AFA at 20 years

Twenty years ago. Two decades. Nearly a third of an average life. That is how long it has been since I sat down one night to watch TV with my family. What I saw made me angry – angry enough to do something. Leaving the security of a salary (I was the pastor of a church), I launched out on faith and began our American Family Association. Little did I realize the path down which that decision would lead me.

It has been, at times, a very trying 20 years. Hard. Difficult. At times, so very lonely. Over the years, I have cried a lot because of the hurt. It has also been, at times, a rewarding 20 years. We have won a few victories, but not the war.

But I have tried. With all my heart, I have tried. Twelve- and fourteen-hour days have been the norm. Before my first heart attack five years ago, I spent a lot of time traveling in relation to my work. That meant double the workload when I got back to the office. I finally had to cease nearly all of that.

Twenty years ago, AFA was me, a few supporters who shared my concerns, my dining room as an office, and an old, worn-out car. (When I first met with a television advertiser, I had to borrow a meeting room at the church.) Today, your AFA has about 120 employees, all dedicated and working hard in the battle.

The first AFA Journal was an 8-by-14-inch sheet printed on two sides with a circulation of about 800. Now, in 1997, the 24-page magazine has a circulation of nearly 400,000.

The first eight months I worked for AFA, I received a total salary of $1,800 – an average of $225 a month. My wife, Lynda, returned to teaching in order for us to buy groceries for the family and pay our bills. With the dedicated help of individuals like you, and by being good stewards of your financial gifts, we have been able to grow this ministry.

A couple of months ago, I was on Nightline with Ted Koppel, debating the new TV rating system. He asked how long I had been in the battle and then described me as a veteran. That I am. I was on his program 20 years ago debating the president of ABC. When it became clear that I was winning the debate, they abruptly ended the program.

Yes, TV is far worse than it was 20 years ago. But I firmly believe it isn’t anywhere near as bad as it would be had your AFA not been here. There isn’t a doubt in my mind that your AFA has cost them well over a hundred million dollars in lost advertising revenue in the past 20 years.

Today, AFA not only fights the filth on TV, but also publishes AFA Journal; answers hundreds of calls every month from individuals seeking help in overcoming addiction to pornography; maintains an office in Washington to track legislation affecting the family; helps defend the First Amendment rights of individuals through our Law Center, which has six dedicated attorneys; provides information on the radical homosexual groups (you should see the hate mail we regularly receive from these people); and provides, as a mission project, AFA Journal to approximately 165,000 pastors.

Through it all, I have tried to remain faithful. Whether or not we can be successful as the world counts success is beyond my control. God does not hold me accountable for success. God only asks that I be faithful. That, I will do.

At age 59, with two heart attacks behind me and with my main artery now completely blocked, do I have any regrets about having taken that step in faith to follow God’s leading in my life? The answer is a resounding ‘No!’

I had no idea what lay in store for me when I followed God’s calling 20 years ago. Would I make the same decision today, knowing what I now know? Without skipping a heartbeat, I would.

Do I have any regrets about leaving the pastoral ministry and taking that step in faith? Not one. I just want to thank God for the privilege of laboring in His vineyard.

I don’t know what the future holds for AFA, but I know Who holds the future. And because of Him, we will continue the battle.