faith Archives

What You Might Not Know About Pastor Saeed Abedeni

If you’ve been keeping an eye on the news, you’ve probably heard about Saeed Abedeni. He’s an Iranian-American pastor, a former Muslim who converted to Christianity.

In 2012, Saeed went to Iran, a trip he’d made nearly a dozen times before. He was there to visit family and work on a government-approved orphanage for Muslim children. Instead, he was arrested by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and charged with “threatening Iran’s national security.”

In government-speak, that means they considered his Christian faith dangerous.

Topics: Current Events Tags: broadcast, faith, news, religious liberty March 17, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Watch Amazing Video of 31-Week-Old Baby Smiling in the Womb

Note: Did you miss out on watching “The Drop Box” last week? Well, tonight more than 400 theaters across the nation are showing a one-time encore presentation of this award-winning documentary film. Check out locations and purchase your tickets online at www.thedropboxfilm.com!

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If you’re a parent of a biological child, you’ll never forget the first moment you saw your little one on an ultrasound image.

It’s the ultimate look within. Today’s expectant parents can see what tens of billions of couples throughout history never did – 3-D images of their preborn baby moving around inside the womb.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, kids, parenting, pro-life, technology March 16, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

In Dying, Kara Tippetts Shows Us God is Present in Pain

What does dying with dignity look like?

At 38, Kara Tippetts is answering that question as she faces her final days on earth.

In recent posts on her popular blog, “Mundane Faithfulness,” Kara shares how she now uses a wheelchair (which she named Norman), sleeps on a hospital bed at home, and is in hospice care.

These are harsh realities for a wife and mother of four young children to face. Yet she does it with God’s grace – a grace that has allowed her to give to others through her blog and book, even while she battles cancer.

Topics: Current Events Tags: broadcast, faith, news March 13, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

A Second Chance to Watch “The Drop Box” on March 16!

Were you one of the many people who weren’t able to see “The Drop Box” movie last week because of bad weather? Were you shut out of a sold-out theater?

If so, I have good news: Focus on the Family is showing an encore presentation of “The Drop Box” on Monday, March 16! You can purchase your tickets today.

Last week, nearly a quarter million people watched “The Drop Box” across the U.S. and Canada.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: adoption, entertainment, faith, pro-life, promos March 10, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

“The Drop Box” Debuts Tonight!

Years in the making, “The Drop Box” finally hits theaters this evening for its limited three-day run.

Have you already purchased your tickets? Theaters are selling out, so I would encourage you to make your reservation as soon as possible .

From our pre-screening events, we know this film makes a powerful impact on viewers. We’ve seen tears, smiles and standing ovations.

You can sense the impact the film has in the articles and reviews written about the movie.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: adoption, events, faith, pastors, pro-life March 3, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Moving Video Shows the God behind “The Drop Box”

In a powerful review of “The Drop Box,” Focus’ newest movie, World Magazine wrote it “shows that Lee—once a dirty-tempered, skirt-chasing drunk—would never have saved a single baby’s life if not for a love that flows from a higher source.”

Indeed, the purpose of the film isn’t to elevate a man. It’s to elevate the God that man serves – the One who empowers people like Pastor Lee to love for others beyond their natural abilities.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: adoption, church, faith, pro-life, promos February 27, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Washington Florist Stays True to Faith Convictions, Risks Financial Ruin

A news roundup on the issues that matter most.

“How Many Kids Grow Up With Their Married Mom and Dad?”: Less than half, according to a new report by the Family Research Council. It finds 54 percent of 15- to 17-year-olds do not live in a home with their married mother and father.

The story of Pastor Lee-Jon-rak and his baby box – the topic of Focus’ upcoming film, “The Drop Box” – has earned a lot of media attention since the original article in the L.A.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, family, news, pro-life, religious liberty February 24, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Is Technology Hurting Our Witness at Home?

I’ve previously shared how parents can pass along a lasting faith to their kids. In a nutshell, there are two things parents should do:

Live out an authentic, vibrant faith themselves
Help their children develop spiritual habits, like regular prayer and Scripture reading

But as times change and technology brings us increased convenience, I’ve wondered if an unintended consequence is that, in some areas, our digital life could potentially undermine our efforts to model the faith?

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, parenting, technology February 23, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

This New App Will Help Engaged Couples

Do you know someone planning to get married?

Our new “Engaged! Marriage Preparation for Couples” app is designed to help men and women get ready for their new lives together as husband and wife.

Divided into 15 topics, the app provides introductory as well as in-depth Christian teaching and articles, and includes more than 16 hours of audio and video content designed for couples to review and discuss together.

Research shows that couples who devote time to premarital counselling are both happier in the short-term and more likely to avoid divorce, long-term.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: faith, marriage, promos, relationships February 20, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

What the Media Isn’t Reporting on ISIS’ Beheading of 21 Christian Men

The tragic images are almost impossible to see and process.

There on the shore of Libya stand 21 young Christian Egyptian men, each clad in an orange jumpsuit. Behind each man is a hooded radical Islamist, holding a knife.

We know what’s coming next.

If American Christians were ever tempted to believe martyrs are only people we read about in the Bible and history books, the 21 men who were brutally beheaded because they called Jesus Christ their Savior remind us nothing could be further from the truth.

Topics: Current Events Tags: church, faith, news, religious liberty February 18, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura