 | | 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. | | | | It's the FINAL EPISODE of Season One! | S1 E28 | |  | Join us for the final episode of the first season of The Family Beacon! We go over some of the highlights of the first season and tell YOU what's coming in Season 2 in a few weeks! Thank you so much for listening and watching! | | | | | | | | | |  | After months of posturing, we have now seen Russia invade its neighbor Ukraine. This violent invasion is already affecting Ukrainian families who have been displaced or lost loved ones just in the hours since the attacks began. And it will continue to harm families in both Ukraine and Russia, as they bear the far-reaching consequences of Putin’s decision to invade. Ukrainian believers are humble and devoted to Christ. They have endured some of the darkest periods in world history. They have suffered horrific oppression. And yet, they have overcome. They are deeply committed to defending their freedom and sovereignty – a commitment Americans know well. Today, we join Christians around the globe in praying for these families, and we invite you to join us in that prayer. - Pray for peace, security and preservation of life and families in Ukraine – and for God to bring the enemy’s plans to nothing, according to His will.
- Pray for believers in Ukraine to experience – and be able to share with others – the peace that passes understanding, and to put their full hope and trust in God.
- Pray Psalm 16 over the people of Ukraine.
Thank you for praying for the families of both Ukraine and Russia who are suffering in different ways because of the decisions of the Russian leaders. God loves the people of both nations and desires for them to know His love and freedom. | | | | | | | | Minnesota Planned Parenthood CEO Stepping Down After 20 Years of Abortion Expansion | | | | Sarah Stoesz, CEO of Planned Parenthood in Minnesota for the past twenty years, will be stepping down later this year. Stoesz has led Planned Parenthood in creating more clinics, expanding its reach to other states, and impacting local politics. A replacement will be selected this fall. Her roots in Minnesota go deep, especially with the Democratic party. Liberal leaders from across the state have been quick to commend her. Senator Tina Smith, a former Planned Parenthood executive who worked with Stoesz, praised her for influencing how health care professionals treat abortion. Sadly, instead of putting effort towards building Minnesota up, Stoesz and her team attempt to carefully pull apart what holds our state together — the family. While Stoesz may be leaving Planned Parenthood permanently, her impact on the abortion landscape in our state will remain. Under Stoesz, Planned Parenthood has been preparing for the overturn of Roe v. Wade and the eventual abolition of abortion in neighboring states. She says when Roe v. Wade is overturned “we will be welcoming people from other states to Minnesota.” The ugly truth is that Minnesota will become a haven for so-called “health care access” that only leads to the death of the unborn. In an interview with the Minnesota Reformer, Stoesz remarked about her impact “So I am very, very proud of the number of lives that we have touched over the past 20 years.” Perhaps “touched” is the wrong word. Planned Parenthood, as the name suggests, works to destroy families by turning mothers against their children in a sick attempt at “reproductive freedom.” In her bragging, Stoesz did not mention the roughly 90,000 lives ended by Planned Parenthood in Minnesota during her tenure. Planned Parenthood does not merely “touch” lives, it instead takes a sledgehammer to the foundation of the family. What does all of this mean for abortion laws in Minnesota? Both North and South Dakota have trigger laws, meaning if Roe v. Wade was overturned, both states would immediately make abortion legal. Minnesota is different. Since 1995, we’ve had our own “Roe v. Wade” in Minnesota called Doe v. Gomez that treats abortion, even at taxpayers’ expense, as a “right.” Minnesota will still have work to do to make abortion illegal and unthinkable in our state. But this should not discourage pro-lifers across our state. It took Sarah Stoesz twenty years to mechanize Minnesota into a pro-abortion state. With the possibility of winning pro-life majorities in our legislature and putting a pro-life champion in the Governor's Office this fall, we hope to see Doe v Gomez fall and unborn lives protected in MN in much less time than that! The possibility of overturning Roe v. Wade should bring hope to those in the pro-life movement. In Minnesota, while it remains a dark bastion of abortion, the ground will be fertile for change. With each victory we gain, and each state that abolishes abortion, we move closer to creating a world where the murder of the innocent is no longer seen as “necessary health care.” We must stand up to protect the family by shielding the unborn. There is opportunity for change, so with God’s help, let’s take it. | | | | | | | | Keep Critical Theory Out of Students' Classrooms | |  | This week Minnesota Family Council’s Assistant Director of Public Policy submitted the following testimony to the House Education Policy Committee urging them to oppose HF 3434, a bill that would bring critical race theory into Minnesota’s classrooms. Minnesota Family Council represents tens of thousands of families across the state, and we urge you to oppose HF 3434. The history of ethnic minorities within the state of Minnesota and the United States at large should be taught, including the lived experiences of racism and discrimination. However, this lived history is not “ethnic studies” as defined by HF 3434. As defined in the bill, ethnic studies “means the critical and interdisciplinary study of race, ethnicity, and indigeneity with a focus on the experiences and perspectives of people of color within and beyond the United States.” In other words, the study of history would be through the lens of critical theory, also referred to as critical race theory. Critical race theory (CRT) is a subject area derived from critical theory which claims that the United States was founded upon racism, white supremacy, and patriarchy. The theory states that racism was a foundational ideal of the nation and still directs every relationship of civil society. According to CRT advocates, the solution to this society supposedly founded upon racism and discrimination can be found in various pursuits of so-called racial equity. One of the leading proponents of CRT is author and speaker Ibram X. Kendi. In his book, How to Be an Antiracist, Kendi claims the solution to historical racism is current racism, stating, “The only remedy to racist discrimination is antiracist discrimination. The only remedy to past discrimination is present discrimination. The only remedy to present discrimination is future discrimination.” Promoters of CRT state that disparate outcomes in education are a direct result of racism. For example, Professor Wayne Au of the University of Washington Bothell has argued, “[The] historical roots of high- stakes, standardized testing [is] in racism, nativism, and eugenics...” They contend that persistent racism will exist until we see equal outcomes in education. The Edina Public School (EPS) system provides a case study of the effect of critical race theory in a Minnesota public school. In the past, the EPS was prized for its students’ high academic performance; however, EPS experienced a well-documented drop in reading proficiency from 2014 to 2017. What are the variables which changed during those few years? In 2013, EPS adopted a policy titled “All for All.” According to the school district’s website, “Edina Public Schools is committed to looking at all district work and initiatives through a lens of racial equity.”4 When the student body must end the school year with an equivalent grade, performance is reduced to the lowest common denominator, lowering achievement for all students. Regardless of a high schooler’s ethnic background, critical race theory does not offer a tangible solution to disparities. | | | | | | | | LEAD Registration is Open - Sign Your Teen Up for Our Leadership Camp (July 24-29) | |  | | At LEAD, we are equipping the next generation of leaders to stand for life, family, and religious freedom in all walks of life! We’re thrilled to be welcoming Emmy Award-winning creative professional, author, and renowned pro-life speaker Ryan Bomberger as one of our speakers who will inspire students and empower them with tools to become leaders in their communities! Hearing from Ryan will be an incredible opportunity for LEAD’s students to learn address to culture-shifting issues from a fact-based, hope-filled, Biblically-sound perspective. 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! 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. | | | | | | | | 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. | | | | | | | |  | 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! | | | | | | | | | | 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: | | | | | | | | 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, | | | | John Helmberger, CEO Minnesota Family Council and Institute | | | | | | Minnesota Family Council
2855 Anthony Lane S, Suite 150 | Minneapolis, Minnesota 55418-3265
612-789-8811 | [email protected] | | Share The Family Beacon on social media | | | | | | |
