(Editor's Note: This article was first published in the October 2022 edition of The Stand print.)
“I think some of the erosion of our culture is because there are too many shepherds in their offices trying to figure out what happened last Sunday instead of realizing we’re supposed to be out in the community trying to make a difference,” John Bouquet told The Stand. Pastor of Bethel Chapel in Savannah, Ohio, Bouquet is the epitome of the activist pastor – preaching the gospel and impacting the culture at the same time. In fact, Bethel’s logo bears the words “Taking the church to the community.”
History of engagement
Bouquet has pastored in Ashland County for 40 years and is the National Day of Prayer Chairman for the Ashland County Ministerial Association (ACMA).
The ACMA (ashlandcma.org) is a coalition of pastors, local churches, parachurch ministries, and Christian leaders that became active in the early 1990s, organizing to be a positive influence in their area. ACMA meets regularly “for prayer and mutual encouragement, and to coordinate the community outreach of the body of Christ.”
The ACMA has been on the front lines locally since their inception by supporting local law enforcement, Christian health centers, cancer facilities, pregnancy care centers, special needs ministries, and programs to get Bible instruction in public schools.
Current campaign
In March, homeschool mother Laura Bidding took her children to the Ashland Public Library, only to discover in the children’s section a book titled Making a Baby: An Inclusive Guide to How Every Family Begins.
“The book is recommended for ages 5-8,” Bouquet said. “But I’m embarrassed to describe it. It’s just pure pornography and sexual grooming of children.”
Bidding, assuming the book was in the wrong place, took it to the librarian, but was assured the book was in the right section. If she did not like it, she would need to complain to the head librarian, which she did. She was then told she would need to go to the board of trustees, which she also did.
“She was treated rudely and left that meeting speechless, but determined there had to be somebody to help,” Bouquet said. “Someone suggested to her to get in touch with our ministerial association, and she did in May. Since then, we’ve put together a pretty effective campaign to fight against this filth and say ‘No, not now, not ever.’”
Because of ACMA’s efforts, by June, over 200 people attended the Ashland Public Library Board of Trustees meeting (ashland.lib.oh.us), including 16 pastors and representatives from eight local parachurch ministries.
Future challenge
Bouquet’s admonition is to go out into one’s community and serve and make a difference.
“Spiritual leaders across the country must pay attention to their local public libraries and school libraries. Pay attention to what’s going on in your community. Things can slip in that can make your work difficult down the road,” Bouquet cautioned. “There are things happening that are affecting the true spiritual condition of people. And that is our primary responsibility.”
“If the gospel is as real as we believe it is, then it has to show up in Christian leadership,” Bouquet added. “This isn’t just spectator Christianity; people have to get off their butt and stop [only] standing at a street corner holding up a sign that says ‘I’m against this or I’m for that.’ Get involved in the process.”
