Madison, WI – Wisconsin Family Council (WFC) today announced that Dave Hutchens, Senior Pastor at Walnut Hill Bible Church in Baraboo, has received its 2017 John Witherspoon Award.
John Witherspoon (1723-1794) was an American minister of the Gospel and as such was the only cleric to sign the Declaration of Independence. He served as president of Princeton University (1768-1794).
Born in Scotland, Witherspoon came to America at the urging of Founding Father and leading abolitionist Benjamin Rush and the great evangelist George Whitefield who invited Witherspoon to leave his native Scotland and come to America to take on a troubled Princeton. Witherspoon supported America’s push for liberty, served in Congress representing New Jersey during and after the Revolutionary War and had great influence on the ratification of the US Constitution, while also educating a number of the next generation of American leaders, including John Adams.
“Dave Hutchens has been a long-time faithful minister of the Gospel, who understands, as did John Witherspoon, that it is altogether appropriate, indeed necessary, for pastors to be engaged in civil government and the critical issues of the day. He regularly informs and teaches his people about matters involving marriage, family, life and religious freedom, encourages his congregants to vote and to do so knowledgeably and responsibly, supports the work and ministry of WFC, engages with elected officials and much more. Pastor Hutchens epitomizes contending for the faith, while appropriately challenging the culture. We are extremely pleased to present Pastor Hutchens with our 2017 John Witherspoon Award,” commented Julaine Appling, president of Wisconsin Family Council.
On behalf of Wisconsin Family Council, Appling presented the award yesterday during the 11 a.m. worship service at Walnut Hill Bible Church.
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Wisconsin Family Council is a statewide, not-for-profit organization engaged in strengthening, preserving and promoting marriage, family, life and liberty in Wisconsin.
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