The pictures of abortion are disgusting because abortion decapitates and dismembers defenseless human beings.

by Jo Litten-Taich

I believe a large part of GAP’s success is in the demeanor and affability of the staff and volunteers.  I know that my simple mission of getting the facts into student’s heads is an attempt to connect in some way with each student.

“So was spreading my legs and having a human life pulled out of me.”

Reading body language was very interesting. It was a high decibel in some instances.  One encounter was with a gal at Appalachian State who was very agitated by the display.  She motioned to the photos and said, “This is disgusting!”

“It is,” I agreed. “So was spreading my legs and having a human life pulled out of me.”  That arrested her for a moment.

I went on to give more personal testimony.  That I’d defended my actions for 10 years until I woke up to the truth about what I’d done.  And that it blew my mind.

She expressed outrage that we were publicly displaying offensive photos and suggested that the internet would be a more appropriate medium.  I asked her how often she’d gone to pro-life sites; I explained that since there’s an information black out about abortion, we bring the truth to campuses where young people come to be informed and challenged.

She skedaddled away in the embrace of a friend.  I hope her emotional reaction results in soul searching.

Jo Litten-Taich is a CBR partner and volunteer in North Carolina.

Varied reactions to GAP at the rather leftist school in the mountains.

Random stories from Appalachian State University.

Happy grandparents
“I was in a crisis pregnancy and my parents and the father of my baby wanted me to abort.  I did not.  I have a 2-year-old.  It is hard but…..”  Her voice trailed off.
“And I bet your parents are glad they have a grandchild, aren’t they?” CBR Staffer Jane Bullington replied.
With tears in her eyes, she smiled and said, “Yes”
[Jane makes us all cry sometimes. … but maybe for different reasons.  But we don’t want to get into that.  Anyway, …]

Consumer fraud?
“It is not alive until it comes out the vagina,” a woman told Jane.
Jane responded with a question, “Have you ever seen an ultrasound of a baby in the womb?”
“Yes, and it is not alive.”
“Maybe you missed your high school biology class,” Jane suggested, trying not to laugh.
“I am a biology major and you are stupid!”
Consumer alert: This wannabe scholar should demand a refund from ASU’s Biology Department.  Just sayin’!

More educational malpractice?
“It is an inanimate object only,” a young man said.  Riiiiight.  If this genius ever took a biology class, he too is entitled to a refund.

A functioning conscience.
“This is so awful; I don’t know how people can do this to a child,” a young woman said in tears.

Are you edible?
Some young men in preppy clothing walked by, laughing and goofing off.  “Is that edible?” one of the young men hyucked.
CBR’s Jackie Hawkins replied simply, “No more than you are.”  The goofiness calmed down after that.

GAP under the microscope.
GAP is frequently the subject of classroom discussion.  The teacher of a persuasive writing class reported that his students spent the entire class talking about GAP as an example of persuasive speech.  They discussed not only the display itself, but also the brochure that we hand out.  Even students who would not yet admit to a changed mind had to agree that GAP was an effective use of persuasive argument to communicate its message.  We knew that!

Law and Order
As Jeanette Schultz offered a pamphlet to a professor who was hoofing it passed the display.  Instead of politely declining, the woman snarled in Jeanette’s face, “Get the F*** away from me!”
Although this kind of aggressive behavior is common, but what happened next was not.  Two police officers who were standing nearby seized the woman by her arm and pulled her away from Jeanette, firmly telling her to stop her aggressive behavior and public use of expletives.  That was not how she was to act in public, they said.  The woman calmed down.  When she realized that the police were serious, she made the absurd claim that she “felt threatened” by Jeanette.  The police who had seen the whole thing rejected her claim.  With a stern warning the woman walked away chastened.

Pro-Life Collegians president Adam Lovejoy knew he needed to bring the truth to his fellow students.

We brought GAP to the University of Tennessee Knoxville (UTK thanks to the fantastic Pro-Life Collegians at UTK.  Here is a letter from Adam Lovejoy, Pro-Life Collegians Co-President:

Thank you both for encouraging me to help bring GAP to campus.  From the very beginning I was supportive of GAP, but lacked the courage to go through with the process.  I was not as helpful as I could have been at the very beginning because of that lack of courage, and it wasn’t until the Lord laid it upon my heart during a prayer at a Christian ministry on campus did I truly hear God speak to me and say, “Why aren’t you doing more for my children?” (referring to the babies)

I have never felt more convicted in my life and I prayed to the Lord in my truck while driving home, and I knew that He would direct my path as long as I had faith and did what I was called to do.  Door after door was opened up.

Again, on Wednesday and Thursday morning, I had that lack of courage and allowed the devil to make me nervous and anxious about GAP’s demonstration.  But once they were displayed and I saw how many people had come to stand up against abortion, I had faith and I was so very blessed to be a part of what GAP did for UTK.  I know that with the lovingkindness we showed to both the protesters and the casual passersby, the Lord has planted a seed in every one of their hearts that will, in due timeand according to His will, bring forth many people to our cause.  I look forward to seeing you all on campus again with Choice Chains and with GAP in the near future.  As long as I am at UTK, I will be honored to sponsor GAP to come to campus.  We’ll be in touch!  Thank you both from the bottom of my heart.

Adam thinks he is thanking us, but really he is thanking you, because without your financial permission, we have no way to help Adam.  Please let us go back to UTK.  We can do it only with your help.  The more you help, the more schools we can visit and the more lives will be saved.  So please click here and do all you can.

A young man describes the inhumanities of his own culture.

by Jacqueline Hawkins

With the massive floods of people passing by the signs at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville (UTK), the “gem yield” was encouraging.

Pro-aborts actually help
GAP at UT is always fun … by that we mean froth with protest.  The protesters set up just across the sidewalk, which actually pushed the passersby over toward our display as they walked to and from class.  We love it when a plan comes together!

GAP activates the converted
Pro-life students came out of the woodwork to thank us and even help.  Pro-life senior Federico Di Luzio was so impressed that he signed up for the Pro-Life Collegians, attended the meeting that night, and showed up the next morning to help.  Brandon Hambrick was there from the start, with his gentle but strong presence.  Solid as a rock in his Christian faith, he was an example to his male peers.

Sage philosopher
A philosophy teacher was approached by a female student who asked, “I’m holding a petri dish containing an embryo in one hand, and a viable fetus in the other.  Which should I drop?”
The philosopher answered with a question, “Before you stands a man and a woman.  Whom should you murder?”
“Neither,” replied the student.  Dr. Kress answered, “Neither will I murder either of whom is in your hands.”

Phone-a-friend
“Wow. I was pro-choice but I can’t look at this picture without changing my mind. This is a human being.”  The young man phoned three friends and they came to the display. Each one came pro-choice, but each one left saying he had a lot to think about.

Gendercide in Bangladesh
A student reported, “I have never seen these comparisons and they interest me. In Bangladesh, abortion is illegal but I know men force abortions for gender reasons. Men want a son.”

Which is more respectful?
A student asked if our methods were respectful of the dead. CBR’s Jackie Hawkins asked which was less respectful (a) hiding the slaughter of millions while the country cheers and celebrates their demise, or (b) showing their plight so we can mourn their loss and prevent others from suffering the same fate?

Reasonable pro-aborts
Five pro-aborts came to Debbie at the Deeper Still table and told her that while they weren’t on our side, they found that the twerking, condom-pushing protesters were “too aggressive and acting stupid.  They should be willing to talk to you.”

Planting seeds of truth and reason.

by Tony Walker

Through GAP at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville (UTK), we have an opportunity to stimulate dialogue.  Many of those people at first oppose the pictures.  But they are willing to talk if I patiently wait for an opportunity, approach them with a gentle attitude, try to answer their questions and statements with honest and truthful information, and thank them for being willing to be there and take a stand.

Many are openly opposed, but by talking, they give me opportunity to plant seeds of truth and reason that begin to grow a little right then and there.

The opposition will argue that the unborn is not a “living human being.”  But we ask if it is “alive” (not dead or inanimate), and they admit it is alive.  Then we ask if it is “human” (not dog or apple), and they admit it is human.  Then we ask if it is a “being” (not just a human skin or blood cell of the mother), and they admit it is not part of the mother’s body.  They are left admitting the unborn is a “living human being.”

Now what they have left is the question of personhood.  They look at pictures of abuse and murder of Blacks, Indians, Jews, and unborn babies who were denied rights of personhood. They were called less than human, so it was OK to abuse and kill them.  The pictures are powerful and help connect the dots between historical and ongoing inhumanity.

I am thankful to be able to be a part of this graphic outcry.  It would not be possible without the gifts and participation of many workers and givers. I also thank the pro-aborts for being there, thinking and talking about this atrocity.  They bring more attention to the pictures and spark more interest in our message.  That brings out the reporters, who then take pictures and video and share it with many more.

After reading that, don’t you want to get in on the action?  Contact CBR and see how you can be a part of the next GAP trip!

Tony Walker is a CBR volunteer from Tennessee.

Jane Bullington loading up a young woman with materials for her heart-touching homework.

In it for the money?
“You don’t believe this crap; you just want to provoke someone to hit you so you can sue,” a young man shouted.

Professorial dictatorship
“Professors cut down our grades for questioning or contradicting them.  It is good to see this out here,” a young man told Jane Bullington.

Consistent to the point of silliness
“I truly believe it is not a baby until it is born,” the young woman said.  Jane replied, “What do you see when you look at a friend’s ultrasound and the something is yawning and stretching?”
“It is not a baby.”
Maybe it’s a cat.

Awesome homework fodder
“I have a pro-life presentation in philosophy next week and I need a good argument.”  Jane sent the young woman packing with loads of reading materials.  Her presentation will make a difference.

Not easy, but it’s right
“I am 26 years old and have a child of my own.  We have taken in 4 siblings from foster care too.  It is not easy but it is right,” she told Jane.

On the clock
Kathy, a sociology TA who claimed to be a professor, cussed at volunteer Debbie Picarello, saying we are shaming women.  She admitted to being post-abortive and did not believe that GAP was helping women.  The conversation was laced with “F you” from the woman who was most likely being paid to be there.  A male student was horrified by her behavior.

Making a stand on both fronts
Hally, a Christian student, said she was convicted about being out at the display.  Her first thoughts had been about self-preservation but realized God wanted her there.  She took a class taught by the Sociology TA who showed a pro-homosexuality film in class.  Hally was publicly ridiculed by the teacher and the students for sharing a perspective outside what the professor had presented.

Struggling with the past
Volunteer Christy McKinney spoke to a student and mom of three.  She was 31 weeks pregnant with her 3rd.  Her 2nd child was 7.  Her 1st was aborted.  She had never seen the pictures and stopped to look at them.  She was struck at how developed the child was in the 8-week abortion and looked at it for awhile.  Her parents wanted the abortion.  Looking back, she believes it was the “right choice for her.”  While she said those words, Christy could tell that she was struggling to make herself believe it.

A couple share wisdom from pain with CBR’s Jane Bullington and Jacqueline Hawkins.

by Jacqueline Hawkins

Despite the mayonnaise a pro-abort student smeared over one of our signs, there were some real gems that appeared throughout the two days we brought GAP to North Carolina State University.

Chastity and purity.  A young black woman told Jane she and her boyfriend have mutually agreed their bodies belong to the Lord, and their physical relationship will comprise only hand-holding until marriage.  She has turned down many Christian young men as dating partners because they could not see anything wrong with kissing and whatever that led to.

Hard, but softened by friends.  A male and female student were sitting near the display.  Jane watched them for a couple of minutes and thought she saw them praying.  Jane walked over and asked if they had questions or comments.  She asked if they had, indeed, been praying for us.  “Yes, we were.  We are here to spread Jesus on our campus and we wanted to pray for you guys.”  The young woman’s last comment was, “Being a Christian is the hardest thing I have ever done.”  It is, but it is made easier by praying friends.

No choices for her.  “I am a single mom. I have a 13-year-old and a 2-year-old.  When I got pregnant 3 years ago, as an educated, upwardly mobile black woman with tenure on this campus, I got no support for my decision to keep my baby.  Two different faculty members asked me, ‘Can I take you to get it taken care of?’ and ‘What are you going to do with it?’  There was no ‘choice’ for me unless my choice was theirs as well.”

Spared from gendercide.  A student from India told the story of his very blessed mother.  “My mom grew up in a rural village in India where baby girls were thrown down into a well in order to kill them.  My mom was spared because our family had a little more money apparently.  She used to play by that well.  She didn’t know until she was an adult who was inside.  Years later, an Indian man, educated in America where he also made a lot of money, returned to that small village and built a school just for girls.  Times are changing in rural India but it is slow.”  He pointed to the pictures and said, “This is horrible as well.”

Grab-n-go info.  “So what if the woman is raped?” asked a male student.  CBR volunteer acknowledged the horror of rape and gave our standard answer.  “OK, what if the woman’s life is in danger?”  Patti answered with our script about having two patients [mother and child] that we may or may not be able to save.  “Got it! Thanks”  He kept moving.  No argument!  No questioning my sources!  No extreme examples and exceptions!  He made Patti’s day!

Wisdom through pain.  Jane and I spoke to a very nice married couple when they came by during their lunch break.  They thanked us for being there.  “People need to see this,” the husband said.  He was a librarian at the NC State library.  The wife had an abortion years ago, after her daughter was diagnosed with a disease.  Her daughter would have been in her late teens by now.  Now the couple has trouble conceiving.  The wife sagely asserted that you never know what the future holds.  You need to treasure the children you are blessed with now, regardless of your situation, because you may not be able to have more in the future.  This is especially true after an abortion.  We directed the wife to the Deeper Still table to learn more about post abortion counseling and retreats.  They were good people that God will hopefully bless with more children one day.

Jacqueline Hawkins is a CBR Project Director and a regular FAB contributor.