by Maggie Ferrara

Two years ago today, when I was 6 weeks pregnant, I was assaulted for speaking out against abortion.

My colleague Jackie and I were displaying pictures of aborted babies on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) when a girl walked up to us and started pouring orange juice over the sign I was holding. Before I even realized what was happening, she raised her arm and poured the remainder of the bottle over my head and face. Then she quickly turned and walked away. Shocked, we called out after her, “Hey, what are you doing?” But she remained silent. As my eyes stung and my face dripped, Jackie dropped her sign and flagged down the nearby policeman. The girl was arrested immediately.

Thankfully, we were each wearing a GoPro video camera, which captured the entire incident and made it all extremely easy for the Commonwealth’s Attorney assigned to my case. (See above.) The arresting officer, who was a VCU Policeman, mentioned later that the school was considering expelling her for her actions. That seemed harsh to me, but I didn’t know what an appropriate punishment should be.

Several weeks later, in a Richmond City court room, the judge gave her sentence: 100 hours of community service and a verbal apology to me (which she completed immediately). But that wasn’t all. My orange juice assailant, Rachel, had to write a three-page paper about the importance of The First Amendment and return to court to read it into the record. I couldn’t have come up with any better punishment!

Sometimes I think back to this incident and wonder about Rachel. I don’t really know anything about her except her name. But I wonder. What motivated her to pour orange juice on me? Why was she silent during her attack? Did she regret her actions immediately, or when she was arrested, or maybe not until much later? I assume she does now. These and many other questions come to mind. I also wonder if she still thinks about it. Does she think about me? She didn’t know any more about me than I did about her. She didn’t know I was pregnant when she attacked me. If she had known, would that have mattered to her?

I will probably never know the answers to these questions. But I can pray for Rachel, and so I will.

Maggie Ferrara is the Communications Director for The Center for Bio-Ethical Reform. She has been a pro-life missionary for almost 9 years. She lives in Virginia with her husband and daughter.

Annie Whaley, our youngest 2020 Summer Intern, had been apprehensive about talking to strangers about abortion. Thanks to the training and mentoring she received, Annie was able to overcome that fear. She shared, “Doing [pro-life] activism is something I wanted to do, but I never really pictured myself doing it. But it pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me realize it’s not about me…it’s about sharing the truth.”

To hear more about Annie’s powerful experience as a CBR Intern, check out the video below.

We’re still accepting applications for our 2021 Internship, until February 28th! (The internship runs from May 17 to August 6 in Knoxville, Tennessee.) For more information and to submit an application, click here.

Already active in the pro-life movement, Britt Huddleston was a little skeptical that using abortion victim images would really make that much of a difference. Looking back, she said “I was definitely converted that first time we did activism…It got to the heart of the issue…You can’t deny the reality of abortion, that it’s killing a person, when you’re sitting there looking at it.”

To hear more about Britt’s powerful experience as a CBR Intern, check out the video below.

We’re still accepting applications for our 2021 Internship, until February 28th! (The internship runs from May 17 to August 6 in Knoxville, Tennessee.) For more information and to submit an application, click here.

Heidi Whaley had always been pro-life, but thought of abortion as a “distant problem” for which she had no personal responsibility. During CBR’s Summer Intern Program, Heidi’s view changed. “Through this experience, I’ve come to view abortion for what it really is: a bloody, ghastly war. I haven’t been asked to help fight in this war, I’ve been called by God.”

To hear more about Heidi’s powerful experience as a CBR Intern, check out the video below.

We’re still accepting applications for our 2021 Internship, until February 28th! (The internship runs from May 17 to August 6 in Knoxville, Tennessee.) For more information and to submit an application, click here.

When asked what she would say to fellow pro-life Christians, 2020 Intern Maggie Groover had this to say: “Why are you being silent? We know that this is going on. It’s not a secret. How can you ignore this any longer? It’s our responsibility to stand up.” 

To hear more about Maggie’s powerful experience as a CBR Intern, check out the video below. 

We are still accepting applications for our 2021 Internship, until February 28th! (The internship runs from May 17 to August 6 in Knoxville, Tennessee.) For more information and to submit an application, click here.

by Annie Whaley

“Why don’t you just go back to where you came from?  We don’t need any more @$$#*!=$ around here; we have enough as it is!” The abortion clinic volunteer snarled as she fastened her COVID mask.  She had intentionally parked her car in front of the abortion photo I was holding.  This was not an uncommon reaction to our presence outside the Preferred Women’s Health Center in Charlotte, N.C.

This was my first time standing outside an abortion clinic.  All summer, we had targeted motorists and their passengers at busy intersections, and in their faces we could see that our signs affected them.  But today, we watched as women were escorted from their cars into the child-killing center, and this had a profound effect on us.

I was overwhelmed with horror as I watched each woman enter that building with a tiny baby inside, knowing that either the baby would be killed immediately or the mother would be given poison to kill the child later.

My horror was heightened by the coldness and brashness with which the clinic volunteers carried out their duties.  At the entrance, they ordered the women not to stop for the Cities for Life missionaries.  They ushered the women from their cars into the clinic with colorful umbrellas and loud music to drown out the pleading  voices of the Cities for Life sidewalk counselors.

My immediate reaction was revulsion, rage, and disgust, but then God convicted me of my own pride.  I realized that these clinic volunteers and abortion-minded women probably do not know God and have not been  convicted by the Truth.  It is only because of God’s mercy and grace that I am not blind myself.

I pray that the Lord will continue to soften my heart toward them.  I pray that He will convict them to turn from the path of spiritual darkness, death, and destruction, to the path of light, life, and love!

Annie Whaley is a freshman at East Tennessee State University and was one of our outstanding 2020 summer interns.

As our summer interns were leaving in August, another kind of internship was just beginning. CBR has partnered with Thrive Ministry Leadership Residency, an integrative, 10-month Christian ministry training program for college graduates who sense that God is calling them into pastoral or non-profit leadership. Thrive Residency partners with local church ministries and non-profits in the Knoxville area and each Thrive Resident works 30 hours per week at one of these partner organizations. CBR is now blessed by Kennedy Harless, our very own Thrive Resident intern, for ten whole months (half of which have already passed, if you can believe it)!

Kennedy grew up in Indiana in a conservative Southern Baptist family. However, Kennedy herself only truly became pro-life during her freshman year of college. She learned how abortions are performed and realized that abortion is never acceptable.

Kennedy graduated in 2020 from Cedarville University with a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Education and Youth Ministry, with the intent to pursue Ethics/Apologetics/urban ministry in the future. Her desire to be an agent of light and healing draws her to ministries that deal with “real people and tough situations.” She has already proven herself to be a winsome advocate for the lives of the preborn by engaging with students at Liberty & Lee during our campus visits this fall.

Kennedy’s primary responsibility at CBR is our 2021 Summer Intern Program. She has been working tirelessly to identify and recruit potential intern candidates and guide them through the application process. She has also lent her hand to some of our new social media design, for which she has a particular talent. It really helps to have young people around, so they can teach me how to do the SnapFace thing.

When asked why she wanted to intern with CBR, Kennedy had this to say:

I like being involved with ministries that are raw and CBR deals with the darkest part of human depravity. Willingness to correctly educate the general public on abortion brings the pivotal question of life and death to the forefront of our conversation. Accepting ignorance, particularly willful ignorance, keeps us enslaved to our practice of sacrificing others on the altar of self.

Welcome aboard, Kennedy! We are so grateful to have you!

CBR was blessed with four fabulous interns here in Knoxville this summer. From a taekwondo black belt, to an artist, they brought many skills to the table.

CBR 2020 Interns: Maggie, Britt, Heidi, & Annie

Sisters Annie and Heidi Whaley hail from East Tennessee, just like another one of CBR’s favorite people! Growing up in a strong Christian family, Heidi remembers her dad telling stories of martyrs for the faith, “I’ve always heard standing up for righteousness is hard, but after this summer, I know it firsthand. I’ve felt God’s presence this summer like never before. He has given me boldness in my insecurity, peace in my fear, and strength in my weakness.”

Maggie Groover also grew up pro-life. “It was never something I wrestled with, but it has grown in importance to me as I’ve grown closer to God.” Coming from a large family in North Carolina, Maggie decided college was not for her and instead entered the workforce after high school.

Unlike the other three, Britt Huddleston was pro-choice through most of high school. She eventually realized that “My body my choice” is an extremely intellectually dishonest argument, and that there is nothing scientific about calling a fetus “a clump of cells.” Britt says, “I literally had nothing to back that position other than selfishness.”

We asked our interns to learn and push themselves in many different areas, but street activism proved to be a highlight of the internship for them. Annie found activism outside Planned Parenthood to be particularly poignant. “As soon as we parked, the atmosphere weighed down on me. You can feel what a spiritually dark place it is. The experience revitalized my passion to speak and act on behalf of these unborn children who are brutally slaughtered.”

Interns & Staff outside Planned Parenthood in Charlotte.

Britt had done some pro-life activism at her college, Miami University, but never used abortion victim images. She now fully understands their key role in ending abortion, “Through this internship, I became comfortable with using abortion victim imagery and learned how to engage people with it. I’ve had more effective conversations in the past 12 weeks than I have in the past couple of years without it. Pro-lifers can’t be scared to use images if they care about ending abortion.”

Maggie also noted the impact abortion victim imagery had on her, saying that watching “Choice Blues” on the first day of the internship was the most noteworthy experience for her. “I had already seen the graphic pictures several times at that point, but that video motivated me to act in a way I had not before.” Maggie is proof of CBR’s belief that it is just as important for pro-life people to see abortion as it is for pro-choice people. It turns beliefs into actions.

Heidi and Annie have now returned to school at East Tennessee State University. Britt has returned to Miami University and Maggie to her full-time job as a nanny. Before the internship, all four of our interns were pro-life. They would never have considered abortion an acceptable solution to an unplanned pregnancy. However, they were not mobilized. CBR’s internship mobilized them. Both Annie and Britt plan to start pro-life clubs at their schools to host GAP, and all four of them are now considering working full-time to end abortion. As Annie said, “There is absolutely no way I can go home and act like none of this happened. I know the truth and, therefore, am responsible for sharing it.”

We are already accepting applications for our summer 2021 internship. Click here for more information and to submit an application.

It had been nearly 10 years since our last trip to Kennesaw State University with the Genocide Awareness Project. Snow and rain kept many students indoors, but the ones who did brave the elements proved to be quite the fiery bunch!

Pictures: a catalyst for healing. Lucy approached CBR volunteer Brad with a question about trimesters, but quickly became incoherent. Then she started crying. Brad said, “I don’t usually ask this, but have you had an abortion?” Lucy nodded. Brad and CBR staffer Joanna Keilson took Lucy away from the display to offer hope and healing resources. They gave her Karen Ellison’s book “Healing the Hurt That Won’t Heal” and directed her to Karen’s ministry, Deeper Still. They parted with a hug.

Who is a token?  A black student screamed and cursed, yelling, “Show me ONE! Just ONE black woman who agrees with you!”  At that moment, CBR staffer Mik’aela Raymond came around the side of the display. He saw her and said, “OK, show me two!”  Just then, CBR volunteer Taheiya walked over. The small group that had gathered was almost on their knees in laughter.  “You are just a token,” he said and walked away. Apparently, it was too difficult for him to believe that not only one, but two black people could disagree with the status quo of abortion. How many tokens does it take?

Verbal abuse is no substitute for a good argument. A middle-aged man walked past the display yelling “Go f*** yourselves.” Volunteer Brad said, “Profanity is not an argument for abortion, but if that’s all you have then I can understand you using it.” The man then walked up to Olivia, our youngest volunteer, and said it again directly to her. We are rarely surprised by profanity, but it’s still discouraging that an older man would resort to verbal abuse of a young female. Pray for strength for our team to endure these attacks!

Well, we weren’t gonna say it… A male student was talking with Mik’aela and a group of his friends walked by yelling, “What are you doing?” “Talking politics!” “But why?” “Because I’m not an uninformed individual like yourself!” the young man retorted. Mik’aela had to keep from laughing.

The Center for Bio-Ethical Reform (CBR) is pleased to announce the appointment of Joshua Lindsey as Research Analyst.  Joshua has already played key roles in several important CBR projects, including compiling data on Christian colleges for our Revival Project, gathering news stories about our activism, and training our 2020 interns.  And did we mention he is also a fierce pro-life apologist when he’s on campus?

Joshua holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from St. Andrews University in Laurinburg, North Carolina.  After taking several graduate courses in counseling that taught that religion is a personal weakness, Joshua decided to find other ways to help people without compromising his faith.  That led to Joshua volunteer for a nonprofit that helped students receive a quality education and then work to improve socioeconomic conditions in Guatemala.

Growing up in a Catholic family in North Carolina, Joshua’s parents taught him that his life was precious and that his potential, despite his cerebral palsy, was limitless.  They took him to pro-life rallies and to the March for Life in Washington, DC.  After attending the March several times, Joshua began to think that something more should be done.  He quickly saw it for the echo chamber/pep rally it is and knew it wasn’t making enough of an impact.

In high school, his public speaking class was assigned “controversial issues” to debate, and Joshua was struck by the particularly callous pro-abortion arguments.  Afterward, he searched online for abortion pictures and then went to his local voting precinct to hand them out to voters.  He wanted to distribute the same picture to his youth group, but the Director of Religious Education at his parish deemed them inappropriate for his age group (high school!) and threw them away.

After college, Joshua was attending a new parish and met Bill and Jeanette Schultz, CBR Project Directors in Raleigh, and then Joanna Keilson, CBR Internship Director.  He began volunteering at CBR’s college outreaches in North Carolina.  Though the work was demanding, Joshua felt God’s calling to be there.  Soon after, he found out that the abortion picture he had printed and distributed in high school was a CBR picture.  His call to action from God had come full circle.

Joshua told FAB:

Working at CBR is very significant for me because it enables me to use my background in psychology to give back to my community and help vulnerable people to have a voice, people to whom I can especially relate because of my disability (cerebral palsy).  Because of my background, I can understand people at a more personal level.  I believe we can empathize with people who contemplate or have abortions without agreeing that abortion is the right decision.

Joshua lives outside Raleigh with his parents.  Though his primary duties are research related, Joshua joins the rest of the team on the road whenever he can.  If you would like to support Joshua (or any of our staff members), it’s quick, easy, and secure to support CBR online.  Whatever you can do will make a huge difference.  To support Joshua’s work, designate your gift for “Carolina Project Director (SE-JTL).”

Welcome aboard, Joshua!  We’re happy to have you!

CBR Staffer Mik’aela Raymond explains that just because an act is government sanctioned, doesn’t mean it is right.

We had not been to the University of Georgia in many years, and our return last fall did not disappoint. Students and faculty showed up with visceral reactions, shouting the usually obscenity or ad-hominem attack. However, several students came back with calmer, even remorseful, spirits.   It was in these pockets of humility that we found opportunities to share truth.

Google is on our side. “Fetuses are not human,” one woman emphatically claimed. CBR Staffer Mik’aela Raymond responded, “If these organisms aren’t human what species are they?”  “We’re not talking about organisms, they are just one cell,” the woman explained.  She attempted to use Google to prove her point.  Fortunately, our scientific sources check out with “Google science”.  She was confused upon reading the results of her search — a human being is a living organism from it’s most humble single-celled beginning.

180 degree, “About-Face!” A young man returned to our display to re-visit a conversation with Mik’aela.  “I was rather incendiary yesterday; that was wrong. I shouldn’t have acted that way and I am sorry.” He went on to admit, “I have a different view now than an hour ago.”

Actions speak louder than words. “Get off our campus; we don’t %^$&*n want you here.” A woman was visibly upset during her first visit to our display.  The next day, she returned and hung around the display all day long — listening to various conversations, staying silent. When asked if her mind had changed at all she said “No”,  but her radically shifted countenance spoke much louder than her words.

The truth is solid! A group of five men huddled around CBR volunteer Marie. One piped up to ask, “How do you justify comparing abortion to genocide?” Marie explained, “When we fail to recognize the humanity of an entire group of people it enables us to justify all kinds of violence against them.” The group fell silent, then one said “Solid!”  He left.  The second said “Solid!” and left.  The third said “Solid!” and left.  The last two stayed for a continued dialogue.  It was like a scene out of a movie!

Dear conservative, freedom-loving student,

When we met you on campus some time ago, you mentioned your grades suffering because of your conservative views.

Yes, taking a stand against evil will always cost you something.  It’s much safer to go to sit quietly at Pizza for Jesus meetings, soak it in, and do little else … and it is very tempting.  But I’d like you to consider a world being run by these people:

These thugs use violence to intimidate and shut down people they don’t like.  And they don’t like you.

Teachers who threaten you or punish you for your views are no different.  Maybe they don’t wear masks of cloth, but they use their lofty positions as masks of respectability.  And they are nothing more than bullies trying to shield themselves from accountability for their thuggery.  Don’t be afraid of them.

But I have to tell you that, unfortunately, they do have a clear path to victory.  Edmund Burke showed us their roadmap.  He said that “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”  That’s why they threaten you, so that you will do nothing and they will win.  When they do, we all lose … and we lose more than just good grades.

Please consider two kingdoms.  The first is our earthly kingdom, the United States and the freedom, security, and prosperity it offers.  Please consider what your freedom cost, from our the founding of our nation until the present day.

We are reminded of the cost when we see the monuments to fallen soldiers at Bunker Hill, at King’s Mountain, at Flanders Field, at Normandy, at Manilla, and many other places around the globe.  Hundreds of thousands have given their lives so that we can live free.  And not just we alone, but hundreds of millions of others around the globe who were rescued from tyranny by the blood of US soldiers.

The second is the Kingdom of Heaven.  Jesus said when we stand for truth, we will be persecuted.  He said, “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20).  But he also said to count it a blessing: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:10-12).

I count it a blessing to be in this battle with you.  Let us heed the words of  Winston Churchill, who famously encouraged his nation during the darkest hours of WWII.  “Let us neither flag nor fail.  Let us fight on to the end,” for the alternative is to be governed by thugs, and that is unthinkable.

Thanks,
Fletcher

Much has changed in our world this past month, but three things have not changed:

1. Abortion providers are still killing children, and the death toll far surpasses that of the COVID-19 threat.
2. CBR is still working for the helpless.  As long as babies are dying, our work to make abortion unthinkable goes on.
3. God is still in control.  We don’t need to panic; we can choose to trust in and follow Him.

As each of us is bombarded with pandemic news and opinion, please do not forget the less visible (but just as real) plight of abortion victims.  Continue to be a witness and a light in the darkness, knowing that “as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40)

Although we can’t take abortion images to large crowds on college campuses (for the time being), there is still much important work we can do.  Please be in prayer for the following needs:

1. Summer Intern Program.  We are already training our 5 new interns to raise their own support for the summer. Please pray specifically for Maggie, Heidi, Annie, Brittany and Merissa.  Upon arrival in May, their schedules are packed with intensive training, displays at Christian events, urban GAP, and other forms of street activism.
2. Pro-Life Leadership Youth Camp.  We are collaborating with other pro-life ministries to plan a one-week day camp for middle and high-school students.  Our vision is to empower each student to “stand strong against the storm.” (Matthew 7:24-25)  Learn more at www.vimeo.com/282887769 (3.5 minutes).
3. All Black Lives Matter at the African American History Museum.  We are working the phones to recruit staff and volunteers and to partner with churches in the DC area.  When the Museum reopens, we will be ready!
4. Fall GAP planning.  We are seeking pro-life students to invite us to bring GAP to major universities in Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia, Virginia, and Tennessee.

There’s even more.  We are also recruiting new staff/interns, performing much-needed maintenance on our RCC truck and DOT compliance program, updating our computer databases and systems, and revising our project handouts, to name just a few!  Plus, we’ll soon take our interns back out to the streets with our huge hand-held signs (Lord willing).

In addition to prayer, please continue to support our work financially, as you are able.  Many of our staff are still only partially funded, and they need your help to stay in the fight.  The universities are closed, but the bills keep on coming!

We thank God for you, and we are praying for your health and peace during this time of uncertainty.  Please let us know how we can pray for you, and feel free to send our staff any notes of encouragement.
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” — Romans 8:38-39

Your friend for Life,
Fletcher

P.S. God said, “And I sought for a man among them, that should … stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.” (Ezekiel 22:30)  Will you keep standing in the GAP with me?  Please click here to help end abortion.

A CBR volunteer answers a student’s questions about Christianity and graphic images.

It seems Campbell University has strayed further from its Christian roots than we initially thought. One CBR volunteer adequately summarized the harsh reality of our time there, ” I felt like I spent more time defending the Gospel than I did defending babies.”

If she could, she’d ask not to be killed. CBR Staffer Joanna was left bewildered by one student’s questions: “Is the baby saying ‘don’t kill me? Are they asking not to be killed?” Common sense tells us, that a tiny baby in the womb is not talking, but a violent death would certainly be something she would not want.

Sarcasm fail. “God!! Go away!! I’m on my way to get an abortion!” We were left saddened by the woman’s callous remarks, and earnestly prayed that her words were nothing more than an insensitive attempt at humor.

Looking forward to Hell?  Sarah proudly proclaimed, “I am an atheist. I plan to be in hell after I die. I am looking forward to it. I don’t care much for my life.” She “danced” with CBR Staffer Jane Bullington as she attempted to cover up our photographs with her jacket.

Christian college hides pro-life support.  A jogger stopped to encourage us: “We have 10 children. Thanks for what you are doing. There is a lot of support on campus but the school is trying to keep that under cover.”

Shocking reality on Christian campuses.  A female student boldly admitted: “There is no intention to lead people to the Lord here. There are so many non-believers, yet our classes either ignore faith or teach heresy. I complained about the “Overview to Christianity” curriculum to the professor and she said to take it up with the administration. In my 5 classes this semester, I bet 70% are lost.”

Despite the information age, ignorance still exists.  At a very minimum, showing college students the reality of abortion silences those who deny that it is an act of violence. A young man audaciously claimed that, “All abortions are done by C-section; no baby is ripped apart,” all whilst standing in front of our photos.

A student attempts to cover-up the truth about abortion.

In Fall 2019, CBR also visited Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina during our Revival Project Tour. We spent three days engaging with the campus community about abortion and ultimately, the Gospel.

Check out press coverage of our visit:

•  Abortion protestors visit our campus recently – Campbell Now News
•  Campbell Now News – October 16th, 2019