“My faith in Jesus gives me the strength to deal with so many different aspects of life,” said Crandall Police Chief Dean Winters when the viral video of the police department faced backlash from an atheist group.
The Crandall Police Department joined to uplift and entertain people on social media as they took the lip sync challenge. They sang the Newsboys hit, God’s Not Dead.
They posted the video along with the caption:
“Due to NUMEROUS requests from our Citizens… Here it is!!! The Crandall Police Department’s Lip Sync Challenge. What an awesome way to create conversations and relationships with the community. Have fun in life, keep safe and be humble… We Challenge Kaufman County Criminal District Attorney Investigators and the Wilbarger County Sheriff’s Office.”
The video is not merely doing a lip sync to the song. They started with a gag about the police chief not being able to ride in the police car for a long time. They also teased something entirely different at the start. The whole video then proceeds to be like a skit of some kind that tells a story about hope and what God has done for people, inspiring and encouraging everyone to call on God anytime.
But when they posted the video, the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), an atheist organization from Wisconsin did not approve. They said, “Government employees can worship, pray, or read any religious text they wish when acting in their personal capacities. But they are not permitted to provide prestige to their personal religion through the machinery of a government office. The police department belongs to ‘We the people,’ not the department’s temporary occupants.”
But the Crandall Police chief responded with a witty reply: 😉
According to Winters, the community which they serve have expressed support for the video. They even received numerous emails and letters from both citizens and officers from the country that they were very grateful for the stand of the officers in the department.
The citizens seemed to enjoy it, as evidenced by the numerous positive comments that poured in. Even the Newsboys praised the officers for their outstanding performance.
Dean further explained that his faith enhances his ability to perform his duties both as a police officer and as a husband and a father. He said, “I don’t believe faith interferes with the ability to serve, but instead it enhances it.”
The police department did something that has encouraged a lot of people not just to fight for their faith but to show them that God is their hope and shield in times of trouble. Our hope in Christ is everlasting and sure because he is God.
In Matthew 10:32, it says, “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.”
Do not be afraid to tell others of your personal testimony and what God has done in your life. Do not be shy or ashamed because God did not just save you from your present troubles, but has forgiven you of all your sins if you trust in Him. He will put a hedge around you and will give you eternal life.