Posted on 10/03/2004 8:47:06 AM PDT by Coleus
National Life Chain Sunday On the Way
by Pete Winn, associate editor
Oct. 3 is the day for pro-lifers across the country to gather to declare that "Abortion Kills Children."
This year's National Life Chain is set for Oct. 3, with pro-life activists expected to gather in more than a thousand cities.
Sharron Albertson, state director for Life Chain efforts in Texas, said the purpose of the event is not picketing or protest. It's a prayer event, where people give feet to their faith.
"Tens of thousands of people," she explained, "will line major streets for one hour, praying for our nation and for life to once again be sacred."
They also will be holding signs bearing such slogans as "Adoption: a Loving Option," "Abortion Kills Children" and "Lord, Forgive Us and Our Nation."
The National Life Chain has been in existence since 1987, when founder Royce Dunn first championed the idea in his home community, near Bakersfield, Calif. The chain originally was placed near the area's abortion clinics.
"Before Life Chain, the people in his area were thinking that (local) pro-lifers were off-the-wall kind of people, and when they organized the first one and several thousand people came, it made a real impact in their area," Albertson said. "Of course, those abortion clinics have now closed, and life chains are all across the United States and Canada."
The first National Life Chain took place in 1994. Albertson said many areas where Life Chain has been in operation have seen some almost miraculous things take place.
"Recently, in Texas, an abortionist was planning to open up a shop, but after they had a Life Chain in that community, the abortionist decided that was not a good spot to be," she said.
Other stories are equally as dramatic.
"Every year, we hear stories of ladies who decide not to have an abortion, after seeing the signs," Albertson said. "Then there was the woman who came by one Life Chain, upset with one the signs, and started talking with one of the women holding a sign. It seemed the angry woman had had an abortion 14 years earlier, and had been carrying that guilt all these years. The woman holding the sign said, 'Would you like for me to pray with you?' and they agreed to pray. When they finished praying, the woman who had been so angry said she realized that she could be forgiven. She said, "Why didn't someone tell me I could do this years ago?"
Then there was the ninth-grader who took part in the National Life Chain and decided after participating to do a school paper on abortion.
"When he turned in his paper," Albertson said, "his teacher shared his paper with some of the other teachers, and called his mother, and said she had had an abortion when she was 16 years old. She told his mom, that she and some of the other teachers really needed counseling. Could she help them find people to counsel them?' "
Though Oct. 3 is when most Life Chains will be held, there is an alternate date, Oct. 31, if you haven't had a chance to organize a chain for your area.
"There's still time if you want to put one together," Albertson said. "You need to order signs, or borrow some from a city close to you. But that's usually easily done."
Make no mistake, though. The National Life Chain is not a political event. It's spiritual and pro-life.
"Being pro-life isn't a political issue," Albertson said. "It's a basic moral issue. We've allowed the other side to define it as political. If we let them do that, we won't be the salt and light we need to be."
FOR MORE INFORMATION
To find out more about National Life Chain Sunday, visit the LifeChain.net Web site.
Participation Urged in Life Chain Sunday, October 3
TORONTO, September 21, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - On Sunday Oct 3rd, hundreds of thousands of Americans and Canadian will take part in the 17th annual Life Chain witness for life.
At numerous major intersections in cities and smaller communities, all participants will hold up one of several signs, each with a brief slogan relatd to abortion, in order to raise awareness of the issue in their respective communities. All participants are encouraged to pray while holding their signs.
Life Chain involves only one hour of participants' time, from 2 to 3 p.m. on Sunday. The event often produces a positive result in communities exposed to the signs and in the participants who accept the opportunity to make this one-hour, prayerful and simple witness to the sacredness of human life.
Many babies have been known to have been saved as a result of mothers seeing the messages repeated from one sign to another as they have driven by Life Chains.
For more information see the Life Chain Canada web page produced by Campaign Life Coalition at
http://www.lifesite.net/events/lifechain/2004/
U.S. readers see
http://www.nationallifechain.org/
National Life Chain Sunday 2004 will be held October 3. Last year, Life Chains in over 1000 cities and towns ministered to millions of motorists in the U.S. and Canada. Was your city included? If not, build a local prayer chain in 2004 for God to work through to save lives, change hearts, and to inspire new pro-lifers into your ranks. One Christian can bring the Life
Chain to your city on October 3. Will you be that person? The cost is minimal and the rewards immeasurable. For help, email NationalLifeChain@otnusa.com or call 530-671-5500.
Life Chain at Burlington Fred Meyer Sunday, October 3
NATIONAL LIFE CHAIN - can you spare one hour for prayer?
National Life Chain protests abortion
Click on a state below to see Life Chain locations in that state (partial listing.)
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There will be hundreds of other Life Chains. If you do not see information for a Life Chain near you, please contact your state or local pro-life organization or contact Royce Dunn, Director of National Life Chain, 530-671-5500.
Thanks for reminding everyone about the Life Chain. I will be heading out in about 20 minutes to my local Life Chain.
I didn't know about this event, but as I was coming home from visiting someone in the hospital I saw the line of people along the main street in town. I didn't know who they were but I felt that I needed to be out there with them. I ran home & made a quick sign and returned to stand with them.
I ran home & made a quick sign and returned to stand with them. >>>
Glad you were able to participate; it's held every year on the 1st Sunday in October.
Click on the map above and see if your lifec hain was listed and let me know, thanks.
MAINE COMMUNITIES GATHER FOR LIFE CHAIN
Hundreds of people across Maine stood in prayer Sunday afternoon to call for an end to abortion.
The event is called Life Chain, and it happened in 12 Maine communities and 1-thousand across the country.
Abortion foes say they beleive by standing on the street they can get people to think about the procedure's consequences. But motorists passing by seemed to have mixed reactions -- some honked in support -- others greeted them with vulger gestures.
Life chain started in 19-87 in Bakersfield, California. Anti-abortion activists have been participating in Lewiston-Auburn for 11 years.
ProLife Life Chain Sunday
The Community Awareness Coalition will join the Fire for Life Pro-Life Ministry of St. Joan of Arc Church in Lisle, Illinois to participate in the National Life Chain in honor of "Respect for Life Sunday" on this Sunday October 3, 2004.
Everyone is encouraged to meet at 2:30pm on the South East corner of Ogden and Main Street in Lisle IL.
Then we will form a long line holding signs going east on Ogden Ave until 3:30 PM.
Peaceful, respectful, non-graphic signs will be provided in order to promote the positive aspect of LIFE.
EVERYONE IS INVITED TO ATTEND!
For more information please contact Karlana Pedersen at 630-788-1877 or email us at thecac@comcast.net
Thank you for your support, and we look forward to seeing you there!
The CAC, P.O. Box 3437, Lisle, IL. 60532
PH. 630-585-4262, Efax.347-412-1912 Oct. 3 from 2-3 p.m. marks the sixth anniversary of the Life Chain in Wayne County. Since Roe v. Wade 45 million preborn Americans have been surgically aborted with U.S. Supreme Court approval and millions more have been killed by abortive birth controls. Though today no civil law compels us to defend the innocent and helpless, God's moral law certainly does. The Life Chain is not a rally or a celebration. The mission of Life Chain is "a peaceful, prayerful public witness of pro life citizens standing for one hour praying for our nation and for an end to abortion." Life Chain welcomes everyone who believes life is sacred and will defend it peacefully. Get involved and come join the Life Chain. Help the pro-life movement alert the public to the serious issue of abortion. Signs will be distributed shortly before 2 p.m. at the Wayne County Courthouse and the First Baptist Church parking lots on South A Street. If you can't physically stand for this one hour, that's OK -- bring a lawn chair. Make it a priority to be counted for the cause of Christ and to demonstrate your appreciation of the life that God has given us. Cheryl L. Spence,
Life Chain is a prayerful witness to end abortion
Richmond, Ind.
In the guest commentary, "Anti-abortion forces should spend more of their energies making sure children already born have a better quality of life," (AC-T, Sept. 6), John Henderson makes no suggestions as to how he would seek to improve the quality of life for children.
He wants easy access to abortion without dissenting voices to prick anyone's conscience, godless conception and no unplanned, unwanted babies. I am an adoptive mother, daughter of an adopted mother, pro-life and pro-child. I could not disagree with him more.
Do "unplanned" pregnancies mean "unwanted" children? Nothing could be further from the truth. Every year more than one million U.S. couples want to adopt. Their wait usually exceeds two years, with costs from $10,000 to $40,000.
With waiting lists of families who want transracial babies, Downs Syndrome babies, Spina Bifida babies and even terminally-ill AIDS babies, who can say any child is unwanted? Ten thousand people contacted the National Council for Adoption when a magazine reported on transracial adoption.
The 2000 Census reports more than 2 million adopted children living in U.S. homes.
In 2002, 53,000 children were adopted from the foster care system. In 2003, Americans adopted 21,616 international children. These unplanned children were desperately wanted and adoption is improving their quality of life.
Henderson protests, "it is not humane" to encourage a woman to give her baby for adoption. Is abortion more humane? Abortion is a lifelong heartbreak for a woman.
Being a birth mother is an enormous sacrifice, but birth mothers today receive medical care, living expenses, training, job referrals and more.
They can request an open adoption with visitation rights or receive pictures and updates to see the joy their sacrifice has given.
Henderson questions God's role in conceptions, declaring, "God should be more careful about where he is putting a life he created."
If God is worthy to be called God, then he knows exactly what he is doing, when he is doing it and where he is putting it.
"Ben" was born to a drug-addicted mom. He was blind, deaf and prone to seizures. These seizures took his life last year, yet his adoptive family adored him and treasured every second of the life he had.
This family has adopted two other children from foster care, plus a transracial infant and a micro-preemie. That is what I call pro-life and pro-child.
My mother was born to an unwed woman, nine weeks premature and partially blind. No one took "imperfect" babies in 1940, except the precious couple who lied about their age to adopt her. She filled their home with joy and grew up to be my remarkable mom.
Seven months ago my family adopted a 2-year-old daughter. Jena was "unwanted" in her generation and society. She was born to destitute farmers who kept her hidden for three months before they abandoned her at the gate of a middle school. She has a complete bilateral cleft palate, unilateral hearing loss and eye problems. Her society said she was disposable because she has "monster's disease."
She is one of the 100,000 baby girls abandoned in China every year.
That is what happens when a culture votes on which babies are disposable. Every family in my adoption group was adopting a special needs child, with defects ranging from birthmarks and albinism to cleft palate, a nose bitten off by a rat and a missing rectum.
Yet each of these children was intensely wanted, no matter what their special need. That is pro-life and pro- child.
Jena has lived with us for only seven months, yet no one doubts that she was always meant to be with us. She fits perfectly in our chaotic family, which now happily boasts six children. She is a miracle; intelligent, funny, beautiful, loving. She is no accident.
Henderson is right that religions send "mixed messages" regarding abortion. Flawed religion too often substitutes opinion and convenience for absolute moral law. But God does not change. He does not take a popular vote about the value of every life he forms.
The author alleges, "God pays no attention to these unwanted children." Yet God has given families to millions in our country alone, regardless of the circumstances of their conception.
The author says the birth of unwanted children is "a threat to human society." Maybe it is a threat to his version of society, where no one is disabled, poor or inconvenient.
It is views like his which should cause Americans to fear for society, for it is how we treat our weakest and most vulnerable members that determines our humanity, not the vain rationale we give for throwing them away.
Adoption is pro-life and pro-child. As you build your family or deal with an unplanned pregnancy, please consider this life-giving option.
There is a child for every home and a home for every child.
Stephanie Cox Wright is a 1983 summa cum laude graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill in economics. The mother of six children ages 2 to 18, she lives in Fletcher.
MH C of C to participate in Life Chain
The Mountain Home Church of Christ will again participate in the annual Life Chain event from 2-3 p.m. Sunday.
According to a press release, this will be a silent demonstration of protest where participants will hold banners against abortion. All are welcome. The goal is to line both sides of state Highway 62 from the Mountain Home Square eastward to the bypass intersection at Wal-Mart.
Anyone considering abortion is encouraged to contact Jane Maynard, women's counselor, at 425-4333. All calls and counseling will be kept in the strictest of confidence.
Life Chain event to be Sunday
By RHONDA MORROW
Texarkana Gazette
On Sunday, thousands of people across America and Canada will take a stand against abortion in Life Chain 2004.
The local observance will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at First Church of the Nazarene, at the corner of North Robison and Richmond roads.
"There has been quite a buzz in the community about the Life Chain, and we expect this year's attendance will exceed last year's number," said Kim Banks of First Choice Pregnancy Resource Center.
This will mark the second year for Texarkana residents to participate in the event.
Signs proclaiming, "Abortion Kills Children," "Adoption is a Loving Option," "Abortion Hurts Women" and "Jesus Forgives and Heals" will be available on site. The suggested donation for the signs is $1, and a donation jar will be on hand for additional contributions.
Proceeds after expenses will go to First Choice.
The event will be held rain or shine, and those planning to participate should bring water, lawn chairs, umbrellas and strollers. Call 870-772-8662 for information about the Life Chain.
Plans made for annual life chainBy Julie Anderson
The Annual Derby Life Chain will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the corner of Rock Road and Madison.
"I've probably been doing it (in Derby) since they started," Chuck Pawloski, coordinator, said. "Probably since 1995 or '96."
This year's life chain will be moved to its new location because of the construction along K-15.
Pawloski is encouraging everyone to come out.
For the complete story, see Friday's edition of The Derby Reporter.
Annual ‘life chain’ slated Sunday
October 01, 2004
Press release
This Sunday (Oct. 3), the 17th-annual “National Life Chain” will occupy public sidewalks in more than 1,000 North American cities and towns.
With firm commitment to the sanctity of human life, participants will stand silently and pray while holding signs that include “Abortion Kills Children,” “Adoption, The Loving Option,” “Lord, Forgive Us and Our Nation,” and “Abortion Hurts Women.”
As evidenced by the sign messages, the event is devoted to ending legalized abortion—a form of legalized violence that has mutilated and killed far more innocent humans than have many decades of war and terrorist activity.
Mindful of that prevailing truth, “Life Chain” equates legalized abortion with these present-day evils whose consequences are proving ruinous in the extreme.
“Today our culture is courting collapse,” said Life Chain director Royce Dunn, “with pornography flourishing unabated, illegitimacy producing one-third of all births, and traditional marriage struggling to survive against cohabitation, divorce, and same-sex unions.
“Beyond that, a haunting fear has settled in our countries as al-Qaeda cells threaten the safety and security of our citizens,” Dunn added.
Millions of preborn children have been surgically aborted in Canada and the United States with legal approval, and millions more have been killed by abortive birth controls.
In Fort Frances, people can gather at St. Mary’s Church around 2:15 p.m. on Sunday to pick up signs and proceed to Scott Street, where they will stand 20 feet apart on the north side of the road.
The entire hour from 2:30-3:3- p.m. is to be spent in silent prayer asking for an end to the cruelty and injustice of abortion, and asking for a return to Gospel values.
For more information on this event, call 274-5736.
Life Chain to form Sunday along Broadway
| Local anti-abortion activists will form a Life Chain Sunday from 2 to 3 p.m. along West Broadway from 16th Street to 32nd Street. The annual chain is part of a national event. This year's grand marshal will be Don Clark, a Knights of Columbus member. Participants standing 10 feet apart will hold signs that state "Abortion Kills Children," "Jesus Forgives and Heals," "Adoption: the Loving Option," "Life, the First Inalienable Right," "Lord, Forgive Us and Our Nation," "Abortion Hurts Women," "Pray to End Abortion" and "El Abort Mata Ninos." Signs will be handed out on the north side of Broadway at 16th, 22nd and 32nd streets. Those who have signs from last year's event are asked to bring them. The event is free. Advance registration is not required. |
Abortion opponents will gather around Kansas today to take part in an International Life Chain, which will pray for an end to legalized abortion in the country.
More than 1,000 cities and towns are participating in the 17th annual Life Chain, including 70 in Kansas. Wichita locations include the corner of 21st and Maize Road; along Rock Road from Kellogg to Central; the corner of 29th North and Rock Road; at K-42 and MacArthur, and at Bleckley and Kellogg Drive.
Chains are also planned in Derby, Goddard, Augusta, Valley Center, Mulvane, Newton and Andover. The gatherings will last from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Please share your experiences.
Ha! Someone had the nerve to park in the church parking lot with a Kerry/Edwards sticker on their new Volkswagen Beetle.
Msgr. Brennan made a big deal about the Respect Life chain in Somerville during mass. When I got back to my car, I waited for the owner of the Beetle to return so I could mock him/her but alas, I had my daughter with me and whoever owned that car, was taking too long.
You can get em next time. Maybe you can put some pro life literature on their windshield next week.
Please let me know if you want on or off my Pro-Life Ping List.
I took my 4 year old granddaughter, Roni, for her first street demonstration. (and then we got her ice cream!)
Our car cheered! We usually think about how these billboards affect the undecided, but this billboard made our day, and we're not "undecided."
In Deer Park Texas, we got only 1 thumbs down. Lots of thumbs up and honking.
I think this should be pushed more for participation. It's just an hour.
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
October 4, 2004
Muncie, IN (LifeNews.com) -- In thousands of peaceful gatherings across the United States, hundreds of thousands of pro-life advocates held signs in "Life Chain" events marking their opposition to abortion and support for women.
The silent event is a way of reaching out to communities with the pro-life message, but Deanna Williams of Muncie, Indiana didn't have to say a word. Her sign, "Abortion Hurts Women," said it all.
Williams knows the pain and grief women who have abortions bear. At 16, she had an abortion and has experienced emotional, spiritual, and physical pain ever since.
"I remember every detail," Williams said. "It was definitely life changing. The guilt from that, the pain from that, it doesn't ever go away. It's always there."
Meanwhile, in San Antonio, Texas alone, some 3,000 people gathered and virtually every participant brought baby supplies to benefit local crisis pregnancy centers.
There too, women who have had abortions and want others not to make the same mistakes showed up.
“We need more women like me to come forward because you can't argue with this,” said participant Julie Magoon. “My abortion hurt me, and really hurt my family to some extent. And I think it's hard to ignore that.”
Churches were highly involved in the pro-life event.
In Texarkana, Texas, Tim Gates, pastor of the First Church of the Nazarene, was one of many church leaders among the crowd of 200 to participate.
Perioa, Illinois was another of the more than 1,500 cities to hold a LifeChain. There, pro-life advocates held signs saying, "Abortion Kills Children" and "Life: The First Inalienable Right."
Pro-life groups in the Midwestern city have held the event for 15 years and the line of participants stretched for four miles.
Residents of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania have been holding Life Chains for more ten years and had more than 400 people at this year's event.
"We've had more thumbs up than thumbs down and those little birdies that fly through," said Debbie Hainey of Greencastle, Pennsylvania, referring to obscene hand gestures. She held another of the LifeChain signs saying "Adoption: The Loving Option."
Rob Smith, the Life Chain coordinator in Hagerstown, Maryland said about 200 people joined his event.
"The majority of the reaction was very positive," Smith said of the motorists who passed along the route.
In Holland, Michigan, 125 people took part int he Life Chain there. Sally Mulder, 44, of Fillmore Township, was there with her sons Curtis, 17, and Elliot, 11.
"We feel it's one thing we can do to stand out against abortion in our country," she said.
"I just pray God will show our country the right way, that more people are willing to follow God's way, even though it means a personal sacrifice at times," said Mulder.
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