The Forum on the Family is coming up in August (Thursday 28th Friday 29th August) at the Due Drops Event Centre in Manukau City. This conference will bring together a national network of family-focused organisations, scholars, church & community leaders and individuals who are social conservatives. You are invited! The theme of this year’s forum is “Courage at a Cultural Tipping Point”, and we have an amazing line-up of brave speakers on key social issues from the US, Canada, Australia and NZ. And in this episode of McBlog, we talk to Amanda Achtman from Canada and Jeff Johnston from the US.
JEFF JOHNSTON (USA)
The LGBT+ Agenda – Pushing Back With Truth & Grace
Jeff Johnston works as an Issues Analyst for Focus on the Family in the USA, writing and teaching about marriage, homosexuality, gender, education, parental rights, religious freedom, and free speech, as well as encouraging and equipping Christians to engage the culture on these issues. He regularly shares his story of struggling as a Christian with same-sex attractions and how God brought healing and change to his life. Before working at Focus on the Family, Jeff served as the Director of Regeneration, a ministry dedicated to providing resources and support for men and women who struggle with sexual and relational brokenness, as well as for their families, friends, and churches. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from San Diego State University with a Bachelor’s in English and a Teaching Credential. Jeff and his wife, Judy, have been married 32 years and have three grown sons.
AMANDA ACHTMAN (Canada)
Canada’s Euthanasia Experiment Is A Cautionary Tale For The World
Amanda Achtman was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, with mountains, cowboys, and entrepreneurs for inspiration. She studied liberal arts and political theory in her hometown. After making a viral political parody video, she moved to Toronto to do a mix of journalism, crowdfunding, and advocacy in defense of Canadians’ fundamental freedoms. Living the alternation between action and contemplation, she then went to Poland to pursue a master’s degree in John Paul II Philosophical Studies. Upon returning to Canada, she served as the senior advisor to a member of parliament working to prevent the expansion of euthanasia to persons living with a disability or mental illness. Amanda works with Canadian Physicians for Life on ethics education and cultural engagement. She is a 2023-2024 NextGEN Fellow at Cardus and a 2023-2024 at the Tikvah Fund. Determined to protect human life, Amanda’s current priority is preventing euthanasia and encouraging hope through the Dying to Meet You Project. The short films she released received more than 2 million views across social media platforms and were shared by Jordan Peterson, Lila Rose, and more than a dozen parliamentarians. From New York City to the Philippines to Ecuador, she has spoken about Canada’s euthanasia experiment as a cautionary tale to other countries.
