Imagine a New Mexico where families thrive…
“For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being…” –Ephesians 3:14-16
Dear Friends:
“There is no doubt that it is around the family and the home that all the greatest virtues, the most dominating virtues of human society, are created, strengthened and maintained.” These are the words of the great Winston Churchill, spoken following the birth of Prince Charles in 1948. And although spoken over 70 years ago, these words remain true today. In short, family matters!
When families thrive, communities thrive! And when communities thrive, states and nations thrive. At NMFAM, we believe that God’s timeless design for the family is the strongest foundation for any free and successful society. The family, as God designed it, is the best environment for creating children and nurturing them while protecting and providing for them. As a family grows together, they then gain the value of honoring and caring for their elderly. Family offers the fulfillment of all human needs. As such, thriving families have the power to lessen the need for government intervention and should serve as an important check on the scope of our government.
For too long, New Mexico families have been mired by the paralyzing effect of government dependency and an entitlement system that disincentivizes the traditional family unit. Our current welfare system not only discourages marriage, but also actively penalizes those who do get married – particularly low-income parents. For example, a single mother in New Mexico with two children, earning $20,000 per year, is eligible to receive almost $3,600 per year in food stamp benefits. However, if she were to marry the father, who earns the same as she does, that family would no longer qualify for any assistance.
New Mexico families deserve better and that is why we should be in the business of encouraging and empowering families. So how do we do this?
