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Sancha Haysbert-Smith

Lafayette Chapter Hosts Memorable Christmas Event

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CWA of Louisiana

Concerned Women for America (CWA) of Louisiana’s Lafayette Prayer/Action Chapter wrapped up a remarkable year with a special Christmas luncheon on Friday, December 6, attended by local and state officials, CWA of Louisiana leaders from across the state, and enthusiastic members and guests. Leaders recapped CWA of Louisiana activities in 2019, highlighted a CWA core issue – fighting sexual exploitation – and armed attendees with biblical perspectives on current issues. There were also a few surprises.

Janet Jackson, state Prayer/Action Chapter Coordinator, set the tone by opening in worship, accompanied by Prayer/Action Chapter Leader Tara Baudoin’s 13-year-old daughter on piano. The luncheon was punctuated with prayer throughout, and with giveaways of Penny Nance’s book, Feisty and Feminine, and Baudoin’s original art.

Cindy Doré, long-time friend of CWA, shared how one group is fighting sexual exploitation in Acadiana by reaching out to strip club workers. She encouraged attendees to obey when God prompts them to step out of their comfort zones. Attorney General Jeff Landry’s representative distributed resource information to equip warriors in the fight against human trafficking.

The event culminated in a surprise tribute to State Director Sancha Smith for her integrity and faithful, prayerful work in Louisiana. A personal tribute from Tara Baudoin was followed by video accolades from CWA CEO and President Penny Nance, Louisiana Family Forum President Gene Mills, State Senator Beth Mizell, U.S. Congressman Clay Higgins, State Senator-Elect Heather Cloud, and Smith’s husband and youngest son.

“We think the event was a huge success, not only because the seats were filled, or because we gained several new members, but the men and women left energized and equipped to make a difference. All glory to God,” Baudoin reflected.

CWA Prayer/Action Chapter Opportunities

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Are you ready to take your knowledge and put it into action? If so, a CWA Prayer/Action Chapter is the perfect place to do so. “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?” James 2:14

First: Find out what a Prayer/Action Chapter is as well as what a typical one looks like.

Second: Click here to find a Prayer/Action Chapter in your area and learn more.

CWA of Louisiana Hosts Encourager Awards Breakfast and Lobby Efforts

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Concerned Women for America (CWA) of Louisiana recently recognized state and federal legislators with Ambassador Awards for their work to advance CWA core issues. Additionally, each of the Ambassador Award recipients was asked to recognize their greatest encourager as part of the event. The award ceremony was held in Baton Rouge on May 8.

Sancha Smith, CWA of Louisiana State Director, stated, “As an organization, we really appreciate our lawmakers who align with our faith-based policies. We realize that it is often difficult to stand for Biblical principles in this culture, and the most successful legislators usually have solid encouragers who stand with them through thick and thin. These ‘Encourager Awards’ allow us to recognize both the legislators and those people who have supported them in so many ways. It was truly an honor to host this event.”

Ambassadors were each recognized by listing some of their major accomplishments in support of the core issue for which they were awarded. Beautiful bronze statues of a woman in prayer were given to each of the recipients as a token of appreciation and to remind the legislators that CWA members are praying for them. The recognized “Encouragers” received Louisiana state flags, which had been recently flown over the state capitol.

The Ambassador recipients and their recognized encouragers:

Defense of Family – State Sen. Beth Mizell
Encourager – Julie Stewart

Fight Sexual Exploitation – State Sen. Ronnie Johns
Encourager – Father Jeff Bayhi

Religious Liberty – Congressman Mike Johnson
Encourager – Patrick Johnson (deceased)

Sanctity of Life – State Rep. Katrina Jackson
Encourager – Dorinda Bordlee

Education – State Rep. Beryl Amadee
Encourager – John Amadee

National Sovereignty – Congressman Clay Higgins
Encourager – Becca Higgins

Support for Israel – State Rep. Valarie Hodges
Encourager – Carla Roberts

Leadership Award – State Sen. John Milkovich
Encourager – Carola Milkovich

Keynote speaker at the event was Dr. Shea Garrison, Vice President for International Affairs for Concerned Women for America in Washington, D.C. Dr. Garrison spoke of her work on U.S. foreign policy and aid, women’s economic and social empowerment, religious freedom, and human rights. She cited numerous studies and experiences to highlight the importance of bringing the Biblical perspective into what is typically an overtly humanist worldview.

Two Legislative Victories!
The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was up for a vote on the floor of the Louisiana senate the afternoon of the awards breakfast. Dr. Shea Garrison joined other Louisiana conservative leaders in speaking to Louisiana senators at the state capitol on the dangers of passing the ERA.  CWA’s presence was felt there, as was the groundwork laid earlier by State Director Sancha Smith and her team. The ERA failed to pass by an unexpected vote of 26 “Against” and only 9 “For” the amendment!! State Sen. Beth Mizell was the only senator (brave enough) to stand and speak out against the ERA during the debates on the floor. Earlier in the day, Sen. Mizell received CWA Louisiana’s recipient of the Defense of Family Award.

Rep. Valarie Hodges, who won CWA of Louisiana’s award for Support for Israel, was the sponsor of HB 245, a Louisiana anti-Boycott Divestment and Sanctions bill which “authorizes a public entity to reject the lowest bid on a procurement contract when a vendor engages in a boycott of Israel.” The bill was heard in the afternoon of the awards and it passed unanimously in the State House of Representatives! CWA of Louisiana lobbied for the passage of the bill.

You are Invited – Encourager Award Breakfast – May 8

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Don’t miss out. Join us for the Concerned Women for America of Louisiana Encourager Awards Breakfast!

Wednesday, May 8, 2019
7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Capitol Park Event Center
702 River Road
Baton Rouge, LA

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Shea Garrison, VP International Affairs, Concerned Women for America, Washington, D.C.

This is an event you don’t want to miss!  Be informed by Dr. Garrison as she gives us insight into the international affairs that CWA is working on as well as how we in Louisiana can have an impact.  Join us in honoring several individuals who have been outstanding encouragers to several of our stellar state legislators – legislators who have been a leader in promoting CWA’s core issues.  Meet several state legislators, their families, and staff.

“Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.” (Romans 13:7)

Limited seating is available for a donation $15.00 per person.  Breakfast included.

Your Prayers are Necessary!

  • Please pray for the work being done through CWA of Louisiana!
  • Pray for the success and fruitfulness of this event!

Take Action!

  • Please RSVP by Monday, May 6.  Contact Nancy Tower at [email protected] or at 337-842-7849. Payment will be collected at the door.
  • Prayerfully consider if it is your portion and your season to join with us as members of CWA of Louisiana!
  • Contact me for further information.

For His glory!
Sancha Noel Smith
State Director
CWA of Louisiana
[email protected]
337-308-8696

Encourage-A-Legislator Appreciation Day 2019

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Encourage-A-Legislator Appreciation Day 2019
Thursday, April 25
State Capitol in Baton Rouge

This year, we are combining our Prayer Walk with the Encourage-A-Legislator Appreciation Day. All Concerned Women for America (CWA) of Louisiana members and EAL prayer volunteers are invited to join us.

We will meet at 10:30 a.m. and should conclude the day by 3:30 p.m. Click here to view the agenda. Come and meet other prayer volunteers as we pray, eat lunch together, and visit with our legislators.

For more information and to RSVP contact us at [email protected]

Your Visit Will Make All The Difference For The Unborn

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Dear Friend,

The U.S. Senate is poised to vote Monday, February 25, on the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (S.311).  This crucial legislation would shield a newborn who survives an attempted abortion from being denied the right to live.  Doctors would be required to provide the same medical care to a newborn survivor of abortion that would be offered to any other baby at the same gestational age. Read Concerned Women for America’s full alert on the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act here.

Sadly, too many senators are in the pocket of the big abortion lobby.  They are doing everything they can to avoid the issue and obstruct a vote. However, we are very grateful that Louisiana’s two U.S. Senators, Bill Cassidy (Republican) and John Kennedy (Republican) are cosponsors of the legislation.  But more needs to be done. We need to encourage Sen. Cassidy and Sen. Kennedy to support publicly the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act in the days leading up to next week’s vote.

Will you stand in the gap for life and make a visit for the life of the unborn?


If you live in the vicinity of one of the local offices of either or both Senators, would you drop in and #1, let their staff know that you appreciate their support of the bill and #2, you respectfully ask that the Senator support the bill publicly by speaking about the bill to the media, at local events, and to other senators?

Click here for Sen. Cassidy’s local offices.
Click here for Sen. Kennedy’s local offices.

When you make your visit take at least these two pictures: a picture of the office sign and with the staffer (be sure to get the staffer’s name). Send the pictures to me immediately following the meeting. CWA will then post the pictures on social media.  You can post the pictures on your Facebook page as well.

Thank you for being foot soldiers for the unborn and making two quick visits to the Senators’ offices.

Additional attachments you can freely distribute:
CWA talking points
Sen. Sasse white paper

Sancha Smith
State Director
CWA of Louisiana
[email protected]
la.cwfa.org

What YOU Can Do to Reject Infanticide!

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What You Can Do to Reject infanticide and the reckless crusade to expand late-term abortion!

Dear Friend,  

The U.S. Senate is poised to vote Monday, February 25, on the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.  This crucial legislation would shield a newborn who survives an attempted abortion from being denied the right to live.  Doctors would be required to provide the same medical care to a newborn survivor of abortion that would be offered to any other baby at the same gestational age.

Unfortunately — unbelievably! — infants born alive are not guaranteed these protections under federal law, giving abortion doctors the green light to turn their backs on a helpless baby after a botched abortion.  Such negligence is nothing less than enabling infanticide.

We need you to act today.  Too many senators are in the pocket of the big abortion lobby.  They are doing everything they can to avoid the issue and obstruct a vote.   Even if your senators are strong on the life issue, they need to hear from you and know you are standing with them.

U.S. senators are home next week (February 19-22), and a vote is expected when they return.  We are asking you to visit the district offices nearest you NEXT WEEK and tell your two U.S. senators to reject infanticide and vote for the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.

If you are unable to visit in person, please call the district office of both of your senators.  Time is short, so please make this a priority!

Louisiana:
Senator Bill Cassidy (R)
Senator John Kennedy (R)

It is unbelievable that saving a newborn baby fighting for life should be a partisan issue.  But the left has completely rejected common sense.  They are not willing to call infanticide for what it is and are spreading lies about the need for the legislation.  Here’s the truth: federal law does not protect a survivor of abortion.  At least one-third of states, including New York, have extreme abortion laws that make infanticide LEGAL.  Virginia Gov Ralph Northam publicly endorsed infanticide when he defended a radical abortion proposal that would make abortion legal at any time in pregnancy, including while giving birth!  This is insanity.

Thank you for taking action on this issue.  Please pray that the U.S. Senate will vote to save these little ones.

For Life,

Penny Nance
CEO & President

Prayer Volunteers Needed – Join CWA of Louisiana’s 2019 Encourage-A-Legislator Program

By | Louisiana | No Comments

Prayer volunteers are needed to pray for our state legislators during the 2019 Louisiana regular legislative session that runs April 8 – June 6.

Through the Encourage-A-Legislator (EAL) Program, CWA of Louisiana friends and partners commit to pray daily for their assigned legislators and to send CWA-provided postcards with preprinted Scripture verses.  It is so easy! Simply add a note of appreciation to the postcard for the legislator’s service and let them know you are praying for them.  Add a postcard stamp and mail the postcard on a specified date.

We live in challenging times, and much prayer is needed to restrain the enemy’s assault on our culture.   Will you commit to being an EAL prayer volunteer this year?  You are needed!

Sign up today by emailing [email protected]. Provide your name, physical mailing address and how many legislators you would like assigned to you.

Please print and distribute EAL promotional materials freely.

“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (I Timothy 2:1,2).

Debbie Hoehl
Encourage-A-Legislator Program Coordinator
CWA of Louisiana
[email protected]

Sancha Smith
State Director
CWA of Louisiana
[email protected]
la.cwfa.org

Thanks to Louisiana Congressmen Abraham and Johnson for Standing Up for Life

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Dear Friend of CWA of Louisiana,

Two Congressmen from the great State of Louisiana have been successful in dealing another blow to those who traffic in human fetal tissue.

Last week, Congressman Ralph Abraham, MD, announced that the FDA canceled a contract with Advanced Bioscience Resources (ABR), which was one of the tissue procurement labs that, due to 2015’s undercover videos, is currently under investigation by the U.S Department of Justice. In 2015 the Center for Medical Progress videos revealed that ABR had set up a model that broke federal law by allowing clinics to profit from the sale of fetal tissue. Although fetal tissue research is legal, the profiting from said tissue is not. Federal law allows for costs like transportation and storage to be covered, but no one may profit from the sale of fetal tissue.

The contract was cancelled in part because Congressman Abraham (R-District 5-Louisiana) and Congressman Mike Johnson (R-District 4-Louisiana), along with 83 other members of Congress, wrote to FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb earlier this month urging him to cancel the contract with ABR.

Additionally, groups like CWA worked with HHS to voice concerns over this contract and fetal tissue research in general. In a release, HHS said they cannot be sure the contract with ABR meets current federal requirements for fetal tissue procurement and, therefore, terminated it.

In addition, HHS has initiated a comprehensive review of all research involving fetal tissue to ensure consistency with statutes and regulations governing such research, and to ensure the adequacy of procedures and oversight of this research in light of the serious regulatory, moral, and ethical considerations involved. Finally, HHS is continuing to review whether adequate alternatives exist to the use of human fetal tissue in HHS funded research and will ensure that efforts to develop such alternatives are funded and accelerated. This administration is vocally and unabashedly pro-life, and it is unacceptable that ANY research is being funded by tax dollars that utilize fetal tissue. 

Federal law prohibits profiting from the sale of human fetal tissue, yet we know that it happens all too often. When the tissue of aborted children becomes a lucrative enterprise, the possibility of human pregnancy mills growing babies only to abort them and sell their tissue, becomes a horrific possibility. Medical research should be focused on ethical alternatives that are producing results; fetal tissue research has yet to successfully produce any therapies to this day. Thank goodness for pro-life elected officials like Congressman Abraham and Johnson who work to restrain such evil prospects.

However, Congress had the ability, through the appropriations process, to end the federal funding of this practice. There was an amendment offered and adopted into the House version of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education bill that would have made such practices illegal. It is disappointing that after getting this rider in the bill last year and again with significant support this year, that House and Senate leadership yet again failed to push for such a basic pro-life provision and instead rolled over to give democrats everything that they wanted.  

Let Us Both PRAY and ACT:

Please Pray: Pray for Congressman Abraham and Congressman Johnson that they would continue to be bold in their fight for pro-life values and that God would give them the knowledge, wisdom, and courage to continue to engage the enemy in an effective way. “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13). 

Please Take Action:

1.      Contact both Congressman Abraham (R) and Congressman Johnson (R) to thank them for being aware of this atrocity and for taking decisive action to stop it.

Congressman Abraham: (202) 225-8490 and/or email
Congressman Johnson: (202) 225-2777 and/or
email

2.      Contact members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committee and ask them to support a federal ban on fetal tissue research.

House Appropriations Committee (Contact the entire committee in one email)

Senate Appropriations Committee (Each individual must be contacted)

 Let our voices resound in the heavens through the power of our prayers, and, on earth, as we take action.

For Truth and Righteousness,

Sancha Noel Smith
State Director
CWA of Louisiana
P.O. Box 2446
Opelousas, LA 70571
(337) 308-8696
[email protected]
la.cwfa.org


Would you like to partner with CWA of Louisiana? Please 
DONATE to CWA of Louisiana and/or consider volunteering. Our state is run exclusively by volunteers and supported 100 percent through donations.  Regardless of the amount, it will make a difference in Louisiana.  Thank you for prayerfully considering these opportunities.

Do you want to receive CWA of Louisiana E-Alerts? If someone forwarded you this e-alert and you would like to be on our e-alert list, please contact me at [email protected].