preached in the sermons and taught in
the classes; they put into ministerial practice their own talents and gifts
to further proclaim the truth of God in the church and throughout this
country; they have accepted the responsibility of carrying out the great
commission of Jesus Christ. Crossroad Church has become a body and family of
soldiers for Jesus Christ in every sense of the word because Chuck Baldwin
made the sacrifices and commitments of faithfulness as my siblings and I
were growing up. If there is any testament to the ministry of Crossroad
Church, it is the evidence of my siblings’ and my devotion, love and service
to God’s work done at that church, not by force, but by choice. Crossroad
Church has been my home my entire life, and I am so thankful to God for my
dad, my family, my pastor and my church. Happy 35th anniversary, Crossroad
Baptist Church!
And there is one more thing: I would like to ask you, the reader of Dad’s
column, in honor of the 35th anniversary of Dad’s founding of Crossroad
Church, would you prayerfully consider making a contribution to CBC during
this special (and difficult) time? The current recession is hurting all of
us. Many of the faithful contributors to CBC are directly connected to the
building industry, and as you know, this industry has been hit especially
hard. As if that is not bad enough, the oil spill in the Gulf Coast is
exacting a horrific toll upon the Gulf Coast economy. According to the last
financial statement I saw, our church is nearly $20,000 in the red. I know
Dad is struggling with decisions such as cutting back radio stations and
Internet livestreaming, as well as other cutbacks.
How many preachers do you know that are out there on the front lines for
freedom like my dad, Chuck Baldwin? It would be a shame if his voice were
silenced due to a lack of funds.
Therefore, in honor of CBC’s 35th anniversary, would you please consider
giving a special contribution? I know there are some who could give a
substantial gift of thousands of dollars, while most could only give much
smaller amounts. I also know that there are tens–and maybe hundreds–of
thousands of people who read Dad’s column. If everyone who feels impressed
would send whatever they could afford, this deficit would be eliminated and
the need would be met.
If you feel impressed to give, the fastest way to donate is to use a credit
card online. Go to this link:
http://crossroadbaptist.net/donate.php
Or, if you prefer to write a check or money order, please make them payable
to:
Crossroad Baptist Church
P.O. Box 37039
Pensacola, Florida 32526
Of course, all donations to CBC are tax-deductible.
I want to further say THANK YOU to all of Dad’s faithful readers, listeners
and supporters. You cannot know–this side of Heaven–how special you all
are to my dad, to me, and to the rest of our family. It is wonderful to know
that there are still 7,000 (and a lot more) who have not bowed the knee to
Baal.
*If you appreciate this column and want to help me distribute these
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(c) Chuck Baldwin
NOTE TO THE READER:
Chuck Baldwin is a syndicated columnist, radio broadcaster, author, and
pastor dedicated to preserving the historic principles upon which America
was founded. He was the 2008 Presidential candidate for the Constitution
Party. He and his wife, Connie, have been married for 37 years and have 3
children and 7 grandchildren. See Chuck’s complete bio at:
http://chuckbaldwinlive.com/home/?page_id=6