Almost 100 people came to St. John Vianney Village Hall on Saturday, August 30, to hear Melissa Ohden, survivor of a failed abortion, share her story about the beauty of God’s grace, the power of love, and the hope and healing that can occur in the midst of grief and loss.
Ohden is the founder of The Abortion Survivors Network, which promotes policies that protect and serve abortion survivors, their families, and friends. A freewill offering was taken in support of this organization.
In addition to her own story, Ohden humanized the experience of surviving an abortion attempt by sharing about others, who are dealing with this harsh reality, and the help her organization provides as they heal.
Guests had an opportunity to visit booths hosted by local agencies that offer life-affirming information; Project Rachel, Sidewalk Advocates for Life, Assure Women’s Center, and Grand Rapids Right to Life. Guests were encouraged to walk through the Pellets of Life display. Through small plastic pellets, each representing one human life, a picture of the breadth of the topics that belong under the pro-life umbrella was demonstrated.
This free event, sponsored by Grand Rapids Right to Life and St. John Vianney Respect Life Group, was an opportunity to educate on the lives of people who survive an abortion attempt.