Activist urges Blunt to consider God in public policy
By Allen Palmeri
Staff Writer
March 10, 2005
JEFFERSON CITY – Greg Thompson, the former Humansville School District superintendent who was fired last summer for refusing to keep the Ten Commandments out of school, met with Gov. Matt Blunt Feb. 16 about the need for Missourians to acknowledge God more in public education.
Blunt, a pro-family Missouri Baptist, made Thompson’s case an issue in the gubernatorial campaign, issuing a press release defending the public display of the Ten Commandments in Missouri and personally phoning Thompson to express his support. Blunt has used the Thompson case to demonstrate that he will take a stand for religious freedom, and during his first two months in office the governor has related to Thompson, who now lobbies at the Capitol once a week, primarily as a brother in Christ.
During their private meeting, Blunt and two education staffers prayed with Thompson, founder of America Asleep kNOw More, an organization devoted to caring for the souls of children. Thompson has been learning the lobbying culture on Wednesdays as he gets acquainted with various leaders.
“Matt, to me, is a sincerely good man,” Thompson said. “I think he’s going to have a lot of prayers. I told him I’d like to even start a prayer team, like the president has, for him. I said, ‘We need to be praying for you around the clock, seven days a week.’”
Blunt attends Second Baptist Church, Springfield. Thompson, who was raised Roman Catholic, calls himself a Christian now. Paul Callahan, pastor, First Baptist Church, Marshall, supported Thompson by attending one of his ministry’s conferences Feb. 21 in Marshall and said that his message to awaken America’s sleeping Christians is on target.
“He speaks like a Baptist,” Callahan said. “He is evangelical in his approach. He talks openly about sharing his faith, being a witness for Christ. That’s one of the things that Southern Baptists have treasured.”
One of Thompson’s goals when he speaks in a community like Marshall is to form a citizens council of grassroots activists who will work together in community to make government conform more to the Bible. He said on March 11 the 13th council will be in place in Schell City.
“The grassroots are really saying, ‘Enough’s enough,’” Thompson said. “They want to work and give the support and encouragement and strength to the legislators that they hired for moral purposes to make those decisions morally.”
Thompson said Christians who may be wondering about whether Blunt is paying enough attention to acknowledging God in public policy these days ought not to be concerned.
“He’s definitely listening and is concerned about the family issues—there’s no doubt about that,” Thompson said. “You can’t make something happen in two days. You’ve got to have some time to put things together that is going to be good for everyone. I think he sincerely knows that God is the issue. We’ve got to get Him back as part of our process.”