“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old.” (Psalm 77:11)
Dear Friends:
On behalf of Kansas Family Voice of New Mexico, I want to wish you and your family a Happy New Year and extend my deepest gratitude to all of you who supported us financially in 2018. I say it often—we could not do this without you and thanks to your generosity, we ended our inaugural year very well.
As we begin a new year, I want to take a moment to reflect on where we have been and where we are headed. Therefore, this week, I am proud to share with you our “Top 3 Accomplishments of 2018.”
#1—Our work during the 2018 Legislative Session
In 2018, we participated in our first Legislative Session and provided critical analysis and support to our legislators on issues related to life, family, and religious freedom. Most notably, we managed to get one of our legislative priorities—House Bill 56, which would have required that notification be given to a parent when their minor child obtains an abortion—on the agenda, which is especially difficult during a 30-day session. Not only that, we further managed to get House Bill 56 a hearing in spite of the committee chairman’s efforts to stall the bill. We also teamed up with New Mexico Prays to host “Pastors’ Day at the State Capitol.” More than 100 pastors and faith leaders from various denominations and communities across New Mexico participated in the event, which included a luncheon and prayer service in the Capitol Rotunda.
#2—Our participation in the 2018 Statesmen Academy
During the summer of 2018, we were honored to help host the 2018 Statesmen Academy®—a weeklong conference for on-the-rise Christian legislators and aspiring policymakers. This annual event provides attendees with an enduring fellowship of mutual encouragement and accountability, spiritual strength, and political wisdom, and in 2018, we were blessed to have two of our New Mexico State Representatives in attendance—Rebecca Dow and Rod Montoya. Statesmen Academy classes were taught by experienced Christian legislative leaders including retired U.S. Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, Congressman Daniel Webster of Florida, Senator Paul Gazelka, Majority Leader of the Minnesota Senate, Dr. Matt Spalding of Hillsdale College, and Clark Forsythe of Americans United for Life.
#3—Our work during the 2018 Election
There is no question that the 2018 Election was dominated by the liberal and progressive wings of our state party politics. However, all was not lost on election night, as 8 of the candidates we endorsed for the New Mexico House of Representatives were elected or reelected, including all three of our Statesmen Academy alumni—Representatives Rebecca Dow, David Gallegos, and Rod Montoya. Notably, in Districts 22 and 63, our endorsed candidates were victorious in two of the most tightly contested races of the cycle. After a mandatory recount, Representative Gregg Schmedes won by 142 votes and Representative Martin Zamora edged out his opponent by 25 votes. Representatives Cathrynn Brown, Greg Nibert, and James Strickler were also reelected and we are truly fortunate to have them returning to the State Capitol this month!
By God’s grace, and with your prayers and generous support, that is where we have been. And the good news is, we are headed in some exciting directions in 2019!
Please stay tuned next week for our “Top 3 Goals for 2019.”
Until then, God bless you and best wishes for a prosperous new year!
Soli Deo Gloria,
Vince Torres
President and Executive Director
P.S. As you plan your charitable giving for 2019, please keep us in mind and consider setting up a recurring monthly gift to support our efforts. 2019 will be full of opportunities and threats when it comes to the issues and values we care about. But, together, and with the good Lord’s blessing, this will be a year in which we continue to move the ball forward for a New Mexico where God is honored, religious freedom flourishes, families thrive, and life is cherished!