iVote Values brings information to Florida voters

ORLANDO (FBW)-Ten-year-old Tyece Foster did a little dance in front of a computer screen Oct. 17. Glancing at her father, James, the young member of First Baptist Church, Orlando, laughed in delight when the flashing monitor in front of her confirmed she knew enough civics trivia to earn her flying colors.

The “iVoteValues.com” tractor-trailer provided entertainment and information for the Foster family and hundreds of others who passed through the truck outside of the 11,000-member church just weeks before the Nov. 2 election.

A red, white and blue 18-wheeler, the truck has been traveling the nation since June as part of a drive by the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission’s campaign to encourage voter registration and Christian values. Sources outline the importance of voting on Election Day and the necessity of considering biblical truths when entering the voting booth.

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The original Florida leg of the trip was cancelled due to an unusually busy hurricane season, according to ERLC officials who said the truck also drove to First Baptist Church, Dunnellson and Dunnellson Christian Academy; the Holy Land Experience; Palm Beach Atlantic University; Idlewild Baptist Church, Tampa; and the Destin/Fort Walton Beach area.

The 77-foot semi-trailer is designed for visitors to have an interactive experience as they walk through it. The truck is equipped with seven computer stations to allow guests to begin the voter registration process and to be introduced to the concept of values-based voting. Visitors are given a computer print-out of their answers and stickers, certificates and other resource materials to remind them of their visit.

Inside the trailer, Tyece and her family gathered around touch-screen monitors which flashed questions and “Yes” or “No” and multiple-choice answers.

Tyece’s brothers, 8-year-old Rayshun and 7-year old Jalen crowded around the screens as well, impatient to hear whether their answers were correct.

Destiny, 5, wasn’t going to be outdone. “Let me do it!” she demanded.

James and Rayshell Foster said as parents they believed the information given out is helpful in their role both as parents and as voters.

“I think it’s a help because a lot of people don’t really know what’s going on. I think it’s a good thing, especially for it to be at a church,” James Foster said. “I think that there’s no separation and I think that it should be always like this so that people will know what the issues are.”

Rayshell Foster agreed.

“Sometimes you don’t know actually what to do … so this gives us the opportunity to learn and to know that church is involved,” she said.

As to whether the kids get anything out of it, Rayshell said the iVoteValues.com initiate is not only fun, it serves a larger purpose.

“It teaches them to know how we can be connected to God in every area in our lives,” she said. “They will know to always include Him in every area of their life.”

Jason Miller said he was struck by the non-partisan nature of the Platform Comparison guide that was handed to him at the door of the 18-wheeler.

“I believe the fliers and the information that is given out which is non-biased and non Christian-based actually opens up conversations with people on what values are important to them and where they stand,” Miller said. “I read through this guide and it doesn’t push Christianity one way or the other, even though it has a moral base to it and lets people make decisions on their own so that people can’t say that we Christians are pushing it down their throats.”

The Millers’ daughters, Tessa, 9, and Becca, 8, held tightly to their printouts of the computerized quizzes which they had tucked inside their Bible cases.

Miller said he “absolutely” was in support of voter information being delivered via the church.

“I think it’s the beginning of a wonderful history lesson,” said Gwen. “I think it’s something that we take for granted and they love playing the game and they love learning about America.”

Twenty-something’s Jennifer Stall and Rachel Harris, who are both active in the singles ministry at First Baptist, said they are grateful for the quick information the truck offers.

“It’s such a blessing that they’re here because I really want to learn and I haven’t had many opportunities to really know to find out like what the candidates are all about and what the important issues, the hot issues are,” Stall said. “I know it’s going to be a close election and I really want to make sure that my vote counts and I want to feel good about it.”

Harris said she wanted to learn more about how the candidates’ values compared to hers.

“I think it’s important to know your values before you vote,” Harris said. “You’re not just voting for a man, you’re voting for what he believes in and what he is going to do for our country.”

Touring the tractor-trailer after worship services, Jim Henry, pastor of First Baptist Orlando and a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, said he believed the iVoteValues initiative was a good extension of his four-week look at how faith and politics connect [see related story 12, “Orlando pastor asks, answers: ‘Why would Jesus vote?”].

Henry said it didn’t take him long to decide he wanted the rig on board.

“Just park in our place and let our people have the opportunity,” he remembered telling ERLC officials. “We try to have an informed congregation.”

In June the rig left Indianapolis and headed to stops in Georgia, Tennessee, Louisianas, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Missouri, Illinois, North and South Carolina, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Alabama, Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Ohio, Kansas, Colorado, Oregon, California and New Mexico before the election.

For more information, visit www.ivotevalues.com.