BISMARCK, ND – If you love liberty, it is only right to acknowledge the Author of freedom, which is why millions of people gathered together on May 3 across America at National Day of Prayer events.

True liberty is based on self-evident truths set forth at the beginning of our country in the Declaration of Independence:

“…that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

From the Pilgrims’ journey to Plymouth, Massachusetts to the Founding Fathers’ Constitutional Convention, from President Lincoln’s call to national prayer to President Roosevelt’s admonitions as American troops stormed the beaches of Normandy, prayer and acknowledgement of God’s protection and sovereignty have played an important role in our country’s basic formation and government.

Drawing attention to the importance to this tradition after the horrors of World War II, in 1952 President Truman signed into law an act officially designating one day each year as a National Day of Prayer (NDP), and for the past 61 years, every president has signed an annual NDP proclamation. In 1988 President Reagan signed legislation making it the first Thursday in May. Official celebrations have happened each year at the Capitol since then, until President Obama suspended Capitol celebrations in 2009.

Right now, our nation faces many challenges, some of which threaten to take away our fundamental rights and protection of freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution, and it is vitally important we stand up for our rights, endowed by our Creator, and work to ensure our government is truly supporting the cause of liberty for which it was fashioned.

This cause as much as any is what compels me to run for Congress. For this year, liberty itself is on the ballot. Please join me in this endeavor. Sitting on the sidelines while someone else carries the torch is no longer an option.

Please join with me today in praying for protection of our nation’s liberty, guidance for its leaders, wisdom for its people, and freedom for all.

Thank you for your support, and may God bless you each and every day.