Wendy Kinnear’s heart was broken when her seven-year old daughter, Lauren, told her that, “of course,” she couldn’t pray at school. Lauren attends a public elementary school in Placentia, California.

“It was chilling that Lauren said it in such a matter-of-fact way,” said Wendy. “This is America! It is outrageous that a first-grader has already gotten the message that her faith is not welcome at school!”

Wendy attended a Gateways event and learned how to promote reli­gious freedom in her school. Equipped with strategies and resources, she wrote a letter to the principal of Lauren’s school expressing her concern. The principal also shared Wendy’s concern that children would feel silenced about their faith. Due to Wendy’s gentle efforts, the principal had the school recognize Religious Freedom Day.

Each year, the President asks the nation to celebrate Religious Freedom Day (January 16). He specifically asks schools to do “appropriate commemorative exercises.” Unfortunately, few people know about his proclamation. Gateways is changing that through Campus Partners like Wendy.

The principal of Lauren’s school asked the faculty to teach the school’s 700 students about their religious free­dom. The teachers read and discussed the President’s proclamation of Religious Freedom Day; they taught the history of religious freedom in America; they encouraged students to reflect on and respond to the topic of religious freedom in discussions and in their writing journals; and they explained to their students the freedom they have to express their faith at school. It is exciting to see what one person can do to bring about change for so many children!