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Minnesota Family Council


The Progress We've Made, and the Opportunities Ahead

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The opening of a New Year is a time for looking back and looking
forward. We look back to remind ourselves of God's blessings,
and we look forward to a new year, renewing our commitment to our
values and resolving to live in light of God's truth.

This past year has seen a lot of good. In 2019, 21 states passed
pro-life laws finishing a strong decade
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in the fight for life. And the Trump administration's new Title
X rule has diverted federal funds away from abortion providers,
funneling them to life affirming
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pregnancy centers, instead. The most recent CDC report on abortion
rates brought with it both good news and bad news, with overall
abortion rates falling, but a troubling increase in the use of the
abortion pill.

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Additionally, this year Minnesota saw an important victory for
religious freedom when a federal appeals court protected Carl and
Angel Larsen's First Amendment rights.
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But at the start of a new year and a new decade, there is still much
important work to be done. 2019 also saw an increase in assisted
suicide, as well as continued attacks on life and those who speak up
to defend it.
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Radical ideology has striven to replace common sense policies in
sports, and religious foster care and adoption agencies have had a
year of ups and downs as they fight for the freedom to affirm
God's design for marriage and family.

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The past year also brought into focus the tragic reality that children
are increasingly exposed to sexual violence and radical ideology, and
schools that take a stand for student safety and privacy, including
here in Minnesota, face backlash and lawsuits.
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Also in 2019, Minneapolis led the push for Minnesota cities to intrude
on counselor-client relationships and dictate what professionals can
and cannot say and what kind of treatment city residents can receive,
and Duluth has followed suit.  

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So how does 2019 shape how we approach 2020? First, we remember that
no matter what happens, God is on the throne. Secondly, as we enter
2020, we renew our commitment to speak up for the goodness of
God's design for life, family, and sexuality because we believe
in the preciousness of the image of God reflected in every person and
in a Savior who is making all things new. It is with that hope that we
enter a new decade. It is with this eternal hope, revealed to us in
Scripture, that we enter a momentous election year.
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Join with us as we pray for and work toward a state where God is
honored, where life is valued, and where God's designed for marriage
and family is lived out in 2020!

Share the whole piece by MFC's Patience Griswold on The Family Beacon.

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A Challenge: Hold Fast to the Word of Life This Year

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A challenge from John Helmberger, CEO of Minnesota Family Council

Even while rejoicing in God's goodness shown to us in so many
ways in the year now behind us, many contemplate the challenges in
2020, some of which Patience touched on in her post above, with
anxiety or even dread. But not us! The challenges are real, but we
view them as opportunities to "shine as lights in the world,
holding fast to the word of life", something the world around us
desperately needs (Philippians 2:15-16).

But here's the thing about shining as lights in a world that
urgently needs that light: we shine as long, and only as long, as we
hold fast to God's Word, "the word of life." If
we're holding fast, we're shining; if we're not
holding fast, we're not shining. It's that simple.

So what's involved in "holding fast to the word"? In
my devotions on New Year's Day, I saw an answer to that question in
Psalm 1. You know how it starts - "Blessed is the man who
walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of
sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers" (v. 1).

The answer is in the next verse: "but his delight is in the law
of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night." In
other words, holding fast to God's Word involves delighting in
His Word and letting it fill and shape our thoughts and ultimately our
choices.

When we delight in something, we dwell on it. We look for
opportunities to work it into our life, like going a little out of our
way to stop at our favorite coffee shop. In fact, we may even order
our lives around it, so it has a regular place that we guard so other
things, even good things, don't interfere with this thing we
delight in.

You see where I'm going with this. I know it's challenging
to do this with God's Word, with all the responsibilities and
priorities we juggle. It seems to me the ones who have the hardest
time of this, and who I admire most when they manage to actually do it
even on a limited basis, are moms of young children.  

That's one reason I find this Bible reading plan

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so helpful. It's a guide to read through the Bible in a year
with built-in catch-up periods each month. And even if you can't
manage to make it through the whole Bible in a year, no problem. Make
it a two-year reading plan, or a three-year plan - however long you
need.

The key is to just start. And if you do, if your experience is like
mine, the Word will draw you in. You'll find yourself treasuring
the few minutes you spend prayerfully reading it so much that those
minutes will stretch over time, and you'll grow to so look
forward to them that you start adjusting your schedule to make it a
priority. 

The key really is to just start. I pray you will find this plan, or
another plan that guides you through Scripture, helpful to you this
year, and that you will "shine as lights in the world, holding
fast to the word of life."

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Answering the Crisis of Abortion: A Seminar with John Ensor 

Jan 25, 2020 * 9:30am - 12:30pm

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Do you know how to make a persuasive and winsome case for life in a
secular culture? If you wish to be better able to articulate your
pro-life beliefs, Bethlehem Baptist Church together with Amnion
Pregnancy Center invite you to join us at "Answering the Crisis
of Abortion: A Seminar with John Ensor".

John Ensor has taken his rich background, which includes establishing
a network of pregnancy resource centers in the Boston and Miami areas
as well as writing several pro-life books, and developed "the
gospel of life" training designed to help you stand for life
with courage, confidence and compassion right where you live.

This training has been shared with almost three million people on five
continents over the past six years. Now you have the opportunity to
receive this training locally. "Answering the Crisis of
Abortion" will be held at Bethlehem Baptist Church South Campus,
20700 Kenrick Road, Lakeville, MN on Saturday, January 25, 9:30am
- 12:30pm. There is no fee to attend and no reservations are
required. Light refreshments will be served.

To find out more, go to bethlehem.church/CrisisOfAbortion.
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2020 Annual Dinner on May 11 with Abby Johnson - Registration is Now
Open!

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We're so excited for our Annual Dinner with Abby Johnson, one of our
generation's strongest voices defending the unborn. Will you join us
on May 11 for an evening of encouragement and transformation?
Registration is now open! Click here to register!

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LEAD Registration Now Open!

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Register your teen early and SAVE $50!

LEAD is a project of Minnesota Family Council designed to equip
the next generation. During this one-week program, teens are
challenged with interactive Biblical worldview sessions, and
real-world simulations to learn critical thinking, clear
communication, and gain teamwork skills.

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July 26th-July 31st, 2020

University of Northwestern - St. Paul

Registration: $499

Financial Aid Available

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 Follow LEAD on Facebook and 
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Instagram
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Support MFC When You Shop Online!

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Did you know that when you shop for the holidays with Amazon
Smile, Amazon makes a donation to Minnesota Family Institute
at no cost to you?

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Educating and Equipping Parents on the Transgender Trend

Get Your Copy of the Minnesota Parent Resource Guide!
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The Parent Resource Guide sheds light on the consequences
transgender ideas have on kids' lives, while equipping parents to play
a positive role in creating a truly welcoming school community. 

 

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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!
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Click to order your copy today:

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Thank you for sharing Minnesota Family Council's
vision for 
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strong families and communities through Christ. We are grateful
for your partnership with us in prayer, legislative involvement
and generous donations.
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Minnesota Family Council 
2855 Anthony Lane South
Minneapolis, MN, 55418-3265

Phone 612.789.8811 / FAX
612.789.8858

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