FALWELL STRESSES NEED FOR VALUES

From strong convictions and a reliance on Judeo-Christian values sprang one of the "greatest nations in the world."

A return to those convictions is needed to bring this nation back to its "once proud heritage." So proclaimed the Rev. Jerry Falwell, chancellor of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., who addressed members of the Regional Commerce and Growth Association at their annual banquet Thursday evening.

Buoyed by a balloon-laden Holiday Inn Convention Center, which was festooned in patriotic red, white and blue, Falwell sprinkled humor and spiritual anecdotes in a speech that drew a standing ovation.

"I must now go with my good friend Jerry Lipps to address a group in Arnold, Mo.," said Falwell. "But I want to return and spend more time with people like Walt Wildman and other strong leaders of this great community.

"I tell friends Cape should be known for the birth of I-66 as much as it is the birth of my friend Rush Limbaugh. Because of people like Walt, I-66 is a reality."

Falwell offered historical and personal accounts to weave a recurring message: the importance of adhering to strong family values.

"Where would this country be if it weren't for people like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln? Those people had the courage to stand by their convictions even when there were those who didn't agree with them. Where would we be without people like Ronald Reagan, who helped end global Communism, even though he never got credit for that?

"This country was built by people who refused to quit in the face of adversity," said Falwell. "I issue a challenge to every man and woman, every husband and wife, every lawyer, doctor, every teacher in this room. Have the conviction to stand up for what you know is right and moral and be a strong role model for the children of our next generation."

Falwell believes the country has suffered from moral decay "because politicans don't always have the courage to say what is right and decent. And when they do, they're labeled a bigot."

He continued, "Teachers must not be afraid to teach what they know to be moral and good. There are 600,000 pastors in this nation. That's 600,000 churches and congregations. Unless they stand up for Judeo-Christian morals and forget about trying to be popular, they're not going to get the real message across."

The founder of Liberty University and the Thomas Road Baptist Church, which grew from 35 members to 22,000, Falwell indicated his greatest accomplishment was not erecting the buildings that house his name.

"The greatest thing my wife and I have are our children," said the 60-year-old religious leader, whose wife Macel, three children and two grandchildren reside in Lynchburg.

"They understand what family values are all about and they respect the importance of knowing right from wrong," he said. "I've never stolen anything, never cheated anyone. It wasn't because I never had the chance. It's because my parents taught me that it wasn't right.

"I didn't become a Christian until I was in college studying journalism," he said. "But my parents always taught me to respect authority and what was morally right. I never forgot what they taught me."

Falwell indicated parents have the responsibility to teach their children to "know what they believe and believe in what they know."

He has also founded the Lynchburg Christian Academy, a school for grades K-12; the Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary in 1973; the Liberty Home Bible Institute in 1976, which has had over 77,000 students participate in their home Bible study program. In 1979, he founded the Moral Majority.

"I've been on Phil Donohue's show 16 times," said Falwell. "I've been on that show with every critter you could imagine. I remember Phil asking me if I thought anyone who wasn't a Jew or gentile would go to hell. I said no. Not if we're all with Christ. The only ones who had a chance of going to hell are talk show hosts who don't have the courage to stand up for their convictions."

Falwell is president of the Old Time Gospel Hour, the television outreach of the Thomas Road Baptist Church.

He is the author of 12 books and has had three books written about him.

"We don't need (birth control) pills or condoms distributed to our children in schools," said Falwell. "Why, that's as dumb as handing out cookbooks at a fat farm."