The Family Project: Transforming the Culture of Families

Family Restoration would like to introduce The Family Project, a new initiative from Focus on the Family that will strengthen families and transform culture.  Read and view the message below to learn more about this forthcoming project...

 

 

 

Discover the profound impact of biblical families

Dear Friend,

If you're like me, you'd do just about anything to protect and care for the most important people in your life.

That's why I want you to be one of the first to hear about the most ambitious initiative Focus on the Family has ever undertaken—one that will remind our world of the profound impact of biblical families that are redeemed by the love of Jesus Christ.

If you haven't yet heard about The Family Project, find out more about it by watching this video.
I believe The Family Project is the game changer that families need more than anything else.

It would be easy to despair over the challenges facing homes today. But Jesus told us that, despite the trouble in our world, we can have HOPE. Why? Because we know the Architect who created family . . . the One who understands that thriving families can transform both communities and cultures.

We expect to have The Family Project complete and ready to roll out by September 2014—including a feature-length film and a curriculum package.
We're already on task to bring hope back to the family. 

Please pray that the impact of The Family Project will hit its mark, to REVEAL to the world God's perfect design for family, RENEW families spiritually as they grow closer to Him and, most important, REDEEM our culture for His glory.

Sincerely,


Jim Daly
President

Court-Ordering Public School Will Not Restore a Child's Family

Last week New Hampshire’s judicial system ordered a child to attend public school though she was thriving under home schooling. Because her divorced parents disagreed on her form of education, a NH family court intervened, and determined that the child should go to public school instead. The Republic reported: “The New Hampshire Supreme Court says a lower court acted appropriately in ordering an 11-year-old girl to attend public school after her father claimed his ex-wife’s strict Christian teachings were socially isolating the child.” A court appointed guardian ad litem and a school guidance counselor agreed, and the court followed their recommendation for termination of homeschooling for the child.

In response to the NH Supreme Court ruling ADF-allied attorney John Anthony Simmons stated that in addition to the obvious family concerns, there are serious religious liberty issues at stake in this case: “Parents have a fundamental right to make educational choices for their children. Courts can settle disputes, but they cannot legitimately order a child into a government-run school on the basis that her religious views need to be mixed with other views. That’s precisely what the lower court admitted it was doing. The lower court held the Christian faith of this mother and daughter against them. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court ignored this issue and wrote this off as a ‘parent versus parent’ issue without recognizing the very real underlying threat to religious liberty.” See the full news release at http://www.adfmedia.org/News/PRDetail/4500; and the court’s opinion is available at www.telladf.org/userdocs/KurowskiOpinion.pdf.

Because of the dispute between her parents which led first to their divorce, and now to a disruption of her education, a young girl has now become a pawn in the battle for parenting and religious liberty. When parents destroy their marriage, and the child’s family stability as a result, they invite legal intervention that can be even more damaging to a child. In this case, it has forced a student into a new educational situation. That type of court order does not restore the child, or the family.

Restoring Parental Choice in Education

Regent alumni and Christian Law Association Attorney Barbara Weller (’95) assisted in ensuring that families and churches are protected when choosing how their children will be educated.  A Christian school can have a really positive impact on a community – and attorneys help protect these basic liberties for restoring parental choice in education.  

 JUDGE ORDERS TOWN TO ALLOW CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

A discouraged pastor recently called CLA when his local zoning board would not allow the church to start a Christian school, a vision the church had dreamed about for a long time. One of the neighbors had complained to city officials about the church's plans.  Could CLA become involved?

According to Attorney David Gibbs, "This is an increasing problem nationwide. Ministries are continually being told that they may not have a larger religious impact on their communities. This epidemic must stop."

After communicating with city officials and the town attorney, CLA attorneys filed suit in North Carolina on behalf of the church. It was an uphill battle to get past the legal roadblocks that had been set up. Zoning, noise levels, and traffic flow were just a few of the issues that the town had to consider.

CLA won the case! As a result, a judge ordered the town to allow the school to meet. The church is now able to fulfill its dream and minister to local children through a new Christian school. The pastor cried when he heard the good news. He sent us an email with the following words of encouragement: "We are rejoicing in the Lord because we can see the vision for our church finally starting to materialize. Thank you all so much for everything. We pray God's blessings be on you and everything you're doing."

Throughout the length of the case, this ministry kept a great testimony with the city council and plans to work with them as the school grows. We praise God for giving this victory so this church can reach more children with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 CLA provides the following services:

• Legal Service to churches and Christians in matters of the faith
  
• Preaching services and teaching seminars
  
• Publications and radio program on over 1250 radio outlets, The Legal Alert
  
•  Capitol Prayer: Round-the-clock prayer in Washington, D.C.
  
• HELPS: Home educators legal protection services
  

 CLA provides free legal services based in part on the generosity of God's people.