By Heather Bennett

We work hard to protect our children and embrace them with our family values. When we send them to school, we entrust their teachers and the school system to keep them on the straight and narrow, to cultivate their creativity and imbue them with a love of learning. As parents, the last thing we want to worry about is what they are learning, and what they will be exposed to.

Mothers across the nation are joining the group Moms for Liberty to advocate for parental rights in American school systems. If you are unfamiliar with their group, they are a grassroots, nonprofit nonpartisan organization that is nationwide. Their purpose is to fight for the survival of America by unifying, educating and empowering parents to defend their parental rights at all levels of government. Since the organization started in January 2021, it has grown to over 80 local chapters in 33 states.

The Walton County chapter is led by local mothers who are encouraging parents to get involved in their children’s education. Krissa Johansen, Chapter Chair, who moved here from Kansas in 2020 with her husband and two kids, has seen what happens when parents become uninvolved and complacent with the public school system, and she wants to encourage others to get involved and contribute in a healthy, productive way. “I believe in leading by example, and I want to help keep our county great, which is why I felt compelled to start a Moms for Liberty chapter in our new home in Walton County,” said Krissa.

Krissa is joined by Lisa Robertson, Co-Chair. She is a retired USAF recruiter, medic, instructor and mother of two boys. She believes our country is only as strong as the people who participate and care enough to be involved. “Moms for Liberty provides an opportunity for all of us to do just that. Every child should be provided the opportunity to grow up and learn in a safe environment,” stated Lisa. “Moms For Liberty is an organization based in faith, family, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  I believe — the values our nation was founded on.”

Jolene Jashurek joins Krissa and Lisa as a Co-Chair. She and her husband moved to Florida 7 years ago when he retired from the Navy. She’s noticed what happens when parents and taxpayers aren’t involved with the local school board, and wants more parents to be involved to ensure our children are receiving the quality of education we all want. “It takes the entire community coming together on a local level to ensure Walton County remains and even exceeds where it is now. Moms for Liberty gives us all the ability to partner together for the well being of all our school-aged children, public school and homeschool alike. We are better and stronger together,” said Jolene.

Luckily for us, Walton County does not face many of the challenges that plague other school districts and parents across the nation. “Walton County has a wonderful superintendent that truly cares about the students overall health and success, and Moms for Liberty has a great working relationship with our school board and superintendent,” said Krissa. In Walton County, parents have the right to choose whether to mask their children or not. Parents have the right to choose whether to vaccinate or not. Moms for Liberty believes these decisions should be the parent’s choice to make, and Walton County recognizes and respects the parent’s right to do so.

If you are interested in joining Moms for Liberty, or learning more about the organization, please visit www.momsforliberty.org or email them at mom4libertywcfl@gmail.com. Moms for Liberty – Walton County chapter meetings are held every second Tuesday of the month. School board meetings are every first and third Tuesday of the month, which you are encouraged to attend.

By Doug Stauffer

I had the distinct pleasure of attending the 2nd Annual Commissioner’s Prayer Breakfast sponsored by Mel Ponder in conjunction with Rocky Bayou Christian School. I caught up with Commissioner Ponder and asked him several questions.

What led you to start this gathering? Mel—It was on my heart to create an opportunity for Okaloosa county pastors to gather as a family reunion of sorts. This county-wide gathering includes faith leaders, business and community leaders, and elected officials. I do this in my role as a citizen who also serves as a county commissioner. I believe in unity, camaraderie and wisdom.

What part does Rocky Bayou Christian school contribute to coordinating the event? Mel—Doc Mike Mosley has been a gracious supporter, and his team manages the logistics. Additionally, he works with One Twenty Bistro to put on a delicious spread.

What is the purpose of the Annual Prayer Breakfast? The theme has been “In One Accord,” because I am a big believer in the corporate body of believers working together. The Bible repeatedly expresses that God did amazing things when the believers were in one accord.
What is your vision for the future of the Annual Prayer Breakfast? Mel—I want this breakfast to honor every role that believers play as we assemble in one accord to pray (Ephesians 4:16).

Why do you think prayer is so important for this county, state and nation? Our churches are independently to be Houses of Prayer with a heavenly mandate to pray. Our forefathers were people of prayer, making prayer a part of this nation’s DNA. It is a foundational element that allows us to see heaven invade the earth with God’s goodness prevailing.
I want to thank you for recognizing the veterans, active-duty personnel, along with the pastors. How have you been so successful in combining politics with the spiritual arena?
Mel—We should be the same person in and out of every arena of life, loving God and loving others. Christians are to be the light of the world. No matter the venture, we carry that light with us. There should not be any separation between our personal and professional lives. Christian principles should be the same ideals presented by politicians and preachers alike. We should exercise our faith on Monday just as much as we do on Sunday.

How did this prayer breakfast personally impact you? Mel—When people go into their churches, they know who is on their team, but we need to know the many others in our community on our team too. I become very inspired when I see multiple churches sit together at the same table as Christ’s fellow ambassadors.

I am sure you received some feedback; how were others impacted? Mel—The feedback I received was very positive. Some mentioned that the prayers were powerful, and others said that they needed this time set aside to gather together. The goal was for people to hear messages from God and leave full of hope, and evidently, that happened.

I have traveled the world several times and have seen the best and worst. I wish every community could be just like ours, which I consider one of the best. I pray that the spirit of this prayer breakfast impacts the other 364 days of the year and reverberates up to heaven and back.

By Doug Stauffer

Northwest Florida State College President Devin Stephenson is a visionary with purposeful determination. His caliber of speakers for the “President’s Speaker Series” reflects his keen leadership and focus. I consider Dr. Stephenson to be a persuasive communicator in his own right.

Most people have heard the cliché that “You get what you pay for.” Frequently, a true statement indeed, unless someone else foots the bill and invites you to come. This speaker series is FREE to the public, and Trey Gowdy packed the Mattie Kelly Arts Center with an eager, enthusiastic crowd.

When someone mentions Trey Gowdy, people tend to have opinions of him at opposite ends of an ever-widening spectrum. They generally admire him greatly or vociferously criticize him. Unfortunately, this is the political climate of twenty-first-century America. No matter, Trey poured out his heart, humbly baring his soul to a spellbound audience.

Trey started his message with amusing quips and stories that ingratiated him to his audience, but his innate passion showed as things turned serious. The audience sat on the edge of their seats, wondering what was coming next. Trey revealed himself as someone not ready to yank America’s life support from its socket. Instead, he believes that America needs to rediscover who we are, where we are going, and how to get where we need to be.

Granted, we are a politically divided country with red and blue sides more willing to shout things out than attempt to understand what drives the passions of the other side. Trey pointed out that every day carries the sense of it being like election day. So few people are forging relationships outside their sphere of fellow cheerleaders. He urged his audience to display an uncommon form of grace to bring us closer together.

Trey frequently transitioned to talk about his family and good friend and co-author, Senator Tim Scott. They developed a close bond as they spent many eating opportunities together at the Capitol Hill Club. Trey told the audience of Senator Scott’s upbringing with his grandfather, who picked cotton and never learned to read. Yet, his grandfather believed in the power of knowledge and the magic of education, and he thought these things would make a difference in his grandson’s future. His grandfather raised a grandson who became a U.S. Senator and author of a New York Times #1 Best Seller.

Trey mentioned meeting his wife through a church youth group and traveling and the importance of faith, sometimes shaken by his life experiences. His early career included prosecuting the worst criminals and how these interactions took their toll mentally, spiritually and physically. Like many politicians, Trey Gowdy left his hometown of Spartanburg, South Carolina, for our country’s capital to make a difference. If you watch his famous social media sound bites, he comes across as a skilled prosecutor interrogating political adversaries. In person, he also comes across as genuine and caring.

After one hour of clearly articulating his thought-provoking speech, the last question pinpointed how this master of persuasion had moved many juries to agree with him beyond a reasonable doubt. He was asked why he was advocating compromise, although he never alluded to compromising with whom you disagree. Absent a court reporter to retrace his words; interrogator Gowdy kicked into overdrive to reiterate that he promoted dialogue—persuasion over argument. He encouraged sincere communication with empathy, not a win-at-any-costs methodology.

Trey never alluded to compromising one’s beliefs. Instead, he pleaded for people to search for common ground. He encouraged practicing the art of persuasion rather than using insults as a means of self-validation. His appeal: we all should make an effort to listen to the “other side.” Insults make others determined not to give up any ground, and the mentality of crushing your opposition has eroded our society’s fabric.

Trey encouraged talking responsibly and ending the bitter feuding and fussing with neither side desiring to listen and learn from the other. His point was to be fair-minded yet encourage people to think for themselves.

Upcoming Event: Dr. Stephenson has invited Charles Payne to be the next speaker in the President’s Speaker Series on April 8, 2022. Come hear the Fox Business Network financial journalist and host of Fox’s Making Money. Mark your calendars and I’ll see you there.