A full ball room, standing ovations, major announcements, powerful breakout sessions – is it any wonder some have said the 2018 Family Leadership Summit may have been the best Summit yet?
“This was the most focused and powerful and important Summit,” affirmed one attendee. “Thank you!”
The Family Leadership Summit is a day for encouraging and equipping the Body of Christ for cultural transformation. And every year, Summit attendees tell us, “Being there is a powerful reminder and reassurance that I’m not alone. It’s so encouraging to join so many people, right here in the Midwest, who have a heart for God and a heart for revival in America.”
The 2018 Summit was held Friday, Sept. 14, in the grand ballroom of the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center (a.k.a. “Vets Auditorium”) in downtown Des Moines. The Summit included a stirring call to biblically transform the culture from Pastor and former Southern Baptist Convention President Jack Graham, an update on the status of religious liberty in the U.S. from Alliance Defending Freedom President Michael Farris, a reminder of America’s unique role in defending Israel by Christians United for Israel’s Lyndon Allen, and several other inspiring speakers.
Watch an exclusive, behind-the-scenes interview with Lyndon Allen on why Christians need to support Israel and what’s coming next in Israel’s fight for continued existence:
The breakout sessions included discussions on life legislation in Iowa, a biblical perspective on poverty, learning to overcome the barriers in talking to today’s youth, and more.
But the 2018 Summit also included some “firsts” for the annual FAMiLY LEADER event. In honor of the “Heartbeat Bill” passing into law, a measure that could save over 3,000 babies from abortion in Iowa each year, the Summit recognized on stage leaders from the Iowa Legislature and the Coalition of Pro-Life Leaders who worked to see “Heartbeat” pass. TFL family advocates Chuck Hurley and Danny Carroll held their own grandchildren on stage to illustrate why we work to save lives. And Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony List, a national leader in electing pro-life officials, announced that SBA List and The FAMiLY LEADER would partner in a six-digit campaign of targeted intervention to support Iowa’s pro-life governor, Kim Reynolds.
Watch an exclusive, behind-the-scenes interview with Marjorie Dannenfelser on the impact Iowa’s “Heartbeat” law has had on the national pro-life scene:
The 2018 Family Leadership Summit also brought another first: the announcement of a growing partnership of states that are working to incorporate TFL’s model of engaging with government. Dubbed “The Daniel Initiative,” TFL is partnering with several states to develop a grassroots, gospel-centered, prayer-anchored approach to inspiring the Church toward cultural transformation.
TFL’s model of inspiring the Church to engage in cultural transformation first, and only then on impacting elections and influencing policy (rather than a policy-first approach), has yielded results in Iowa that the rest of the nation has stood up and recognized. Now, through The Daniel Initiative, TFL is working to strengthen and partner with other state organizations to build a state-by-state movement of the Church engaging biblically and authentically with government in a way that advances not political kingdoms, but the Kingdom of God.
At the 2018 Summit, leaders of partner state organizations in Ohio, Wisconsin, and Minnesota joined TFL’s Bob Vander Plaats on stage, each affirming “The Daniel Initiative” is nothing short of an answer to prayer. A right strategy coming at just the right time, the state leaders said, The Daniel Initiative could give the voice of the Church a long-missing megaphone in the struggle for the soul of America.
Great speakers and great content, however, are only one part of what makes The Family Leadership Summit so unique. At the heart of it all is the experience – the prayer that goes into it, the people you meet, the encouraging conversations, and the atmosphere of being with others who want to see the Church awakened and re-energized in our nation, not for the sake of partisanship or politics, but for authentic, biblical impact on the nation our children and grandchildren inherit.
The Summit is principle over politics. It’s seeking a revived America that honors God and blesses people. And it’s an event you don’t want to miss!
Continue watching The FAMiLY LEADER’s social media, website, and emails for more video and inspiring content from the 2018 Summit!
