Current Initiatives

 

In 2008, Oklahoma Family Policy Council and KEEP are advancing, on a statewide basis, the following cultural and public-policy initiatives for Oklahomans:

Character Education Character First!, a character-building program for elementary-age students is run weekly by OFPC Executive Director Mike Jestes inside five of Oklahoma City’s public schools, and the program recently enjoyed a second outreach to a public school in Clayton, New Mexico.

Faith, Family & Freedom Events / Pastors’ Briefings – one- or two-day training conferences, sponsored by OFPC and Bott Radio Network Oklahoma, which address a wide range of public-policy and cultural issues of concern to Oklahomans and to pastors. Pastors also can receive voter registration kits and nonpartisan OFPC voters’ guides for their churches.

Family Day at the State Capitol an annual public recognition and appreciation of the importance of Oklahoma families, held inside the state Capitol, which features nationally known speakers such as the Rev. Peter Marshall, who keynoted the 2007 event. Family Day brings dozens of Oklahoma’s pro-family, nonprofit organizations together—right at the seat of state government.

Family News Update a regular e-mail briefing sent to thousands of Oklahomans free-of-charge, which educates Oklahoma citizens about state and national public-policy and cultural issues affecting families.

Family Policy Council Coalition Oklahoma Family Policy Council is just one of a growing nationwide movement of 32 state-based Family Policy Councils, which are associated with Dr. James C. Dobson’s Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C. These nonprofit groups, since 1988, have been working strategically on a full-time basis to advance Judeo-Christian principles, legislation, and cultural initiatives in states all across the nation (each FPC operates independently on a statewide basis). Meetings of the FPCs are held at least semi-annually in either Colorado Springs or Washington, D.C.

First Things Banquet - Oklahoma Family Policy Council holds its major friend-raising, fund-raising banquet, First Things, each September at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Speakers have included syndicated columnist Cal Thomas, men’s movement leader Dr. Steve Farrar, Christian radio broadcaster Janet and attorney Craig Parshall, marriage and relationship experts Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott, Christian historian David Barton, Christian camping executive Dr. Joe White, Tim Wildmon, president of the American Family Association, and Bill Federer, accomplished author, speaker, and Christian historian.

K.E.E.P. Abstinence Program – Since 1999, OFPC has operated a subsidiary program, K.E.E.P. (Kids Eagerly Endorsing Purity), which is Oklahoma’s largest abstinence-until-marriage education program for young people aged 12-20. K.E.E.P.’s hundreds of trained volunteer mentors and medical professionals teach a character-based curriculum to thousands of youth in the public and private schools of Oklahoma and Tulsa Counties – and in various churches across Oklahoma. Through K.E.E.P., over 60,000 young Oklahomans have now been challenged and educated in the positive, future-oriented sexual abstinence-until-marriage message.

Marriage Network Oklahoma Oklahoma Family Policy Council serves on the executive board of Marriage Network Oklahoma (MNO), an exciting outreach of the Christian faith-based community and associated nonprofit organizations to strengthen Oklahoma marriages. In 2008, MNO is identifying and cooperatively working with 10 or more Central Oklahoma or Oklahoma City-area churches to help them pilot their own new, comprehensive church marriage ministries, for the benefit of their congregations and for the community-at-large. MNO’s pro-marriage work complements the existing Oklahoma Marriage Initiative, which was begun by former Gov. Frank Keating and First Lady Cathy Keating in 1999.

National Day of Prayer – As part of an annual national observance, which is always held the first Thursday in May, the National Day of Prayer brings citizens from across Oklahoma together in their local communities, and at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City, for a time of public prayer. The intent of this prayer, as expressed in the Bible in II Chronicles 7:14, is to humble ourselves, confess national sins, express repentance, and to ask for Almighty God's blessings. Since inception, the Oklahoma Task Force for the National Day of Prayer has been organized and led by Col. and Mrs. Lloyd Smith, Jr., who also serve on OFPC's board of directors.

OFPC Eyes & Ears of Oklahomais a growing network, organized by OFPC, of activist-minded, concerned citizens in each of Oklahoma’s 77 counties. Like the Committees of Correspondence in early-day colonial America, this modern day equivalent stands ready to act swiftly when legislation or situations warrant.

Oklahoma Citizen Magazine – OFPC’s flagship magazine, The Oklahoma Citizen, keeps Oklahomans informed about important cultural and legislative issues affecting the home. This full-color magazine also highlights the grass-roots efforts of ordinary—er … extraordinary, caring Oklahomans—who are making a positive difference in our state.

Oklahoma Pro-Life Media Coalition – OFPC provides strategic leadership for this influential coalition of Oklahoma print and broadcast media partners, all of whom are committed to advancing pro-life issues and helping to create a “culture of life” within the Sooner State. Regular coalition meetings are held in OKC and Tulsa, and an annual state Capitol legislative luncheon, featuring a pro-life speaker, reaches legislators about sanctity of human life issues.

Pornography Initiative – currently under development in 2008, OFPC's Pornography Initiative includes a PowerPoint™ presentation, which educates parents and children about the real dangers of pornography—and the different methods pornographers are using to capture men, women, boys, and girls in the Internet-age. The presentation also discusses online safety and protection from sexual predators. OFPC's pornography awareness presentation is perfect for churches, men's groups, women's groups, youth groups, fraternal and civic clubs, parent-teacher organizations, school assemblies, in-service training days, etc.

Purity Day at the State Capitol – this event, which occurs annually each spring during statewide Purity Week, is an effort to give public affirmation and support for those many young teenagers who choose to live abstinent, morally pure lives as both an expression of their personal values and in preparation for a happy marriage. Invited students from numerous of Oklahoma's public, private, and home schools hear challenging speakers, reinforce their beliefs and commitment to purity, and meet with their legislators.

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In Association with Focus on the Family