February 21st, 2023

Dear Friends,

Our organization fully supported House Resolution 145 of the 2022 Regular Legislative Session, which called for the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) to conduct a transparency in education survey of all school systems and public charter schools. The survey also urged the LDOE to provide parents and other members of the public the opportunity to share their experiences in seeking instructional materials for their children. Parents have a right to know what is going on with their children's education, and this survey presents an opportunity to make their voices heard.

If you would like to participate, you can share your thoughts and experiences by responding to the survey, which is open until February 28th. Rest assured that no personal information will be collected. The LDOE will compile the responses and submit a report to the Legislature prior to the 2023 Regular Legislative Session. This is an excellent opportunity to have your say and make a difference in Louisiana's education system.

You can fill out the survey here.

This weekend, the Asbury University “renewal” drew an estimated twenty thousand people to the Kentucky campus. Compare that to the population of Wilmore, KY: a whopping 6000 person people! One eye-witness reported the services filled five overflow buildings and a grass lawn with a 2.5-mile backup of cars headed into town.

Beginning today the 13 day on-campus revival comes to an end, with services for the public being moved to another location in central Kentucky to avoid overcrowding of the town. Asbury University will continue to host evening services for college-age and high school students through Thursday, which is the National Collegiate Day of Prayer. 

The fires of awakening are spreading. Over twenty college campuses have been affected so far. Revival services have begun at Samford University in Alabama, Cedarville University in Ohio, Lee and Belmont Universities in Tennessee, and Baylor University in Texas to pray for revival.

Blessings flow to those who “hunger & thirst for righteousness, they will be filled!” (Matthew 5:5).

New Orleans has become a leading city in mass shootings, according to a new study by the Gun Violence Archive. The non-profit organization tracks gun violence across the United States using police and media reports and has recorded 82 mass shootings in the country since the start of 2023, with New Orleans accounting for 5% of those incidents.

Mass shootings are defined as incidents in which four or more people are killed or injured, not including the shooter. So far this year, New Orleans has already experienced four such events, including a shooting during the Krewe of Bacchus parade on Sunday that killed one person and injured four others.

The prevalence of mass shootings in New Orleans has become a significant concern and highlights the ongoing issue of gun violence in the state.

On Wednesday evening, the main branch of Lafayette Public Library hosted a meeting of the Library Board that was marked by a variety of controversial opinions and outspoken parents.

Following several hours of public discussion, the Board ultimately decided to make all library cards unrestricted by default, but with the option for parents to choose restrictions for their children's access to certain books.

Robert Judge, President of the Lafayette Public Library Board, expressed the view that the lively discussion at the meeting was precisely what the community needed, saying, "While it may be messy, somebody said that before, you go to Congress and you watch how they pass a bill. It's messy. But democracy is messy. It's a messy experiment."

Friend,, Mardis Gras is in full swing and that means those who will repent tomorrow (during the season of Lent) and those who cry out for revival will have PRAYERS IN COMMON. Join us as we reflect deeply on Christ’s teachings, passion for the lost, resurrection and promise to return!

In His Service,

Gene Mills
President, Louisiana Family Forum