Today, we launched our latest "Hope for the Holidays" campaign initiative, "America, Pray for Wal-Mart to Change," with coordinated candlelight vigils in 10 states, a new television ad, "Search you Heart," and the release of a letter signed by 131 evangelical ministers.

The Baptist Center for Ethics, WakeUpWalMart.com, and evangelical leaders from across the county have joined together in calling on Wal-Mart to change inot a responsible and moral business.

Evangelical leaders, such as Robert Parham (Executive Director of the Baptist Center of Ethics) and Tony Campolo joined together in sending a message to Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott:

Dear Mr. Scott,

We write you as moral theologians with grave concerns about Wal-Mart’s corporate practices-practices that conflict with our commitment to pro-family values.

The Christian prophetic witness teaches that justice is the highest family value for any society-protection for the fatherless, security for the single mother, honesty in the marketplace, fairness for the weakest one in society, respect for the elderly.

The Hebrew prophet Micah said that God required justice (Micah 6:8). The prophet Amos said that God wanted justice to flood the land (Amos 5:24). The prophet Isaiah said that God wanted his people to seek justice (Isaiah 1:17). Jesus told community leaders that they were neglecting justice (Luke 11:42).

The biblical witness also teaches responsibility-parents are responsible for children (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) and employers are responsible for fair wages for their employees (1 Timothy 5:18). Jesus said, “From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded” (Luke 12:48).