Over the past two decades (21 years), the California Family Council has stood as a living testament to hope in the state of California. As an intern for CFC, I have witnessed our impact on policy, and the kingdom work that continues to be done. Despite the challenges and turmoil our state faces, the Lord has done marvelous work through this organization, and His name continues to be praised through the efforts of CFC. Psalm 46 is a reminder that God is our refuge, strength, and the ultimate victor; therefore, we have nothing to fear. The organization has seen this passage play out in numerous ways by clinging to the strength of the Lord and seeing Him work through the organization. Since CFC’s founding in 2003, they have fought with unwavering hope, standing firm in Biblical truth, particularly in protecting God’s design for Life, Family, and Liberty.
As Christians, we understand that the family is the core of any nation and the foundation of human flourishing. But Satan knows this too. He relentlessly seeks to destroy the family, attacking God’s ordained design for creation by promoting a world without order. The effects of this are evident today in various ways, including drug addiction, crime, the STI epidemic, out-of-wedlock pregnancy, divorce rates, and the rapid movement of transgender ideology, homelessness, systemic poverty rates and the list goes on.
It’s easy to feel discouraged when observing politics from a distance. However, being immersed in the fight reveals glimmers of light that can spark continual hope. My role as an intern involved aiding with social media content, talking with legislators about upcoming bills, sitting in on hearings and press conferences, managing the website, writing articles, and various phone calls and promotions. This diverse involvement allowed me to see the inner workings of this vital organization. CFC’s work offers a reminder that even in challenging times, there is always a reason to remain hopeful.
CFC History:
The organization was formed 2003 in partnership with Focus on the Family, with the mission to advance God’s Design for Life, Family, & Liberty through California’s Church, Capitol, & Culture. Utilizing connections and financial support from Focus on the Family, Ron Prentice, a licensed marriage and family therapist, became the director of CFC at its inception.
The organization’s board of directors was formed to support Ron financially, create policies, and set the direction for the council. A group called “Strategic Forums” was established for CFC to connect with church pastors to pray and discuss California policies, contributing to the mission of CFC. This group was pivotal in inspiring Proposition 8, which sought to define marriage as between a man and a woman. After a year of dedicated fundraising, the Lord provided $1+ million to get Proposition 8 on the ballot, a task many thought was impossible. CFC’s director, Ron Prentice, played a crucial role in this success. Prentice was loyal to the mission though there was a time when he did not receive a single paycheck. He led the Protect Marriage coalition, which was pivotal in advancing Proposition 8 through the legislative process in record time. John Whiffin, a founding board member since 2003 states, “It was clear God was moving and working.”
Despite the proposition being overturned by the courts, the effort was a significant moment in CFC’s history. Whiffin encourages CFC by saying, “God calls us to be faithful to Him no matter if we win or lose. Our job is to do what God wants of us and not worry about the outcome,” Whiffin said.
One of the biggest challenges throughout the history of CFC is engaging the church in legislation. CFC Founder and board member since 2004, Dr. Kell remarked, “It amazes me that pastors are the hardest to engage in culture, and that has not changed since founding CFC,” Dr. Kell said. However the organization is persistent in their efforts to encourage Christians to engage with their local government through various conferences. In 2006 The Truth Project was formed to train Christians on living out a biblical worldview and challenge them to engage in politics. This year CFC hosted its first Biblical Worldview Tour in Sacramento, San Jose, and Fresno. The tour was designed to educate pastors and leaders on how to engage in the current issues CA is facing from a Biblical perspective. CFC hopes to launch additional training for pastors and leaders in the future.
From financial provisions to the short term success of Proposition 8, to additional staff members and all of our recent advocacy success, God’s faithfulness has been evident throughout the organization’s journey. The organization began to grow as Jonathan Keller became a board member in 2012, and by 2014 he took over as the full time President. Greg Burt became part of the staff in 2017 and later in 2023 became the Vice President. 2022 was a big year for CFC as it became incredibly more involved in legislation, due to moving into an office near the Capitol. Additionally, Sophia Lorey came on staff as the Outreach Coordinator. She increased the organization’s social media following by the thousands during the last few years.
Pastor Dave, a board member since 2006 states, “I am proud of CFC today. I have seen God continue funding the organization and creating a platform we have never had before,” Pastor Dave said.
Recent accomplishments:
I have learned that when it comes to policy as Christian conservatives we must play the long game and celebrate what may seem as small victories to the average eye. For each of these bills I had the opportunity to design fliers to educate legislators, have various discussions with committee staffers, work on call in campaigns, make social media content, and attend each press conference and hearing.
Here are a few victories I have enjoyed taking part in during my time at CFC:
- March 6, Vice President Greg Burt helped expose the Elk Grove school district for hiding a same-sex attraction club from parents of elementary schoolers.
- May 13, SB 1012, a bill proposing the legalization of psychedelics for barely-regulated therapeutic use in California, failed and was a huge victory for CFC. In efforts to educate legislators and the general public, CFC hosted a Psychedelics webinar.
CFC inspired and helped facilitate three bills this year!
- SB 1368, a bill requiring sex education to include pregnancy centers as a resource. We loved the opportunity to work with Senator Ochoa-Bogh on this important piece of legislation. Although the bill did not make it out of its first hearing, we successfully informed legislators about pregnancy centers through lobbying and brought awareness to the public through the media. We hope to encourage legislators to continue introducing legislation that promotes pregnancy centers as a legitimate resource for women.
- AB 3080, a bill requiring age verification on pornography websites to protect minors’ minds. We were thankful to bring the issue of pornography to light and work with Assemblyman Alanis. The bill passed the Assembly unanimously. Sadly, a weakened version was passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee, and then the Senate Appropriations Committee killed the bill. We hope to renew the fight next year.
- SB 1219, a bill making it illegal again to loiter in public spaces for the purposes of prostitution. Cities have been hampered in their fight against sex trafficking with the legalization of loitering for prostitution several years ago. We are grateful to Senator Seyarto for trying to help police departments that struggle to clamp down on men lining up to buy women for sex with this bill. Sadly, the bill didn’t make it out of the Senate Public Safety Committee.
- SB 1414, a bill making buying a minor for sex a felony. Unfortunately, this bill was also amended to exclude 16 & 17-year-olds from the minor protections. However, we have hope that the bill will be restored to its original form and are glad to see legislators taking a hard stance on protecting minors from human trafficking. I especially enjoyed designing a flier and advocating on this essential piece of legislation.
- SB 954, a bill to require schools to make condoms available in 7-12th grade as a response to the STI epidemic. Ultimately, we believe this action would lead to an increase in sexual activity and, as a result, make the STI epidemic worse. The bill is currently on the Assembly floor, waiting for a vote. In an effort to bring awareness to this bill, I had the opportunity to interview young college students who believe that this bill would be ineffective and ultimately harmful. (See my video)
The California Family Council continues to stand as a beacon of hope in a time of uncertainty. Through prayer, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to Biblical truth, CFC remains a vital force in the ongoing fight for the family. As they move forward, their work reminds us all that, regardless of the challenges we continue to face, God’s faithfulness endures, and His purposes will prevail.
