Former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft encouraged Christian retailers on Monday to become leaders in their communities. He was in Denver for the International Christian Retail Show at the Colorado Convention Center.
“America is great not because of what happens on Pennsylvania Avenue but because of what happens on Main Street,” Ashcroft told an audience made up of Christian retailers and distributors of Christian products.
The event and trade show, which runs through Thursday, has attracted more than 10,000 members of the Christian retail and publishing industries. It is not open to the public.
A devout Christian who once held prayer meetings in his Justice Department office, Ashcroft encouraged the audience to exemplify their faith rather than force it on others.
“It is against our religion to impose our religion,” he said.
Ashcroft praised the Bush administration’s efforts to reduce gun crime and combat drug use. He also recounted the initial hours following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, defining the tragedy as a moment he realized “that things had changed profoundly.”
He made a brief reference to his upcoming book, “Never Again: Securing America and Restoring Justice,” which deals with his tenure as attorney general in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks.
The sometime-musician ended his speech with song, playing the piano as the audience sang “Jesus Loves Me” and “America the Beautiful.”
Staff writer Kristi Arellano can be reached at 303-820-1902 or karellano@denverpost.com.
