Week Ending May 30, 2003 - Washington, D.C.
June 6, 2003 3:06PM EST

CONGRESS IN RECESS

THE RFC

On Capitol Hill and in Washington, DC in general, just about everything is known by initials. During the many pro-family meetings held here we talk about the PBA (Partial Birth Abortion Ban) or the FMA (Federal Marriage Amendment). Many times we don't even use initials if those are too long, but just the bill number. We call the Democrats the DEMS and the liberal Republicans are known as RINOS (Republicans In Name Only).

The other day I was standing in a hall on the third floor of the Capitol Building outside the Majority Whip's office when I heard a congressman say, "We have FRC, RFC, and TVC on board with CC and the CB." He was referring to a bill and was saying that the Family Research Council, the Religious Freedom Coalition, and the Traditional Values Coalition were supporting the bill along with the Christian Coalition and the Catholic Bishops.

Sometimes those of us who report on Washington fall prey to the use of initials to the bewilderment of the readers and occasionally I receive e-mail's scolding me for it. I do my best not to slip into Washington shorthand, but sometimes that does happen. Between now and July 4th many bills that are pro-family and pro-life will be brought forward in both the House and Senate and I will try to keep you fully abreast of all of them.

RFC - PRODUCTIONS

Over the years the Religious Freedom Coalition has produced a number of video documentaries. One of our first detailed the plight of the families of the Contras who were fighting for the freedom of Nicaragua from communist oppression. At the time our ministry worked to train Contra chaplains and to supply food and medical supplies to the families of Contra soldiers. That was back in the 1980's during the Reagan Administration, and no, I don't have any copies left. I also wrote a book entitled, Nicaragua: Portrait of a Tragedy about the chaos caused by the Sandinista communists in that country.

Last year the RFC produced Holy Land Terror about the situation of Christian Palestinians who live in the areas controlled by Yassar Arafat and his gang of thugs. Sales of Holy Land Terror have been so good that we have been able to reduce the price from $19.95 to $14.95. This year we have two more video documentaries under production. One, Holy Land Settlements, was filmed on location in the Jewish Settlement of Ariel in Samaria. This documentary features interviews with the mayor of Ariel as well as a Jewish Christian evangelist who lives in the settlement. (Yes, you read that right.) The video is fully edited and in production and should be available in about two weeks. It is not yet availabel at our Internet store.

Holy Land Teenagers is still in production. This documentary features my 17-year-old daughter, Katie, interviewing Christian, Jewish and Muslim teenagers in the Holy Land. This is one of the best documentaries we have ever done. This concept just has not been done by anyone before. When it is viewed there will be a clear understanding as to why that land will never be peacefully shared. The video will be out of editing in about a week and should be available in three to four weeks.

During the August congressional recess I may go back to Israel with some members of Congress to show them the "settlements" which are actually major cities. Ariel, for example, has a population of more than 20,000 and the factories there produce more than half a billion dollars in goods each year for shipment around the world.

Speaking of video documentaries we recently found dozens of copies of Changed Life. Changed Life is basically me behind the pulpit telling my personal story of how prayer was removed from the schools of the United States by my family and how I came to accept Christ as my Lord and Savior. Because of my duties in Washington I no longer share my testimony at churches, but I do have the video available for just $9.95 plus a small shipping fee. The original retail was $19.95. More information is available about Changed Life at our Internet store. I have also written several books you may find of interest as well.

Next week the Weekly Update will be back to its normal format detailing House and Senate action on bills important to social conservatives. Check our Intenet site at www.rfcnet.org for last minute updates! Until then, God richly bless you, that is my prayer.

William J. Murray, Chairman

Religious Freedom Coalition, Washington, DC

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