North Dakota

On Tuesday, March 27, myself and Encourage-A-Legislator Coordinator Karen Anderson headed to Fargo to hear Vice President Mike Pence speak at the American’s for Prosperity event!

We had seats in the front row and both had the opportunity to shake Vice President Pence’s hand and thank him! My message was, “Concerned Women for America of North Dakota thanks you!”  Karen said, “Thank you for standing with Israel”.   We were grateful for the opportunity to thank our Vice President!

As he spoke about the upcoming November election, Vice President Pence spoke out against Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-North Dakota), “Time and time again Heidi Heitkamp has voted against the policies the people of North Dakota support, the policies the people of North Dakota need.  She voted no on repealing Obama Care. … She even voted no on protecting the unborn.  The truth is Heidi Heitkamp hasn’t been putting North Dakota first, and I don’t know about the rest of you, but I think the people of North Dakota deserve better!”

Join CWA of North Dakota in praying for our government leaders!  Pray that the eyes of every leader will be opened to the truth about life so that we will live in a stable society that values life from the unborn until natural death.  As you read about them, watch them on TV, hear of them doing this or that, pray.  Pray for them by name.

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  This is good, and pleases God our Savior…” – 1 Timothy 2:1-3

Linda Thorson
State Director
CWA of North Dakota
[email protected]
nd.cwfa.org

A wonderful discussion was held this last weekend at CWA of North Dakota’s first ever Feisty & Feminine Book Discussion. The book written by Penny Young Nance is “A Rallying Cry for Conservative Women – How to engage a culture desperate for a redemptive message”. We discussed ways we can be relevant to the pressing issues confronting our culture while still holding fast to our faith and conservative values.

We hope to have several of these book discussions across the state.

The purpose of these events, and Penny’s book, is to change the way women engage the culture.

“Conservative women have never fit neatly into stereotypes, especially conservative Christian women,” says Penny. “We’re not the humorless, dim-witted ‘church ladies’ Saturday Night Live has made us out to be. Today’s conservative women are intelligent, well-educated, compassionate, accomplished, funny, and fearless—and it’s time for us to stand up and be heard. In fact, we have an opportunity like never before to offer words of redemption to a world gone mad.”

Let us come together and learn to be direct without being disrespectful, winsome but not shallow, and relevant while still holding to faith and conservative values.

The time is right for this book — and for conservative women everywhere to be part of the conversation.

One attendee, Tatjyana Richards, grew up in Russia and now lives with her family in North Dakota.  She emailed me after the event, “It was good to be with ladies from Concerned Women for America this morning in Fargo.   Let’s get more people involved fighting the good fight for values that made America the best country in the world.   Thank you, Linda Thorson, for all that you do and for the wonderful book, Feisty & Feminine by Penny Young Nance.  Looking forward to reading the whole thing.”

Are you interested in information about possibly hosting such an event? Contact me for more information.

Linda Thorson
State Director
CWA of North Dakota
701-331-9792
[email protected]
nd.cwfa.org

Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-North Dakota), Senator Doug Jones (D-Alabama), and Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri) each represent pro-Life states but chose to ignore their constituents who wanted a ‘yes’ vote on yesterday’s Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. This video of Senator Heitkamp high-fiving Senator Schumer (D-New York) after voting ‘NO’ on S. 2311 highlights how out of touch she is with her home state. This bill was about protecting the most vulnerable from excruciating pain. North Dakotans are not flippant about protecting the unborn. They deserve better.

On Thursday, January 26, a beautiful group of ladies from the Women’s Pregnancy Network met in Grand Forks to be encouraged and to share ideas about ministering to new mothers and their families.

The day began with a tour by Jill Thingelstad Chandler, Executive Director of the Grand Forks Women’s Pregnancy Center. After the tour, the group met to discuss how to best serve the women coming into pregnancy centers in North Dakota and Minnesota.

I highlighted the message of Penny Young Nance, CEO and President of Concerned Women for America, that as Christian women living in America today, we are in a unique position to change history.  We know the truth because we know the Author of Truth!  We were encouraged to be engaged in the pressing issues confronting our culture and to hold fast to our faith and conservative Biblical values. Penny Young Nance’s book, Feisty and Feminine, was given to each lady as a gift from Concerned Women for American of North Dakota.

I was greatly encouraged to hear about the way these ladies love the strangers who walk through their doors seeking help and support! They truly live out the call of Paul in Ephesians 5:1, 2 which says, “Follow God’s example, therefore as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

Linda Thorson
State Director
CWA of North Dakota
[email protected]
nd.cwfa.org

Dear Friend,

I know that you have already heard from the national office of Concerned Women for America regarding the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, but I want to restate the urgency for us to both pray and act.

Now is the time to speak up for the unborn!   Please take the time to pray, and then ask Sen. Heidi Heitkamp to vote in favor of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act!  The vote may be as early as Monday!

The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act is one of the most crucial pieces of human rights legislation in Congress today. It is time that our laws reflect the principles which have upheld our government, like that of life — life for the baby that feels pain when poked or prodded in the womb, and the life of the mother whose health and life are at risk when seeking a late-term abortion.

Please Pray: Ask the Lord to thwart the plans of those who put the value of convenience above the value of life.  Thank the Lord for U.S. Sen. John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), who has been a faithful defender of life.

Take Action:

1. Call Sen. Heitkamp’s office at (800) 223-4457 and/or email her. Encourage her to vote for the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.  Be sure to let her know that you are a member of Concerned Women for America of North Dakota.
2. Please forward this message to others you know who support life.  Encourage them to both pray and act immediately.

Last year, Sen. Heitkamp (third from the left) met with North Dakota Planned Parenthood representatives, including the State Director Amy Jacobson (far right). You can be sure they are doing all they can to persuade the senator to support their agenda.  Let us do all we can to persuade her to support life!

I know, based on Sen. Heitkamp’s voting record, that contacting her office may seem like a waste of time. But know that regardless of what we think she will do, she needs to be held accountable. Heitkamp needs to know that not everybody agrees with her. If we stay silent, she only hears from those who agree with her. Let us do all we can to defuse her enthusiasm.

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.” — Proverbs 31:8

TODAY is the day to defend life in the womb! Again, the vote could occur as early as Monday.

For Life!

Linda Thorson
State Director
CWA of North Dakota
[email protected]
nd.cwfa.org

Have you read any of Lloyd Omdahl’s columns recently in the Grand Forks Herald?  He sure has gotten my attention!  After reading his column on January 1, I could not be silent any longer.  I responded with a letter to the editor, and three papers have printed it so far.

Grand Forks Hareld: Omdahl’s Idea of an Abortion Truce isn’t Good
The Bismark Tribune: Omdahl’s Call for Truce Wrong
Inforum: Why is Omdahl Calling for a Truce in the Abortion Debate?

Please continue to pray for the issue of abortion, especially in the body of believers.  May we not grow faint in the day of adversity.

“If you faint in the day of adversity,
Your strength is small.

Deliver those who are drawn toward death,
And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.
 If you say, ‘Surely we did not know this,’
Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it?
He who keeps your soul, does He not know it?
And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?”

– Proverbs 24:10 – 12

May we be found faithful.

Linda Thorson

State Director
CWA of North Dakota
[email protected]
nd.cwfa.org

January 16, 2018, is Religious Freedom Day across the nation. It commemorates the Virginia General Assembly’s adoption of Thomas Jefferson’s landmark Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom on January 16, 1786. That statute became the basis for the Establishment Clause in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and led to freedom of religion for all Americans. Religious Freedom Day is officially proclaimed on January 16 each year by a statement by the President of the United States.

Gov. Doug Burgum has declared this day to be Religious Freedom Day in North Dakota!  Click here to view his proclamation.

Last week, the North Dakota Legislative Prayer Caucus had a press conference in our state capitol to announce this proclamation.  State Sen. Janne Myrdal (R-District 10) led in prayer.  I found the event to be very encouraging!

Please take time tomorrow, January 16, to recognize Religious Freedom Day.

• Pray for the leaders of both our state and country.
• Pray the Lord will raise up leaders across our nation who will honor Christ’s ways and seek His favor. May they do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly before (Micah 6:8)
• Thank the Lord for the religious freedom that we experience, especially in comparison to many countries.
• Pray for protection from those who aim to take this sacred freedom from us through public opinion, the courts, and the legislative process.
• Pray that faithful prayer warriors from all across our state will rise up!

“God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that His justice cannot sleep forever.” – Thomas Jefferson

Please share this prayer need with your like-minded family and friends.

Sincerely,

Linda Thorson
CWA of North Dakota
[email protected]
nd.cwfa.org

“Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” — Genesis 2:7

Gov. Doug Burgum signed a proclamation that makes January 2018 the “Sanctity of Human Life Month!” Click here to view proclamation.

CWA of North Dakota is thrilled that Gov. Burgum has made this appropriate move in recognizing the dignity of human life and its paramount place in our society!

Please take the time to contact Gov. Burgum and thank him. Let him know that you agree with this proclamation, which states that life from the unborn child to the senior citizen is a fundamental principle of the American people and a valued part of our society.

It is crucial that we give positive feedback when our elected officials make good decisions. They often hear only negative comments; this makes positive feedback stand out.

Please call or email Gov. Burgum’s office right now!

(701) 328-2200

Click here to email him

Lastly, please send this message to your friends and family, and encourage them to contact the governor as well.

Thank you in advance for standing with us for life!

Linda Thorson
State Director
CWA of North Dakota
[email protected]
nd.cwfa.org

Merry Christmas from CWA of North Dakota!

Dear CWA of North Dakota Friends,

Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year to you and yours! We have had such a rewarding year of working together to further the Biblical values we hold so dear. Please click here to read about all the Lord has done through the ministry of CWA of North Dakota in 2017.

Linda Thorson
State Director
CWA of North Dakota
[email protected]
nd.cwfa.org