By Eleni Mastronardi, NRL Conventions Assistant
Editor’s note. This appears in the September issue of National Right to Life News. Please share this, and all the other content of this 42-page issue, with your pro-life family and friends.
As a child in school, the first day always had the teacher asking, “What was your favorite part of the summer?” or “What was one fun thing you did over the summer?” And even though I have been out of school for quite some time, it is still helpful to look back, reflect, and evaluate.
My summer began with flying down to Atlanta, Georgia to prepare for the annual National Right to Life Convention in June. Having prepared for the convention for the previous six months, I was relieved that it was finally time to put all the hard work to use and throw the event.
But I was also excited with the anticipation that whatever the ruling, the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health case would be decided some time within the next few weeks.
And at the same time I was nervous, as more attacks on pro-life groups and pregnancy resource centers were being reported.
As we kicked off the Convention with the Prayer Breakfast on Friday morning, June 24, and then as our next session got started, we were all watching for the Supreme Court decisions coming out. When Dobbs was released, it was a whirlwind, and by the end of the weekend, I left Atlanta thankful for a great convention, and uplifted by the decision and what it means for our future.
But it doesn’t end there.
The summer was encouraging and exciting, but the trajectory shows that there is so much more to come this fall.
In some states, depending on the laws that went into effect after Dobbs, pregnancy centers have seen a great increase in women seeking alternatives to abortion and assistance in getting needed resources for their children, and they have been finding hope. Churches and community groups have had more women and families to serve.
In my state, nothing has changed. But our local pregnancy centers continue to provide better options for pregnant mothers and healing for others.
And in many of the states, there is great optimism for the fall elections, where more pro-life leaders have hope of being elected, and will have the opportunity to speak up for their constituents, both the born and preborn.
So even though the crazy summer is over, it doesn’t mean that the work doesn’t continue, and that there isn’t more excitement to come. The fall is just the next step, the next battle to save lives.
For more information on the annual convention, go to nrlconvention.com.
To help in our efforts to elect pro-life leaders this fall, go to nrlvictoryfund.org/donate or donate.nrlc.org.