On Sunday, January 15, more than 120 people gathered at the annual Memorial Service for the Unborn to honor and mourn the 58,000,000 lives lost to legal abortion. Grand Rapids Right to Life organized the event, which was hosted by Crossroads Bible Church in Grand Rapids.
The keynote speaker was Fr. Jegar Fickel of St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Wyoming. His multimedia presentation demonstrated how America has forgotten the meaning of goodness, truth, and beauty, and in so doing has allowed great evils like abortion to be considered progress. Renewing the culture, he said, is critical in the battle for life.
Internationally known contralto Gwenneth Bean sang several songs during the service, her voice an example of Fr. Fickel’s message that beauty will save the world.
The memorial also included the short film “Sing a Little Louder,” which encourages Christians to stand up for what they believe, even when doing so could be dangerous or uncomfortable.
The event was opened and closed with prayer, led by Pastor Steve VanPoolen of Crossroads Bible Church and Pastor Bob Karel of Orchard Hill Church, respectively.
Photos from the Memorial Service for the Unborn can be viewed on the Grand Rapids Right to Life Flickr page.