| Welcome to the Family Beacon, your source for news and commentary on life, family, and religious freedom in Minnesota and beyond! This week: One quick note: If you have friends and family who want to get pro-life, pro-family Minnesota news every week, here's a shareable link so they can sign up. |
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| Behind the Scenes at SCOTUS: Family Beacon Podcast - Season 1, Episode 20 |
|  | In this episode, we take you behind the scenes and analyze the oral arguments at the Supreme Court last week in the Dobbs v. Jackson case. There is a clear pro-life majority on the court, but what will the court's next move actually be? Tune in to find out! The Family Beacon podcast brings you Minnesota news every week so that you can get the facts and stand for truth! Watch or listen now. |
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| Why is Family Estrangement on the Rise in America? |
|  | Earlier this year the New York Times reported that 27% of American adults are currently estranged from at least one family member. 12% of parents over the age of 65 are estranged from at least one adult child. In parent-child estrangement, the adult child is usually the one who has cut off contact. Value-based disagreements play a significant role in these estrangements, especially when the rift is between a parent and an adult child. Family therapists have pointed out that rising political tensions in the past half-decade have coincided with increased family rifts. John Stonestreet has described the consequences of the “thinning out” of society — family breakdown and increased isolation leave people looking for a source of meaning and belonging, so they turn to politics and ideology. “To put it bluntly, our politics cannot handle the amount of weight we currently expect of it,” he writes. Politics can never replace the family, but as the rise in family estrangement shows, far too many adults, especially younger adults, are attempting to do just that, to the point that they are willing to cut ties with family members with whom they have political and ideological disagreements. No family is perfect, but every family is valuable, and the ease with which young adults have begun cutting off family members over political and ideological disagreements is truly heartbreaking. Family is the bedrock of society, and family relationships are worth fighting for. In addition to the role that political polarization plays in family estrangement, family therapist Dr. Joshua Coleman notes the role of some of the assumptions that are common in psychotherapy, saying, There’s an idea that you shouldn’t feel guilt or responsibility to anybody. It’s really about what you want to do… On the one hand, this allows people to separate from truly hurtful, abusive family members. We want people to have the freedom to do that. On the other hand, it doesn’t draw a clear line about what should really be considered abusive behavior. That gives people the freedom to engage in behavior that’s frankly selfish or hurtful in the spirit of personal growth. |
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| Alliance Defending Freedom Provides Prayer Prompts for Ending Abortion |
|  | In a recent prayer guide, our allies at Alliance Defending Freedom prompt believers to pray that abortion would end in our nation. Here are some of their prayer prompts: - Supreme Court Justices
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Pray that the Holy Spirit would move in the hearts and minds of the Justices to rule on the side of life (Proverbs 21:1). -
Pray that the Justices will not be persuaded by political pressure or perceived public opinion, but that they would be impartial in their judgment (Deuteronomy 16:19) -
Pray that the fear of the Lord will be present as the Justices deliberate the case. (Proverbs 8:13). -
Pray that the Justices receive divine wisdom and are free from all confusion and distraction (Proverbs 1:23). -
Pray for all federal and state judges considering questions of protecting life (Micah 6:8). - Culture and Public Opinion
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Pray that pro-abortion activists’ and the media’s attempts to deceive the American public by labeling pro-life policy as extreme would fail. (Proverbs 26:24-26). -
Pray that pro-life advocates discover creative ways to tell stories of the blessings of choosing life. -
Pray that accurate information will be distributed to the public about how policies like Mississippi’s Gestational Age Act protects mothers and babies. (Psalm 119:160). -
Pray that the stories of the women harmed by abortion are amplified in the wider cultural dialogue. - Church Engagement
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Pray that pastors across America would have boldness to speak to their congregations with truth and grace about this case and lead their churches in prayer efforts to restore human dignity for the unborn. -
Pray that more churches partner with pregnancy resource centers in their cities to provide counseling, sidewalk prayer ministries, and other life-affirming resources to women considering abortion. -
Pray that churches find effective ways to serve the physical and financial needs of moms who desire to keep their babies, such as housing and employment services. -
Pray that the influence and profile of faith-based adoption agencies increases. -
Pray that more churches support pregnancy resource centers in their efforts to provide healing for women who have been scarred by abortion. - Women and Unborn Children
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Pray for God’s protection of unborn children and that He would thwart plans for abortion (Psalm 140:8). -
Pray that women who are pregnant would have the strength and courage to choose life and that they would encounter Christians who will be the hands and feet of Jesus when they need support. -
Pray that women who have had abortions would find God’s hope and healing, and that the church would surround them with the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:13). -
Pray for women who are being pressured by boyfriends, husbands, parents, friends, or medical professionals to get an abortion— that God would grant them the peace and protection they need to have their children. |
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| Minnesota Leadership Forum, December 15th - Get Tickets Now! |
|  | Some tickets are STILL AVAILABLE for our gubernatorial debate on December 15th! Get your seats now! Join Minnesota Family Council, and cosponsors AM1280 The Patriot, Freedom Club, and Alpha News, for the Minnesota Leadership Forum, an evening with conservative candidates for Governor of Minnesota. Moderated by national radio talk show host and author Hugh Hewitt, the evening will allow the candidates to highlight where they stand on issues that matter to pro-life, pro-family, and pro-freedom voters. The leading candidates will be on stage together for a forum with Hugh and Minnesota Family Council CEO John Helmberger in the beautiful environs of the Performing Arts Center at Providence Academy in Plymouth. We'll ask these candidates the tough questions that matter to conservative voters. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to hear Senator Michelle Benson, Mayor Mike Murphy, Doctor Scott Jensen, Senator Paul Gazelka, and Doctor Neil Shah all on the same stage as they speak on why they deserve your support at the February caucuses. A straw poll will be conducted at the forum. WHEN: December 15, 2021. Doors Open 6 PM. Forum Begins 6:30 PM. VIP Reception Before Forum - 5:15 PM - 6:15 PM. VIP tickets available HERE. Appetizers will be served |
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| LEAD Registration is Open - Sign Your Teen Up for Our Leadership Camp (July 24-29, 2022) |
|  | | LEAD Registration is NOW OPEN! Who: Highschool students ages 13–19. What: A hands-on leadership and worldview camp designed to equip the next generation of Christian leaders to engage the culture. When: July 24-29, 2022 Why: LEAD equips the next generation by providing students with an opportunity to strengthen their worldview, develop leadership skills, and learn the legislative process! LEAD is designed to equip students for a lifetime of culture-shaping impact! At the beginning of the week, students are sworn in as members of the Minnesota House and Senate. As they take on the responsibilities of lawmakers, they get to learn the legislative process in a memorable, hands-on way while working with real bills that have been proposed here in our state! Throughout the week, students also study biblical worldview and think about how the gospel shapes our response to tough cultural issues, hear from renowned speakers on topics like the sanctity of life, and grow in leadership skills as they work with their caucus to pass their legislation. We hope to see your teen at LEAD next summer! Click here to learn more and register. Watch the LEAD 2022 video now. |
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|  | Did you know that when you shop with Amazon Smile, Amazon makes a donation to Minnesota Family Institute at no cost to you? You can support LIFE, FAMILY, and RELIGIOUS FREEDOM while you shop by clicking here (smile.amazon.com/ch/41-1439560) or with AmazonSmile ON in the Amazon Shopping app and AmazonSmile donates to Minnesota Family Institute. Bookmark Amazon Smile in your browser so that Amazon will donate every time you make a purchase! |
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| | Get the Parent Resource Guide Responding to the transgender trend with truth and compassion starts with the Parent Resource Guide. Get your copy HERE today and invite a friend to do the same! Click to order your copy today: |
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| | Thank you for sharing Minnesota Family Council’s vision for strong families, communities and culture through Christ. As we rise to meet challenges at the state and federal level, we need your support now more than ever. Click here to give now. We are grateful for your partnership with us through prayer and financial support. For life, family, and religious freedom, |
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| John Helmberger, CEO Minnesota Family Council and Institute |
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| | Minnesota Family Council
2855 Anthony Lane S, Suite 150 | Minneapolis, Minnesota 55418-3265
612-789-8811 | [email protected] |
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