Good afternoon, and welcome to this edition of The Rundown. This biweekly newsletter serves as the most important political and cultural news for Christians in Ohio. Don't forget to share The Rundown to those who would be interested. Thanks for reading!

What's Happening

• Cancelation Loading: According to a new report, several of the largest and most influential corporations in the U.S. pose a high risk of canceling contracts or denying services based solely on ideological differences. The 1792 Exchange, a nonprofit committed to protecting others from woke capitalism, released the report to highlight companies that are undermining free speech and free enterprise as well as companies that are less likely to cancel a contract or deny services based on ideological differences. This Friday's episode of The Narrative will feature Paul Fitzpatrick, the president of the 1972 Exchange.

• Inside Look: The Free Press published a whistleblower report on what is really happening inside pediatric gender clinics across the country. The whistleblower, a former gender clinic employee, is a self-described queer woman who is married to a woman identifying as a man and says her political views are further left than Bernie Sanders. Read Townhall's take on it here. Please be advised: the original story contains graphic information on what gender medicine is doing to children's bodies.

• Record high sadness: The CDC released its most recent report on youth wellbeing—the first since COVID-19. The CDC's interpretation of non-heterosexual students experiencing worse mental health and less connection than their heterosexual peers is that schools need more LGBTQ+ inclusion, "safe spaces and safe people," and "gender and sexuality alliances." However, those LGBQ students also experienced more unstable housing, bullying, sexual violence, and substance use and abuse—including illicit drugs—but the CDC made no interpretations of those findings. They did not report on students identifying as transgender. Read a high level review or watch the CDC press conference.

• Get Ready to Vote: To reduce confusion and prevent law violations, Secretary of State Frank LaRose directed Ohio’s county boards of elections to immediately begin implementing the reforms required under House Bill 458 for the May primary election. Some of those reforms include requiring photo ID to vote, extending voting hours the week before Election Day, extending the absentee ballot request deadline, and allowing any 17-year old to serve as a poll worker. Register to vote by Monday, April 3. Early voting begins Tuesday, April 4, 2023.

Worldview Development

As a Christian, it can be hard to know how to engage with social-political conversations from a Biblical worldview. Here's our top recommendation this week for developing your worldview to be equipped to tackle today's top issues:

• If You Give a Man a Womb, Is He a Woman?
  Would the ability to have children mean that a man could actually become a woman? Read this BreakPoint commentary by John Stonestreet and Shane Morris.

Listen Up

Pastor Van Holloway and his wife, Jannelle, from Xenia, Ohio, have been at the forefront of a case out of their local YMCA in which a man identifying as a woman was charged with three counts of public indecency. When they confronted the YMCA about Jannelle's encounter with the man, they were told, "If a woman is uncomfortable, she can change in a family locker room." They have asked the YMCA to review this absurd, dangerous, and disrespectful policy.

CCV Communications Director Mike Andrews and Policy Director David Mahan sat down with them to hear how they have been responding with courage and grace in the midst of this painful situation. They share insight into how other communities and churches facing the complex issues brought about by harmful gender ideology can stand firm on truth and pursue protection for all people.

Don't miss this eye-opening episode, available anywhere you get your podcasts!

Don't Miss

• Men's Advance Conference with Jon Kitna
  Former NFL Quarterback Jon Kitna will encourage men to develop Godly character at this special event at West Chester Nazarene Church on Saturday, March 4, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Registration closes March 2. This is not a CCV event, but CCV will be at this conference as a table vendor.

• Confronting Abuse: Making Church Safe
  CCV will also be at this State Convention of Baptists in Ohio event on Saturday, March 4, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, in Windham, Ohio. This informative conference can help your church discover, understand, and formulate policies that will help protect your congregation. This event is great for pastors, staff, and church leaders who want to be more thoroughly informed about the issues churches are facing today on the topic of church and sexual abuse. Register for this free event now.

• Bringing America Back to Life Convention
  CCV will be at this pro-life conference on Friday and Saturday, March 10 and 11, at the Embassy Suites in Independence. Register today to attend this informative event!

• Converging Roads
  CCV will be at this conference on Saturday, April 22, from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm at the Pontifical College Josephinum. Registration is open for this bioethics conference presented by the St. John Paul II Foundation, the Catholic Medical Association of Central Ohio, and the Diocese of Columbus.

• Prayer at the Statehouse
  Join us on Thursday, May 18, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm for this popular prayer event! Register today to join us.

• 2023 Ohio March for Life
  Join us for our second annual statewide march on Friday, October 6, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Check out the details we have so far.

Prayer

Scripture calls us to pray for those in authority and to have confidence that God hears our prayers. Join the CCV team this week in praying for the below intentions.

• Our elected officials: Rep. Adam Bird, Rep. Willis Blackshear, Jr., and Sen. Louis Blessing, III.

• Committee hearings have begun on a number of key initiatives! Pray for favor for the Backpack Bill as the Senate version, SB11, moves through the legislative process.

• Continue to pray for the complete failure of the legalized abortion ballot initiative. Pray that the Lord would confuse the plans of the Enemy and bring to light the evils of abortion. If you're able to, we also encourage you to add prayerful fasting to your intercession on this critical issue.

• CCV is partnering with pro-life groups across the state to build a coalition of pro-life medical professionals to push back against the harmful false narrative that "abortion is healthcare." Pray for an overwhelming response of medical professionals willing to speak up for the sanctity of life.

That’s all we have for this week. Be sure to keep an eye out for our next edition, and don't forget to share CCV's Rundown with others.