I’m a Family-born 29 yr. old, third oldest of a family of nine children and now husband to a precious wife and father of two kids, ages two and four. I’m so thankful that I can raise my family in The Family. I’m so thankful that my parents made the decision to live out their faith in The Family. It isn’t easy to raise kids, (much less nine of them!) and I know that one factor that helped my parents raise us to be happy, adjusted children, was because of the privileged environment that exists in The Family, where we can raise our kids in a healthy, safe atmosphere amid all the negative attitudes and detrimental input via the media and questionable Hollywood role models that parents the world over have to fight against if they want their kids to have values that reflect their chosen faith.

I’ve chosen my faith and I want to past it on to my kids; the third generation of Family members, because I’m very pleased with my parents’ attitudes and behavior, they are pleased with mine and I consider that an important part of the heritage that I want to give my own children. My wife just recently met and joined The Family, and she is also very pleased with the Family ambience where we can put our Christian beliefs into practice. It’s not news to anyone that society at large and any of its institutions offer from little to zero support when you try to live by the standards of your religious beliefs.– And anyone who’s a parent knows that support is imperative when it comes to the trying task of raising a family. I believe in the Family and that it is the best place I could choose to raise my kids.

There are those who, if they had things their way, would tear down our faith and lifestyle, even though they don’t have a better set of values to offer in its place. Well, I’ve seen the wonderful results of life in The Family. Any measure of success that I have is a direct result of the purpose and vision that I received in The Family. Those who did not like it and left should have the sense to realize that by attacking The Family, they are still making it a part of their lives, even ten years later. Why can’t they let it go? Perhaps they should consider rejoining. I’m sure it wouldn’t take much more of than the time they already dedicate to (against) us. It certainly wouldn’t require any more devotion or perseverance than what they obviously have to use in their tirades against our work. Well, I pray that they can look through eyes of honesty and reason, rather than through the distorting looking-glass of hate and anger. I look at them with love. They were once fellow missionaries and they have my respect for that. But if they insist on continuing to disseminate their hateful lies about the lifestyle and people I love in The Family who give of their time and goods to help others, than I would warn them to have a real good substitute to our way of life. It would have to be something that motivates myself and thousands of others to give not just our time or material possessions, but our lives, to the cause of making the world a better place, with hope to face another day and the knowledge that they are not alone nor unloved.

That’s a pretty tall order, I know. But that’s what we (The Family), do. –And I won’t stop.

Ezra Mara is a second-generation member of The Family International