The FHA Action Board of Directors are pleased to offer their endorsement of the following candidates for school board!
Sioux Falls Election Day – May 18
Rapid City Election Day – June 8
Remember to vote!
May 18 in Sioux Falls and June 8 in Rapid City.
Come for a discussion of the two ballot measures on marijuana, and the potential harms we would see if they are approved.
October 19, 6:30pm (MDT)
Presentations from:
-Senator Jim Stalzer, District 11
-Dr. Scott Ecklund, Family Physician
-Mandi Mowery, Minnehaha Dep. States Attorney
Register today!
“We live in a time of acute political polarization, exacerbated every election cycle by a 24-hour barrage of candidate advertisements on every communication platform. Unfortunately, the toxic tone and extremely partisan nature of our political system discourage many Christians from studying what the Bible teaches about government and considering how faith should inform one’s view of politics. Thus, it is no surprise that withdrawing from the political process has become a temptation for many Christians. After all, if God is sovereign and controls the heart of the king (Prov. 21:1), do we really need to get involved in the messy world of politics? Because political engagement can be divisive, shouldn’t Christians abandon politics and direct their energies toward more spiritual pursuits?”
This booklet, co-branded by Family Research Council and Family Heritage Alliance tackles this question!
Click Here to read the digital version of the booklet, or contact us for physical copies!
HB1225 requires the SDHSAA to use the birth certificate of a student as the determinant of their eligibility, even if the student identifies with the opposite sex team. Why is this needed?
2 Problems with males playing on female teams:
Fairness. Generally speaking, males are taller and stronger than females, and allowing a student who is biologically male to compete against a female could pose an unfair advantage.
Exclusion. If a student who is biologically male is allowed to compete in an athletic competition that is designated for females, then in almost every situation there will be a female who would have filled that spot, but was excluded by a male from a competition that was designed for her.
What We Need
-Students who believe that participation on boys and girls teams should be decided based on the student’s sex, not which gender they identify with.
-Coaches who recognize the harms of allowing students to compete on athletic teams that do not match their sex.
-Parents who are concerned about protecting the safety of students and passionate about maintaining opportunities for female students to compete.
Legislative Session
Legislative Session
Ed Randazzo and I were proud to represent FHA Action during the 2018 Legislative Session and were honored to be a part in several victories including the passage of SB110 which held Planned Parenthood of SD accountable for several failures and the defeat of SJR9 which was the first step towards an expansion of gambling into Yankton, SD.
Ministry Leader’s Capitol Summit
This event is always a highlight of our Legislative session, and 2018 was no exception! When asked to share the most rewarding part of the day, attendees responded with favorites like: “Ushering prayer into the capitol,” “Praying with Legislators,” “Meeting with like-minded believers,” & “Filling the Capitol with praise to God as we sang on the steps” (my personal favorite).
Culture Impact Teams
Under Phil Shively’s leadership, we has been able to increase the Culture Impact Team network across the state and have already seen the success of these teams in situations like the Western Dakota Tech. Policy #2005 campaign. The Rapid City teams were called upon, and helped us collect over 420 signatures in 2 weeks!
The StEP Worldview Class
In May/June of 2018, 12 students attended the first “StEP” class. Here’s what Riley had to say after finishing:
“I enjoyed learning about the different worldviews; it amazes me that after taking this class I can clearly define the differences in beliefs. I have noticed myself identifying worldviews by listening to people; I believe this helps me in debating because I know what they truly believe before entering into a debate. The biggest takeaway for me is the fact that so many people settle for cloudy answers to important questions instead of searching for and researching the truth. People rarely think for themselves. Even those people raised in Christian homes fall away from the church and want to experience & believe what the world is offering instead of questioning what the world is offering.” -Riley (StEP Worldview Student)
Our Vision for 2019
As we look to the next year, our purpose remains simple: we will continue to protect and promote Faith, Family & Freedom through working to stop threatening policy decisions from being made and through equipping statesman to enact good public policy.
South Dakota has been given an opportunity unlike most other states. We are, as a state, beginning a period of potential.
Look to the Governor’s office, you will see strong Christian leadership.
Look to the Senate chamber, you will see capable Godly leaders.
Look to the House, you will see leaders committed to Biblical values.
This is not to say that no previous Governor has been committed to Biblical values, nor that members of Legislative leadership have never given an ear to Faith, Family & Freedom, but simply that the future looks bright as we begin to work with the new Administration and new Legislative leaders.
What does this mean? That it’s time for Christians to “take a break” because there are good leaders in place? No, far from it. This means that it’s our time to shine. We need to continue offering research help to our allies, and enable them to make the most of the opportunities ahead. We need to continue building the Culture Impact Team network, and show the State that when leaders take a stand, the body of Christ will stand with them.
Thank you for your involvement in 2018, and we look forward to your standing with us in 2019 as we work to make South Dakota a State where God is honored, religious freedom flourishes, families thrive & life is cherished!
By now, you have probably heard that Pastor Sean McPherson has passed away. Sean was not just a pastor of Real Life Church in Rapid City, he was a Watchman Pastor, one who acknowledged that the problems we face in our communities and our nation are not just political and cultural, they are spiritual in nature. That led Sean to Pierre to represent his district in the state legislature. His voice in issues of Faith, Family and Freedom will be sorely missed.
Sean was a U.S. Navy veteran and served his country as a submariner. Those “boats” were blessed to have him aboard.
He leaves behind a loving family who must now deal with the sorrow of his physical absence. Please especially keep them in your hearts and minds and remember them in your prayers in this time of grief and loss.
Sean has left us for a better place. Through his battle he showed us his strength and his character to fight to the end and to display his faith and trust in his Savior Jesus Christ. We are all both the richer for having known him and the poorer for having lost him in our midst.
Family Heritage Alliance Action is honored to endorse Paul TenHaken for Mayor of Sioux Falls. Paul has led in the private sector with the same values shared by FHA, that of Faith, Family and Freedom. He will lead in public service as the Mayor of Sioux Falls with this same passion and purpose. Paul considers serving the community of Sioux Falls as a calling with the greatest purpose of all; that of “loving our neighbor.”
Each Mayoral Candidate was asked 6 survey questions. Here are Paul’s answers:
Are you a person of faith? If so, how do you see your faith affecting your decision making and leadership of Sioux Falls?
“Throughout my personal and professional career, my faith has been the primary driver in my decision making. In fact, my faith and feeling called to serve is the primary reason why I am running to be the mayor of Sioux Falls.”
Candidates for office normally decide to run for office because they are dissatisfied with an issue or issues or they have a desire to promote a specific issue. What issue(s) caused you to run for Mayor of Sioux Falls?
“I have a desire to serve the people of Sioux Falls. It’s a calling that for the past several years, I tried to ignore and ultimately decided it was something I needed to pursue. Of all the issues facing our city right now, I see the need for a leader who can unite the community and city leadership again”
Drugs and crime tear apart families. What specific steps would you take to reduce drugs and crime in Sioux Falls?
“Currently, I am the only candidate to have written and published a plan for the next eight years of our city and the issues I think will be most important to the health of Sioux Falls. This plan can be found at https://www.tenhakenformayor.com/2026-plan In this plan, you will notice that battling crime and narcotics growth is initiative #1, and it is there for a reason. I have seen the trickle down impact of our narcotics problem on our crime rate, growth in poverty, the impact on kids, the strain on our workforce, and more. In my plan, I specifically mention the following:
Obviously these are just a start to what I hope to implement, but these items do have the potential to have significant impact for both the short and long-term issues we are facing with crime and narcotics growth.”
There’s an attack on free speech in this country with buzz phrases such as hate speech, free speech zones. What will you do to ensure that open civilized dialogue is championed in Sioux Falls?
“Increasingly, we tend to submit to the vocal minority in free speech settings versus allowing all side to openly discuss all angles of an issue. As stated in the question, the civility of these discussions is the lost art we need to regain. My administration will not discriminate among ANY group that wishes to make the positions known in a productive and civilized fashion and will ensure that political correctness does not override our free speech liberties.”
Do you believe the government in Sioux Falls and transparency problem? In brief, what would you be your plan to address it?
“As previously mentioned, I am the only mayoral candidate to have the vision and leadership to release a 2026 plan for the next eight years of our city. The act of releasing that plan in and of itself shows my commitment to transparency in government. This plan can be found at https://www.tenhakenformayor.com/2026-plan I would ensure the open communication is re-implemented in City Hall through open office hours with the mayor, stronger communication with our city council, the releasing of information that we typically have kept secret (as long as the integrity of any proposal and/or decision is not compromised by doing so), and using digital and social media much more effectively to open up communication and decision making to citizens.”
As mayor how will you respond when city employees keep bibles on their desks in the city office and request to use city conference rooms to conduct Bible studies after working hours?
“I actually plan to do this myself. That statement should tell you all you need to know.”
Note: Jolene Loetscher gave no response to the FHA Action questionnaire
There are those who would like to strip us of that freedom – the very principle that America was founded upon. If you follow the news at all, you are well aware of the erosion in the moral and spiritual condition of our nation. The evil one is working hard to destroy what is good and Godly; however, we can overcome the work of the enemy, but we must pray, be engaged, be diligent, be strategic and STAND UP for greater is He that is in us than he who is in the world. God is on our side; however, He does require us to put action to our faith. Ephesians 4:11-16 says, “It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
One could preach an entire sermon on this passage, but what strikes me is first of all, God wants believers to have a spirit of unity. No, this does not mean that we will all agree on matters of faith and life, but it does require that we love one another in Christ so that together we can walk in the power of the Spirit to show the world who Jesus is and allow our witness to draw others to him. Secondly, we are certainly being tossed about by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. If we each walk out our faith and love and put it into action, we have the power to overcome the works of the enemy. As scripture tells us, a cord of three is not easily broken. You have probably heard it said before, that it is not the presence of darkness that’s the problem but it’s the absence of light! We need your light to shine in our government.
Proverbs 11:14 states, “For lack of guidance a nation falls.” Our lawmakers need spiritual and moral guidance and they need to hear from you. Your presence, your prayers, and your voice at the State Capital is powerful. Family Heritage Alliance feels so strongly about the influence you have as pastors, as ministry leaders and people of Christian faith from your community that for the past six years we have sponsored the Pierre Summit. It’s for you. We desire to come alongside you so that together we can be a state where God is honored, religious freedom flourishes, families thrive and life is cherished.
Pastors, ministry leaders, and citizens, we know that you are extremely busy and you have numerous responsibilities, but as leaders, will you consider attending the Pierre Summit a priority this year? I sense a measure of urgency that we, as the body of Christ, come together at our State Capital in the spirit of unity to kick off the legislative session for the glory of God.
Here’s what you can look forward to at the Summit. At 9:00 AM, we will meet in the Rotunda of the State Capital for refreshments and instruction. You are then released to tour the Capitol, sit in on committees, or most importantly, we encourage you to find your representative and senator, voice your concerns and pray with your legislators. Your presence and your voice are crucial to the decisions being made. At 11:30, we will all gather on the steps of the Rotunda with the governor and many other state officials for a photograph followed by what I consider to be the most precious moment of the day joining together and singing, “God Bless America.” Hearing that song, which is actually a prayer, resounds throughout the Capital. Followed by the singing, we proceed to Community Bible Church, which so graciously provides a delicious lunch for us and the legislators. Kenyn Cureton from Family Research Council will be delivering an encouraging message, and then we will close with gifted resources for you so that you can depart by 2:30.
Click here to register. There is no cost to attend the event, but we do need your registration. A free will offering will be available to help us with the bus rental. A 55- passenger bus with bathroom facilities is being provided for you. One will leave from Sioux Falls and another will leave from Rapid City for Pierre. Details regarding departure times and location can be found on our website. We look forward to seeing you in Pierre. Please contact us with any questions.
-LaVonne Fosness
The turn of the New Year causes most of us to not only reflect on the past, but also set goals and plans for the year to come. God has blessed the Family Heritage Alliance with another successful year, and we are busy making plans for 2018! Here are a few of the goals we will be striving for in the coming year.
Unifying The Church by equipping her leaders. We believe that one of the most effective ways to cause change in our culture is to equip our pastors. Through the recent culture impact trainings we have begun to build a network of teams in local churches who are committed to keeping their pastor and church body informed about the key issues of the day. On February 6, we will be hosting our annual Ministry Leaders Capitol Summit to bring pastors and ministry leaders to their capitol and give them a hands-on experience with their government, as well as equip them with resources they will find helpful in the daily work of influencing our culture for Christ.
We hope to build a network of people across South Dakota who don’t simply go to their pastor with a cultural problem they have seen, but rather go to their pastors with a problem or opportunity, information, a possible action, and the willingness to serve in whatever way needed to impact their community and serve their church. Through informational events, Culture Impact Teams, email alerts, and a new website design (coming soon) we will strive to keep you up to date on what is going on, and how you can take part.
We will continue to encourage people to be a moral presence in all levels of government, whether that be lobbying at the capitol in the 2018 legislative session, rallying a group to appear at a city council meeting, or distributing information before the 2018 elections. We will continue to seek strong candidates for office, and will do our best to make each candidate’s views known. No matter the avenue or level of government, we want to be a resource for you as we work together to make South Dakota a place where God is honored, religious freedom flourishes, families thrive, and life is cherished.
We end this year incredibly thankful for your support, and we’re excited for what’s to come!
-Your Team,
Ed, Phil, John, LaVonne, Charlotte, Tonya, Norman
Once again this morning began early as we sat in on the 7:45 a.m. Senate Judiciary Committee. It was masterfully chaired by FHA friend and Senator, Lance Russell of Hot Springs, SD. Our South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley skillfully testified on Senate Bill 24 which would classify vehicular homicide as a crime of violence. It passed out of committee and is now on its way to the floor of the Senate.
The annual joint Legislative Memorial Service was held today in the House Chamber at 3:00 p.m. It is always a very moving and inspirational time together when we remember those Legislators who have passed on this past year. The Riggs High School Choir once again performed several beautiful pieces of music which simply set the tone for the rest of our time together. I was reminded of what someone told me once, “Sympathy is when I put your hurt in my heart.” This we experienced today.
Dale Bartscher, SD Secretary of State Shantel Krebs and Norman Woods
It is always a treat to spend some quality time, like today, in the office of our Secretary of State Shantel Krebs. She continues to manager her office and responsibilities with a flare of excellence. Shantel holds to a rock solid Christian Worldview and always welcomes our time of prayer at the close of our meetings with her.
Please follow our work at the Capitol by going to www.FHAaction.org and click on LEGISLATIVE RADAR.
