An appeals court just gave them a huge victory ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌





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The Larsens have another chance to protect religious freedom—here’s how you can help

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Dear John,

Imagine you’re looking for someone to film your son or grandson’s upcoming baptism. You want to remember this special moment forever. You simply don’t have the equipment, know-how, or creative talent to do the job yourself.

You start looking through websites and video samples online until you find a local filmmaker who you believe can capture the event. You reach out to the person with the details and your list of questions. Is he available on that date? What does he charge? Has he ever filmed a baptism before?

The filmmaker responds quickly: “Thank you for your inquiry. I am an atheist and am simply not comfortable with the idea of filming and promoting a religious event. Should you ever need a filmmaker for a different occasion, please let me know and I’d be happy to work with you.”

How would you react?

Would you threaten the filmmaker with steep fines and jail time if he didn’t do what you were asking him to do? Surely, the filmmaker must be discriminating against you because you are religious!

Sounds like a dangerous overreaction, don’t you think? Clearly, the filmmaker has no issue with you—he just objects to promoting a religious event that conflicts with his beliefs.

But this is exactly how the State of Minnesota is treating filmmakers Carl and Angel Larsen.

Carl and Angel own Telescope Media Group, a local video and film production company. They are passionate about telling stories through film that glorify God. But a state law currently takes away their freedom to decline certain projects that promote ideas or events that conflict with their beliefs.

You see, the Larsens want to create films celebrating marriage between one man and one woman. Marriage is a sacred religious event in their Christian faith. But according to Minnesota officials, the state’s Human Rights Act mandates that if the Larsens create these films, they must also create films promoting views about marriage that violate their beliefs, including films promoting same-sex marriages.

This is a problem, John. The Larsens know—as you do—that the government should protect religious freedom and freedom of speech. It should never have the power to force a person to promote a message or event that violates their deeply held beliefs.

That’s why Carl and Angel are challenging the law in court.



Generous Ministry Friends want to inspire you to take a stand and make this moment count. They’ve given a $2 million challenge grant to further the impact of any gift you make today to protect the freedom of people like Carl and Angel to live and work consistently with their faith.

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DONATE

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An appeals court just ruled in favor of the Larsens

In 2017, a district court in Minnesota rejected Carl and Angel’s plea for freedom.

Instead, the court dismissed their case and compared the Larsens’ desire to live according to their faith to the actions of racists.

This comparison is absurd, John!

Carl and Angel serve everyone. They just can’t produce films that promote every message. The Minnesota law violates the First Amendment by forcing Carl and Angel to speak messages that directly conflict with their deeply held beliefs.

Do you think the government would force a Democratic filmmaker to create a documentary celebrating President Trump or conservative values? Would it force Richard Dawkins—an outspoken atheist—to promote creationism? Of course not!

Thankfully, the Larsens asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit to reinstate their case. And praise God—today, the court did just that! The court also ordered the lower court to consider granting Carl and Angel a preliminary injunction, which would stop Minnesota from enforcing this bad law against the Larsens while their case is ongoing. This is great news!

The court has breathed new life into the Larsens’ case—and they need your support now more than ever.

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An important sequel to Jack Phillips’ case

One Minnesota writer has called the Larsens’ case, “an important potential sequel to the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in favor of a Colorado baker.” The writer was talking about Jack Phillips, the Colorado cake artist who was punished by his state government for declining to design a cake celebrating a same-sex marriage.

Thankfully, the United States Supreme Court rebuked the religious hostility that Colorado displayed toward Jack. Because of God’s provision and your generous support, we were able to defend Jack. And praise God, he was victorious!

The Supreme Court has acknowledged that countless people of good will—from diverse faith traditions—believe that marriage is the union of a man and a woman. No one should be bullied or banished from the marketplace for peacefully living out that belief. And there is a big difference between declining to promote a message because it violates your beliefs, and declining to serve a person because of who they are.

That’s why your gift today is so critical, John. We must continue to stand with those who are facing punishment for simply trying to live and work consistently with their faith. And we must continue to defend our brave brothers and sisters—like the Larsens—all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary.

Remember, there were many who did not think Jack would win. They didn’t believe there was hope. That just shows you what a difference your prayers and financial gifts can make.

It’s time to rally around Carl and Angel and secure an ultimate victory for their freedom—and yours.

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And thanks to the blessing of the $2 million challenge grant, your gift today will have even more impact.

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When people of faith stand together, we can be victorious

American citizens should not have to sacrifice years of their lives just to fight for freedoms that are guaranteed by the Constitution. But those are the times we’re living in, John. And that’s why your support is so important right now.

Time and again, we’ve shown that when we stand for religious freedom, we can win!

With God’s blessing—and your generous support—ADF has grown to become a major force in the legal battle for religious freedom. We’re winning nearly 80% of our cases, including nine victories at the U.S. Supreme Court since 2011.

These cases often set legal precedent for generations to come.

But without continued investment to defend people like the Larsens, our religious freedom could be eroded—today, and in the future for our children and grandchildren. We can’t let that happen.

Please rise to the challenge and give your best gift to defend religious freedom today.

It’s not just the Larsens’ freedom at stake—it’s yours too.

Thank you for giving generously.



DONATE NOW

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P.S. Already, a group of generous Ministry Friends have answered the call and provided a $2 million challenge grant to help defend the Larsens and other people of faith. Will you give today to make an even greater impact for freedom during this very critical time?

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DONATE

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