December 26th was the 12-year anniversary of the Duggar Family Fan Blog. We cannot believe that it has been more than a decade since we wrote our first post. Since December 26th, 2009, our blog has received 257 million page views.
From the start, we have been committed to sharing factual updates on Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and their family. We have always avoided interjecting our personal opinions. That being said, after the Josh Duggar trial, we feel it necessary to
say a few things.
This situation has been heartbreaking for us, as we know it has been heartbreaking for those of you who have followed the Duggars over the years. Like many of you, we had hoped that during the trial, evidence would show that Josh was innocent. But after a lengthy trial, he was found guilty.
Our hearts go out to every child who has been exploited,
and we know that the crime of child pornography goes against everything the
Duggar family stands for. We strongly condemn child pornography and
everything Josh Duggar has been convicted of.
That being said, one person’s moral failures does not mean
that an entire belief system is flawed. For those of us who are Christians, our
faith is not in a human, a family, or a television show. Our faith is in Christ,
who is the ultimate and final judge.
Has this blog been worth it? We have spent upwards of 10,000 hours working on this fan blog, with the goal of using it to encourage others. For 12 years, our blog has been a safe platform for people to learn about and chat about a family with 19 children that has captivated the minds and hearts of hundreds of thousands (perhaps millions) across the globe. Is that all negated because of Josh’s actions? We believe the answer is no.
We still find the Duggar family’s mission
and values encouraging, even if one of the family members has failed in
upholding them. And as we stated above, our faith as Christians is not in the Duggars. They are human, and like every human on this earth, they are imperfect. Our faith is in God alone, and He is the only One we look to for the perfect moral standard.
Our prayers go out for children who are exploited by child
pornography and for the entire Duggar family, especially Anna and her
children. Should we continue our blog? We have decided for the time being
to continue to post, in order to allow people to work through their emotions
and have an opportunity to post their thoughts. Many of the other Duggar children are involved in interesting projects and endeavors, and we look forward to keeping you informed on their activities.
Sincerely,
Lily and Ellie, Creators of the Duggar Family Blog