Focus on the Family Magazine - October/November 2023

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
Jean-Paul Beran is
president of <strong>Focus</strong> on
the Family Canada.
“Oh give thanks to the
LORD, for he is good,
for his steadfast love
endures forever!”
(Psalm 107:1)
40 years of
thankfulness
THIS YEAR, <strong>Focus</strong> on the Family Canada
is celebrating 40 years of helping families in
Canada thrive! And I personally am so thankful
to be here for this milestone anniversary.
For the last two years in my role as president
of <strong>Focus</strong> on the Family Canada, I have
been hearing stories from families like yours
who have been encouraged and supported
by the work we do. Whether it was a Hope
Restored marriage intensive that pulled a couple
from the brink of divorce, an eye-opening
conversation with one of our counsellors that
turned their life around, or an episode of the
<strong>Focus</strong> on the Family Broadcast they heard at
just the right time —families are being transformed by God through the
ministry of <strong>Focus</strong> on the Family Canada.
Four decades of families being transformed, marriages being restored,
parents being empowered, and Christ-followers being renewed in their
faith—that’s a lot to be thankful for!
“We are so thankful for <strong>Focus</strong> on the Family Canada supporting families
in numerous ways. We have truly been blessed through your radio interviews,
your amazing family magazine, teen magazine, counselling support
and books. Thank you for serving the Lord through helping families across
Canada over the past 40 years.”
While we celebrate the last 40 years, we also look ahead to the future.
Now more than ever, families are in desperate need of expert guidance
grounded in God’s Word. We need to know who God is and who He
designed us to be in order to stand firm against the cultural pressures we
face today.
As you read through the pages of this issue, I pray you are encouraged
in your own journey, and I also ask that you share this great resource—
and the many other resources of <strong>Focus</strong> on the Family Canada—with those
around you. We are honoured to be part of your family, but we also know
there are many other families who could use our help. It is our vision
to see every family in Canada transformed by love, vibrant in faith and
enduring in hope.
And remember, we’re just a click, email and phone call away. I invite
you to visit our website at <strong>Focus</strong>OnTheFamily.ca, email us at info@fotf.ca
or call our team at 1.800.661.9800. We’re happy to help!
Blessings,
Jean-Paul Beran
CLINT BARGEN PHOTOGRAPHY
president
Jim Daly
focus canada
president
Jean-Paul Beran
chief operating
officer
Ken Windebank
chief marketing
& content officer
Tim Sawer
publisher
Jennifer Arthur
media publishing
director
Kevin Shirin
contributing
editors
Vance Fry
Marianne Hering
Meredith Hinds
Jennifer Lonas
Jeff Masching
editorial director
Sheila Seifert
Thank you!
<strong>Focus</strong> on the Family provides this magazine
and other resources through the generosity of
friends like you. <strong>Focus</strong>OnTheFamily.ca/Donate.
For a subscription, go to <strong>Focus</strong>OnTheFamily.
ca/Magazine.
<strong>Focus</strong> on the Family magazine October/November
2023, Vol. 8, No. 5 ISSN 2471-5921, © 2023 <strong>Focus</strong> on
the Family. All rights reserved. Published by <strong>Focus</strong>
on the Family, a nonprofit organization recognized
for tax-deductible giving by the federal government.
<strong>Focus</strong> on the Family is a federally registered trademark
of <strong>Focus</strong> on the Family.
To notify us of an address change or to contact
<strong>Focus</strong> on the Family Canada: 1-800-661-9800; 19946
80A Ave, Langley, BC, V2Y 0J8; info@fotf.ca
Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are
from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version ® (ESV ® ).
Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry
of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All
rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in
any publication made available to the public by a
Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be
translated in whole or in part into any other
language. ESV Text Edition: 2016.
IMPORTANT NOTICE! By submitting letters and
other materials, you agree 1) they become the
property of <strong>Focus</strong> on the Family and will not be
returned; 2) <strong>Focus</strong> on the Family, its assigns and
licensees, have been granted the nonexclusive right
to use and/or reproduce the materials in any manner
for any purpose. Our agreement is made in Colorado
and controlled by Colorado law.
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Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:
<strong>Focus</strong> on the Family, 19946 80A Avenue, Langley,
BC V2Y 0J8; 800-661-9800; info@fotf.ca;
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Printed in Canada.
managing editor
Andrea Gutierrez
copy chief
Scott DeNicola
associate editors
Sarah Brickens
Faith Wismer
senior art director
Cary Bates
art director
Sally Dunn
designer
Julie Vieux
editorial assistant
Kat Bittner
print production
Gail Wise
circulation
Erika Lynch
focus canada
contributors
Laurisha Blackstock
Sam Doerksen
Amy Van Veen
4
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY CANADA
OCT / NOV 2023