Vince Torres, Executive Director
Last week, more than 100 pastors, faith, and ministry leaders gathered at the State Capitol for the annual Pastors’ Day at the Legislature, sponsored by Kansas Family Voice of New Mexico and New Mexico Prays. We sang, we worshipped, we prayed, and unbeknownst to me, a photographer from the Santa Fe New Mexican (Gabriela Campos – The New Mexican) captured this photo. Pictured are me and my good friend, Pastor Jason Dickenson, Lead Pastor of Harvest Church in Albuquerque.
I love this photo, not because I am in it; but because it captures a moment of deep prayer—a prayer of solemn desperation and confident expectation “that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15).
My first Legislative Session was in 2006. Thirteen years later, I can honestly say that this has been the most challenging Session I have ever been involved with. And yet, it has also been the most rewarding. Never before have I seen the level of engagement and participation from the public I have seen this year. Never before have I seen so many people of faith speaking up and getting involved in civic engagement.
This tells me something—God is answering my prayer.
At the beginning of this Legislative Session, I was well aware of the battle ahead. I knew that conventional victory, in terms of passing good legislation, was off the table. So, I began to pray for victory in another form—victory in the form of our ministry’s verse: “…but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action” (Daniel 11:32).
To every one of you who have sent an email, made a phone call, attended a committee hearing, and/or participated in a rally—thank you for standing firm and taking action! We have a long way to go, but with your help and God’s blessing, we are moving towards a New Mexico where religious freedom flourishes, families thrive, and life is cherished.