Staying at the Public Table - May 2005
PART 1
HWFAC BACKGROUND
Who - HWFAC is a group of committed individuals within an area formerly known as the Hamilton-Wentworth Region, now known as the City of Hamilton. We began to band together in late 1996 to address social concerns in our local area. Our MOTTO "dedicated to preserving family values" has already become tainted in this rapidly eroding society. Soon I hope to update it to "restoring and preserving traditional, Biblical Judeo-Christian principles."
OUR STATEMENT OF PURPOSEThe HWFAC is a coalition of concerned families, churches and organizations working together in society to restore and preserve traditional, Biblical Judeo-Christian principles.
MISSION (How will we fulfill our purpose)To inform, motivate and mobilize the concerned community in the area of social issues.
If today, I can motivate and mobilize you to take action in your community, then I will have been successful in my mission. The task however, is to motivate and mobilize before you fall asleep on me! I know you have been doing a lot of sitting and listening over these two days, so I will try to keep this a bit on the light side as to not burden you.
We began in 1996 regarding the public school use of a destructive "have more sex"` education video and from that day on, we have been on an incredible journey, on which we have witnessed the crumbling of many enemy strongholds. We truly credit God's intervention in many situations we have faced, to bring us through in victory. I am so thankful that I serve the one and only living God, the God that answers prayer. I hope to share just 2 or 3 victories later.
Thank you so much for having me here today; you may be sorry, before I finish. I tend to be the type of person who people want to steer clear of but would rather have me on their team than fight against me. I can be like sandpaper, I rub people the wrong way, step on toes, break china, rock the boat, upset the apple cart…. whatever it takes to get results. So if I ruffle your feathers today, you are not alone, but please, don't leave, stay at the table.
PART 2
Why this topic, "staying at the public table." In the early years of founding HWFAC, I was listening to Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family one morning. He was responding to the question, "Why do Christians seem to have so little influence on public policy." Dr. Dobson responded, "Christians are too quick to walk away from the table. If they don't win, they pick up their marbles, cry foul and go home. That has stuck with me. If you ever have an opportunity to participate at a public table, don't expect to win on round one, as you probably won't, but don't leave the table, come back for round 2 and 3 and 4 and…"
EXAMPLEI want to share one example of reward of "staying at the table" at this time.
In 1996 we presented to the Public School Board regarding the destructive sex-ed video. We lost 13-3, OUCH. That loss however drove us to dig deeper and go after those who sponsored the video, Planned Parenthood and those who pushed it, Public Health. I will be more specific about them later, just know that we did not leave the table, we continued to work as a Council to disarm those 2 agencies which are far more interested in having our children sexually active than promoting good health. Why? Follow the money.
In the spring of 2000, the school board in conjunction with Public Health unleashed a "pilot" sex-ed curriculum for grades 5-8. 455 pages of curriculum. Some portions quite good, other portions laced with poison. 14 times, the document referred to "anal intercourse." Our question "why?" On page 8-45 there were answers to an STD quiz among which were the following:
1) Have many sexual partners but use a condom and spermicide every time - low risk behaviour.
2) A type of sexual intercourse (anal included) with a condom - low risk behaviour.
There were 2 other shockers - but my time is limited.
We launched an attack at both the school board and public health among which included a phone blitz. 40 families calling in the morning and once in the afternoon to the Director of Education and the chairman of Public Health. Every morning, every night, demanding a personal return phone call.
The curriculum was completely re-written. It was improved, but still bad.
Example (2nd version)
One portion of the document instructed children regarding the contraction of AIDS/HIV.
It said "one way of not contracting AIDS/HIV was to share a drinking glass with an HIV positive person." We prepared a presentation to school trustees that spring of 2001. Remember, in 1996 we lost 13-3. 5 years later, after staying at the table, the table turned. We won, vote count 7-1. The direction provided from the board chair. "The curriculum is to be re-written, this time with the direction of the Hamilton-Wentworth Family Action Council."
The 3rd version was not perfect but tremendously improved. About a month ago we received a call from the board informing us that they were updating the curriculum and would our council please pick up a copy and provide comment before it goes to print. Bless God.
A SECOND SHORT EXAMPLE
In response to a 1997 presentation to the Aldermen who formed the Social Services/Public Health Committee regarding Planned Parenthood, the committee established the Sexual Health Network. This was to be a network of agencies in our region who would help to steer Public Health in the provision of sexual health services to our youth. At the first meeting there was probably 30 or more groups there, many dark agencies like Planned Parenthood, Hamilton Aids Network and so on and a few good ones, like Birthright, Canadians for Positive Community Standards and Hamilton-Wentworth Family Action Council. The good people worked hard, and spoke boldly to establish the mission of the network which to this day remain as "Postponing Sexual Activity in Adolescents" which is the focus of the "worth the wait campaign," which will soon be displayed once again on buses, bus shelters and posters across Hamilton. Perhaps even in movie theatres during the pre-show ads. A campaign aimed at encouraging our adolescents to postpone their sexual activity because they are "worth the wait."
Not long after the mission was written in stone the dark agencies left. All that remain, providing direction to pubic health are the 3 mentioned earlier and another great agency called "Ideas."
Our council representative, Lynne Scime, inquired of Public Health as to why Planned Parenthood Hamilton no longer attended. The answer: "Planned Parenthood felt bullied, and intimidated and so would no longer attend." I thank God for people like Lynne and others who dare to bully and intimidate the darkness of the world.
The Bible tells us "The gates of Hell shall not prevail against them."But if you want to knock down in the gates of hell, you must push on them.
PART 3
The third area I want to share with you today is a Biblical example of a Godly man who reaped the reward of staying at the table following through on a tough task despite public opposition.
The person is Nehemiah.
Nehemiah is best known for his leadership in rebuilding the broken down walls of Jerusalem.
At this point in time the Jews had been defeated and captured and living in captivity for sometime. Jerusalem laid in ruins. The wall of Jerusalem was broken down and the gates were burned.
In many aspects, Jerusalem sounds like Canada, the wall of Christian heritage is broken down, the gates of spiritual truth and principles, burned.
Nehemiah at this time was the cupbearer to the king, a very prominent position, but Nehemiah's heart was with his fellow countrymen, the Jews; being true to his heritage was more important than having power or favour with the king. When Nehemiah inquired of some friends and heard how desolated Jerusalem was and how his fellow Jews were suffering he was moved with compassion, he wept, fasted and prayed and repented for Israel's having not kept God's commandments which had lead to the defeat of Israel.
With God's intervention, the king gave Nehemiah a leave of absence to rebuild Jerusalem. Nehemiah risked the king's favour in order to be true to his heritage.
1.Compassion was the springboard of obedience to God's will.
Being at the public table usually means risking favour and becoming unpopular with the secular world. But if you feel passionate about a Godly cause, use that as a springboard to do something.
Nehemiah 2:12-18
2. Cooperation with others is often required to carry on God's will. Note that Nehemiah found a few others, probably people in whom he had confidence. God has laid a task on Nehemiah's heart, Nehemiah did not run around telling everyone God told me this or that. He kept it to himself and prayerfully began to seek it out, and then with a few solid people he shared his vision.
Nehemiah 3
describes the many teams of families who joined with Nehemiah and his few confidents to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. A huge task, but each family took responsibility for a different section.
But of course, as soon as it seemed that things were progressing the enemy came.
Nehemiah 4:1-3
The Planned Parenthood, and militant feminists are extremely jealous of your efforts, like Reaching Minds Through Media. And they hurl insults and try to throw up road blocks. Your success will mean their defeat. Don't give up. Press in.
I am coming to the best part of the Nehemiah records. After mockery, threat of violence and war against Israel and after internal grumbling Nehemiah continued to press the course.
3. Courage will manifest itself as sanctified tenacity in refusing to compromise on the conviction that one is doing God's will.
I love it. Courage manifests sanctified tenacity.
Sanctified tenacity is not inborn, it manifests itself in those who step out in courage and faith to do God's will. Defending the unborn is God's will, step out in courage and faith, begin the work and ask God for sanctified tenacity.
What was the outcome of Nehemiah's sanctified tenacity?
Nehemiah 6:15-16
- A seemingly insurmountable task, completed in 52 days.
I like verse 16 in the NIV - "When all out enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God."
The enemy lost their self-confidence. You have to love that, the outcome of sanctified tenacity, the loss of self-confidence for the unsanctified.
This brings me to the closing portion of my presentation, "The Reward of Staying At the Public Table."
I can probably share 8 or 10 solid examples of documented reward we at our council have witnessed since 1996. Time only permits to share one. Please refer to sheet 1 of your handout. This is a spread sheet of data on Planned Parenthood, Hamilton. You will note that the sheet is divided in 2 sections. Before HWFAC intervention and after intervention.
In 1997, after doing extensive research on PPH Hamilton and preparing a comparison table between PPH and Birthright, we were blessed to have 20 individuals come together and learn how to use our findings to educate each regional aldermen one at a time. As aldermen listened and reviewed the comparison they asked "Why do they call themselves Planned Parenthood, there are no services for parents." They began to see.
Looking at the spread sheet, you can see that in 1996 PPH received $359,000 of local tax dollars. 50% of the entire sexual health budget for all of the region was being given to one small clinic. Column 2, 1996 PPH was offering 39 hrs/week of their destructive clinic services. Column 4, in-clinic client visits under 19 years of age was 5,043, pregnancy test 589, positive pregnancy tests 288.
Throughout 1997 HWFAC educated counsellors, parents and taxpayers about the dark work of PPH. We were preparing the public table.
In February 1998, we returned to the table, armed with research to present to already educated counsellors. A 15-minute presentation turned into 3 hours of heated debate and the undoing of much of Planned Parenthood Hamilton.
Let's look at 1998 on your chart, column 2, weekly hours dropped from 39 to 15. Clients under 19 down from 4,043 in 1996 to 2,493, pregnancy tests dropped from 589 to 219, positive pregnancy tests from 228 to 96. The downward spiral continues.
By 1999, funding had dropped from $359,000 annually to $165,000. By 2000, hours offered in PPH clinics had dropped from 39 hours per week to 12 hours/week and annual pregnancy tests had dropped from 589 to 110. Positive pregnancy tests had declined from 228 in 1996 to 35 in 2001.
These are a lot of figures to absorb and that is just for PPH Hamilton, similar events were taking place at all of the public health clinics across the Hamilton-Wentworth region.
When you combine the data of Planned Parenthood and Public Health following our council intervention beginning in late 1996, the result was that by the end of 1999, only 3 years following our intervention, combined clinic hours dropped 29.7% and attendance at these clinics by clients under 19 years of age plummeted 57%. What impact did this drop in attendance have on teen sexual health?
In a Hamilton Spectator article of February 13, 1997 entitled "Planned parenthood Makes its Case" the following was written: "Program reduction will result in reduced use of medical services by sexually active teenaged girls. This will lead to increased adolescent pregnancy, in creased abortions, increased numbers of adolescent mothers on social assistance and increased rates of sexually transmitted diseases."
PPH just wishes that was true; it if was true, it may justify the need for PPH services. Please turn to your second sheet, the large graph.
This graph traces (15-19) year old pregnancy rates both in Hamilton and Ontario since 1976 and it is also a chronological time line of significant events in history which have impacted teen pregnancy rates. The left side of your graph is 15-19 year old pregnancy rates expressed per 1000 15-19 year old females of population.
For instance starting at the left hand side of your graph, we see that Hamilton-Wentworth in 1976 had a 15-19 year old pregnancy rate of 61.5/1000 with a population that time of just under 17,000 15-19 year old girls that means there were approximately 1050 pregnant teens in our region alone, 1050 that is big.
If we look at the top line of the graph, we also see that the province, in recognition of this difficulty mandated sexual health programs. These programs however were unlike programs of today, they held the expectation that teens should not be sexually active and took aim at discouraging teen sexual activity, rather than assuming that most teens are active and providing teens with a false sense of security offering by condoms and birth control pills.
Follow the graph until 1987 and we see the "no sex" approach was effective, by 1987, 11 years later the rate of 1976 has dropped significantly (32%) to 41.1/1000.
In 1986 and 1987 however another significant event took place, the Province through the ministry of health instituted "safe sex" education in which children were to safely engage in sexual activity relying on a thin layer of latex to protect them physically, emotionally and spiritually. The result of the new approach, by 1997, 10 years later our rates had increased 24% to 51.3/1000. You can see on your timeline that it was 1997 when HWFAC intervened. Despite PPH predictions that teen pregnancy rates would increase if their services were reduced the opposite rang true, remember now, that by the end of 1999 attendance by teens at public health and PPH clinics had declined 57%. As we see on the graph, while clinic attendance plummeted, so did the 15-19 year old pregnancy rates.
In just 2 years 1998, 1999 15-19 year old pregnancy rates in Hamilton fell steeply by 22.4% followed by a further drop in 2000 to 37.3/1000, a full 27.3% decline in just 3 years and lowest recorded pregnancy rate for 15-19 year olds on record for Hamilton. This is the most recent data available.
As I end, this is only one of many documented victories we have witnessed. This is not about however, me or HWFAC. This is about what God has done. There is no way in this world that HWFAC would effect such a dramatic impact.
I need to close. Please recall Nehemiah 6:16: "When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of their God."
I encourage you all today:
- Let compassion be your springboard of obedience to God's will.
- Seek co-operation with others to carry out God's will.
- Step out in faith to rebuild a wall, or fill a need and allow your courage to manifest itself as sanctified tenacity in refusing to compromise on the conviction that you are doing God's will.
May God bless each courageous soul who would work with sanctified tenacity and may your enemy lose their self-confidence. Thank you. |
