Rachael* is a special needs public school teacher in a liberal midwestern state. A Christian in an environment often hostile to believers, Rachael never thought she would be terminated for refusing to lie.

Eight-year-old Emmy* can’t see much more than blurry shapes and colors. Because Emmy has been nearly blind since birth, her teachers not only read to her, but also give descriptions of the pictures Emmy’s eyes cannot fully process.

The week before Thanksgiving, Rachael read Emmy one of the school’s approved books about the holiday because it gave an accurate account of the first Thanksgiving, and because Emmy’s limited vision would allow her to see some of the beautiful large illustrations in the book.

This simple event threatened Rachael’s teaching career.

Rachael described how the Native Americans and colonists were seated round a table with hands folded and heads bowed.

“Why are they doing that?” Emmy asked her teacher.

Rachael answered honestly: “They are giving thanks and praying.”

Emmy had yet more questions. “To who?” she asked.

Again, Rachael gave an honest answer, reflecting not her own religious opinion but the historical facts about what the pilgrims believed and how they were depicted in the schoolbook’s illustration.

“God,” Rachael answered.

“But who is God?” Emmy asked with wonder in her voice.

Rachael explained that the pilgrims believed God is the Creator of the world and that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross, so that people could receive forgiveness for all the wrong things they do.

Emmy’s curiosity piqued. “Did Jesus die so I can have forgiveness too?” she asked hopefully. “Will He forgive me for the bad words I sometimes say?”

“Yes,” Rachael replied.

Immediately, Emmy asked if she could pray for God’s forgiveness.

How could Rachael say no? As a public school teacher of many years, Rachael knew the anti-Christian bias in many public schools.

“Even if I get fired,” Rachael thought, “I have to answer this child’s question.”

What happened next, says Rachael, was a powerful moment she will never forget. Unprompted, uncoerced, and in her own words, Emmy spoke out loud the most beautiful prayer Rachael had ever heard. The child asked God to forgive her sins and to let Jesus into her heart. Though Rachael had not directed the child in any way, her heart swelled with joy.

The joy of the moment was short lived, however. The reason Emmy had never heard of praying or of God or Jesus is because, unbeknownst to Rachael, Emmy’s parents are hard-core atheists. When they found out that someone had told their daughter about God, they were livid.

Emmy’s parents demanded Rachael be fired. They contended that Rachael had exposed their daughter to God.

Familiar with Liberty Counsel’s winning record, including our 9-0 Supreme Court win in the Boston Christian flag case, Rachael called Liberty Counsel.

Rachael was not proselytizing or seeking to “convert” Emmy. Like any good teacher, she was simply reading a book within the school’s approved curriculum and truthfully answering the child’s questions about the book and the historical facts behind the story.

Had Rachael stopped this little girl from praying, she would have been violating Emmy’s First Amendment rights!

The school district wisely agreed with Liberty Counsel. Today, Rachael remains employed with the school and has no derogatory remarks on her employment record. And a little girl who would likely have never otherwise heard the gospel, asked Jesus to be her Savior.

NONE of this would have been possible without your direct financial support. In addition to defending teachers like Rachael, we also defend Child Evangelism Fellowship’s Good News after-school clubs, students on anti-religious college campuses, and much more.

Every day, Liberty Counsel’s attorneys fight for Christian parents, teachers, and students in the face of a hostile system intent upon eradicating God, accurate history, and religious freedom from our schools and our culture.

We battle not only for freedom of religious expression, but also for the lives of the unborn and the family our Creator designed. We never charge our clients, as few could afford to take on a government gone mad. Instead, our clients rely on YOU, the faithful Liberty Counsel supporter, to ensure liberty for all our future generations.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:14-16). 

Mat Staver

Founder and Chairman

Liberty Counsel

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