Most of our Christmas cards and letters went to pro-life heroes who led the fight here in Nebraska against the abortion zealotry of proposed Amendment 439. And among those, there was tremendous delight in our writing Christmas letters and cards to the NU women athletes whose public service ad was, quite possibly, the most effective in the whole campaign. We also wrote public officials (including the newly-elected), businesses, and various Christian ministry leaders.
By the way, the photo here shows Claire at the Nebraska Family Alliance office down in Lincoln with Kelly Lanka and outgoing Director Karen Bowling. Claire is handing over the 79 Christmas cards and letters we and our Vital Signs colleagues wrote to the student-athletes along with boxes of Bakers Candies we purchased for each of them to “sweeten up” our appreciation for their courageous pro-life commitment. The NFA staff is going to hand deliver the bundles of letters and the candy. Thank you, guys!
But what of you who weren’t at our Christmas card parties on December 2? Can you still get in on the important ministry of encouragement and advocacy through letters? Of course you can! And we would love to help you do your best. Therefore, over on the Vital Signs website, you can find (in the Taking Action section and under “Letter Writing Targets”) both the general list of who we’re encouraging you to write and the appropriate addresses. And right below I’m dropping in a few samples from Monday’s parties to get you inspired. Ready? Set? Write!
Two of the many Christmas cards sent to
Nebraska Right to Life Director, Sandy Danek --
Sandy,
Barb and I are so grateful for the work you did on initiative 434. I know many were hard on you and you took a lot of heat for your defense of 434, but you did the right thing. The protections for the unborn have been secured largely because of your work. Thank you and merry Christmas!
John and Barb Malek
Sandy,
Just a quick thank you note (and Christmas greeting!) to express once again our deep and abiding appreciation for the really awesome job you did in the fight against 439. It was a superb effort. You displayed creativity, wisdom, tenacity, good cheer, resilience, fervent prayers, networking talents, willingness to sacrifice, and, of course, your winsome love for moms and dads, preborn boys and girls, other pro-life advocates, and the moral fabric of America. Thank you! We are deeply grateful for your investment in all of these things! Good job, kid -- you are a genuine treasure and we love and admire you. May the Lord grant you, your loved one, and the NRL champions s most happy and holy Christmas season.
Denny & Claire Hartford
And a sampling of the cards sent to Karen Bowling, Nate Grasz,
and the team at Nebraska Family Alliance --
Dear Karen,
Thank you for all you have done for the precious unborn and the cause of life. Your leadership has been so wonderful. You will be missed. Merry Christmas to you and your family in Jesus’ love.
Sandra Schoville
Nate and Karen,
Thank you both for your hard work this past election. I don’t know either of you, but can tell you that you have an excellent reputations among many I know. May the Lord remember you for good before His throne. And may His grace always sustain you! With much respect,
Pastor Dan Hauge
Nate,
Barb and I are so grateful for the work you and your wife did on 434. The writing of the initiative, the defense of it, the advocacy for it, and the wisdom of it did not go unnoticed by us. I know you took a lot of heat from some “on our side,” but your work will save lives and we (and God Himself) appreciate that. Have a Merry Christmas.
John & Barb Malek
Here’s one of the Christmas letters to Tom Venzor of the Nebraska Catholic Council, followed by an example of the letters sent to
Nebraska’s 3 Roman Catholic Bishops --
Dear Tom,
At our Christmas card party this morning our cards and letters are primarily about the recent victories in the elections, including the hard-won fight here in Nebraska over the abortion related amendments. So it is natural and right that my first batch of letters go to the pro-life heroes who devised the strategy, led the charge, mobilized the troops, provided encouragement and wise counsel along the way, and prayed fervently for God’s grace to be poured out in abundance in our state. Thank you, Tom. And our deepest appreciation to your wife, your team there at the NCC, and your colleagues over at NFA and NRL. You were all splendid and we are very, very grateful! Have a super Christmas season!
Claire Hartford
Your Excellency Archbishop Lucas,
Just a quick note to express our deep and ongoing appreciation for the Bishops’ unified, bold, and effective leadership in the constitutional amendment fight. Your prayers, your courageous and wise counsel, your example of godly service to moms, families, and pre-born kids were all of noble and profound value. All of Nebraska (and many people beyond our borders) are in your debt. Thank you! May our Lord bless you richly, my friend, and may He grant you the merriest of Christmas seasons.
Denny & Claire Hartford
Nebraska’s devoutly pro-life Governor Jim Pillen
wasn’t without a few letters. Here’s two --
Governor Pillen,
Thank you for all you did in defeating 439 and passing 434. I know much remains to be done yet. Nevertheless, we are grateful to God that our state is blessed with your leadership. Thank you.
Perly Schoville
Dear Governor Pillen,
Just a quick word of Christmas cheer AND a profound appreciation for your leadership in our state. You have proven yourself again and again to be a man of integrity, boldness, wisdom, and intentionality. And you have been especially impressive in your pro-life advocacy for which the pro-life community (indeed, Nebraska’s moms and babies) are in your debt. Thank you, Governor. May our Lord grant you and your family a wonderful, joyful Christmas season.
P. S. I’m enclosing a copy of a recent OWH article penned by our district 18 state senator, Christy Armendariz. It is exceptional. I didn’t know if you had noticed it so I’m sending it along with a request that you might then send HER a note thanking her for the good arguments she made. Thanks again, Governor.
Denny & Claire Hartford
And here are a few of the many messages sent in our cards and letters to the N.U. women athletes thanking them for that powerful pro-life ad.
Dear Jordy,
My name is Anna Troutman and I am a freshman at Concordia Lutheran High School. I wanted to write to tell you “thank you” for supporting 434 and the pro-life cause. It was very encouraging to see! Go Big Red! Merry Christmas!
Dear Lauren,
I am a 10 year old named Isaiah Troutman. I am a big Husker fan. Thank you for supporting 434. Thank you for standing up for what is right. Thank you for opposing 439. You did great in the ad for supporting 434 and opposing 439. Merry Christmas.
Dear Abbie,
My name is Lydia Troutman and I am a freshman at Concordia Junior/Senior High School in Omaha. I would like to thank you for supporting 434 and the pro-life cause. You girls were great. Thanks for doing what is right. Go Big Red! Have a merry Christmas!
Dear Malia,
My name is Luke Trotman and I am a junior at Concordia High School. I want to thank you for supporting 434 and opposing 439. Your help made a really big difference! Go Big Red! And Merry Christmas too!
Dear Hannah,
You are truly a warrior in the defense for the sanctity of life! You took a valiant stand against the degradation of our culture and persevered in the face of great challenge. You are to be highly regarded among all who care for life. So, on behalf of all pro-life people in Nebraska, thank you! With highest regard,
Mark & Benita Fichter
Hey Lauren! A big shout-out for your participation in what was probably the most effective pro-life ad in the recent ballot amendment fight. My goodness, to have such lovely and talented, women of character present such a clear, common-sense case for 434 and against 439 was of profound significance. We are only two of the many Nebraskans who are forever in your debt for that bold and beautiful effort. Thank you, Hannah! May our Lord grant you and your loved ones the most merry of Christmas seasons!
Denny & Claire Hartford
By the way, the ads featuring the athletes were sponsored by Regents Scheer and Schafer. Here is one of the Christmas notes sent their way --
Dear Regent Scheer,
Thank you for your involvement in supporting 434. We had so frequently we prayed for success for that outcome and your generosity helped immensely! I believe you made a very big difference. Sir, we are proud of you. Merry Christmas!
Rob & Hope Golden
There were other terrific pro-life “ads” that
made a huge difference in the ballot fight --
Dear Dr. Mizner,
We wanted to send along our deep and abiding appreciation for the marvelous service you provided in the fight against amendment 439. Your pro-life ad was clear, concise, and very effective. It presented so well the facts of the case that the left was trying to hide, even as it underscored the compassionate, noble ideals that motivated the pro-life community in this fight. Yours was a particularly winsome ad and we are among the many here in Nebraska (and beyond!) who are in your debt. May our Lord grant you and your loved ones an especially blessed Christmas season.
Denny & Claire Hartford
Among other sources of financial help for the fight
against the abortion extremists was the Ricketts family.
Here is one letter of several letters to Senator Ricketts.
Dear Senator Pete Ricketts,
Thank you for always standing strong for the unborn and for the cause of life. Thank you for supporting other crucial conservative values. Thank you for representing Nebraskans so well in so many areas. And thank you for you and your family’s great generosity in fighting against the evil that was Amendment 439. You can be counted on to lead with integrity and we are truly grateful. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Sandra Schoville
Here’s a sampling of Christmas letters to local pastors --
Pastor Chuck,
Thank you for your work on 434 and against 439. Your multiple lessons on the issue helped our state defeat 439. Your integrity and passion is a blessing -- coupled with your Bible teaching to our church, they have eternal results. May God continue His blessing on your work. May you know the joy and peace of the Lord at Christmas time and always.
Perly Schoville
Dear Dan,
In the evening edition of our Christmas card party, I wanted to send thanks to one of the pastors who winsomely and effectively fought Amendment 439. Your efforts were inspiring and very helpful. Way to go!
Denny & Claire Hartford
Dear Rev. Snow,
I am writing to express my appreciation for the District’s efforts in behalf of the pro-life cause. It was courageous of you to get directly involved and we deeply appreciate it. I am a lifelong Lutheran and, though I know the Missouri Synod is pro-life, it was extra encouraging to see the work on behalf of “the least of these” that you and your colleagues performed in the Nebraska ballot fight. God bless you! Merry Christmas!
Matt Troutman
To the Republican National Committee --
Merry Christmas, friends! And now that America has a splendid chance to get back on track and “make America great again,” we are asking you to please “make the G.O.P Platform great again” by restoring the language (and intentionality) of the former Platform’s pro-life commitments. Please act on this ASAP. The moms, the babies, the families, and the moral fabric of America deserve it.
Denny Hartford
To the Democratic National Committee --
My, my but the Democrat party has undergone a strange evolution. Indeed, the Democrats that once embraced such pro-life advocates as Hubert Humphrey, Sargent Shriver, Henry “Scoop” Jackson, Ed Zorinsky, and Bob Casey Sr., now requires of its members a devotion to absolutely unlimited abortion. That was the paramount priority of the Harris/Walz campaign and they spent $570 million in abortion ads in desperate hopes that American voters would back them up.
It proved a most disastrous plan as the Party suffered a drastic loss in credibility and influence, not only with religious-minded voters, but with scores of others who understand the state’s legitimate interest in parental rights, rights of conscience, informed consent, and various other health and safety concerns for moms and preborn children.
If the Democrat Party desires to remain at all relevant in the future, it will look to its less exclusionary history and drop like a hot potato its abortion extremism.”
Denny Hartford