Family Central opens to scores of supporters amid protests in downtown Holland

Sep. 3—HOLLAND — A long-vacant storefront was filled in downtown Holland on Thursday evening, opening its doors to scores of supporters.

Family Central, owned by Colorado-based evangelical nonprofit Focus on the Family, is the organization's first store outside its headquarters in Colorado Springs.

The bookstore and gift shop carries a variety of books, mugs and greeting cards. But it also carries something that's made some Hollanders wary — a controversial reputation.

"There's a whole discussion going online about that nefarious Focus on the Family and what we're here to achieve," said Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family, in his opening remarks.

"We just want to help serve you and your families. That's our ultimate goal. Our ulterior motive is helping your marriage and your parenting and doing the best you can do. Is that fair enough?"

Daly then recognized Elsa Prince, head of the Prince Foundation and mother of former Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. The building at 215 Central Ave. is owned by Lumir LLC, the family's real estate operation in Holland.

According to Daly, Prince approached him months ago with the idea for the project.

"This is a wonderful, wonderful group of people to work with," Prince said. "I'm so excited for all of you. This is going to be a phenomenal place to come."

The business plans to launch an interactive play area in early 2022, based on the audio drama series "Adventures in Odyssey," owned by Focus on the Family. Characters and voice actors from the show were present at the opening, and a diagram of the future play area was available to view.

But while there were smiles on the inside of the store, the business received backlash from dozens of Holland residents on social media in the days leading up to the opening, many of them citing Focus on the Family's history of intolerance against the LGBTQ community.

While Focus on the Family is not listed as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, its political lobbying firm, Family Research Council, is. The organization has received millions over the years from foundations owned by members of the Prince family.

"(We are) disappointed to learn that Focus on the Family is opening a Family Central store in downtown Holland, one of only two such stores in the entire country," wrote Jeff Sorensen, director of Out on the Lakeshore, a Holland-based LGBTQ nonprofit.

"Focus on the Family has a long history of not only opposing LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion, but also promoting and funding harmful practices such as conversion therapy. They have published and spread false information about LGBTQ+ people and issues."

Those feelings were shared by half a dozen protestors who were present at the opening, which began at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 2.

"It's important that we bring attention to the fact that this is clearly a front for Republican organizers," said one of the protestors, Joe Spaulding. "People who are longstanding members of this community know that we don't need a new bookstore. The reality is the Republican brand is extremely damaged, and they know it.

"The writing is on the wall. They're not just here to impact Holland. They're here to impact the entire state and the entire country."

Daly announced in his remarks the store will host monthly meetings to have "great debate and discussions" — led by John Stonestreet of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview.

"One of the things that we have to deal with is an ever-changing culture," Stonestreet said. "And a culture that makes it really hard to help our kids follow the Lord.

"So, frequently, we're going to have some conversations and debates about important cultural topics and some speakers dealing with some of the bigger questions that we have."

"We're not here to change anybody," Daly added. "We're here to simply proclaim the truth of God's word and to love people."

Shortly afterward, the group was led in prayer — in part praying for a protestor carrying a rainbow flag that chanted as shoppers waited in line.

"Ashamed that my beautiful and wonderful city would tolerate and support such a hateful organization," wrote Holland resident Mason Harkema in response to a Facebook post by Downtown Holland promoting the opening celebration. The post generated hundreds of comments.

"Our office is a department of the city of Holland funded by an annual tax assessment paid by businesses within our district boundaries, and thus we promote all of our member businesses per our policy," the page wrote in response to commenters angered by the promotion.

The page is connected to a website run by Holland'sDowntown Development Authority and Principal Shopping District.

"Downtown Holland remains committed to our goal of ensuring that all members of our community and all visitors feel welcome here."

— Contact reporter Cassandra Lybrink at cassandra.lybrink@hollandsentinel.com. Follow her on Instagram @BizHolland.

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