Mary Maschmeier, director of ALL’s Associate group Defenders of the Unborn, reflects on pro-life efforts, both past and present, in the St. Louis, Missouri, area.
In 1985, Missouri had eight abortion mills. There was also a core group of pro-lifers that worked tirelessly to end the killing of preborn children. These pro-lifers kept abortion in the media and they worked to rescue the little ones. The respect they had for each other was awesome. They knew that their work was God’s work and that they were in His hands. It wasn’t “my save,” it was God’s save. It wasn’t “I’m the leader,” rather it was knowing that they were all led by the Holy Spirit in what was needed to rescue the children and close the death camps. Now, 26 years later, there is only one full-time and one part-time abortuary in the area. This wasn’t accomplished by one person; it was accomplished by many hands working together.
Many hours and a multitude of heartaches went into the closing of these abortion mills. The sacrifices that were made by many were given from the heart, not out of selfishness. These pro-life warriors wanted to end the killing of innocent preborn children and to close the abortion mills. They were willing to give up their lives in order to accomplish this; they were willing to spend time away from family and friends if it meant the doors to the death camps would close; they were willing to lose their jobs if it meant that a child’s life was saved. These are the true heroes in the pro-life movement. They are the reason that we have just one death camp in Missouri.
We have come a long way to regain what is rightfully ours—the sanctity of human life and the respect for the life that was given to us all by God. This is why Defenders of the Unborn has always said—and will always say—that we need to be standing on the streets outside the place where children die and where mothers are forever harmed. We must take up the cross and carry it until the end. We have an obligation to defend all life.
In the 80s we locked arms in front of an abortion mill door so that women could not enter. Today we need to lock arms with each other outside the gates of the mill in prayer so that these babies can be saved. We will accomplish this if we all take up the cross and follow Jesus.
Defenders of the Unborn is committed to being at the Planned Parenthood in St. Louis 365 days a year until it is no more. Will you join us in the battle for the lives of the preborn children?
For more information on Defenders of the Unborn and its Constant Witness program, please visit www.stl-defenders.com.