Jakarta, Indonesia and DHAKA, Bangladesh, March 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — salary, from Asia the fastest growing financial wellness platform has raised $8.3 million in oversubscribed pre-Series A funding as company expands platform to help workers access their on-demand earned wages in Indonesia and Bangladesh. The funding comes just seven months after securing its seed funding.

The oversubscribed funding round was led by East Ventures (Growth Fund) with participation from existing backers including Integra Partners, Asian Development Bank, Global Founders Capital, Trihill Capital, Blauwpark Partners and 1982 Ventures, bringing total funding raised to $14 million in less than two years.

Wagely also revealed that he had secured backing from Central Capital Ventura, the VC arm of indonesia largest private bank, Bank Central Asia (“BCA”). Investment in Wagely Supports Commitment to Expand Digital Financial Ecosystem and Deliver Financial Wellness Solutions Across Indonesia.

With stagnant incomes, the rising cost of living and lack of savings, workers are under daily pressure to stay financially afloat. The options for this segment are very limited in the face of an urgent need for cash. The result is a vicious cycle of repeated reliance on payday loans and other expensive financial products, leading to pervasive financial stress among the workforce. Launched in 2020, Wagely is building a holistic financial wellness platform with Earned Wage Access (“EWA”) at its core that allows workers at partner employers to access their earned wages in real time. The concept, which has been proven in several markets around the world, has been adopted by some of the most renowned organizations, including Walmart, Pizza Hut and Visa, to reduce turnover, improve productivity and increase savings. companies.

Founded by former executives from Grab and Tokopedia, Wagely has seen strong growth in its markets, with its user base growing 10 times a year in 2021, while partnering with some of them. indonesia largest employers, including British American Tobacco, Ranch Market, Adaro Energy and Medco Energi. The pandemic has exacerbated the financial hardship faced by low- and middle-income workers, increasing the need for employers to reduce financial stress on their workers.

Commenting on the investment, Roderick Purwana, Managing Partner of East Ventures, said: “With Wagely’s rapid growth over the past few quarters, we believe they will be the go-to partner for large companies aiming to challenge the status quo of the financial well-being of workers in Indonesia and beyond. We are thrilled to support Tobias, Didi, Kevin and the payroll team as they change the lives of millions of workers across Asiawhere more than 75% of the population lives on a wage to wage basis.”

Pre-Series A funding comes only months after the company expands to Bangladesh, home to the 7th largest working population in the world. “We are proud to operate successfully in two of the largest markets in Asia, employing more than 150 million workers. Instant access to wages plays a central role in reducing costs for employers and increasing worker productivity and well-being. We are honored to offer Wagely’s financial wellness platform to leading apparel manufacturers from Bangladeshincluding SQ Group, Classic Composite and Vision Garments“, noted Tobias FisherCEO and co-founder of Wagely.

The new capital will allow the company to accelerate its leading position in the market Indonesia and Bangladesh and spur development of its holistic financial wellness platform, which the company plans to begin rolling out later this year.

SOURCE salary

Child tax credit expiration likely pushes 97,000 New Jersey children back into poverty

For immediate release

Contact: Louis Di Paolo (NJPP): 201-417-5049 (mobile) or [email protected]

On the one-year anniversary of the US bailout taking effect, new state-level data released by the Economic Security Project highlights how nearly 100,000 New Jersey children were likely pushed into poverty when the expanded child tax credit expired.

One of the most successful programs of the US bailout, the expanded Child Tax Credit, has reduced child poverty in the United States and injected local economies with tens of billions of dollars in additional spending. during an unprecedented public health crisis.

When CTC checks started hitting bank accounts in 2021, the impact of credit on life was clear right away. In six weeks, food insufficiency had decreased by almost a third. Improvements have been significant among Black and Latino families, who experience the highest rates of food difficulties.

• Amid a historic economic and public health crisis, CTC payments have defied gravity and lowered child poverty in New Jersey.

• In New Jersey, 1,621,000 children received the expanded monthly child tax credit, an average of $418 per family.
• CTC payments lifted nearly 4 million children out of poverty each month the payments were made. New Jersey is expected to see a sharp rise in the child poverty rate as the US bailout expires. As part of the expanded CTC, ARPA raised 97,000 children out of poverty in New Jersey, reducing poverty by 8 percent.

• Monthly CTC payments have broader economic impacts, injecting millions of dollars into state economies that support family incomes, job growth and local businesses.

• Unless Congress acts to restore the expanded child tax credit, New Jersey stands to lose $514,848,000 in additional economic activity each month.

• Beyond poverty alleviation, monthly payments have helped families in other valuable ways, including:

• Meet basic needs, stay housed and feed their children.
• Reduce stress.
• Rely less on payday loans.
• Resume or stay at work.

The Child Tax Credit is one of the most successful anti-poverty programs in American history. Unless Congress acts to make it a permanent part of American life, New Jersey’s children risk losing access to life-changing benefits, and the whole country will drift away from working families who , now more than ever, deserve government help. . To learn more about how New Jersey lawmakers can enact a child tax credit at the state level, read NJPP’s February 2022 report, Making New Jersey More Affordable for Families: The Case for a State Child Tax Credit.

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New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) is a nonpartisan think tank that promotes policy change to advance economic, social, and racial justice through independent, evidence-based research, analysis, and advocacy.

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The government is making changes to its controversial loan laws, following complaints that it was preventing some people in a decent financial position from getting mortgages and other loans.

By Kathryn Armstrong

The rules were changed in December in a bid to protect people against loans they could not afford.

However, this meant that banks and other lenders had to take a closer look at people’s spending when assessing the financial situation, especially when it came to their spending.

“Someone would bungee jump and then the bank would say, ‘How often do you bungee jump? ‘” Economist Tony Alexander said.

He thinks part of the problem was that as banks feared huge fines if they failed to apply the new rules correctly, they became incredibly cautious.

Trade Minister David Clark said the problem was how the rules were interpreted.

He said the rules have now been clarified to make them simpler.

This includes clarifying that where borrowers provide a detailed breakdown of future living expenses, there is no need to learn current living expenses from recent banking transactions.

Nor do lenders need to treat a loan applicant’s regular savings as an expense.

“In very simple terms, that means banks don’t have to dig into your bank statements for the past few months,” Alexander said.

They can take your word for your future spending.”

Meanwhile, a broader investigation into the rapid implementation of the December CCCFA changes continues.

David Clark said that so far there was no reason to believe that the new laws were the main driver of the loan reduction.

ACT chief David Seymour welcomed the clarification of “excessive lending rules that allowed people to choose between Netflix and a mortgage”.

Seymour said the ACT has been calling for changes to the law since January after the effects of “were crippling for those seeking a loan”.

“The occasional flat white should never have been a reason to keep a first-time home buyer off the market.”

Tony Alexander said that although it is too early to see a huge change in the amount of money loaned, there have been other noticeable effects.

“Applications going to banks, to mortgage brokers, really started to drop quite dramatically since probably just before December 1, partly because of loan-to-value ratios.”

Financial mentoring group FinCap said it has noticed positive changes since the December Lending Act was amended.

North Harbor Budgeting Service financial mentor David Verry said the reforms have led to the demise of mobile or payday lenders, like truck shops.

“The number of people we had before – I had clients who had five or six payday loans – I don’t see payday loans now, or anything like a payday loan,” he said.

Why would anyone want to get out of debt?

Think about it. You borrow money. You can use this money now. Then you can pay it back slowly, over time. Who wouldn’t want this deal?

You might expect a financial planner to say that everyone should deleverage as soon as possible. Although I wouldn’t make such a general statement, it’s generally true – being debt-free is wise.

But why?

• Is it because the debt is bad?

No. Debt is neither bad nor good. It is simply a magnifying glass of your financial decisions.

When you buy things that lose value over time (eg, cars, clothes, electronics, vacations), debt increases the cost of those items. With credit card debt, you can end up paying double the listed price!

Be sure to use your tax refund wisely.

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Key points

• Many Americans will receive a large tax refund this year.
• This lump sum payment represents a great opportunity to improve your finances.
• Paying off debt, building an emergency fund, and investing are some smart ways to use your tax refund.

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Many Americans get thousands of dollars back from the IRS after filing their tax return. The lump sum payment that results from a tax refund presents a great opportunity. Rather than spending the money on purchases that won’t pay off, you can use the funds to improve your long-term financial situation.

While there are plenty of ways to put your refunded tax money to good use, here are three of the best things to do with the money the IRS sends you.

1. Pay off the debt

If you have high-interest debt, such as credit cards or payday loans, you can use your tax refund to pay off as much of your debt as possible.

By making a large payment, you can reduce your principal balance. This will reduce the interest you pay over time and bring you closer to permanent debt relief.

2. Boost your emergency fund

An emergency fund helps you avoid financial disaster if you face unexpected expenses or loss of income. When you have money set aside for emergencies, you have a financial cushion so you don’t have to borrow if you face an unexpected cost that you didn’t budget for. If you lose your job, get big medical bills, or can’t work due to illness, you can use the money you’ve saved to cover bills so you don’t face foreclosure, repossession or other serious consequences.

Unfortunately, many people have too little savings for emergencies. The standard recommendation is to have three to six months of living expenses set aside, but it’s common for people to have a lot less – or even nothing at all.

A large tax refund allows you to create an emergency fund or increase yours if it is too small. By being better prepared for unpleasant surprises, you will have a calmer mind and a more secure future.

3. Invest for the future

If you don’t have high-interest debt and your emergency fund is fully funded, investing for long-term financial goals can be a great use of your tax refund.

You can do this in different ways. If you’re saving for a major purchase, such as a down payment on a house, you can deposit the money paid back directly into your savings account. You can also contribute to a tax-efficient retirement plan, such as an IRA with a brokerage firm.

By investing for retirement in a plan with tax relief, you can actually reduce next year’s tax bill with this year’s refund.

Which option is right for you?

Ultimately, the best place to put your tax refund will depend on your current financial situation.

The important thing is to figure out how you can leverage that money to grow your net worth in the best possible way, based on what you currently owe and your current and long-term financial goals.

You can’t go wrong with any of these three suggestions, so think about which one will have the most impact so that your refund can benefit you for a long time.

Parental status	Percentage having used a personal loan
non-relative	5%
relative	8%

payday loans in america

The rates and terms of payday loans can vary widely by state. Some states don’t even allow payday lenders because these lenders can sometimes be debt traps. In states where payday loans are permitted, one of three levels of regulation may apply.

Permissive states allow high loan fees and APRs and generally have the fewest restrictions. Hybrid states tend to have more restrictions, either by having rate caps, restrictions on loans per borrower, or giving borrowers more payment periods to repay the loan. Restrictive states don’t allow payday loans or have a 36% APR rate cap, making it virtually impossible for payday lenders to set up shop in these states.

Payday loans are most common in urban areas and the Midwest, with 7% of urban residents and 7% of Midwest residents using them.

Why do people use payday loans?

Payday loans are intended for urgent or unexpected expenses, and it is generally advisable to avoid using them for anything else if possible. If someone is living paycheck to paycheck and falling behind on their bills, a payday loan to cover groceries or rent might seem like a great idea. Unfortunately, the fees incurred by these loans are usually higher than the loan itself, pushing borrowers further into the cycle of debt.

However, the majority of payday loan borrowers, 69%, use these loans for regular expenses.

Payday loans are commonly used to pay:

• Utilities
• Car payment
• Payment by credit card
• Rent/mortgage
• Food

Alternatives to payday loans

If you’re in dire financial straits and want to borrow money quickly, payday loans aren’t your only option. Payday loans tend to start a borrowing cycle, and borrowers are likely to get in over their heads with extremely high fees. There are several alternatives to taking out a payday loan, including loans for lenders with bad credit, credit card cash advances, and personal installment loans.

These options have lower fees and longer repayment terms. Credit card cash advances have high APRs similar to payday loans, but they allow the borrower a longer period to repay the loan.

While personal loan interest rates will be higher for less qualified borrowers, personal loan rates are capped at around 36%, significantly lower than payday loan rates. Additionally, personal lenders tend to charge lower fees than payday lenders.

If you decide to take out a personal loan, be sure to do your research on today’s best personal loan rates and bad credit loans.

The bottom line

Payday loans can be extremely useful for those who find themselves struggling with unexpected expenses or falling behind in their day-to-day expenses. Payday lenders lend money to people who may not qualify elsewhere. However, taking out a payday loan usually leads to taking out more, leaving borrowers in a cycle of debt. Younger, lower-income borrowers are more likely to take out these loans, and people of color also tend to take out payday loans at higher rates.

If you’re considering a payday loan, make sure you know the payday loan rules in your state and that you’re getting the lowest APR you can find in your area. Also, beware of payday scams, as the lack of regulation in some states can cause lenders to take advantage of borrowers. However, if you can qualify, taking out a personal loan or credit card cash advance is a safer and less expensive option.

Here’s the not-so-new news: Florida law leans heavily in favor of landlords and property rights. So there’s no cavalry coming to the rescue of tenants facing jaw-dropping rent increases in South Florida.

Governments can do little under state law to protect renters from price gouging. But they can protect tenants in other ways, such as through the order the Miami Beach City Commission unanimously approved this month requiring landlords to give 60 days notice before moving in. increase the rent by more than 5%. This rule could be extended to the rest of Miami-Dade County under legislation proposed by Commissioner Eileen Higgins.

Sixty days gives renters time to look for cheaper living options if they don’t plan to pay. But a rent increase is a rent increase, and many tenants won’t find greener pastures elsewhere.

So what else is available, or in the works, to help tenants? The Herald editorial board has compiled important information tenants need to know.

Rent control

State law prevents cities and towns from imposing caps on rent increases in most cases, and Democratic bills in the Legislature are doomed.

There is an exception if a local government can declare a “housing emergency which is so serious that it poses a serious threat to the general public”. If we’re not here in Miami-Dade yet, we’re very close. The city or county would then ask voters to approve the control measures for one year, after which the same process would have to repeat for renewal, including voter approval.

In December, two dozen Democratic state lawmakers signed a letter asking Governor Ron DeSantis to declare a state of emergency due to the “ongoing affordable housing crisis” and directing the attorney general to “recognize any increase in rental prices greater than 10% as price inflation. DeSantis ignored the request. No surprise there.

Meanwhile, the St. Petersburg City Council voted in December to explore the idea of ​​capping rent prices for a year. A similar move is unlikely to happen in Miami-Dade County or the City of Miami, given the conservative lean of some commissioners and the backlash it would face from builders and owners, who have also seen their costs increase thanks to inflation.

Rent control is not the only option available to local governments. Other creative solutions include granting tax exemptions to landlords who don’t raise rent above a certain threshold, state Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, told the editorial board. . It is time for local governments to start thinking about it seriously.

A fix that won’t help

One of the Legislature’s solutions to the state’s housing affordability crisis was Senate Bill 884/Bill 537, which would allow landlords to charge tenants an unpaid monthly fee. refundable in lieu of an initial security deposit.

At first glance, this would relieve tenants who cannot afford high moving costs. But here’s the catch: Landlords wouldn’t be required to pay back fees at the end of the lease like they do with security deposits, nor would payments apply to damage beyond normal wear and tear. . This means that this alleged fix could cause more problems and expense for tenants who have no other option. Of course, it’s driven by LeaseLock, a finance company that offers the fee option in 129 Florida communities.

The legislature should offer more protections to tenants, not make them more vulnerable to potentially predatory practices that opponents liken to payday loans that trap workers in an endless cycle of debt.

Can I withhold my rent?

Many tenants are unaware that they can withhold rent payments if a landlord has failed or refused to provide important maintenance that renders “rented premises wholly unoccupied,” according to state law. The tenant must provide seven days written notice and give the landlord at least 20 days to make the repairs. The Florida Bar has a model of this notice on its website and instructions on how and when to withhold rent.

However, what is in the law often differs from reality. Horror stories of bug infestations, toxic mold in apartments and hostile landlords are common in Miami-Dade, as Zaina Alsous of the Miami Workers Center told the Herald editorial board. Her advice is for tenants living in uninhabitable conditions to talk to neighbors facing similar issues and organize – “There is power in the union,” she said.

Where can I ask for help?

The Miami Workers Center is one of the organizations that connects tenants at risk of eviction to legal and community advocacy. The Miami-Dade County Commission is creating a housing advocacy office, and commissioners Raquel Regalado and Jean Monestime are working on an ordinance called the Tenant’s Bill of Rights to define what that office will do.

A draft order shows the office would, among other things, create a tenant hotline and a webpage with resources and downloadable forms – i.e. eviction and withholding rent – approved by the Florida Bar and translated into Spanish and Creole.

Declaration of tenant rights

Here are some of the things the bill would do:

Landlords could not require potential tenants to disclose a prior eviction until their application is approved. That information is public record, but Regalado said the rule would give applicants a face-to-face chance to be approved without prior expulsion looming against them.

If a rental unit is sold, the seller or buyer must give tenants 60 days notice with a monthly agreement if the sale results in the termination of tenancies.

Require landlords to provide tenants with notice of their rights no later than 10 days after signing or renewing a lease.

Require landlords to notify tenants within 14 days of receiving notice that a residential building may be unsafe.

The Tenant Bill of Rights is “a first step,” Regalado told the drafting committee. It won’t solve the #1 problem tenants face: skyrocketing rents. And there are other issues that need to be addressed, like the fact that only 10% of tenants have legal representation when facing eviction, according to the Workers Center.

But in a state where tenants are often on their own, they will take whatever help they can get.

Struggling to fund an emergency? What should you do if you need money right now? First of all, assess the situation and do not make hasty decisions. Payday loans play a good role here to help you pay off your debt and spend the necessary amount of money for emergency expenses.

We recommend the option of taking out a payday loan DirectLoanTransfer if you have a short-term disruption to your finances. Thus, you can repay your debt in just one to two months and calmly continue to pay your loans on time.

More often than not, we find ourselves in a financial bind. Suppose you spread yourself too thin and exhaust your borrowing options. Now what? Let’s take a look at 10 good reasons why people take payday loans.

Reasons to get a payday loan

1. When you can’t afford major purchases

A client took out payday loans to buy new appliances, a cell phone, a fur coat for his wife, a car and winter tires. He was able to finance all of these purchases with payday loans while saving money to pay for his personal needs and necessities, such as food, gas, and clothing.

2. To avoid empty pockets

Over the past 15 years, a customer has taken out about 10 loans to buy a camera, two tablets, two phones, and new furniture. Taking out payday loans allowed her to buy what she needed and still have money in her pocket. These were well-calculated decisions that helped the client get the necessities without spending all her money.

3. Out of madness

A customer broke his phone. Unfortunately, he had no savings, so he took out a loan. Therefore, the customer filled out a request directly in the store, but only one bank responded. The fees and interest rates on this bank loan were thousands of dollars more than the original amount he had borrowed. After this realization, he decided to look into payday loans instead. The customer received money instantly and didn’t have to worry about trailing payments that accrue interest. With payday loans, he got his phone and paid off the debt in just one month – easy and hassle-free!

4. If there is not enough will to accumulate

Let’s say you took out two payday loans, the first for remote programming lessons and the second for a digital piano. One has already been paid, the other is being paid. There is not enough will to save on such acquisitions. Each time, think carefully about the need to apply for a payday loan. Consult specialists from different banks and don’t forget to consider different payday loan offers. Due to this, thanks to the training, you will receive attractive offers of personal loans from the management, and the piano will become a source of additional income.

5. To raise the standard of living

A payday loan is a great opportunity to get an item at a discount. You can close the debt on the first payment, saving a little. Credit cards help you get certain things without overpaying but a little earlier. Payday loans will help you raise the bar on quality of life. It is not because there are things that are borrowed. Indeed, you will start thinking in slightly different numbers with a payday loan.

6. Live until the next paycheck

Payday loans can help solve urgent and unexpected financial difficulties, but sometimes high rates and overpayments can create long-term problems in a family’s budget. Now we have to work for the loans. All the money is divided into two categories: repayment of the loan and somehow stretching the salary.

7. In order not to constrain oneself in desires

Payday loans can be taken on a whim. For example, if you suddenly wanted to renew your fleet of vehicles and it was uncomfortable to withdraw the full amount of traffic and savings, even if formally there was such an opportunity. You took about a few thousand dollars for six months for an iPhone. You can afford to take out a payday loan. You could take it for a wedding so as not to be afraid of desires, which is about 700,000 for three years.

A personal loan is a practical tool if it is not coerced. If credit money helps accelerate the rate of capital growth or get the feeling now and pay it back later, then that’s a good reason to agree to take out a payday loan.

8. In order not to choose what to buy

When repairing an apartment, money is needed for plastic windows or TV. Suppose you need to borrow several thousand dollars for a television. Let’s say it would be a shame if you gave more than five thousand a month, but the way of life will not change. It is likely that you will not regret having taken out a personal loan. Nevertheless, in the future, think about how you could save in advance.

9. To spend money on the most important

Suppose you have taken out many small loans that could amount to hundreds of dollars. You close one and immediately organize the next, for example for studies, treatment, travel, expensive furniture or equipment. In general, for whatever is most important. Additionally, you can use a credit card with a limit of a few thousand. Loans are always closed ahead of schedule in two or three months while spending money on useful and necessary things that you could not save for in any way and not on momentary pleasures like a bottle of expensive alcohol or unnecessary clothes.

10. When there are no other options

Let’s say the roof of your house was in a terrible state. Suppose an urgent repair is needed, but it would be impossible to save such an amount even if the whole family saved the entire salary. Then a payday loan is a very good option.

As Glenn Youngkin successfully campaigned last year as the Republican candidate for governor of Virginia, several critics pointed to his religious ties. Simply put, Youngkin supported Orthodox dissenters from the Episcopal Church as it embraced serious heresy and sin. As this denomination further supplanted biblical faith with universalism and sexual immorality, several northern Virginia congregations severed ties, citing the institution’s total abandonment of Christianity.

Youngkin generously supported Holy Trinity Church in McLean, Va., a conservative congregation that has no official connection to an Anglican body. Whereas in the past generous donors to any church would have been considered upstanding citizens, today such religiosity – when grounded in conservative moral issues – can be a major political liability. Apparently marching in Pride parades and supporting hours of drag queen storytelling is fine, but material support for Orthodox Christianity sets a bad example for children. Specifically, there is a popular notion that ardent and traditional Christians should not be in a position of significant political power and, if they are, they had better not act according to their religious principles, especially in regard to concerns morality.

Surprisingly, this claim comes from both inside and outside the church. Secular elites and even some prominent religious voices bemoan the presence of politically engaged Christianity, especially when it opposes the broader agenda, values ​​and conduct of the global managerial class. Certainly, many political candidates are not religious and must put on a show to attract conservative voters. Other well-meaning (or power-hungry) politicians have done a poor job of determining how their faith should inform and guide their conduct and policies. The result is laudable examples of moral blindness, obvious religious ignorance and embarrassing scandals. And, it should be noted that such cases occur on both the right and left sides of the aisle.

Many liberal leaders claim a religious identity for themselves, even though the Democratic Party’s embrace of abortion-on-demand and sexual license has pushed many religious identities to breaking point. Only those with minimal religious beliefs, such as adherents of mainstream Protestantism or Reform Judaism, experience little tension in this regard.

A good number of self-described evangelicals today, however, seem uncomfortable with any exercise of political authority by other evangelicals. They see political power as inherently corrupt and worldly, and its exercise by Christians as a compromised witness to the watching world. A whole intellectual class exists to remind evangelicals that they must decouple their theology from their politics or stop making an idol of politics. They become uncomfortable with the idea of ​​laws and policies that punish, fine, and even imprison people for various offences.

If Christians cannot take power and rule according to their first principles, unbelievers are quite ready to do so.

This tendency is not rooted in historic Protestantism. The Radical Reformation rejected the post-Constantinian Christian tradition at its root (based), including many centuries of political theology. Initially, this manifested in violent revolts and sectarian utopian projects until the influence of pacifists like Menno Simons and Jakob Ammann became dominant. The radical tradition was revived somewhat by influential neo-Anabaptist theologians like John Howard Yoder. From this perspective, one of the great tragedies of history was the conversion of Constantine the Great and the resulting legalization and establishment of Christianity. Before that, Christianity was pure because it was politically impotent. Since then, the Church has become stained with political commitment.

Now, most people aren’t coherent thinkers, so many embarrassed evangelicals don’t give up politics altogether. They intuitively realize that political authority is necessary and not inherently sinful. They simply don’t have the courage to perform such oaths of office themselves or to see the same performed and exercised by other biblical Christians, for it will end up being “wicked” and lacking in “seductiveness.”

This argument produces a convenient evangelical paralysis that is exploited by secular politicians, pressure groups and institutions. If Christians cannot take power and rule according to their first principles, unbelievers are quite ready to do so.

It’s a recipe for continued political defeat combined with unseemly morality. If we believe that society should commit to certain laws and not others, it means using the means to have those necessary laws passed – in the right way, with the right motive, towards the ends of rights. There is a difference between seeking power for power’s sake and pursuing a political office that holds the power to shape policy that benefits everyone in society.

Powerful forces of evil take advantage of a politically disengaged Christianity. Christians hold vital beliefs about sex, the sanctity of life, marriage, justice for the innocent, and exploitation of the poor. Sunday work, the sale and distribution of addictive substances, a deeply corroded public education apparatus, gambling, payday loans, pornography, no-fault divorce laws, financial irresponsibility and predatory financial practices yield immense profits or provide tools to subjugate a populous freedom. And they are threatened by evangelicals wielding political authority.

It’s one thing to have political influence taken away from you. It is quite another to give up that influence on our own.