On Wednesday, I promised to report back from Washington, D.C. following a meeting with highly influential conservative leaders from across the nation to take an honest look at the results and talk about what comes next. I want to tell you what I heard and shared because it shapes how Florida Family Voice will lead in the months ahead.
What we heard in Washington.
This wasn’t just a turnout problem. It would be easier if the only problem were that believers stayed home. Instead, many voters who share our values voted differently than we would have expected, and younger voters broke hard the other way. The political answer chases those swings every cycle. The discipleship answer builds steady, biblical conviction that holds no matter how anyone feels about a particular leader.
The family matters. One recent study found that 90% of parents call it a priority for their kids to get a job and move out, but only 20% say the same about marriage and children. Too many people no longer understand why marriage and family matter, and the next few years of work will start there.
Biblical literacy is slipping. More and more, we hear faith language used in public debate that doesn’t come from Scripture. It works because fewer people know what the Bible actually says.
Civic literacy is slipping too. We learned this during the Amendment 4 fight. We weren’t just explaining a ballot measure; we were teaching civics. A generation needs to understand why a free and prosperous society matters.
Peace time isn’t guaranteed.
Armies and defense must be a peace time strategy, not just when there is a battle. The margins in Florida were small. The simple truth is when FFV writes one email, we communicate with more people than many of the candidates won by. The results in Florida showed us that the work we are doing together made a difference.
Florida Family Voice is ready.
Florida remains one of the few large states where life, marriage, family, and religious liberty still hold firm footing. But as I said, this election made clear that peacetime isn’t guaranteed.
The good news: If I sat down today to draw a strategy from scratch, I’d draw the same four things we’ve worked on for years.
Equipping and working with our legislature and Governor’s Office. This Monday, we’re hosting a Freshman Legislative Summit for every newly elected legislative member. We’ll talk about what the Bible says about government and how to protect your marriage and family while serving in public life. This is just one of many ways we are constantly working with our elected officials to bring them advice and encouragement or to equip them depending on the season and fight ahead.
Engaging the next generation. This has to be a priority, and we need your help to make that happen. If we’re losing young people, we’ll invest there first.
Empowering voters. With the margins we saw in Florida, our almost 2 million voter guides impacted the election. Every election, including the next one, starts now.
Equipping churches. Florida has 17,000 churches representing millions of people. Over the next two years, I intend to build the largest network we’ve ever had of churches that understand and speak scriptural truth and stand together for Life, Marriage, Family and Religious Liberty!
Why the Church is the answer.
Governments change every two, four, or eight years. The Church has stood for 2,000 years with the same Head, no succession plan. That makes her the only lasting answer to what our culture faces. Many believers feel anxious right now and don’t know what to do. Many pastors want to lead but aren’t sure where faith and public life meet. We’ve watched pastors go from silence to bold leadership once they see an issue as biblical, and FFV will keep walking alongside them, one church at a time.
Our team stands ready. We have the right people in place for this moment.
Will you stand with us? We literally can’t do it without you!
Through December 31, a $300,000 matching opportunity will double every gift to Florida Family Voice. Your gift today goes twice as far to equip churches, educate leaders, and raise up the next generation.
Will you please prayerfully consider helping us close our year-end financial gap, and potentially becoming a monthly partner that allows us to plan and strategize for the next two years of work?
As we continue to move forward, hold your head high and remember our King held the throne before the election, and He holds it now. He placed us in this state for such a time as this, and He calls us to seek the welfare of the place where He has planted us (Jeremiah 29:7).
Thank you for standing with us.
For Florida’s families,
Erik Dellenback
President & CEO
Florida Family Voice
