Contact: Wesley Strackbein, 210-340-5250, ext. 222
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, July 12 /Christian Newswire/ -- Michelle Duggar, mother to 19 and star of TLC's "19 Kids and Counting" received the "Mother of the Year Award" as part of a special ceremony at the Baby Conference: A Historic Family Summit on the Triumph of Life Over the Culture of Death, held July 8-10 in San Antonio. Michelle and her husband Jim Bob were featured speakers at the event, sponsored by Vision Forum Ministries, which drew more than 1,500 to the Alamo City.
"Michelle Duggar is the real deal," noted Doug Phillips, President of Vision Forum Ministries. "She embodies the very best of a Christian role model for women. She is a highly intelligent and gracious woman of God and a capable and faithful helpmeet to her husband Jim Bob. As a mother, Michelle is singular. She has modeled for millions a passion for God's gift of the fruit of the womb and a tenderness and wisdom in raising her 19 children that have been downright inspiring."
During the "Mother of the Year" Ceremony, a special tribute video was played in her honor which featured moms and girls expressing their gratitude for Michelle's positive impact on their lives. Michelle was also given a commemorative silver plate with this inscription: "In grateful recognition of her love-filled, Christ-glorifying dedication to executing the noble office of motherhood within her own family, and in the witness of countless others, Vision Forum Ministries presents to Michelle Duggar the 2010 Mother of the Year Award."
"Michelle's love for life and the blessing of childbearing has been an integral part of their family's uplifting witness," Phillips remarked. "She is clearly a mother deserving of this award, and we were excited to honor her as 'Mother of the Year.'"
The Baby Conference featured encouraging messages on the blessing of children and the culture of life, special lectures and panel discussions for mothers, forums on child-training, and presentations for the whole family that explored the wonder of God's creation through the intricacies of the womb. Some of the edifying messages included: "The Hopeful Theology of Miscarriage"; "Naming Babies"; and "How We Must be Ladies against Feminism." The event also addressed the "who, what, where, why, and how" of adoption, featuring experts who addressed the plight of the Haitian orphan, as well as other international adoption priorities.
Michelle hosted a special Ladies Tea Time at the Menger Hotel, which drew a sold-out crowd of more than 350 ladies and girls. Beall Phillips and Jennie Chancey of Ladies Against Feminism served as co-hosts of the event honoring Mrs. Duggar. Jim Bob and Michelle also autographed copies of their books for attendees and shared insights from their life during several breakout sessions.
"The hard-heartedness of the pro-abortion, statist Left toward life is really highlighted by the contempt and scorn shown toward the Duggars," Phillips observed. "Liberal commentators and leftist activist groups such as PETA have viciously mocked the Duggars for having a large family, often using language too obscene to repeat.
"The remarkable success of their television show, as well as their widespread popularity within mainstream America, points to the fact that there is still a significant part of the American culture that view children as a blessing," stated Phillips. "We rejoice in the Duggars' outspoken testimony in favor of fruitfulness. The Bible calls the fruitful womb a blessing, and we support the Duggars in their defense of this proposition."
The Baby Conference also engaged hard-hitting, but pertinent bio-ethical issues ranging from abortion to human cloning, from surrogacy to genetic engineering, from brain death to the use of abortifacient technology like the Pill. Some of the more controversial sessions included: "How to End Abortion in America"; "The Myth of Overpopulation" and "How Must Families and Churches Respond to the Healthcare Crisis." Featured speakers at the summit -- including R.C. Sproul Jr., Kevin Swanson, Flip Benham, and Geoff and Victoria Botkin -- addressed these and other pertinent topics in a way that encouraged families to have a joyful and triumphant outlook toward the blessing of children.
"This year marks the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the Pill," Phillips concluded. "And as media attention centers on the victory of selfishness and the defeat of the biblical family that has followed in the wake of the contraceptive movement, we are committed to defending and celebrating life -- in particular, the blessing of children and their role in building healthy cultures and vibrant households. Our unequivocal counsel is this: We must preserve and celebrate life amidst a culture of death."
