John, welcome to the Family Beacon, your source for news and commentary on life, family, and religious freedom in Minnesota and beyond! This week:
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Podcast: Our Message to Pro-Life Candidates |
Note: We apologize for the poor quality of this recording. We’ll be back next week with the amazing quality you’re used to!
Grace and Moses lay out their call to action to pro-life candidates this fall: we have truth and compassion on our side, and the ability to clearly communicate on this issue, encouraging voters who are already pro-life, and winning undecided voters to our cause. Your hosts also discuss Grace’s recent pro-life activism, countering pro-abortion protestors at a gala. Finally, learn about the consequences of a MN school introducing “gender neutral” bathrooms. Get the facts, stand for truth!
Resources: Read our full letter to pro-life candidates Get the podcast now: |
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Watch the FULL Stories of Women with Abortion Regret |
Minnesota Family Institute has partnered with Silent No More to bring the stories of women who regret their abortions to a wide audience. We're putting these ads on cable channels throughout the Twin Cities and online platforms. This week, we're able to share the full versions of these women's powerful stories, which you can see below. |
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Our Letter to Pro-Life Candidates - By John Helmberger |
By John Helmberger, CEO, Minnesota Family Council and Institute A Message to Pro-Life Candidates As you know, both pro-life and pro-abortion voters are extremely invested in the life issue, and in the outcome of this fall’s election. That makes it more important than ever to address this sensitive issue with truth and compassion, communicating your position respectfully and clearly to voters on all sides of this issue.
Every candidate should remember that pro-life Minnesotans make up a large portion of the electorate in every district. They want to see and hear your clear leadership on the life issue. Many of them will be dismayed if you ignore the abortion issue rather than clearly and respectfully communicating your position, and could even decide to stay home in November.
Remember, the best recent polls (here and here) indicate that most Minnesotans do NOT support Minnesota’s current extreme abortion laws permitting abortion any time for any reason up to the moment of birth. Most recently, fully 68.2% of Minnesotans supported at least limits on abortion if not an outright ban in most or all cases (43.7%). Only 30.1% of Minnesotans want abortion to be legal without any limitations. And yet, almost no pro-abortion candidates in Minnesota support any limitations on abortion, making theirs the real extreme position.
That’s why it’s worth asking your pro-abortion opponents, and voters inclined to support them, why they don’t support limitations on abortion, as over 68% of Minnesotans do. Would they not agree that it would be better to support women in unplanned pregnancies with material and financial support, child care, and the encouragement they need to confidently raise their children or give them a chance at life with a loving adoptive family, rather than the non-solution of abortion, which leaves women wounded, not cared for?
Pro-life candidates have no need to ignore this issue or be defensive. We show by our actions that we care both for preborn children, and women in unexpected pregnancies. We have truth and compassion on our side, and we have the ability to clearly communicate on this issue, encouraging voters who are already pro-life, winning undecided voters to our cause, and earning at least the respect of our opponents. Thus, we can approach Minnesota voters with a message on abortion most of them already agree with—and a message that will win in November.
I share below some truthful, appealing, and constructive ways to communicate on this issue: - Abortion isn’t a real solution for women – Minnesota women deserve better.
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The Minnesota Supreme Court has interpreted the state constitution to provide a right to abortion, but abortion is not one of the unalienable rights, like free speech or freedom of religion and conscience, granted to Minnesotans by the text of the Constitution itself.
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Our opponents on this issue support abortion until the moment of birth with no limitations – that is an extreme position not shared by most Minnesotans and it must be countered with the truth.
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Blog: Preparing Gen Z to be a Light in a Dark World |
By Patience Griswold
Pew Research recently released a report on an accelerating trend in the U.S. — adults who were raised in Christian homes and who formerly described themselves as Christian leaving the Christian faith and joining the growing number of religious “nones.” According to Pew, nearly a third of those raised Christian describe themselves as “nothing in particular” as adults. This trend is expected to continue in the next few decades. Combined with a decrease in “transference” — that is, children who were raised in Christian homes becoming Christians themselves — Pew’s research team predicts that between 2050 and 2070, the majority of Americans will not describe themselves as Christians.
This trend is sobering because it shows that a growing number of people are living their lives without the hope of the gospel. While some of the decline in Christianity in the U.S. is likely due to a shift in cultural attitudes toward Christianity leading to fewer people describing themselves as Christians without holding strong convictions, the rise of “deconstruction” has seen a not insignificant number of young people who once expressed zeal for their faith now rejecting Christianity.
Pew’s prediction is that this shift won’t see its full effect until 30 to 50 years from now. However, their research and research from other groups show that America’s teens and young adults are already experiencing this shift. Atheism is more widespread among Generation Z than any previous generation in the U.S. Just over half of America’s teenagers are Christians, and a little less than half of adults in their 20s.
In an increasingly secular culture, young people are facing enormous pressures, and these pressures are often personal as holding to biblical teaching on things like sexuality, or even the idea that there is only one way to salvation, can quickly get a person labeled as a hateful bigot and socially ostracized. In addition, many Evangelicals of all age demographics are struggling to grasp basic teachings of the Christian faith. Ligonier Ministries and Lifeway Research release a “State of Theology” survey every two years and the most recent findings revealed that nearly half of Bible-believing Evangelicals say that God “learns and adapts to different circumstances” and 65% believe that people are born without original sin.
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Coming Soon: Minnesota Family Council's 2022 Voter Guide |
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Event: Minnesota Parents Alliance Fall Gathering - October 15, 2022 |
From Minnesota Parents Alliance: 2022 is the year of the parent! Join Minnesota Parents Alliance for an energizing afternoon of information and networking!
We are delighted to welcome powerhouse parents, Rebecca Friedrichs and Kimberly Ells, to Minnesota to speak on the importance of parents and their role in education and in our world. Rebecca and Kimberly will each present their own remarks centered around our theme "Parents Are The Solution", followed by a moderated discussion hosted by Katherine Kersten and Catrin Wigfall. We will conclude the event with a social hour that will feature an opportunity to meet and greet Rebecca and Kimberly as well as network with other Minnesota organizations that focus on advocacy in the area of education and families. Don't miss this rare opportunity to connect, engage and gain inspiration as we move toward November and beyond! #MNParentsFTW
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 1:00 - 2:00: Presentations by Rebecca Friedrichs and Kimberly Ells 2:00 - 3:00: Moderated Discussion by Katherine Kersten and Catrin Wigfall w/Q&A 3:00 - 4:30: "Parents Are The Solution" Social Hour feat. Rebecca and Kimberly (book/dvd signing and meet and greet) and aligned organizations (expo-style networking event)
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Support Minnesota Family Institute Through Online Shopping |
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 FamilyInstitute. 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.
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John Helmberger, CEO
Minnesota Family Council and Institute |
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Two Ways to Give Support our grassroots policy and elections efforts through Minnesota Family Council (MFC). Support our education and outreach efforts with a tax-deductible contribution to Minnesota Family Institute (MFI).
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