GIANT VOICE FOR CHRISTIANITY—BILLY GRAHAM’S SON—GOES PLANT-BASED. This could be a huge step forward for animals in 2017. In a January 5 Washington Post article by Charles Camosey, entitled “Why all Christians Should go Vegan,” Camosey announces the news, which is also on Franklin Graham’s Facebook, that Franklin, son of Billy, is going plant-based. His decision and New Year’s resolution is primarily for health reasons, but many people start out that way. Often it does not take long for their hearts to open to animals and to a true undying dedication to the vegan ethic. The subtitle to the article reads, “The Bible is clear and early Christians understood it: Animals are meant to be our companions, not our food.” Camosey further writes, “I often tell my theology students that Genesis 1 and 2 are among the best pro-animal texts we could ever imagine there being. Nonhuman animals and humans are created on the same day of creation. Both share the breath of life. God commands humans to eat plants. Animals are brought to Adam, not to kill and eat, but ‘because it is not good man should be alone.’ The fact that Eve is later found to be the ‘suitable partner’ does not change the fact that God brought the animals to Adam to be his companions.”

PRAYERS THIS WEEK FOR ALL CHRISTIANS AND PEOPLE OF FAITH TO AWAKEN AND FOR FRANKLIN TO SEE AND SHARE THE TRUTH THAT ANIMALS ARE OUR COMPANIONS, NOT OUR FOOD. We give joyful thanks for this amazing news. As more spiritual and religious leaders move closer to including all beings in the Love One Another ideal, our hearts fill with hope. The vision we carry of a nonviolent world of peace and love is the same as the vision of all faiths. But somehow a veil fell between so many people of faith and their understanding of animals as our friends and neighbors. May that veil be lifted now. May all people understand that the ideal for humanity is to love all creation. May all people understand--that ideal is absolutely and realistically attainable. We can become Homo Ahimsa--the kind and loving human we were always meant to be. We see Franklin awakening more and more to the true meaning of veganism. As he continues on his plant-based diet, we see his heart growing in compassion until finally he sees the whole picture. We see him putting the pieces together and discovering that God has always intended all of us to eat plant-based and live a vegan life. And we see him joining other spiritual leaders as they teach this truth to their followers. We ask for wisdom to do our part to lovingly reach out to people of faith and share our vegan joy and our love for all beings. All week long, as we dance, jog, walk, and pray, let us rejoice and give thanks for this great news. And let us send this good news from our hearts to the hearts of all the animals everywhere.

As always, I send my thanks to each of you, dear Prayer Circle members, for

May Divine Wisdom, the animals’ grace, and our true hearts guide us toward ahimsa, peace, liberation, and lovingkindness for all. As always, I send my thanks to each of you, dear Prayer Circle members, for joining this circle of compassion and shining the Light of Truth for all to see, so that one day soon, all beings will live in peace together.

With Love, peace, and gratitude from Judy Carman, and greetings from Will, Madeleine, Tara and the Circle of Compassion team

PLEASE SHARE THIS WEEKLY PRAYER BY GOING TO Prayer Circle for Animals Facebook page. www.facebook.com/groups/prayercircleforanimals. You can also share ideas and prayer requests there.

To support our work and help us expand this ministry, please go to circleofcompassion.org/donations.html

Please visit the website www.circleofcompassion.org often to sign up to receive these weekly prayers, to join in our “A prayer a day for animals” which features a prayer for a different group of animals each day of the week, and to join us in the Daily Noon Prayer.