Friends & Family:

Hope this e-mail finds you and yours well.　 PFLC is pleased to announce that, after a sabbatical, we are back up and running with a new board, exciting projects based on the call of Matthew 25:31-46, and we have been able to help dozens of those in need of legal services for basic human needs.  PFLC is helping out dozens of abused workers, the homeless, special needs children, and we are maintaining an acute awareness of the happenings in society which come up against our most cherished values.  PFLC values the ability to show compassion toward another without enabling failure, showing love for those who disagree with us, and the placement of God above all.

In these times of need, we feel compelled to work on cases that prevent the most basic deprivations of individual humanity.　With Christians at the helm, no one should be starving, in need of clothing, being beaten for being homeless, nor a child left to seizures and shame of family for lack of promised health care.

PFLC is not afraid to take on Child Protective Services -- where it abuses its power.　We are not afraid to take on the Inland Regional Center -- when it fails to provide aid to those in need and where this ‘nonprofit’ agency has already received the money to help handicapped children.　Not only do I believe that government needs to be kept in check for abuses of power, it also needs to be held to account for the promises made to those in need, through the hard work (taxes) of taxpayers.　To allow theft of a child’s established resources is to have virtually allowed a child to be robbed.  It is certainly the case that the State of California will not be returning the money it takes.　 We need your help to defend these helpless kids.

Undoubtedly, we are called to the immediate aid of another by our profession of faith.

The Pro-Family Law Center has recently been able to help others by way of the following examples:

1. We are helping L.S., a 16-year-old girl, with cerebral palsy and other horrific conditions (not being able to swallow food, seizures, etc.).　The Inland Regional Center is denying benefits that are already provided for by federal money.　 While IRC has increased its administration size, building occupancy, and other material items, it has not focused on providing the help which keeps families together, which keeps special needs-kids out of institutionalized life, and on the basic human dignity we are all entitled to.　 Instead of completing the work given to it, our state government is sending out thousands of letters to disabled children, who cannot defend themselves, letting them know their benefits are being cut immediately.　 One judge, in another case handled by our office, has found that there were problems with these notices in the first place. If we are not able to provide support in this time of need for L.S., further damage will occur to her family.　Right now, her mom is providing 24 hour support to her child, while trying to serve our community as a substitute teacher to make money.　 Her husband is working a nightshift to make ends meet.　The effect of not having nursing or other help is devastating.　 PFLC is committed to providing comfort, a legal defense against stripping a disabled child of basic care, and is willing to see this case through to the end.　We really need your help, though.　Can you help save a family from being broken because of an inability to provide for one of His "little ones"?　Matt. 18:1-9.

2. We continue to provide litigation support to William N., a homeless man from Los Angeles.　In his case, the LAMTA has continued to physically hurt him to prevent him from riding public transportation, because of his appearance as a homeless person. 　In one instance, a driver drove off with William’s arm caught in the door – in another, the driver physically accosted William --- yet, in another instance put him ‘on the back of the bus.’ He has always had his bus fare or a bus pass.　We have the physical beating on video.　A jury agreed with us earlier this year, 12 to 0, that a civil rights violation had occurred.　 The jury hung on damages.　According to one juror, "we we’re paralyzed with emotion" about what to do with his situation.　He has a new trial coming up and we need help for the costs of litigation.　The first trial required over $10,000 in costs to get through trial.

"Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?　He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.　 And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."　Matt. 25:44-46 (NAB).

3. PFLC is helping about thirty employees in a local school district who have had their most basic due process rights violated by the Jurupa Unified School District.　 This is a district that has punished students for the exercise of free speech, appears to have misappropriated school monies, gives away food to employees which was allocated for children’s food programs, and who has used the Bible as a justification for unfairly accusing a Christian family man of sexual harassment.　 We have had to defend these most basic interests at least 3 times in the last decade.　We are trying to land the final blow so that children can have a safe environment to learn in.　 The Jurupa School District is one of the most poor in Riverside, yet its administration gifts tax-funded equipment and food to employees, discriminates against women, fails to provide special needs services to children, and, nevertheless, provides lavish offices and support to the ‘generals’ who call for these deprivations of rights to occur.　Enough is enough.

"Those of you who are employers must also be fair to your employees. You must not frighten them by saying that you will hurt them. Remember that you and your employees have the same master in heaven. God is fair and you are all his employees. He does not think that masters/employers in this world are more important than their servants/employees."　Ephesians 6:9 (See, NAB, KJ).

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this communiqué’.　I come to you with my request because PFLC’s clients come to us for aid and comfort.　You are receiving this e-mail because I simply respect you, or we have worked with each other in the past, we know each other from faith-based activities, or because we have served each other a time of need, or you have proven your commitment to the Pro-Family Law Center in the past.　I come to you humbly and knowing that many other qualified nonprofits are coming to you for money.

I am asking that you consider a donation to PFLC and that, in deciding whether to help and/or pray for our success on the ‘battlefield,’ you meditate on the following:

Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.　 Proverbs 31:8-9

I stand at the ready to use any resources for the described battles.　I ask that you pray for me and my family as I continue in my ministry efforts, that you pray for my clients, and that we all pray for the moral health of our nation.　 While one might wonder about why one should pray for the Nation’s moral and fiscal economies, it seems evident to me that we are really praying for a society that is clean, provides for the truly needy, and which has the freedom to give value to the most basic of human needs --- respect for the value of human life, in all of its forms, circumstances and times.

Thank you.

Rich Ackerman, President