Jessica Pitcher

OEF’s website states that “one of the major goals of OEF (Ohioans for Educational Freedom) is to locate and support strong godly candidates.” OEF gives everyone, including young adults, the opportunity to learn how to have a say in our authorities in government.  Young Adults can now begin to take action in making sure that we have strong Biblical government leaders.  I believe that all youth should be involved with OEF’s upcoming events because (1) we can learn about our country’s history and how we can have a say in what happens in our government, (2) we have a chance to act upon what they are learning and make a difference in our country’s leaders, and (3) we can meet likeminded youth.

                One reason that youth should become involved in OEF is because through OEF’s civic courses and Active Citizen’s Boot Camp, youth can learn about our country’s history and how they can have a say in what happens in government.  OEF’s civic courses are intended, “to give young people a vision for taking America back to its Judeo-Christian foundations.”  A few of the courses are: Intro to Constitutional Law, Revolutionary War Era Sermons, and Campaign school.  These courses will be along the same lines as the courses that Generation Joshua offers.  Active Citizen Boot Camp will equip and train young people to be effective leaders.  They will learn how to have their voices heard as constituents through this workshop.

                Likewise, OEF gives youth the opportunity to act upon what they are learning and make a difference in our country’s leaders.  One opportunity available through OEF are the CADs.  CADs are Citizen Action Deployments which are similar to Generation Joshua’s SAT (Student Action Teams).  CADs are ways for students to campaign for candidates that support Biblical principles.  Campaigning can included, but is not limited to, sign waving, doing door-to-door literature drops, and phone banking.  Another way youth can put into practice what they are learning is through voter registrations.  Voter registrations are used for a few reasons.  One reason is to register voters.  Voter registrations are also used to raise the awareness of the different candidates and to remind Christian voters of the importance of getting out and voting.  The more Christians that are voting, the better chance that a candidate with biblical views will be sworn into office.

                As a result of being a part of OEF, youth have the opportunity to meet and grow in their knowledge and faith with likeminded young people.   While I was attending my first Generation Joshua SAT, I didn’t know anyone.  I had no idea what I was getting myself into.  I was in Virginia for one week campaigning for Bob McDonald.  I participated in sign waving, phone banking, and literature drops.  By the end of the week I had gained lifelong skills as well as lifelong friends.    The friendships that I made then I still have today.  It is a great experience!

                Making our voices known is our duty to our country.  I really like this quote by John Hancock, "Resistance to tyranny becomes the Christian and social duty of each individual. ... Continue steadfast and, with a proper sense of your dependence on God, nobly defend those rights which heaven gave, and no man ought to take from us."  This is why I believe that youth should become involved in OEF’s upcoming events.  Through civic courses, Boot Camp, voter registration, and CADs, youth are equipped with the tools, knowledge, and opportunities to uphold our duties as constituents and as Americans.  We can have a voice in our future figures of authority and the laws that they make.  This is our God given right.