Punished for Prayer, Silenced for Truth: Will the American Church Finally Speak Up?

As a woman of faith, I’ve prayed with countless people—some in tears, some in silence, all of them searching for hope. They’ve come from every background, every story, every walk of life. And now, in New South Wales, that simple, sacred act of prayer could land me in handcuffs. Under the state’s new ban on so-called “LGBT conversion practices,” it is now illegal to offer prayer or counseling to help someone overcome unwanted sexual desires. Dear God… can you even imagine?

Let that sink in for just a minute—prayer—voluntary, Spirit-led, life-transforming prayer—is now labeled harmful. According to the Daily Declaration’s full analysis, this law applies to “any conduct directed at a person based on their sexual orientation or gender identity and is intended to ‘change or suppress’ those attributes.” That includes conversations between pastors and their members, parents and their children, and yes—even women like me, praying with and over people who simply want freedom.

This isn’t compassion. It’s control. It’s the state stepping into sacred space and replacing Christian truth with a new, government-approved belief system. I won’t bow to it—and neither should you.

Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). But how can anyone be free if they’re never allowed to hear that freedom is possible? We are not called to affirm what binds people—we’re called to lead them to the One who breaks every chain.

This law threatens that mission. As Rev. David Ould rightly warned, “We’re being told it’s illegal to speak the gospel into the life of someone who wants to hear it.” Think about that. A woman comes to me, hurting, desperate for truth—and I’m expected to pat her on the back and send her on her way without offering the hope of Christ? Not on my watch.

The Church has gotten too quiet, too passive, too afraid of the world’s backlash. And look where it’s gotten us. We are where we are because too many Christians have chosen silence over Scripture. I am done with that. I am a woman who fears God more than man. I would never turn down the chance to pray with someone seeking freedom. Why? Because the Bible says so. 

We don’t just pray over the lost—we pray over our brothers and sisters in the Kingdom, our families, our friends, the cashier at Walmart, the FedEx guy, and so on. That’s what true followers of Christ do. That’s what bold, Spirit-filled believers were born for. We don’t cower. We contend. We don’t whisper in the shadows—we war in the Spirit.

Wake up sleepers—Wake up, Big C Church—This isn’t just Australia’s battle—this law is coming to a town near you. God, in His mercy, has given the United States a chance—a space of grace—by placing President Trump back in office. Right now, we still have the freedom to pray in public. Right now, our children can pray in schools. Right now, even the White House staff opens meetings up with prayer.

We can’t waste this window of opportunity by staying silent. We must stand boldly for the truth of God’s Word in these last days. We must keep praying. We must keep contending for those who can’t. The enemy isn’t sleeping—and neither should we. It’s time to rise, speak up, and make some noise.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)