Vote Faithfully Reflections

We’ve come this far…
Bishop Deon K. Johnson

"We've come this far by faith, leaning on the Lord, trusting in God's holy Word; God has never failed us yet." For generations, those words have echoed through Black churches, sustaining a people who refused to surrender to despair. They are more than the refrain of a beloved spiritual, they are the testimony of a people who have endured unimaginable hardship while trusting that God was always leading them toward freedom.

"We've come this far by faith" aptly describes the long journey of people of African descent in securing the right to vote. From the brutality of slavery, through the sacrifices of the Civil War and Reconstruction, to the long struggle against Jim Crow and the courage of the Civil Rights Movement, each generation has taken another faithful step toward the promise of a more just society. The right to vote did not come easily. It was won through prayer, perseverance, sacrifice, and the unwavering conviction that every person bears the image of God and deserves both dignity and a voice.

Each time I cast my ballot, I am reminded that I do not vote alone. I carry with me the prayers, dreams, and sacrifices of countless ancestors who were denied this fundamental right. I vote faithfully for those who could not. I vote for those who faced intimidation, violence, and even death simply for seeking the opportunity to participate in our democracy. I vote in gratitude for those who believed that their struggle would open doors they themselves might never walk through. And I vote with hope for the generations who will come after me.

As our nation prepares for the 2026 elections, I will once again get up, dress up, and show up at my polling place to cast my vote. My son will be with me. I want him to know that voting is never something to take for granted. I want him to understand that this simple act is both a privilege and a sacred responsibility. I want him to know that our faith calls us not only to worship God but also to seek the welfare of our neighbors, to pursue justice, and to participate in building communities where every person can flourish.

Casting a ballot is, for me, an act of faith. It is an expression of hope that God is still at work in the world through ordinary people willing to do extraordinary things. It is a way of honoring those who have gone before us while accepting responsibility for those who will come after us. Every election reminds me that democracy is not sustained by fear or cynicism but by people who continue to believe that a better future is possible.

We've come this far by faith. By God's grace, we will keep moving forward—one faithful step, one faithful vote, at a time.

Download the PDF HERE

The Rev. Dr. Teresa Danieley, she/her, Missioner for Public Advocacy

 

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in you, O God my Savior,

for you have looked with favor on your lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed: 

you, the Almighty, have done great things for me,

and holy is your name.

You have mercy on those who fear you 

from generation to generation.

You have shown strength with your arm 

and scattered the proud in their conceit,

Casting down the mighty from their thrones 

and lifting up the lowly.

You have filled the hungry with good things 

and sent the rich away empty.

You have come to the help of your servant Israel, 

for you have remembered your promise of mercy,

The promise made to our forebears, 

to Abraham and his children for ever.

-The Song of Mary (Luke 1: 46b - 55)

 

The August election is almost here, and the stakes could not be higher. We have the

opportunity to move Missouri closer to or further away from Blessed Mary the

Godbearer’s vision of the lowly lifted up and the hungry filled.

Amendments 4 and 5 pose a serious threat to our economy and our democracy.

Amendment 4 would undermine the bedrock of our democracy; currently, a simple

majority means that a ballot initiative has passed or a candidate has won. Amendment 4

would change that. Amendment 5 would increase taxes on 60-80% of Missourians and

weaken Missouri’s public and nonprofit infrastructure (including churches) even more.

Early, no excuse voting started Tuesday, July 21, so there are less than two weeks to

make sure voters understand what's on the ballot and turn out to vote. Every

conversation, every door knocked, and every voter reached matters.Amendment 4 is a permanent constitutional amendment that would make it nearly

impossible for citizens to pass ballot measures. Right now, a ballot measure passes in

Missouri if it gets a majority of the votes statewide. Amendment 4 would change that.

Instead of using the total statewide vote, a measure would need to win a majority of

votes in all eight of Missouri’s congressional districts in order to pass. Under

Amendment 4, your vote can be cancelled by just ONE congressional district — that

means just 5% of voters could vote down what the rest of the state approves.

Amendment 4 takes away our power to pass laws — so politicians and special interests

get all the power.

To find out more about Amendment 4 and to volunteer to talk to voters visit:

• https://www.protectmajorityrulemo.org/ (Protect Majority Rule)
• https://mojwjvoteraction.org/august-2026-election/ (Missouri Jobs with Justice Voter Action)
• https://mojwjvoteraction.org/take-action-2/ (Missouri Jobs with Justice Voter Action)

 

Amendment 5 is the “Everything Tax.” This tax scheme would repeal Missouri’s income

tax, and replace it with an expanded sales tax on everything that we spend money on.

Most Missourians would pay about $500 more per year in sales tax on rent, car and

home repairs, and doctors visits. Missourians on a fixed income would see even greater

costs. This tax would leave a $5 billion dollar hole in our state budget, and could cost

our public schools $1.4 Billion. Amendment 5 would:

• Authorize new sales taxes on goods and services not currently taxed — including real estate, health care, car repairs, or legal services with no cap on how high legislators can raise them.
• Increase taxes on 60–80% of Missourians. Only those earning near $300,000 or more would see a cut. (Source: mobudget.org)
• Eliminate two voter-approved constitutional tax protections: 1) the 2010 ban on sales tax for real estate transactions and 2) the ban on adding sales tax to goods or services not already taxed as of January 1, 2015.
• Increase the demand on all feeding ministries, food pantries, meal programs, and other service programs as 60 - 80% of Missourians would see a decrease in their net income.
• Decrease disposable income for 60 - 80% of Missourians, including what they currently give to churches and other nonprofits.

 

To find out more about Amendment 5 and to volunteer to talk to voters visit:

• https://mojwjvoteraction.org/august-2026-election/ (Missouri Jobs with Justice Voter Action)
• https://mojwjvoteraction.org/take-action-2/
• https://www.missouriequity.com/amendment-5 (Amendment 5 toolkit)
• https://parents4mopublicschools.org/ (Resources include a calculator for the cost to Public Schools by District in Missouri)
• https://mobudget.org/amendment-5-is-bad-for-business/ (Missouri Budget Project)

 

The politicians pushing both Amendment 4 and Amendment 5 these amendments know

their ideas are unpopular. That's why they've buried them behind confusing and

deceptive ballot language.

 

Lying is condemned in the Ten Commandments and Mosaic Law and throughout

Christian Scripture, yet apparently, the prohibition against lying does not apply to

political commercials. (See, for example, Leviticus 19:11, Exodus 20:16, Colossians

3:9).

 

Once voters understand what these amendments would actually do, they oppose them.

We need your help to make sure our friends, family, and neighbors know what's at stake

and turn out to vote by Tuesday, August 4.

 

For full Voter Information on all the Ballot Initiatives on the August 4th Ballot, visit

https://mochristian.org/blog/2026/06/important-voter-information-for-tuesday-august-4-b

allot-initiatives/

Canvassing is a great way to speak one-on-one with your neighbors about the things that matter to us. I have been involved in several canvassing campaigns. They always involve my political pet issues that our legislature refused to address, and activate my sense that I, one person, can make a difference in our political process. Canvassing is our democracy at work. Keeping it alive and vibrant. I went door–to-door distributing candidate information for both of President Obama’s campaigns, as well as Senator Claire McCaskill’s. I’ve worked against Right to Work (“for less”). I circulated petitions for Clean Missouri, to put controls on gerrymandering, reduce gifting to legislatures to $5, requiring that legislative committees and the legislature only work where the public is invited. I worked for the $15 minimum wage initiative. And I’ve worked registering many voters for Metropolitan Congregations United and the League of Women Voters. Some voters who wouldn’t make eye contact with me and with whom I gently persisted had served time and ”paid their dues”, were off probation, and did not know that their right to vote in Missouri was restored, if they just registered to vote. They were so pleased to have that dignity restored. My door-to-door canvassing usually meant leaving the info on the doorknob as people were not home, or were not answering. But people may prefer the more passive info rather than a person speaking with them. That is not the case, however, when circulating initiative petitions. There, when you’ve piqued someone’s interest, and gain another signature, it is a feeling of accomplishment. For our democracy. What a good feeling.

…And walking neighborhoods makes me feel connected to American communities. Connected is good. …Especially now. I know I am doing something positive for my democracy. As I like to say “can’t never did anything”. Go do something.

Everything you do - or don’t do - matters.