| 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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| How Should Christians Deal with Doubt? - The Family Beacon: Season 1, Episode 26 |
|  | In this episode of the Family Beacon podcasts, your hosts discuss religious doubt, the topic of Moses's recently-finished Master's dissertation. How can Christians learn from people who struggled with doubt in the past? How can we learn to fight doubt while also accepting the role of mystery in our faith? How can we, as John Donne said, "doubt wisely," asking questions while trusting in God's ultimate truth? Tune in to find out! |
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| Blog: Vic and Mary Anna - 66 Years of Marriage and Counting! |
|  | Ecclesiastes tells us that a cord of three strands is not easily broken, and as we celebrate National Marriage Week, that could not be truer than in the lives of Vic and Mary Anna Eaton, who celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary in December. Marriages like Vic and Mary Anna’s are a reminder of the beauty of marriage and its vital role in shaping flourishing families and communities. After four years at the same college, the two of them met during the final week of their senior year at the University of Missouri. Throughout the summer and fall their relationship grew through letter correspondence. “I must have been a really good letter-writer,” laughed Vic. “God was leading us and took care of us.” With just 1% of marriages making it past 60 years, 66 years is an incredible milestone! What makes the Eatons’ story even more incredible is that almost 28 years ago, Mary Anna was told that she had only 6–9 months left to live after being diagnosed with metastatic melanoma that rapidly spread to her brain. At the time, the aggressive form of cancer had only a 1% survival rate. Vic quit his job to spend time with her and care for her during her treatment at the Mayo, living out the commitment they had made to one another to love, honor, and cherish one another in sickness and in health. Against all odds, Mary Anna won her cancer battle, leading her oncologist to ask the couple, “Do you have a lot of people praying for you?” She has been cancer-free ever since and years later at an annual follow-up her oncologist attributed her healing to the prayers of the people around her. The two of them have intentionally surrounded themselves with a community of believers throughout their married life and they point to it as a vital part of raising up their children in the Lord. “Most of our friends have strong faith. We help each other,” Vic said. “They’ve passed [their faith] onto their children, too.” Vic and Mary Anna say that their family is the greatest blessing that has come from their marriage. With three children, 8 grandchildren, and soon-to-be six great-grandchildren they have passed on a legacy of faith to three generations through God’s faithfulness. Throughout their marriage, they have encouraged one another in their walk with the Lord. “My faith was really strengthened through our marriage,” said Vic. |
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| Blog: Universal Pre-K Does More Harm Than Good |
|  | The Biden administration is continuing its push for “universal” Pre-K, arguing that “the earlier our children begin to learn in school, the better.” President Biden’s spending bill even devotes $200 billion to expanding access to pre-schooling. While universal pre-k sounds beneficial, leading many voters to support the idea, a newly released study shows these programs actually worsen student outcomes. Researchers at Vanderbilt University recently released a study on Tennessee’s Voluntary Pre-K (TN-VPK) program and its effect on children’s academic success through 6th grade. The long-term study followed 2,990 low-income children and randomly assigned some of them to attend Pre-K. Students who participated in the TN-VPK program performed worse overall than students who did not. Specifically, from third through sixth grade, students in TN-VPK received lower scores on state assessments than those who were not part of the program. Researchers also noted that TN-VPK participants had lower attendance rates and a higher frequency of expulsions and suspensions. The authors of the study claimed that these findings “are not at odds with findings from other studies of children who experience group care in childhood.” Further, a higher rate of children who participated in the program also required special education, negating the argument that federally funded pre-k will reduce the amount spent on special-ed interventions later. Researchers suspect that the negative effects of universal Pre-K are a result of center-based care, which prevents children from exercising the independence they need to develop self-control. Others speculate that these programs place children in rigid academic environments before they are developmentally ready. Either way, it’s clear that children who are placed in universal Pre-K are done a disservice. |
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| LEAD Registration is Open - Sign Your Teen Up for Our Leadership Camp (July 24-29) |
|  | | High school students ages 13–19 are invited to LEAD July 24-29th to be equipped for a lifetime of culture-shaping impact! At this weeklong leadership and worldview camp, students will learn the legislative process in a hands-on way while working with real bills that have been proposed in our state, study how the gospel shapes our response to tough cultural issues, and hear from renowned speakers. To register now, click here or go to www.leadminnesota.org to learn more about LEAD. More Info: Who: Highschool students ages 13–19. What: A hands-on leadership and worldview camp equipping 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 equips 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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| Promoted: Critical Race Theory Conference - February 26 |
|  | From Christ Bible Church: 2022 CBC Conference What is critical race theory (CRT) and why is it important? How has CRT influenced and infiltrated the Church? What can we do about it? Join Christ Bible Church as we host a timely discussion on CRT and the church. You will hear from Darrell Harrison and Virgil Walker from the Just Thinking Podcast about how the church can combat this wicked ideology and advance the gospel of Christ. |
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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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