Prolife people are invited to the 50th Annual Conference sponsored by Right to Life of Michigan. Be a part of this inspiring day filled with compelling information, inspiring speakers, and strategy sessions to promote a culture of life.

The Annual Conference includes breakfast, lunch, two general sessions, and workshops.

2023 members and students are eligible for a discounted price if registered through Grand Rapids Right to Life by September 6.

General Session I:  Jessica Hanna, Guest Speaker

• Members:  To save $10 on the registration fee, contact Laura by September 6.
• Students:  For a special rate, contact Laura by September 6.
• Non-Members:  To attend, complete the registration form online.

Since 1987, believers have gathered nationwide on the first Sunday of every October to prayerfully stand for life. Since 1973, legalized abortion-on-demand has killed more than 63,000,000 unborn children in the United States.

Grand Rapids Right to Life supports the efforts of Life Chain, a peaceful and prayerful public witness of prolife individuals standing for 90 minutes praying for our nation and for an end to abortion.

This visual statement of solidarity by the Christian community attests to the fact that abortion kills children and that the sanctity of human life must be protected from the moment of conception until natural death.

Join with hundreds of people in Grand Rapids, and tens of thousands of people nationwide, for a time of collective prayer to end abortion in our nation.

Signs for Life Chain may be picked up on Sunday, October 1, at:

• Crestwood School on 44th Street east of Breton Road
• SE corner of 44th Street and Buchanan Avenue
• NE corner of 44th Street and Burlingame Avenue
• Brummel’s parking lot near the NW corner of 44th Street and Clyde Park Avenue

Donate Baby Items:

• Donations of wipes, diapers, formula, clothing, and other baby essentials accepted
• Drop off at a location listed above

Please note:

• Stand along 44th Street between Breton Road and Ivanrest Avenue.
• Stand 20 feet apart, but keep small children close.
• Stand on the public sidewalk.
• Do not block the sidewalk, intersections, or driveways.
• If standing is difficult, you may bring a chair.
• At 3:30 PM return the signs to your pick-up location.
• Remember that the main focus is prayer.

As part of the fall campaign for 40 Days for Life, Grand Rapids Right to Life has adopted a day at the peaceful vigil.

Grand Rapids Right to Life supporters will pray for 12 hours on Thursday, October 5, in front of Planned Parenthood. Participants are asked to remain on the public sidewalk in front of the abortion facility and pray for one hour.

40 Days for Life is a grassroots campaign to end abortion through prayer, fasting, community outreach, and by holding a peaceful prayer vigil in front of an abortion facility.

Planned Parenthood Services in Grand Rapids

• Medical Abortions (The Pill) up to 11 weeks by appointment
• Abortion Referrals
• Emergency Contraception (The Morning-After Pill) on a walk-in basis

Volunteers Needed

• Choose one hour to pray in front of the abortion facility.
• Prayer booklets are available for those who participate.

Prayer Vigil Reminders

• Park on city streets.
• Bring umbrellas, windbreakers, hats, and hand warmers if needed.
• Do not hesitate to leave the vigil if for any reason you are not comfortable.
• Bring prayer aids such as a Bible, rosary, or prayer booklet.
• Focus on praying not protesting.

Get Involved

• Contact Laura to be a part of this powerful effort to end abortion.

The 36th annual Focus on Life Benefit Dinner will be the largest prolife banquet in Michigan, will incorporate 25 student volunteers, and will feature actor, director, and producer Kevin Sorbo.

Guest Speaker: Kevin Sorbo

Kevin Sorbo is best known for his series Hercules, which became the most watched TV show in the world. Later he played Captain Dylan Hunt on Gene Roddenberry’s Andromeda and starred in over 60 movies, including Let There Be Light, Soul Surfer, What If, and the independent movie God’s Not Dead. Sorbo is an actor, director, and producer, as well as author of the books True Strength and Think Positive for Kids.

Sorbo has a deep Christian faith, conservative political views, and is ardently prolife. In a commentary for CNS News, Sorbo wrote, “Secular humanists have made the word abortion sound like a woman’s right, synonymous with health care. We dress it up with ‘my body, my choice,’ but it is still a life inside of a woman’s womb, and that life is still extinguished by the brutal procedure of abortion.”

Emcee: Bernadette Smith

Bernadette Smith serves as the Michigan Republican Party’s Ethnic Vice Chair. She has been married to her husband, Pastor Philip Smith, for 30+ years. Together they have pastored Eternal Word Church in Grandville for more than 20 years. They raised eight children, seven on earth and one in heaven, with biblical and conservative values.

Grand Rapids Right to Life Update

Grand Rapids Right to Life president, Laura Alexandria, will give an update on the organization’s accomplishments in the past year.

Special Highlight

• Following the event, Kevin Sorbo will sell his books and DVDs.
• Prices range from $20 – $50.
• Cash sales only.

Program

• 5:30 PM – No-Host Bar in the Secchia Lobby. Credit card purchases only.
• 6:30 PM – Program Begins

Registration

• To purchase tickets with a check, submit a completed registration form.
• To purchase tickets with a credit card, click here. Processing fees will apply.

Student Volunteers

• A limited number of high school students are needed to volunteer at this event.
• To secure your spot, contact Laura by September 25.

Note

• It is recommended that tickets be purchased by September 25, 2023.
• Seat assignments will be mailed to ticket holders by October 1, 2023.
• All ticket sales are final.
• Any tickets not used will be considered a donation to Grand Rapids Right to Life.

Death is not a solution to the challenges of life.

Join the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, Advocates for Better Care, and the Scholl Institute of Bioethics for an in-person national conference discussing the dangers of euthanasia.

Euthanasia is expressly intended to cause the death of a person, either by lethal injection, assisting in suicide, or withholding basic levels of care from non-terminal people.

It is humane to allow a person suffering from a terminal illness to die naturally, without the use of extraordinary medical treatment that only prolongs the dying process. When a person has clearly reached their last days, the focus of medical treatment may be switched from curing to caring, but never to killing.

Speakers

• Anita Cameron, Director of Minority Outreach, Not Dead Yet
• Genevieve Marnon, Senior Policy Expert, Advocates for Better Care
• Betty Odello,President, Scholl Institute of Bioethics
• Edward Rivet, Policy and Historical Expert on Assisted Suicide
• Alex Schadenberg, Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition
• Wesley Smith, Legal Consultant, Patients Rights Council
• Peter Wolfgang, Executive Director, Family Institute of Connecticut

Registration

• Register to Attend Conference in person ($30 includes lunch)
• Register to Attend Online via Zoom ($0)