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Young Women for America Archives – Concerned Women for America

May 03 2023
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On Mathematics and Biblical Womanhood

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By Andrea Silvera, YWA Ambassador in Charlotte, North Carolina

 

“It is impossible to be a mathematician without being a poet in soul.”

Sofia Kovalevskaya

 

In the midst of the seemingly chaotic appearance of equations and solutions in mathematics, something extraordinary emerges: a vibrant choreography of logical sequences that rhyme with life. As a Christian and a young professional who will be pursuing a graduate degree in the applied mathematical sciences, I tend to see a parallel in the transformation of mathematical operations and God’s love story, where in His infinite goodness and mercy, we experience conversion and are made new in Christ as we die to self. This may seem strange to some, but through the language of mathematics, the Holy Spirit has invited me to enter into a deeper relationship with my Creator. Believe it or not, I have been contemplating the ways in which the discipline of mathematics could be characterized as an expression of Biblical womanhood, particularly in its power to create and sustain life.

 

Far too often, mathematics and faith are treated as separate disciplines that are unrelated to one another. But both are real. Isn’t it interesting that while people of different faiths (or none) generally accept statements like 2 + 2 = 4 as a universal truth, disputes regarding the origin of that truth remain contentious?

 

From a Christian perspective, God is transcendent in that He “is the original, authoritative source and knower of 2 + 2 = 4” and immanent in that He “makes the truth 2 + 2 = 4 accessible to and known to human beings.”[1] Since we are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), we have the gifts of reason, morality, and language. Mathematicians believe passionately in the rationality of arithmetical laws and in their ability to be expressed with human language. If the laws are rational, then they are also personal,[2] revealing how God is not disconnected from nor limited by His creation.

 

Using mathematics to describe natural phenomena, we discover new aspects of reality: mathematical research leads to solutions for tangible problems, ranging from wound healing to cybersecurity. It is precisely because of the mathematical foundations in the sciences that engineers, scientists, and medical researchers can innovate.

 

I see the role women play as a bedrock for civilization as analogous to the function mathematics has as a catalyst to scientific and technological innovation. Science depends on mathematics, just as all of life depends on women as mothers, protectors, providers, and so much more.

 

In the book of Psalms, women are described as “corner pillars” of a palace, by which they hold all structures together:

 

“May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, our daughters like corner pillars cut for the structure of a palace” (Psalm 144:12, ESV).

 

What a beautiful picture. It speaks of daughters, accentuating for us the enduring principle of womanhood from generation to generation. At the core of Biblical womanhood is enduring strength. Women are the pillars of the palace of civilization constructed with family units. As women have the unique gift of biological (and spiritual) motherhood to ensure societal flourishing, so too mathematics plays a unique role in scientific study and human survival. From this perspective, mathematics is life-giving. Similar to the way that women give birth to and nurture souls, mathematics gives birth to new discoveries and cultivates the growth or development of scientific advancement and solutions.

 

Femininity in all its glory is not passive, but active, and the same could be said of mathematics, no matter how concealed it may be in our daily lives. Much to continue to ponder about this, but one thing is sure: the infinite domain and range of God’s design are evident to me in both the way I am created as a woman and what I see in the study of mathematics. It all stirs awe and wonder and praise within my soul. I hope it does in yours, too.

[1] Vern S. Poythress, Redeeming Mathematics: A God-Centered Approach. (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, 2015), 61.

[2] Ibid., 18.

Apr 26 2023
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Women Deserve Better than What the FDA Has Given Us

By | News and Events, Sanctity of Life, YWA | No Comments

By Sara Smith, YWA Ambassador in North Dakota

 

The case Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been making headlines recently as a district court in Texas granted a stay of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of mifepristone (a.k.a. the abortion pill). Though the Supreme Court has allowed mifepristone to remain widely available while the case progresses, the lawsuit marks an important step in the fight to protect the lives of the unborn as well as the health and safety of women.

 

To understand the importance of this case, one must first understand the severity of chemical abortion drugs. Chemical abortions often lead to dangerous consequences, including hemorrhage; blood clots; undetected ectopic pregnancy (which is life-threatening); permanent infertility (if an Rh-negative mother is not administered RhoGAM as is done with dangerous “no-test” abortions and telemedicine chemical abortions); and maternal death. In fact, a study from the British Medical Journal found that out of 1,000 women who attempted a chemical abortion, 93 reported experiencing symptoms for which they were advised to seek medical advice. By illegally approving the chemical abortion regimen and removing key safeguards, the FDA sacrificed the safety of women on the altar of political ideology and enabled the sale of extremely dangerous drugs.

 

Though abortion is often labeled as “pro-women,” this court case further exposes evidence that, as Mother Teresa wisely said, “Abortion is profoundly anti-women.” The U.S. District Court in Texas found that the challengers were likely to win in their claim that the FDA failed to protect the safety of women by removing key restrictions placed on the chemical abortion drugs and violated the law by ignoring plaintiffs’ petitions for over 16 years. In addition, the court also found it likely that they would prove the FDA’s use of emergency procedure (which allows for the accelerated approval of new drugs for a life-threatening illness) was inappropriate as pregnancy is not an illness. One of the most recent restrictions removed by the FDA allows women to simply obtain a prescription with an online consultation, after which the drugs will be mailed to their homes. This change is yet another example of the FDA’s blatant disregard for the safety and well-being of women.

 

Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration presents a challenge to the politicization of FDA procedures in an effort to hold the FDA accountable for disregarding the health and safety of women and girls and enabling the distribution of abortion drugs without proper approval. Let’s hope the legal procedure moves quickly. Women deserve better than what the FDA has given us up to this point. If this drug is as safe as they claim, why not go through the proper trials and develop the proper safety data instead of using emergency procedures to bypass ordinary safety protocols? All women, regardless of political persuasion, should welcome this sort of scrutiny, as it will only strengthen women’s safety and ensure no corners are cut in the name of political expediency.

Apr 24 2023
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In the Wake of Dobbs, What Can We Do?

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By YWA Ambassador Sierra M. Welch at North Central University

 

Recently, our country experienced an incredible Supreme Court decision which was the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision. The Dobbs decision stated that “the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion; Roe and Casey are overruled; and the authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people and their elected representatives.” For the first time in 49 years since the Roe v. Wade decision came down, the authority now rests on the states to make decisions on abortion bans, restrictions, or the lack thereof.

 

The Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision has led to the tragic deaths of approximately 63,459,781 children since 1973 according to the National Right to Life organization. However, there are many states in our vast country that do not require abortion statistics to be tracked; therefore, the number is likely much higher.

 

I am unashamedly pro-life. I hold the belief we should love and care for the mothers who are experiencing an unexpected pregnancy, but compassion for these mothers does not have to coincide with the condoning of the unjust death of an innocent child. We cannot be emotionally manipulated into believing the lie that the value of life is conditional upon the feelings of the mother or father about the child. Let’s fight for life. Together.

 

In order to fight any battle, it begins with knowing who the enemy is and how they will attack. As Christians, we do not wage war against flesh and blood, but against the powers and principalities that seek to kill, steal, and destroy every human life. With this spiritual truth in mind, we understand that our war tactics are to bring the everlasting life and hope of Jesus Christ to the world. In doing so, those who accept Christ will be transformed and with this transformation with time comes the desire to fight for all life, protect the vulnerable, and nurture the brokenhearted. With it comes the desire to love mothers, fathers, and children deeply.

 

Yet, part of the battle is understanding we must take action in many spheres. There are legal policies that Satan uses to destroy life in the womb, ultimately the mother and father, too. As Christians, we can fight the battle to create life-giving legislation, by voting, writing, or calling our state legislators. We can volunteer at pro-life pregnancy centers, by simply being bold about what you believe about life and prayer. You, empowered by the Holy Spirit, could be the one to bring the message of hope. I pray that you are encouraged to act on behalf of those who need an arm of support as they walk through an unexpected pregnancy and will be bold to stand for the lives of the unborn, our most vulnerable.

Apr 23 2023
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Save Women’s Sports with Riley Gaines and YWA Clemson

By | News and Events, Women's Sports, YWA | No Comments

On Wednesday, April 19, the Young Women for America (YWA) Chapter at Clemson University hosted 12x NCAA All-American swimmer and Independent Women’s Forum Spokeswoman Riley Gaines to speak on the importance of keeping female sports for females only.

 

Riley shared her experience of national titles and achievement recognition being stolen from her by male swimmer Lia Thomas who identifies as a woman. At this event, 135 people came to hear Riley share her story of tying with Thomas at the NCAA women’s swimming championship but being told that Thomas would receive the trophy for “photo purposes.” Most importantly, Riley spoke to the reality that the ideology of transgenderism is ultimately spiritual warfare and answered many questions from the audience with encouragement to continue to deny the lie in our culture that men can become women.

 

YWA Southern Regional Coordinator Julia Campbell also had the opportunity to share about Concerned Women for America (CWA) and YWA. She spoke on CWA’s seven core issues and how we seek to pray for, advocate for, and educate the younger generation on Biblical principles and Constitutional values. She also shared YWA’s ongoing efforts on this issue, which includes YWA leaders testifying on fairness in women’s sports bills in six states in the last two legislative sessions, rallying outside the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center for the NCAA women’s swimming championships, and speaking at events led by U.S Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-California).

 

We are proud of the YWA Clemson chapter’s work to bring Riley Gaines to campus. We will continue to advocate through events, media, and lobbying until every female athlete has a safe and fair playing field.

YWA Clemson members, YWA chapter president Emily Cope, and YWA regional coordinator Julia Campbell on stage before the event.
YWA Clemson members, YWA chapter president Emily Cope, YWA regional coordinator Julia Campbell, and speaker Riley Gaines.
Apr 20 2023
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House Passes the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act

By | News and Events, Women's Sports, YWA | No Comments

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-California) and other House Republican leaders held a press conference after passing legislation banning transgender women from participating in women’s and girls’ schools’ sports leagues that receive federal funding by a vote of 219-203.

 

Concerned Women for America’s CEO and President, Penny Nance,  and Young Women for America and NCAA volleyball player, Macy Petty, were also at the press conference.

Newsmax – Prime News – Young Women for America leader and NCAA athlete Macy Petty joined Jenn Pellegrino to discuss the U.S. House passing the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.

Fox Business Network – Varney and Co. – Stuart Varney interviewed Macy, in which she shared about her experience competing against a biological male in volleyball.

Fox News Channel – Fox News @ Night – Macy Petty joined Trace Gallagher to react to the U.S. House passing the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.

Macy Petty speaks at the press after the passage of the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.

Apr 18 2023
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YWA Leader-Athletes Mentioned by Epoch Times

By | News and Events, Women's Sports, YWA | No Comments

In an article in The Epoch Times, YWA chapter president Chloe Satterfield and YWA ambassador Macy Petty were interviewed about experiences they have had as female athletes competing against male athletes in women’s sports competitions, as well as the advocacy work they’ve done on this topic:

 

“People were protesting across the street from me and my friend when we were speaking out against this, and they were so hateful,” she said. “But it really just kind of motivated me to be like, ‘We can’t let these people silence us.’ This is so unfair.” – Chloe Satterfield

 

Read the entire article here.

Apr 17 2023
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Baby in womb

The War We Must Wage to Save Our Babies

By | News and Events, Sanctity of Life, YWA | No Comments

By YWA Ambassador Sierra M. Welch at North Central University

 

63,459,781 dead.

 

And many, many more unaccounted for.

 

We are witnessing the genocide of our most precious and vulnerable citizens under the banner of “Choice,” “Bodily Autonomy,” and “Women’s Rights.” Many in this country have traded cheap phrases for the lives of those given no choice, no bodily autonomy, while denying their most basic right: the right to life.

 

Can you hear that our nation cries with the spilt blood of millions of innocent babies? Can you feel the untold sorrow of a nation mourning the loss of millions of adults, teenagers, toddlers, and babies that should be in our midst, yet aren’t?

 

Those under the banner of Christ’s love for the voiceless have just begun the war we will wage on the behalf of the innocent. We will fight for justice for these precious babies created in the profound and wondrous image of God.

 

The wonder and beauty of life begins from the moment of conception.

 

Consider this, at the moment of conception there is a flash of light, like an incredible display of fireworks. This phenomenon was discovered back in 2011 by a team at Northwestern University while studying mice and has now been captured digitally with human embryos. What a wonder is God’s magnificent creation; when the sperm and the egg meet, there is a brilliant explosion of zinc! Not only is there a spectacular display of sparks, but the baby’s sex is immediately determined chromosomally!

 

From this moment on, all that baby boys and girls need is a little time and space to grow. To believe from the moment of conception, babies are anything but human beings with the right to life just as any other person is completely arbitrary, ambiguous, and a dangerous philosophy to carry out into the world.

 

The counterarguments to choosing life are numerous, and the voices on the opposing side are loud.

 

  • The right to abortion is a basic human right.
  • Women need to have access to abortions in order to maintain their female autonomy.
  • The baby is not human until it has a heartbeat, is viable outside the womb, until it is sentient, or until it is born.
  • The baby would have grown up in a bad home, so abortion is the best option.
  • Women will die from back-alley abortions if abortion is illegal.
  • We need abortion to be legal because of cases of rape and/or incest.

 

Some of these arguments may seem to have significant weight and value when one does not understand that an unjust death has to take place in order to achieve said statement. Abortion cannot be a basic human right because it undermines the reality that the baby in the womb is deserving of the right to life, too.

 

Life has profound intrinsic value no matter the situation it is born into, no matter how the mother or father feels about the child in the moment, and no matter the risk. The life of both mother and child should be fought for, valued, and held with deep reverence.

 

Furthermore, if one were to claim a baby in utero is not a human being because it does not have a heartbeat yet, then do we have the right to murder adults who have PACEmakers? What about an LVAD or Left Ventricular Assist Device? These individuals have dependency on a machine to make their hearts beat; is their life any less valuable because of it? Do we have the right to kill any person based upon their size, cognitive development, or location? Just because the baby’s location is in the womb, do we have the right to end the life of a child? At conception the sex and hair color are determined; three weeks after conception the baby’s heartbeat begins; the first eight weeks the baby’s brain, heart, bones, blood vessels, and organs develop, and by the 18th week of pregnancy the baby can hear.

 

Lastly, we must also understand rape consists of 1% of abortions and incest 0.5%, and even in these instances, these children conceived are an innocent party in the act of the crime. 74% of women have abortions because it will dramatically change their life; how cold it is to sorrowfully end the life of a precious child because it will make our lives different than they once were. Adoption is always an option.

 

The life-altering shift to parenthood has been around since the creation of mankind, one to which we have the honor to be a part. Not an easy task, but a God-ordained privilege.

Apr 11 2023
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Two Flags We Ought to Fly

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By Sierra M. Welch, YWA Ambassador at North Central University

 

In the United States of America, we have the honor and privilege to live in a country that has been founded on the fundamental understanding that every human life has inherent meaning, worth, and value. Our constitution declares our right as individuals to peaceful protest, to freedom of speech, and to freedom to worship as we please. Wondrously, the Declaration of Independence promotes life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

 

As I turn my eyes heavenward, I long to see the flag of the Christian faith and the American flag proudly flying high, reminding every American of the glorious and awe-inspiring freedom that we hold, especially the freedom to worship God as people of faith in Christ. 

 

This reality is not known to every individual throughout the world. Not only do many countries not see these rights as necessary or inherent, but there is little religious liberty. Bold Christian faith is often offered the kiss of ostracism, harsh hostility, and even death. Where there is a melting pot of gods, worldviews, and religions, often there are very few churches proclaiming the Gospel and hope of Jesus Christ due to the hostility towards those of the Christian faith. Not only can there be safety concerns, but there is great spiritual depravity, darkness, and hopelessness without the sweet knowledge of Jesus Christ.

 

As we wrestle with the reality that there is great need for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be proclaimed across every nation, tribe, and tongue, may we praise God for the captivating liberty we have in America. This delightful freedom has been fought for a thousand times over by brave men and women since the genesis of the United States. May this sacrifice never be forgotten as we hoist up our flags through wind, rain, and sunshine. 

Apr 02 2023
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We Don’t Need a Plan C

By | News and Events, Sanctity of Life, YWA | No Comments

By Paige Nelson, YWA Ambassador

 

Imagine yourself at twenty-years-old living on your college campus. After taking a pregnancy test, you are completely overwhelmed by the results and unable to face your new reality. In an attempt to find sanctuary and collect your thoughts, you wander into one of the bathroom stalls between classes. You can’t help but notice a pro-abortion flyer hanging on the stall door. Without taking time to do research or consider other solutions, you follow the website and order your at-home-abortion pills with the click of a button. This is the reality that young women all across our country are facing in a post-Roe America. 

 

After the historic overturn of Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022, the pro-life movement has not stopped fighting to make abortion unthinkable. From different interest groups lobbying at the state and federal level, to the March For Life sweeping across our nation, and prayer groups continuously showing up outside abortion clinics, there is a lot of momentum and much to be celebrated.

 

But while we have the court working in our favor, the other side has a tight grasp on my generation, the young voters of America, and they aren’t letting up either.  The new push is to get women to perform DIY abortions at home with the abortion pill. Once the pill was deemed safe by organizations like Plan-C and Planned Parenthood; young women are no longer getting access to any care and instead are receiving life threatening medication over the counter and in the mail.

 

The hearts and minds of our young women need to be changed. We have grown up in a world where we were told that abortion is a constitutional right and that having this right taken away is a step back in women’s fight for equality. 

 

It isn’t enough to just outlaw abortion. We need to teach women why abortion is morally and ethically wrong, and why our most vulnerable population deserves a chance.

 

I am a recent graduate of the University of Utah where the school has recently been promoting information on the abortion pill in women’s restrooms across campus. Inside each stall hangs a flier that reads, “Need to be un-pregnant?” And a QR code that sends women to plancpills.org. 

 

The definition of “pregnant” according to Google is “having a child or young developing in the uterus.” I find this interesting because the same group claiming that this is a safe and harmless procedure is actively admitting that they are intentionally killing a child in the womb. I would not consider genocide to be safe and harmless.

 

According to a 2020 study by the Pew Research Center, 57% of women getting abortions are in their twenties. This means that a majority of these abortions are coming from college-aged women. To be influencing them into a life-changing and a life ENDING procedure in the stalls of the restrooms on campus is absolutely disgusting.

 

There is no encouragement by the “pro-choice” side of the battle for a woman to keep her baby. It’s always that women need abortions and women need access to become un-pregnant.

 

The truth about the at-home abortion “pill” is that it is actually a series of pills that a woman takes over the course of a few days. When she takes the first pill, the growth of the fetus is stunted, ending the supply of hormones and making the uterus uninhabitable. Then with the second pill the child is disposed of in a similar fashion to a miscarriage. 

 

When we think about mothers who go through miscarriages, we get extremely disheartened. There may not be anything more heart-wrenching than a mother losing her child. To allow young women who are emotionally distressed and lacking proper support systems to simulate such a traumatic process all alone is a disgrace to womanhood and should outrage feminists nationwide.

 

If this reaches one expecting mother considering abortion, I want you to know this:

 

I am a twenty-year-old woman fighting for life. I am fighting for life, not because I want my rights to be taken away, but because they were never my rights to begin with. You are in a position right now where you have the chance to raise a beautiful son or daughter. And I know it can be scary, and you may have a lot of doubts. But I guarantee there are not only resources, but people who want to help you through this.

 

If you decide you aren’t ready to raise a child, I know for a fact there are couples waiting for the day to adopt a newborn to call their own. Once you find the right family, you will find comfort in knowing your child will be raised in good hands.

 

Life is full of unexpected turns. But please trust me when I say, you will never regret following through with your pregnancy. This will make you mentally and physically stronger, and you have the pro-life movement backing you the whole way.

Mar 30 2023
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Waiting for our Blessed Hope, I Will Stand for Life

By | News and Events, Sanctity of Life, YWA | No Comments

By YWA Ambassador Sarah Prentice, State University of New York Brockport

 

In American politics today, one of the most hot-button and contentious issues is abortion. Whether one is pro-choice or pro-life, a discussion about this topic is sure to ruffle everyone’s feathers. It can even be divisive among the Christian community.

 

According to Pew Research Center, approximately three-quarters (74%) of white evangelical Protestants think abortion should be illegal in all or most cases. However, 60% of white non-evangelical Protestants believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases, as do 56% of Catholics, and 66% of black Protestants.

 

As an unapologetically pro-life and Bible-believing Christian in America today, I believe that 100% of Christians, regardless of race, gender, or church denomination, should not support abortion in any way.

 

However, in a world of cancel culture and ever-growing political polarization, being boldly pro-life can bring severe opposition. As a college student on an extremely secular campus, I have experienced the social backlash that comes with being pro-life. I have lost friends, potential relationships, and have been name-called, ridiculed, and excluded.

 

I’ve seen Planned Parenthood table at the school “health” fair. I’ve had people comment on my Instagram stories and tell me I’m “evil” for being pro-life. Once, I had a conversation with a pro-choice student where I shared the Gospel and the pro-life stance. It was one of the most spiritually draining conversations I’ve ever had with someone. She ended up getting visibly angry with me and said, “I know it’s killing a life, and I just don’t care!” I immediately wanted to burst into tears because my heart was in agony over the girl’s lost condition and for all the sweet, innocent lives that are taken every day because of a mentality like hers.

 

Perhaps the most difficult experience I’ve encountered because of my pro-life views was losing one of my closest friends. This friend would come with me to church every Sunday, and we attended Bible study together. I attended the service where she prayed with the pastor to accept Christ. However, she continued to cling dearly to her worldly lifestyle.

 

One day we were having lunch together, and the topic of abortion emerged. My friend mentioned she was pro-choice. I shared with her that as Christians, we should stand for the dignity and value of the unborn, as God knit each of us together in our mother’s womb. I lovingly and kindly shared the truth about abortion using Bible verses and the tragedies of the abortion industry. Without any change in emotion or demeanor, she bluntly said, “Well, it still deserves to be the woman’s choice.”

 

My heart sank. How could someone who had supposedly placed their faith in Christ not change their mind after learning what God’s Word had to say about abortion? I started praying daily that she would come to the Lord in fullness and in truth.

 

However, a few weeks later, she posted her pro-choice opinions on Instagram. Our pastor’s wife lovingly approached her about the Biblical view on abortion, but my friend still disagreed. She was offended that I didn’t take her side, and since then, our friendship grew more tense until it ended.

 

I have yet to discover someone at my college with whom I can develop a deep and faith-centered relationship. I have like-minded friends and acquaintances through my chapter of Turning Point USA, but I’m currently the only girl, and it can get lonely at times. My heart longs for the fellowship of like-minded girls my age with whom I can grow in Christ and boldly stand up for life. I am grateful for the community of like-minded girls around the country that I’ve met through YWA.  

 

I know confidently that God will use this experience for His glory and for my sanctification. It has forced me to cling closer and tighter to Christ, as I know that I can find friendship and acceptance in Him when I cannot find it in the world.

 

Jesus once comforted his disciples by saying, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:18-19). Jesus can provide comfort to any Christian with these words today, too.

 

I find comfort in the Word of God, knowing that I have been adopted into the family of God through my faith in Christ (Galatians 4:5, Ephesians 1:5). Even when the world and my own heart fail me, I can take my burdens to Jesus, confident He will provide me with strength to endure times of hardship (Psalm 73:26, Philippians 4:13). Even when I cannot have fellowship with others the way I desire, I know that I have eternal fellowship with my Lord Christ Jesus, and that is far better.

 

Our secular society may ridicule me for being unapologetically pro-life, but my relationship with Jesus is worth infinitely more to me than what society says about me. For this, I will continue to trust God and follow His will as I am “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

 

Jesus will come back again, and when He does, the world will be rid of all evil, and those who have placed their faith in Christ will have physical fellowship with God for all of eternity. When all else fails, this is the hope that never ceases to motivate me to continue standing up for my Christian values on my college campus.

Mar 29 2023
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Strengthening the Unity Between the Generations

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Concerned Women for America & Young Women for America

WORKING TOGETHER

“These older women must train the younger women …” Titus 2:4

Strengthening the Unity Between the Generations
By Dilonna Coran, State Director, Concerned Women for America of Pennsylvania

There is much pressure to keep the next generation of women from living out their faith. They need our support and encouragement to navigate through the daily onslaught of the cultural battles facing their generation. As we work together, we impact change to the policy narrative in our ever-shifting cultural landscape.

The Titus 2 principle is very dear to my heart because it is an extension of loving one another. Simply put, it’s older women standing in the gap for young women to help them walk out their destinies and chase the dreams the Lord has placed in their hearts.

This is the very heart and beauty of Concerned Women for America (CWA) of Pennsylvania. We are comprised of versatile, creative, and innovative women from all across our Commonwealth. We are a diverse team representing a wide range of ages in various seasons of life, all with different personalities and giftings, as we bring our own stories to the table.

And it’s what I love about working with the outstanding ladies of Young Women for America (YWA). Grace Reilly, President of Grove City College’s YWA Chapter, serves on CWA of Pennsylvania’s Steering Committee as an education and sexual exploitation issue specialist. You can read Grace’s article on why she is involved with YWA below.

With this strategic CWA/YWA partnership, we are taking back the narrative facing our state and nation. We are putting Titus 2:3-5 into action! In these days of gender-neutral bathrooms, drag-queen story hours and performances, indoctrination of our children, same-sex marriage, infanticide, and the ever-increasing hostility toward anything Christian, we need the Titus 2 principle more than ever! This relationship makes the efforts of good policy at our state capitol critically alive.

Working together with the next generation of female leaders is part of the necessary process to change the course of our culture. It isn’t so much about speed but direction. I can’t help but relate our efforts to a grain of mustard seed. Jesus taught His disciples that seed is small, hidden from the natural eye, and seemingly insignificant. And there isn’t anything seemingly significant about a seed sower either. Often there is no recognition, no quick results, no pomp, no fans cheering us on from the sidelines, no immediate returns. We just faithfully continue to sow the seed.

It can seem insignificant but remember, our labor to see good policy in Pennsylvania is never insignificant! All the seeds we have sown to advance religious liberty, life, election reform, parental rights, protecting children, and saving women’s sports within our state are really just simple steps of obedience. Nothing extravagant or to write home about, but it is what we do as CWA of Pennsylvania.

The role of CWA is to remind, educate, and inspire us to call this nation back to Biblical principles. This is how God uses us for His great purposes as we pour love into the next generation. It’s the small victories that add up to bringing incremental change. And these victories can show up in unexpected places and in different sizes. Perhaps this is why Paul reminds us to, “. . . not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up” (Galatians 6:9).

Our allegiance to truth will yield incremental victories, so let’s keep pressing. Don’t get discouraged by the current climate at our State Capitol and in the community where you live. In the hands of God, tiny seeds can produce policy-changing results. Don’t lose hope, for in due time, you will be amazed at the fruit that comes from your labor of love and the seeds you sow.

Join the efforts of CWA of Pennsylvania and YWA as we strengthen the unity between the generations! Together, we will not cease sowing! It is what we have been created to do.

The Bond Between the Generations is of Incredible Value
By Grace Reilly, Young Women for America President, Grove City College

 

A community of conservative women centered in Christ is the foundation of Young Women for America (YWA) at Grove City College. I have had the privilege of serving as the President of Grove City College’s YWA Chapter this year and am incredibly thankful for the organization.

The values anchoring YWA in Christ are what makes the organization so special. Our chapter, alongside other YWA chapters nationally, does not shy away from difficult political topics. Instead, we face political issues head-on through a Christian lens. It is incredibly rare to find a community of Christian conservative women who demonstrate such a bold drive and passion to make a difference.

President Ronald Reagan described freedom as never being more than one generation away from extinction. He noted that it is our responsibility to steward and preserve it. YWA extends from CWA to inspire the younger generation to stand up and carry the torch forward. YWA’s Grove City Chaplain, Sophia Smokowicz, explained her perspective on the community that YWA fosters. She explained, “What I find so charming about YWA at Grove City is that it’s not strictly political but instead welcomes deeper discussions of the purpose and value of life and how we, as Christian women, can further God’s kingdom with bold humility!”

I recently joined Concerned Women for America (CWA) of Pennsylvania’s Steering Committee as an Issues Specialist on Education and Sexual Exploitation. The joint effort of YWA with the state effort is of paramount importance in furthering CWA’s mission. The bond between the generations of Christian conservative women is incredibly valuable as we unite to pray and take action. We are stronger together, with the generations working together and linking arms.

 

It’s Time to Take the Next Step
No matter your age or season of life, know that you are needed. Find out today how to join the team! Contact us at [email protected] or 570-567-4171, and/or consider giving a tax-deductible gift for our efforts here in Pennsylvania by going here. 

 

 

Mar 24 2023
0

“What is a Woman?” YWA Ambassador Hosts CWA Senior Advisor on Campus to Discuss

By | News and Events, YWA | No Comments

On Tuesday, March 21, 2023, Young Women for America (YWA) Ambassador, Anna Young, hosted an event centered around the topic “What is a Woman” through Quaestus at her school, Concordia University in Wisconsin. Quaestus is a student-led liberty, faith, and economics journal which focuses on encouraging students to have civil discourse surrounding topics such as transgender ideology, women’s sports, and what the future of womanhood looks like.

 

Senior Advisor for Concerned Women for America, Doreen Denny, spoke at the event. Since March Madness is currently happening, Doreen played off that theme to give three examples of “madness events” that have happened in March regarding the gender identity issue. Denny’s first example of madness happened in March of 2022, which was the confirmation hearing of Supreme Court Justice nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) asked Ketanji Brown Jackson to provide the definition of a woman, to which Jackson responded, “No, I can’t; I’m not a biologist.”

 

The second madness happened in March 2021 at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing about the Equality Act. Sen. John Kennedy (R-Louisiana) asked Alfonso David, from the Human Rights Campaign, if there were more than two biological sexes, to which David responded, “You could make that argument.” The third madness was March 2022 when Lia Thomas, a biological male, won the NCAA National Championship in the women’s 500-yard freestyle race.

 

The definition of a woman is an adult female human being. Sex is a scientific fact, objective, and it’s at the center of our creation. If biological truth can be overruled by one self-identifying, where are the limits, and where is gender identity taking us?

 

Young Women for America is grateful for women like Doreen, who graciously and boldly advocate for the scientific, Biblical, and absolute truth that there are only two sexes, male and female, and recognize the dangers that arise when society ignores this truth. We are also proud of our leaders, like Anna Young, who dedicate time and resources to make conversations like this possible. We are thankful for the unique passions and purposes the Lord created us with when He distinctly created us female. As Doreen shared at the event, “Men might want to wear our heels, but they will never walk in our shoes.”

 

Mar 13 2023
0

YWA Ambassador Testifies on Texas Girls’ Sports Bill

By | News and Events, Women's Sports, YWA | No Comments

On March 13, 2023, Young Women for America Ambassador Noelle Fitchett testified in front of the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee Hearing on SB 15, a bill that would prohibit biological males from competing in female college athletics.

 

From competing in soccer and dance in high school, as well as having three younger brothers, Noelle can attest to the biological differences between males and females. Because of their strength and athletic capacity, it is unjust to have biological males compete against and alongside biological females. Noelle says, “Allowing men in women’s sports is an outrage and a betrayal of women’s rights. This is discrimination toward women in the 21st century. This is an attack on the progress we have made as a society, an attack on science, on women, and who God created us to be.”

 

You can read Noelle’s statement in full here. You can watch testimony below.

Play Video

Noelle cares about keeping female sports for females only because she believes God made man and woman distinctly and differently. She sees the placing of males in female sports as deliberately ignoring what a woman really is, as well as the end of female athletics and therefore, the end to opportunities for so many women in America.

 

On Thursday, March 16, the bill passed out of the committee. We are thankful for the current Texas law that protects girls’ sports by ensuring biological males cannot compete on female teams in K-12 education, and we anticipate the day this bill lands on Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk so that women are protected at every level of athletics in the state of Texas.

 

Picture caption: YWA Ambassador Noelle Fitchett is on the left, and Texas Values’ Director of Government Relations Mary Castle is on the right.

YWA Ambassador Noelle Fitchett
YWA Ambassador Noelle Fitchett and Texas Values' Director of Government Relations Mary Castle.
Mar 07 2023
0

YWA Testifies on Kansas Female Sports Bill

By | News and Events, Sexual Exploitation, Women's Sports, YWA | No Comments

On March 6, 2023, Young Women for America (YWA) ‘s Southern Regional Coordinator Julia Campbell testified before the Kansas Senate Committee on Education Hearing in support of HB 2238, a bill presented to ensure that all athletes in female sports are indeed biological females.

 

Though Julia is no longer an athlete, she did dance for nine years, and as a woman, she shares the concern for the dangers of letting males compete in female sports. As a Regional Coordinator for YWA, Julia believes that “The role assigned by God to men is to protect women, not trample on them by taking advantage of their giftings, dreams, and platforms. Having men in women’s arenas only further pits males and females against each other. The two sexes prosper when they work in complementary tandem, not disparaging tension. Each should prosper in their giftings, not sell themselves so short that they believe they can only achieve success by taking someone else’s reward.”

 

Read Julia’s statement in full here.

Play Video

Julia cares deeply about the issue of keeping female sports for females only because it is one issue in the larger picture of preserving the dignity of being a woman. She bases this belief on how God made man and woman, in His own image, with distinct purposes and identities; we as humans do not have the authority or wisdom to change what God has designed.

 

HB 2238 passed the Committee on Education on March 7, 2023, and we are looking forward to the day when the option to protect women’s sports in Kansas ends up on Gov. Laura Kelly’s desk.

Left to right: Riley Gaines with Julia Campbell. Riley is one of our friends in the fairness in women's sports coalition.
Left to right: Julia Campbell with Brittany Jones, the Director of Policy and Engagement at Kansas Family Voice.
Mar 07 2023
0

YWA Rutherford County Hosts Pro-Life Event

By | News and Events, Sanctity of Life, YWA | No Comments

YWA Rutherford County Hosts Pro-Life Event

On Monday, March 6, our Young Women for America (YWA) Rutherford County, Tennessee, chapter president Hannah Faulkner hosted a Culture of Life Banquet to highlight pro-life organizations, hear from pro-life speaker Victoria Robinson, and participate in a special offering for Portico, a local pregnancy center. More than seventy-five people, of all ages, were in attendance.

 

Nicole Herschberger from Turning Point USA Faith, Joshua Rosales with Latinos for Tennessee, and Tammy Burrow with Portico all shared ways to get involved locally with the pro-life movement. 

 

At this event, I was able to share about the mission of YWA and Concerned Women for America (CWA) with a focus on what we do on the sanctity of life issue. I shared a video that beautifully portrays CWA’s fight for life throughout the decades. It was an honor to share with people about CWA’s heart for the unborn, and it was encouraging to see so many people spend their evening learning about how they can be involved and be a voice for the voiceless.

 

As Hannah said when she opened the night, “We as Christians in this nation have a duty, and that duty is to take a stand for life. It may be uncomfortable, but we must continue to fight and make our voices heard.” 

L-R: Hannah Faulkner, Morgan Schlesselman, YWA National Director
People loved grabbing the YWA pro-life stickers and the CWA push cards with pro-life facts.
YWA Rutherford County chapter president Hannah Faulkner did a great job opening the event and encouraging those in attendance to take a strong stance for the unborn.
Feb 22 2023
0

Not Unto Death

By | News and Events, YWA | No Comments

By Sarah Merly, YWA Ambassador at Patrick Henry College

 

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” But when Jesus heard it He said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” John 11:1-4, ESV

 

Every year, I stand upon dusty brown grass in the bleary grayness of January, joining a vast crowd huddled for hours on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. As nihilistic as it sounds, this event is truly one of my favorite traditions. This year, the March for Life celebrated its 50th anniversary by holding its first March after the reversal of Roe v. Wade, and everyone was so proud and thankful to stand in our nation’s capital for this historic moment. Speakers like Tony Dungy and Jonathan Roumie continually encouraged us to persevere in Christ’s name. Reporters weaved their way through the masses, hoping to share our thoughts with the world. One of those reporters, Doug Blair of Salem Media Group, asked me a few questions about my stance on the issue of life.

 

“What does this mean to you?”

 

 What does this mean? I thought to myself. It means everything.

 

I ended up answering the question apologetically, thinking of the unbelievers who may be watching the late-night show later on. The March means we’re saving unborn, overlooked, and devalued children’s lives. We’re the ones who are empowering women, not the Left.

 

I knew it was meant to be a brief interview. After editing, I appeared on the show for less than a minute. But I also knew that many pro-abortion activists hear those same arguments, day in and day out, and never once stop to think that they could be true. For me, though, the issue of life is not simply a moral issue with completely rational supporting arguments—though it is—it is also an issue that I care about from my heart, from the experience I journeyed through as a child.

 

Here follows what I longed to say on camera.

 

I grew up in the glorious sunshine of Florida as the eldest of five children. I had known and loved Jesus for as long as I could remember. In addition, I had participated in several local Walks for Life and volunteered to help younger children in my church. I always believed abortion was equal to no less than murder, and I never questioned that.

 

On one fateful day in February 2015, however, my life changed forever. At age 12, I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). My pancreas had stopped working (no one knew why), and because of that, I couldn’t eat again without insulin shots, on an average of seven times per day. My first task every morning was to stick a needle in my leg, and my last task every day was the same. I was utterly terrified of needles at the time—and what was worse, the first type of insulin the doctor prescribed to me gave me a horrible allergic reaction. And I had to do this for the rest of my life because there was no cure. Eventually, I fell into a state of serious depression.

 

Those who argue for abortion could use this as a classic tale of why babies in the womb who might have disabilities are better off dead before birth. After my diagnosis, I felt like I wanted to believe that. One of the main reasons was that I was terrified to fall asleep at night because I knew that if my sugar suddenly dropped and I didn’t wake up, I could soon die. I felt like I had my life in my hands at all times, and when I fell asleep, I was utterly helpless, utterly at the hands of death itself. Like Martha and Mary, I was convinced that this illness only meant a slow, miserable death.

 

Contrary to my imagination, though, Jesus was indeed holding onto me. During one of my worst weeks with depression, I had to practice some music on the piano for worship that coming Sunday. One of the songs was “Give Me Faith” by Elevation Worship. Listening to the chorus over and over and talking with the other women on the worship team completely changed my perspective.

 

Give me faith to trust what You say

That You’re good and Your love is great

I’m broken inside

I give You my life

 

At that point, “I give You my life” suddenly took on a very literal meaning for me. It wasn’t just a matter of accepting Jesus into my heart but trusting Him with the overwhelming fragility and difficulty of my earthly life. From that point on, I committed to giving God all my burdens and trusting that if He wants me to live another day, He’ll make that happen, even when I can’t comprehend how.

 

With that trust arrived so much joy, albeit gradually. I began to see the beauty in every day and rejoiced at the miracles with which God had surrounded me. Now I am filled with a zest for life that I never could have had without T1D, because I have learned to let go of my physical life. Yes, I still go through a lot to take care of myself every day, but it no longer feels like a burden because the fear of death doesn’t define me. I now wear several devices on my body that prolong my life very much, but looking back, I realize that I needed to live through the difficulty of needles (versus a pump) to truly treasure those blessings. Without diabetes, who knows how much I’d be committed to investing in others, to proving that a disability does not necessarily equate to a life of misery?

 

What does the “life issue” mean to me? It means that everyone should have a chance to experience the joy with which my heart now overflows. It means that we do have an answer to the Left’s pathetic version of “pity” for the “disabled.” It means that every trial, every tribulation, every thorn in the flesh can transform into a pristine, Heavenly avenue of God’s glory.

 

This sickness is not unto death.

Feb 16 2023
0

Local Bookstore Hosts Book Reading with a Drag Queen

By | News and Events, Sexual Exploitation, YWA | No Comments

By Young Women for America Ambassador, Hannah Gebhardt

 

On Saturday, February 11, local Morganton, North Carolina, business Adventure Bound Books hosted the Rainbow Readers Story Time event. The store invited young readers to “Join us as we welcome local Drag Queen Chloe Capri to the story time stage to read The You Kind of You. Craft to follow story.”

 

According to the TikTok page @chloecaprithequeen, Chloe Capri is a drag performer with Just Two Guys Productions. Capri has taken part in various drag events, including several shows at another local Morganton restaurant, Moondog Pizza, where multiple “kid-friendly” drag events have taken place. Capri was invited to Adventure Bound to take part in a read-aloud of The You Kind of You by Nina West, a children’s book that teaches “kindness, community, love, and inclusion.”

 

Author of the book, Nina West, is a drag queen and advocate of the Disney Pride initiative. According to an article by Sabina Graves, “West aims to spread awareness that kindness is needed more than ever, especially with legislation all over the U.S. with the potential to endanger LGBTQ youth.”[1] West’s book exposes children to the LGBTQ+ movement, teaching them to embrace who they feel to be on the inside.

 

Events like these rob children of their innocence by teaching them that they should explore sexual preferences and desires at a young age. The LGBTQ+ movement is based entirely on redefining the biological standards of sexuality, and therefore, any material in relation to this movement should not be given or discussed in front of young, developing minds. Today’s youth are statistically the gayest generation in history because our society continues to desensitize morality by redefining objective truth.

 

Ephesians 4:14-15 explains, “So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ.” Our God is not a God of confusion, but rather He has given us His Word to lead us in grace and truth. The LGBTQ+ movement calls children to love themselves by a worldly standard, leaving them empty as they look upon their depraved state. But true love comes from the truth of the Word of God; that we have been intentionally designed by our Creator and have been called to glorify Him. It’s time to stop exploiting children, and instead begin loving by guarding them with grace and truth.

 

[1] Graves, Sabina. “Nina West on the Importance of Kindness and Being a Fantastical Fan.” Gizmodo, 25 Nov. 2022, https://gizmodo.com/nina-west-drag-star-disney-pride-icon-new-kids-book-1849817738.

 

 

Feb 02 2023
0

Out Now: National Girls & Women in Sports Day with Macy Petty and Chloe Satterfield

By | News and Events, Podcast, Women's Sports, YWA | No Comments

On National Girls and Women in Sports Day, Young Women for America leaders Macy Petty and Chloe Satterfield joined Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-California) on a panel with fellow female athletes to share their stories about being forced to compete against biological males.

 

Shortly after the panel, Macy and Chloe joined Concerned Women Today with Concerned Women for America’s CEO and President Penny Nance to reflect on the day.

 

Listen to the new episode below. Check out more Concerned Women Today podcasts here.

 

Feb 02 2023
0

Young Women for America Joins Speaker McCarthy in Celebration of National Girls & Women in Sports Day

By | News and Events, Women's Sports, YWA | No Comments

To commemorate National Girls and Women in Sports Day, Young Women for America leaders Macy Petty and Chloe Satterfield were invited by Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy to tell their stories about competing against biological males in their field.  Both were honored to be with Members of Congress to bring this growing problem to light and to encourage them to act to protect female athletes.  They joined Rep. Claudia Tenney earlier in the day for the reintroduction of the “Protecting Women and Girls in Sports Act.”

 

Read our media advisories:

Women’s Group Endorses Legislation to Protect Female Athletes on National Girls & Women in Sports Day

 

YWA Leaders to Join House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to Champion Women’s Sports

Watch National Girls and Women in Sports Day Panel
Jan 30 2023
0

YWA Leader Testifies on Virginia Girls’ Sports Bill

By | News and Events, Women's Sports, YWA | No Comments

On January 30, 2023, Young Women for America Ambassador Halli Gravley testified before the Virginia House of Delegates Higher Education Subcommittee Hearing in support of HB 1387, a fairness in women’s sports bill.

 

As a current female athlete on a college synchronized skating team in Virginia, Halli provided a much-needed perspective in this discussion. Furthermore, as an Ambassador for Young Women for America, Halli was able to “represent not only myself as an athlete but also young women across this state and this country who believe one of the most foundational truths that have existed from the beginning of time – God created two distinct sexes male and female. Allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports is an attack on science— on physical reality— and a betrayal of women’s rights.”

 

You can watch Halli’s shortened testimony here or read her statement in full here.

 

Halli is no stranger to the fight to defend the integrity of women’s sports as she testified a year ago in her home state of Kentucky in support of HB 23, the Save Women’s Sports Act, which passed and was signed into law.

 

HB 1387 passed the Higher Education Subcommittee, and we are looking forward to the day when the option to protect women’s sports in Virginia ends up on Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s desk.

Left to Right: Riley Gaines, Halli Gravley, Marshi Smith, and Abi Prudent. Riley and Marshi are some of our friends in the fairness in women’s sports coalition. Abi is a classmate of Halli’s, and she also testified in support of HB 1387.

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