By Lisa Andrusko
Editor’s note. To order audio recordings of the National Right to Life 2023 Convention speakers, please go to nrlconvention.com.
Amy Ford, co-founder and president of Embrace Grace:
“We can talk about our stance and our belief system and have our debates on Facebook and all of that, but without love we are a clanging cymbal. We must have the action behind what we believe. We need to use kindness and love in everything we do because love is what changes lives. And Pro-Love is where the action is. …
“A church can love a mom forever if she’ll stay connected because we are the church. We’re a spiritual family.
“We can do this together and build a strong spiritual family and make sure that no single mom ever has to walk alone.”
Amy Ford speaking at the convention general session titled “Love Saves Lives.”
Thomas Glessner, J.D., founder and president of the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA):
Photo: Lisa Andrusko
“In 1997 NIFLA launched the medical clinic movement. … These aren’t bogus clinics. They’re licensed clinics. Bogus clinics? Tell that to the licensed physicians who are working at these centers. Tell that to the licensed nurses. Tell that to the licensed nurse practitioners. The physician assistants. Tell them they’re bogus. …
“The anecdotal information we have tells us that if you are a non-medical pregnancy center and you’re giving out good counseling, good supplies, good everything, you’re going to see about 20-25 percent of those women who come in and [who] are pregnant choose life.
“But our good information shows that if you go medical and you use ultrasound to confirm her pregnancy and that mother sees the image of her baby, that number jumps to between 80 and 90 percent.”
Thomas Glessner, J.D., speaking at the convention general session titled “Love Saves Lives.”
Photo: Lisa Andrusko
Erik Rosales, Capitol Hill correspondent for EWTN News Nightly:
“Now is not a time to celebrate. It’s a time to get into the fight. Roll up our sleeves and continue our mission. That means we have to continue to support pregnancy care centers and other charities that help support women and help them keep their baby. We as Christians need to show support for adoption services. …
“Just continue to look for opportunities to educate others on right to life issues. Ask God for the strength and the wisdom to stand strong. But when others disagree with you, show love and compassion. Remember, our actions are always being watched, not only by others, not only by God, but also the enemy.”
Erik Rosales speaking at the convention Prayer Breakfast titled “A Personal Relationship with Christ: Adapt, Improvise, and Overcome.
Lauren Eden, a woman who survived a second-trimester abortion:
Photo: Lisa Andrusko
“If there’s one thing, one thing, that I could share with you all today is that my life is a living testimony that our God is a God of miracles. No life that He creates is an accident, no life is a mistake. My story is proof that God’s plans are bigger than any human’s plans, and doctor’s plans, and president’s plans, any lobbyist’s plans, any Planned Parenthood executive’s plans. And when we join God in His plan He invites us into His story. He is in the business of saving lives and we all have the opportunity to be a part of that.”
Lauren Eden speaking at the convention general session titled “Abortion Survivors Are NOT a Pro-Life Myth.”
Editor’s note. To order audio recordings of the National Right to Life 2023 Convention speakers, please go to nrlconvention.com