Love and Prayer

January 9, 2025

A Message from the Heart: Leading with Faith and Love

In December 2001, I began my journey with Hawaii Family Forum, drawn to the work of then-Executive Director Kelly Rosati. What inspired me most was the way Kelly approached challenging issues—with grace, strength, and unwavering faith.

That means I am going into my 24th year of employment with Hawaii Family Forum!

Even in the face of relentless attacks over high-profile topics like same-sex marriage, physician-assisted suicide, raising the age of consent, abortion expansion, and adoption promotion, Kelly embodied a rare combination of kindness and resilience. People often described her as “sweet but tough,” a description that perfectly reflected her steadfast character.

Since then, I’ve witnessed our faith-based community endure immense challenges—threats, ridicule, and outright dismissal. Yet, I’ve also seen something far more powerful: an enduring commitment to prayer, generosity, and love, extended even to those who disagree with us.

This unwavering faith and determination are why I stayed.

In recent years, I’ve noticed a growing frustration among many toward rules and policies being implemented by government officials. Unfortunately, some of this frustration has boiled over into anger, evident in public meetings and testimonies.

My board president, Marion Logan, often reminds us that our legacy will be defined by how we respond in moments of stress. He frequently draws us back to John 16:33:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Similarly, board member Pastor Daryl Yamada encourages parents to stand firm for their rights, while reminding us not to “weaken the authority of God,” a thought he reflected on after attending a recent presentation.

At Hawaii Family Forum, we remain steadfast in our mission to bring light into the public square. Everything we do is rooted in love and prayer. We encourage everyone who walks alongside us to treat those with opposing views with respect and dignity, recognizing them as children of God.

Protest is our right as Christians, but our greater responsibility is to live as witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Speaking the truth in love requires a heart filled with unconditional love—love without hidden motives or agendas. As 1 Peter 4:1 reminds us, when we arm ourselves with Christ’s attributes, we can remain clear-minded and self-controlled, praying and acting in ways that foster civil discourse and positive change.

In the arena of public policy, we must be wise as serpents and gentle as doves. While it’s natural to want to persuade and convince, it is not our job to convict hearts—that belongs to God alone. As Oswald Chambers so beautifully said, “We are not sent to battle for God, but to be used by God in His battle.” Proverbs 25:15 echoes this sentiment:

“Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.”

As you, the faces and voices of our community, step forward for the sake of our families, we trust that “ua mau ke ea o ka ‘āina i ka pono”—the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness—will resonate throughout these islands. To be pono means to do the right thing, at the right time, and in the right way.

Let us walk this journey together, united in faith, love, and a commitment to the truth.

With aloha,

Eva Andrade

President, Hawaii Family Forum