Kirk Cameron says 'nefarious forces' want to destroy God and the traditional family, yet offers Christians a message of hope: 'We can fight it together'

Kirk Cameron says 'nefarious forces' want to destroy God and the traditional family, yet offers Christians a message of hope: 'We can fight it together'

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Actor and producer Kirk Cameron, who is also an outspoken Christian, has recently taken aim at some public leaders, calling them "nefarious forces" that intend to erase God and the nuclear family from American society. However, Cameron insisted that such "forces" can be overcome if Christian parents reclaim control over their families and their children's education.

On Thursday, Cameron appeared on One America News Network to discuss his faith-based library tour, which is sponsored by Brave Books and established in part to combat the drag queen story hours that have become all too common at libraries across the country. During the interview, OANN's Alison Steinberg asked Cameron about some of the "backlash" he has faced since taking his Christian ministry on tour to local libraries.

Cameron responded that "nefarious forces" in local government institutions and in activist groups always "target ... children" as a means of undermining God and the nuclear family. "That's why God gave children to parents and not to governments and woke institutions that are staffed and manned by those who want to undermine the faith and values that made America great, that advance the good," he explained.

Cameron added that "the collapse of the family and the killing of God in America" are not the ultimate goal of these "nefarious forces." They are just a means to their ultimate end, which is to destabilize "our moral and societal structures" and then replace and reorganize those structures "with something different, like progressive, socialist, communist ideas."

Though Cameron believes that many "progressive leaders" are motivated to destroy society, he still offered a message of hope to like-minded Christians. "Let's get off the defense. Stop complaining ... and start creating the culture that you want for your kids," he chastised parents.

"You read them the stories," Cameron continued. "You tell them who the heroes and who the villains are and pray with them and show them how to get back to abundant life."

Cameron also noted that his library tour has been so popular with parents and kids that at one recent event, the crowd in the overflow area began singing worship songs together while waiting in line. "They were doing church in the public library, and it brought me to tears of gratitude," said Cameron, who briefly joined the group in prayer.

\u201cWorship erupted at a BRAVE story hour in a public library in New Jersey today. God is on the move \ud83d\ude4c @jsolomonReports @KirkCameron\u201d
— BRAVE BOOKS (@BRAVE BOOKS) 1682794124

Cameron, 52, spoke with OANN from the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina, where Cameron made yet another library appearance. Franklin Graham — the son of the late American evangelist Billy Graham and the current president and CEO of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association — claimed in a statement that he was "proud" to partner with Cameron in evangelizing America's youth. "Libraries used to be safe places for families, but many of them now seem to be agenda-driven places that welcome drag queens to hold story hours for children," the statement said. "This is just plain wrong, and I’m so glad Kirk Cameron has decided to tell a different story — a story with Biblical values.

"It’s a shame that some libraries and activists have tried to stop him," the statement continued. "They want him to shut up and sit down, but Kirk isn’t afraid to take a stand for what’s right, and I couldn’t be more proud of him."

"Culture is coming for our kids," Cameron agreed, "but we can fight it together."

Nearly 1,000 people were expected to attend Cameron's event at the Billy Graham Library. However, the actual number of attendees has not yet been reported.

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Indianapolis Public Library disputes large attendance estimate for Kirk Cameron's Christian children's book reading: 'We've had bigger events'

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One might reason that a public library would be thrilled by a huge crowd showing for an event at its location, particularly when kids are part of the throng. You're talking about many potential brand-new book borrowers, the possibility of numerous return visits, and more foot traffic — all of which may equal greater interest in the library.

But the Indianapolis Public Library seems none too pleased about an attendance estimate for Kirk Cameron's reading of his God-focused children's book "As I Grow," which took place at there Thursday.

Specifically, the library tweeted Friday that an attendance estimate of 2,500 is inaccurate — and far fewer folks showed up than was noted on social media:

\u201cWe are being inaccurately portrayed in news/social after a room rental yesterday. Our estimated door count during the event is around 750, not 2500. We've had larger events. We turn 150 yrs old in 2023. And our auditorium, which our guests chose not to rent, holds 300, not 2000.\u201d
— Indianapolis Public Library (@Indianapolis Public Library) 1672410431

"We are being inaccurately portrayed in news/social after a room rental yesterday," the library tweeted without naming Kirk Cameron or his book. "Our estimated door count during the event is around 750, not 2500. We've had larger events. We turn 150 yrs old in 2023. And our auditorium, which our guests chose not to rent, holds 300, not 2000."

Here's one tweet the library apparently didn't like:

\u201cThis is a message to every library in the United States: \n\nIn 137 years of the Indianapolis Public Library\u2019s history, NEVER ONCE have they had over 2,500 people show up to a single event. \n\nUNTIL TODAY.\u201d
— BRAVE Story Hour (@BRAVE Story Hour) 1672343054

How are folks reacting?

The library's tweet disputing the attendance has been getting a lot of attention, with most commenters wasting no time skewering Cameron and accusing him of lying. However, a handful of folks chastened the library for being petty:

  • "Does it truly disturb you so much that an event, centered on Christianity, drew a large, predominantly white, audience? How pathetic you must be......." one commenter noted.
  • "Libraries finally are getting people back in the door, and now they want to rip their tax paying customers who keep the lights [on] and pay their salaries b/c they are conservative," another user said. "You [would] think they'd be thankful, but I guess libraries are only for liberals now. Backwards if you ask me."
  • "How about thanking them for their patronage and bringing at least 750 parents and children to experience the library?" another commenter wondered.

Anything else?

Cameron — who was scheduled to do another reading Friday afternoon at Scarsdale (New York) Public Library — appeared on Fox News also on Friday to talk about the controversy over his attempts to hold readings of his book at public libraries:

\u201cTime to have a "meeting room rental" non-sponsored event where @KirkCameron will read "As You Grow" that is STILL not listed on the event calendar as of December 30th, 12:30pm CT.\n\n@scarsdalelib\u201d
— BRAVE Story Hour (@BRAVE Story Hour) 1672425567

Here are a few other looks at what went down at the Indianapolis Public Library on Thursday — starting with a rendition of "God Bless America":

\u201cAt this point most are staying in line upstairs. Some are going downstairs. It's not clear when or if there will be an additional reading. Folks are singing in the aisles awaiting direction. An announcement was made on the intercom but couldn't hear. @KirkCameron @indylibrary\u201d
— Ryan Wilson (@Ryan Wilson) 1672330377
\u201cWhat a turnout, Indianapolis!!\n\n\u2066@BraveBooksUS\u2069\u201d
— Trent Talbot (@Trent Talbot) 1672331681
\u201cWow! What an incredible turnout!\n\nThank you to everyone who gave up their morning to join us in Indianapolis!\n\nWe are so humbled & thankful for your support!\n\n@KirkCameron\u201d
— BRAVE Story Hour (@BRAVE Story Hour) 1672332139
\u201cLibrary staff has informed patrons that there will not be room for all guests to enjoy the book reading. As you can see, the building appears well beyond capacity. @KirkCameron @indylibrary #childstoryhour\u201d
— Ryan Wilson (@Ryan Wilson) 1672328486

Video: Massive overflow audience descends upon Kirk Cameron's reading of his God-focused children's book at Indianapolis Public Library

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It was a mob scene Thursday at Kirk Cameron's reading of his God-focused children's book at the Indianapolis Public Library — except this mob didn't do what mobs do; rather it was just smiles, cheering, and laughter all around.

\u201cThis is a message to every library in the United States: \n\nIn 137 years of the Indianapolis Public Library\u2019s history, NEVER ONCE have they had over 2,500 people show up to a single event. \n\nUNTIL TODAY.\u201d
— BRAVE Story Hour (@BRAVE Story Hour) 1672343054

Folks even sang "God Bless America":

\u201cAt this point most are staying in line upstairs. Some are going downstairs. It's not clear when or if there will be an additional reading. Folks are singing in the aisles awaiting direction. An announcement was made on the intercom but couldn't hear. @KirkCameron @indylibrary\u201d
— Ryan Wilson (@Ryan Wilson) 1672330377

Brave Books — Cameron's publisher for his "As You Grow" children's book — earlier this month said two public libraries agreed to let him do readings for kids after initially saying no to the actor and outspoken Christian.

Cameron told Fox News Digital he "won" after challenging the libraries' denials and threatening to "assert" his "rights in court" — not to mention the libraries hosted drag queen story hours in June, according to the cable network.

One of the libraries to agree to Cameron's reading was the Indianapolis Public Library; the other was Scarsdale (New York) Public Library, where Cameron was scheduled to do a reading Friday.

Check out Cameron addressing the huge crowd at the Indy library:

\u201cWhat a turnout, Indianapolis!!\n\n\u2066@BraveBooksUS\u2069\u201d
— Trent Talbot (@Trent Talbot) 1672331681

"You guys! They're gonna let me speak over the loudspeaker, the PA, because there's about 1,000 people in the library on other floors that haven't gotten up here, so I'm gonna be talking to everybody in just a few minutes, and I just wanna thank them for coming and thank you for coming and making this such a special event today!"

\u201cWow! What an incredible turnout!\n\nThank you to everyone who gave up their morning to join us in Indianapolis!\n\nWe are so humbled & thankful for your support!\n\n@KirkCameron\u201d
— BRAVE Story Hour (@BRAVE Story Hour) 1672332139

One attendee tweeted that "library staff has informed patrons that there will not be room for all guests to enjoy the book reading. As you can see, the building appears well beyond capacity."

\u201cLibrary staff has informed patrons that there will not be room for all guests to enjoy the book reading. As you can see, the building appears well beyond capacity. @KirkCameron @indylibrary #childstoryhour\u201d
— Ryan Wilson (@Ryan Wilson) 1672328486
\u201cMore video from the @KirkCameron book reading in Indy. Thousands of people here! @indylibrary\u201d
— Ryan Wilson (@Ryan Wilson) 1672327924
\u201c@BraveBooksUS @KirkCameron Story time was great today! I think the best part for adults was listening to the librarian say there were too many people on the 6th floor & ask parents to bring the kids to a different floor for a different activity \ud83d\ude02 We all wanted Kirk's story time!\u201d
— Concerned Hoosier Mom (@Concerned Hoosier Mom) 1672334660
\u201cQuite the line to see @KirkCameron in Indy! I would suggest @indylibrary failed to serve the needs of its' constituents by not having this event downstairs. But God is good and all are still welcome in the small room!\u201d
— Ryan Wilson (@Ryan Wilson) 1672327755

Over 50 public libraries across the U.S. either rejected Cameron's requests for a story-hour program for children or did not respond to his publisher's inquiries, Fox News said, citing Brave Books.

Initially, the Indianapolis library employee who spoke to Brave Books about Cameron's reading said, "We are really looking at authors who are diverse. Authors of color. That’s really been our focus," the cable network reported.

When Brave Books countered that Cameron's book also adds to diversity of ideas and beliefs, the library representative replied, "Well, we are focusing on racial equity," Fox News said.

Fox News Digital said it reached out to both libraries for comment.