John Stemberger, President of the Florida Family Policy Council who is sponsoring the event, made the following statement:

“We are very pleased to make this announcement and to have Frank Luntz moderate the forum.  Frank’s experience in interviewing presidential candidates makes him the perfect person for this event. His skill in drawing out candidates and helping voters understand what’s important and what values they hold is unparalleled. Republicans have a very strong and impressive bench of candidates in the race for Florida’s next governor, which makes choosing the best candidate even more challenging. This forum will help educate primary voters to crystallize this important decision.”

The officially announced candidates for governor, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and Congressman Ron DeSantis, have confirmed for this event and have agreed to participate in the forum. All other major GOP candidates who join the race will be immediately extended an invitation to participate. Tickets for the event can be purchased Friday, April 6 online after 12pm EST at www.FLfamily.org.

For more information contact:

Shirley Warren at 407-251-5130

or Media@FLfamily.org

# # #

The post BREAKING: First Major GOP Candidate Forum For Governor To Be Held In Orlando And Moderated By Fox News Political Analyst Frank Luntz appeared first on Florida Family Action.

Did you see the email I sent you last week?  More importantly, did you see the article that came out yesterday in the New York Times?  They are reporting the presidential election ALL COMES DOWN TO FLORIDA!  Specifically, the I-4 Corridor from St. Pete / Tampa, east through Polk County, and then Orlando and Seminole County all the way to the east coast of Daytona.

I believe this is the tipping point of the election and we are exactly one week out from the election and thousands more voters can be reached by social media efforts and our get-out-the-vote campaign in our five offices around the state.

If you’ve been busy and haven’t had a chance to give to our voter education and get out the vote efforts efforts, or, if you would like to give another gift today, would you do that now?  PLEASE GIVE HERE TODAY

Over 35% of voters have voted already but absentee ballots are being mailed in daily…. Voters are casting their ballots at early voting locations all around the state… Our phones at the office are ringing off the hook with voter guide requests and questions… and it’s all building up to November 8th.

Below is a copy of the email I sent about 10 days ago, stressing how important this election is to our religious liberty, as Christians in America.  If you haven’t read it, would you take a moment and read it, and prayerfully respond?

Thanks so much!  John Stemberger

——————————————————————————

From: Florida Family Action
Sent:  Thursday, October 20, 2016 
Subject:  We may all become “Ichthus Christians” if…      

Friend,

I will get right to the point.

If this election goes the wrong way, we may all have to return to being “Ichthus” Christians where we are sneaking around just to speak of our faith in secret because we are unable to publicly.

The ichthus, (pronounced “ikh-thoos”) the “fish symbol,” was used by Christians (as early as the 1st Century AD) to help identify with one another silently, in the hope of escaping persecution.  Christians would often draw an “ichthus” to let other Christians know that they were fellow believers of Christ and that it was safe to talk about their faith.

Fast forward to 2016…

We are on the brink of being in a similar place as the early church, where government sanctioned persecution of Christians is the norm!

And while we may not yet face physical death, we are on track to face the death of our robust religious liberty, our ability to worship, our ability to preach from the Bible, our ability to live our lives and run our businesses according to Scripture and speak of our faith publicly.  After our rights are stripped, the consequences and the persecution will come.

If we are going to stop this from happening, we need your help today. 

Would you invest with a sacrificial gift now to help our election efforts to preserve religious liberty? 

Time is short, with less than 3 weeks left until the election.

We must ACT NOW if we are going to thwart, stop or hopefully reverse this devastating course our culture is on.

Evidence that the persecution and attempted eradication of our faith has already begun:

• In Iowa and Massachusetts, Christian churches are being told they are now public accommodations and need to comply with non-discrimination laws as it relates to transgender use of showers, locker rooms and bathrooms.  These anti-liberty sexual orientation and gender identity, or SOGI, laws in state civil rights codes (exactly like the Florida Competitive Workforce Act which will be proposed again in 2017) are creating the problems and could grant government a “green light to directly regulate churches.”  This is outrageous but it’s exactly where the battle is headed—inside the walls of your local church.

• In Pennsylvania, the Senate Labor and Industry Committee recently held a hearing on a bill which would make it illegal for religious churches, schools and other religious organizations to only hire employees that agree with the religious organization’s teaching on sexuality, marriage and gender. Our opponents are pushing hard for this.

• In California, three faith-based crisis pregnancy centers are in the middle of a legal battle to continue to operate according to their faith by offering resources, counseling, advice and alternatives to abortion.  The State of California is requiring them to post agovernment-approved message – promoting free or low cost access to “family planning” (or ABORTION!) or be fined $500 for the first violation and $1,000 for each additional violation. This law was just upheld by the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Appeals.

• Christian business owners providing goods and services to weddings throughout our country are being attacked by SOGI laws which enable gay activists to slap businesses with costly lawsuits and fines for simply living out their faith, if they choose not to celebrate or participate in same-sex marriage ceremonies with their creative and artistic services.

• Business owners, corporations, and organizations which provide health insurance to their employees are being forced to pay for abortions or abortifacient drugs throughObamacare, regardless of their, or the employees,’ religious beliefs that all life is sacred. Any disagreement or failure to comply is met with government imposed fines and penalties.

If you disagree with this encroachment on our religious liberty, would you stand with us today and help us preserve this precious right with a secure online gift?

Did you notice the consistent government enforcer in the examples above?

… legal battle in a US District Court  (DISTRICT COURTS) which could grant government a green light to regulate churches

… Senate Labor and Industry Committee  (THE STATE LEGISLATURE)

… government approved message  (by THE STATE)

… federal government mandated “Affordable Care Act” or “Obamacare”.  (OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT carrying out the will of the President of the United States.)

Here is my point:  You and I have an impact on every single one of these branches and levels of government, directly or indirectly, which determine our future – WHEN WE VOTE!

Unfortunately, many voters are confused about voting in this election, and have said they may sit out this election and not vote.  That would be catastrophic.  We must not be governed by emotions and feelings.  Rather we must look at the facts which our Voter Guides present clearlyHERE.

We must reach more Christian voters, educate them with the facts, and encourage them to vote.  This takes substantial funding.  Will you help us with a gift of any amount today?

IF WE DON’T REACH MORE CHRISTIANS, EDUCATE THEM WITH THE FACTS, AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO VOTE, WE ARE CERTAIN TO LOSE MANY OF OUR RELIGIOUS LIBERTIES IN AMERICA WITHIN THE NEXT 4 YEARS.

On November 9^th, I hope we can all wake up knowing we have done everything within our power to protect religious liberty for our children and our next generation.  I hope you will join me in this effort with both PRAYER and with a GIFT of any amount today HERE.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

John Stemberger

PS:  Our impact will be limited only by our funding.  Thank you in advance for giving your best gift possible at this time, and for praying for us, our efforts, and our country!

The post It all comes down to Florida, and specifically, the I-4 Corridor appeared first on Florida Family Action.

Honor God with your vote this election day (NOVEMBER 8, 2016)

Unlike most Christians throughout history, we get to choose our leaders. That choice is a gift God has given us to use to honor Him. We honor Him when we preserve the nation He’s entrusted to us, and steward our responsibility for her future.

Our Voter Guides & Election Resources can be found here: FloridaFamilyAction.com/voterguides.

Additional videos, talking points, and legal resources for churches and pastors can be found here: flfamily.org/churchelectionresources.

This video is shared in partnership with Iowa’s The Family Leader and the Family Policy Alliance (formerly CitizenLink).

The post New Video: Honoring God With Your Vote appeared first on Florida Family Action.

To kickoff the first debate between the GOP and DEM presidential hopefuls, we will be hosting debate watch parties in Boca Raton, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando and Tampa on Monday, September 26 starting at 8:30pm. Come out and enjoy food and fellowship, watch the debate and learn how you can get involved to volunteer with us during this critical election cycle!

Boca Raton
Women Impacting the Nation
500 NE Spanish River Blvd, Suite 29-30
Boca Raton, FL 33431
Invite your friends on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/586278271573730/

Ft. Lauderdale
Champps Ft. Lauderdale
6401 N. Andrews Avenue
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309
Invite your friends on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/771486566327219/

Orlando
McGinnty’s Irish Pub
5406 Hansel Avenue
Edgewood, FL 32809
Invite Your Friends on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1167823723300642/

Tampa
O’Brien’s Irish Pub
701 W. Lumsden Road
Brandon, FL 33511
Invite Your Friends on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/308126852889413/

The post Debate Watch Parties: Join Us for Food, Fellowship, and the Debate! appeared first on Florida Family Action.

The Florida Family Policy Council and Lifebridge church (formerly Harvest Bible) will be hosting a Pastors Conference and Community forum in Windermere on Tuesday, October 4 entitled “An Honest Discussion about a Difficult Election.”

The pastors conference will focus on how you can guide your congregation in the Christian duty to vote, and the forum will focus on how believers are to choose to vote when the choices aren’t clear.

The pastors conference will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and a community forum on this topic will be held that evening from 7p.m. to 8:30p.m.

Register for the Pastors Conference HERE.

Register for the Community Forum HERE.

Address & Directions:
Lifebridge Church
12120 Chase Rd
Windermere, FL 34786

The post Oct 4 Event: An Honest Discussion about a Difficult Election! appeared first on Florida Family Action.

“We have an opportunity this November to do something that’s extraordinary, which most of the world can only dream of doing. We get to actually vote, we get to actually participate in the process of picking our leaders.

It’s an extraordinary responsibility and it’s a stewardship issue…I know a lot of people are frustrated, but we just need to look at the facts, make the best choices possible, and trust in God for the result.”
– John Stemberger, FFA President

Share this video with your friends to encourage them to get out to vote!

Check out floridaelectioncentral.com for helpful voter guide information and resources on federal, state, judicial and local races!

The post (NEW VIDEO) I’m Planning to Vote. Are You? appeared first on Florida Family Action.

Florida Family Action hosted its 2016 GOP Battle for Florida event on Tuesday, May 19, 2015 at 7 PM in the greater Orlando area. The event included an overview of where the presidential candidates stood on current issues, an analysis of their strengths and weaknesses, a panel discussion of political experts, questions from the audience and a straw vote poll.

Florida Family Action President and General Counsel, John Stemberger provided an objective analysis of all the major 2016 Presidential candidates (declared and undeclared) along with their strengths, weaknesses, viability and facts about their current financial backing. This video can be viewed here:

Though some would say it is too early to endorse (and I would agree), it is never too early to begin thinking about who is the best possible person to lead our great nation into the future, especially given her current desperate state. Trust me, the election will be here before you know it.

We hope these presentations which were filmed on May 19, 2015, in Maitland, FL, before a live audience will be as helpful to you as you study the GOP candidates.

Straw Vote Results:
At the GOP Battle For Florida Event in Maitland on May 19, Florida Family Action took at straw poll of about 100 attendees. The results are listed below:

• Senator Marco Rubio (33.7%)
• Senator Ted Cruz (30.3%)
• Governor Jeb Bush and Governor Scott Walker (tie at 8.9%)
• Senator Rick Santorum (6.7%)
• Senator Rand Paul (4.5%)
• Dr. Ben Carson (3.4%)
• Governor Mike Huckabee (2.2%)
• Governor Rick Perry (1.1%)
• Write In: Donald Trump

Attendees were polled on 14 GOP declared and exploratory Presidential Candidates. Only those 18 and older at the time of the 2016 election participated in the poll.

For More Information, please contact info@FLfamily.org or call 407-418-0250.

The post Video: Analysis of 2016 GOP Presidential Hopefuls appeared first on Florida Family Action.