Strictly Personal

I have written this column for over a decade now and
have never once written one such as the one I`m writing
today.

Most readers know that I am the pastor of the Crossroad
Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida. My wife, Connie,
and I founded this church in 1975 with a total of 6
people attending that very first service. In June of
2010, we will celebrate our 35th anniversary as founding
pastor and church.

From the very beginning, it was obvious that God had
something special for Crossroad. Our very first Easter
Sunday saw 255 people gather together to celebrate the
resurrection of our Lord. The church was 10 months old.
First meeting in my mother-in-law`s living room and
rented community buildings, we have since constructed 3
auditoriums (the latest one a beautiful 750-seat
sanctuary), an education building, office complex,
gymnasium, and various outbuildings.

CBC has contributed to the sending of scores of
missionaries around the world; we have seen several
young men called to preach and sent out to plant
churches; and we have seen countless professions of
faith and changed lives. All of this is wonderful
enough, but there is also something very unique about
Crossroad Church: this church has stood by and supported
me as I answered the call of history to become a major
proponent of liberty and constitutional government in
these United States. How many churches do you know that
would let their pastors do what I have been privileged
to do?

Think about it: I write this trenchant column each week,
in which I name names; address the salient, penetrating
issues of the day; and plainly address the
sociopolitical topics that affect virtually every area
of our lives. I have
boldly rebuked Presidents
from


both major political parties.
I have rebuked (and will continue to do so) neocon



prosperity preachers.
In fact, my criticism of G.W. Bush even brought upon me
the ire of my dear friend and mentor,


the late Dr. Jerry Falwell.

Please understand: I come from within the heart of the
Religious Right movement of the 1980s. A graduate of
what is now Liberty Bible Institute at Liberty
University in Lynchburg, Virginia, I was the executive
director of Florida`s Moral Majority during the Reagan
years. I was among those invited to the White House to
meet both President Ronald Reagan and Vice President
George H.W. Bush. I traveled to foreign countries at



Dr. Falwell`s
invitation. I shared the platform with many of the
Religious Right`s Who`s Who. I appeared on Falwell`s Old
Time Gospel Hour. He featured some of my columns in his



Liberty Journal
and personally lauded my ministry in public meetings and
in print. I traveled with him on his private jet for
several speaking engagements. I have met many of the
"big names" in both religion and politics over the past 3 decades.

But when it became obvious to me that both major
political parties (at the national level) were being
influenced by the same evil people and were both
marching to the same beat from the same
socialist/globalist drummers, and that the Religious
Right had surrendered freedom`s principles for the sake
of political partisanship and personal aggrandizement, I
could not keep silent. And believe me, this decision has
truly cost me.

When I criticized Bill Clinton for his Big-Government
policies, I was regarded as a hero among
"conservative"
Christians. But when I began criticizing G.W. Bush for
the very same reasons, I was vilified. When I was
standing for the Constitution and Bill of Rights in
opposing Clinton, I was a
"true American
patriot." But when I stood for the Constitution and
Bill of Rights in opposing Bush, I was called a
"Bush-hater,"
traitor, and worse.

But during all of this, my church stood by me. In fact,
the church grew!

Then, in the providence of God–and with no personal
ambition or covetousness for the honor–the Constitution
Party (America`s 3rd largest political party in terms of
registered voters) chose me as its Vice Presidential
candidate in 2004 and as its Presidential candidate in
2008. And once again, my church stood by me. Of course,
there were some died-in-the-wool Republicans who could
not understand or appreciate what I was doing that left
the church–but these were only a small percentage of
the church body. The vast majority of my church family
supported me, loved me, prayed for me, and stood by me.
And get this: they even rejoiced when Congressman (and
2008 Republican Presidential candidate)


Ron Paul
endorsed me.

And once again, the church grew. I ask you again, how
many churches do you know that would do such a thing?

Today, I continue to write this heavy-hitting column. I
continue to speak out for the God-ordained principles of
liberty and constitutional government. We even archive
many of these sermons on my web page for people to view
and even download. See them


here.

In addition, we now live stream my Sunday morning
messages on the Internet. There are hundreds of people
all over the country who regularly tune in to these live
messages. Some gather in small groups in their homes. We
have even heard of how some people rent out community
centers in order that many people might gather in larger
groups and watch these messages.

In fact, so many people are reading these columns,
watching the video sermons, and listening to my radio
broadcasts (heard 30 times a week on 12 radio stations
in 5 states) that it is not uncommon for people to
travel to Pensacola, Florida, in order that they might
attend our church services on Sunday. Last Sunday, a
retired Navy pilot visited us from the State of Hawaii
who regularly reads this column and watches our video
messages. Two Sundays ago, a couple drove down to
Pensacola from Kentucky on their 17th wedding
anniversary in order to worship with us. They had been
reading this column and watching our video messages for
some time. They had even purchased several copies of the
archived messages and distributed them among their
friends and loved ones. And get this: the husband had
never trusted Christ as his Savior, but did so that
Sunday he was with us!

In fact, we have heard from numerous people who have
told us they have become Christians after watching our
messages or listening to our radio broadcasts. One man
wrote me and said he is now on the mission field after
having made his decision for Christ while listening to
our broadcasts. I could go on and on.

My Sunday morning message is broadcast at approximately
10:30am (CST) each Sunday. To watch, go


here.

I realize that all of the above will be of little
interest to many nonbelievers who read this column. I
share this information, however, to those who have a
heart, not only for America, but also for God.

I also share this information to tell you that the
recession of 2009 has hit Crossroad hard. Our church is
comprised mostly of hard-working regular Joes, many of
whom are associated with the construction industry. And
as you know, the construction industry was among the
hardest hit in the economic downturn of the last year or
so. The result is my church is ending 2009 with a
deficit of some $25,000. Furthermore, the next 6 months
do not look positive in terms of a strong economic
resurgence. Absent an unexpected turnaround, we could be
looking at a deficit of over $50,000 by summer.

As I said, I have never used this column to request
contributions to Crossroad Church–until now. But,
again, I ask you, where have you found such a church as
this? Where could a man such as I be given the platform
that the precious people at Crossroad Church have given
to me?

I have not even mentioned the


Black Regiment
that I attempted to resurrect back in 2007. Suffice it
to say, we now have over 200 principled patriot-pastors
who have asked to be included in our Black Regiment and
who are taking a stand for liberty and constitutional
government in their respective churches and communities.

See the Black Regiment list


here.

So, I am asking only this one time: can you send a
contribution to Crossroad Baptist Church in order to
help us continue this vital work? Will you help us
continue to be a voice for truth and freedom at a time
when our country needs to hear this message most? I
shudder to think about laying off staff, shutting down
outreach ministries and radio broadcasts, suspending
Internet live streaming, etc.

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 this
column. If everyone who feels impressed would send
whatever they could afford, this deficit would be
eliminated and the need would be met.

In the classic Christmas movie,
"It`s
A Wonderful Life,"
the angel, Clarence, told George Bailey,
"No man is a
failure who has friends." I thank God for the many
friends he has given this work and me. Many of you have
purchased THE FREEDOM DOCUMENTS or contributed to Chuck
Baldwin Live, which produces this column. But this
request is not for me, it is on behalf of the church
that I pastor.

So, I ask this once: would you send a tax-deductible
contribution to Crossroad Baptist Church? If you are
willing to do this, you can either send an online
donation via a credit card, or you can write a check or
Money Order.

To donate online, go


here.

Or, send a check or Money Order made payable to:

Crossroad Baptist Church
P.O. Box 37039
Pensacola, Florida 32526

Again, in over 10 years of writing this column, this is
first time I have ever made such a request. If the need
were not serious, I would not write this. But I also
know that there are thousands of readers who truly
support this work and want to see it continue, as there
is a dearth of churches that are willing to take such a
bold and courageous stand for God and country. If you
can help, your support is much appreciated. And, yes,
your gift to the church is tax deductible.

And once more, thank you for reading my columns.

Dr. Chuck Baldwin is the
pastor of Crossroad Baptist Church in Pensacola,
Florida. He hosts a

weekly radio show. His
website is

here.