In this Impact Report, JFA’s intern who joined our team in March, Whittley, shares a conversation she had during our Arkansas events in April. We also share a list of events and an update on our Summer Giving Challenge on the reverse. Whittley is already doing excellent work, and we're excited to see what God is doing as He builds our team. Thank you for considering giving a special gift and praying for our team during our Summer Giving Challenge. Use jfa1.org/may-2026 to share this challenge with friends!
-Steve Wagner, Executive Director
At the University of Arkansas in April, JFA team members (facing camera in each image) talk to students. Top: Whittley (L), Steve (R).
Kaitlyn (Center) was interviewed about our event and the meaning of our experimental poll question. To many Gen Z students, “slay” only means “great,” so the double entendre was lost on them until we explained it, leading to productive dialogue of the question, “Does abortion kill human beings?”
Impact Report
Recently the JFA team came to Arkansas to have conversations with students at the University of Arkansas where I am a student. One moment stands out to me from our three days of outreach.
On the third day of outreach, I was standing by the poll table when a student named Addie came up to talk. Not many students were stopping to talk so there were three of us talking to Addie, all of us sharing our thoughts on abortion. Addie said that she personally wouldn’t get an abortion, but thought that the option should still be available for those who need it. Our conversation was good, but I noticed that we were all just finding common ground. Finding common ground is very important, but I wanted to further our conversation. Addie was open to what we had to say, so I figured I would try to challenge her.
Here’s how our conversation went.
At the University of Arkansas in April, Whittley (Center Left) and Andrea (Center Right) talk to students.
Whittley: I think choices are important, and I am so thankful that I live in a country where I, as a woman, can have freedoms. I think it all just comes back to what the unborn is.
Addie: What do you mean?
Whittley: Well, if the unborn is just tissue, then sure, I think abortion should be legal. But if the unborn is a living human being, then I have to question if abortion should be legal.
Addie: I’ve never thought about it like that before.
That was the moment I had hoped for. What made this moment all the more special is that we continued talking. About ten minutes later, Addie pointed to me and said, “I still can’t stop thinking about the point you made earlier about what the unborn is.”
This was exciting to hear. Although she had never thought about the question before, she was still thinking about it even as we discussed other things. I hope she continues to ask herself what the unborn is and that she comes to the conclusion that the unborn is a human being who should be protected.
- Whittley Benzing, for the JFA Team
Summer Giving Challenge Update!
In our May 2026 letter (jfa1.org/may-2026), we explained how we’re working to raise $200,000 in extra funding this summer so that we can pay seven additional interns in the next year, outfit more regions with outreach tools, and solidify our support for events and current training staff. We’ve already hired three of those interns: Eva, Ava, and Lily. Eva began on June 8 and has already participated in two outreach events. Ava and Lily start in early August.
Please consider giving a special gift this summer to help us reach more people through the work of these interns, as well as the work of our seasoned trainers. Our May letter (jfa1.org/may-2026) gives more detail about our Summer Giving Challenge. Special gifts supporting the Intern Scholarship Fund, the work of a specific trainer, the Exhibit R&D Fund, and various other designations all help us reach our goal!
It’s easy to reach our leaders to discuss your questions about the Summer Giving Challenge. Call JFA’s office phone (316-683-6426) to reach Steve Wagner (Executive Director), Jon Wagner (Director of Development), and Paul Kulas (Director of Operations), as well as any other staff member. During normal business hours, a human being still cheerfully answers our office phone, and outside of those hours, you can leave a message and expect a prompt reply!
Recent JFA Outreach Events:
• CA – Feb. 2-4 – San Diego State Univ. (SDSU) & MiraCosta College – San Diego, Oceanside
• TX – Feb. 9-12 – Univ. of Texas, San Antonio (UTSA) & Texas State Univ. – San Antonio, San Marcos
• NM – Mar. 2-4 – Univ. of New Mexico (UNM) with Summit Ministries Gap Year – Albuquerque
• MN – Mar. 23-24 – Univ. of Minnesota, Twin Cities
• CO – Mar. 23-25 – Univ. of Colorado, Boulder
• IN – Apr. 13-14 – Univ. of Indiana, Bloomington
• NE – Apr. 15-16 – Univ. of Nebraska, Kearney
• AR – Apr. 20-22 – Univ. of Arkansas – Fayetteville
• CA – May 18-20 – UCLA – Los Angeles
• Summer 2026: Get equipped for personal conversations through JFA’s online offerings! See the JFA Calendar.
• See More Recent Events, Pictures, and Stories at the “Quick Look at JFA’s Impact” page.
