Interfaith pro-life service set for Jan. 19

By Renee Webb, Globe editor
Posted January 9, 2003

Millions of babies have been murdered since the Jan. 22,1973 Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the United States.

As the anniversary date approaches, pro-life supporters in the Siouxland area will once again gather for an interfaith memorial. This year's Siouxland Pro-life Interfaith Prayer Memorial will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 19 at Central Baptist Church, 4001 Indian Hills Drive, in Sioux City.

"We will mourn the 30 years of slaughter of the innocence - the ones that are the most unprotected of all, the children in the wombs of their mothers," said Larry Walsh, a member of the planning committee and board member at Queen of Peace.

With an estimated 1.5 million abortions a year, it is believed that more than 45 million babies have been killed in the U.S. alone as a result of legalized abortion.

"It is a huge holocaust," stressed Walsh.

Those who attend the service will not only pray for the victims of abortion, but also for an end to abortion.

The keynote speaker for the prayer memorial will be Pastor Terry C. Baxter, director of the "Messengers of Hope." Formerly a pastor at the First Free Evangelical Church in Sioux City, he currently ministers in Clear Lake, Iowa.

Baxter is a full-time speaker and writer and appears in numerous interdenominational churches, Bible camps, prisons and conferences both nationally and internationally. His message centers on how God can bring hope to hurting lives and families, which have become casualties of the modern culture war in western civilization. He emphasizes that God is the author of hope and is still in the business of forgiving, healing and transforming lives.

Pastor Baxter and his wife, Debby, lost their son, Titus, on Aug. 20, 2002, at the age of two days. He was their ninth child.

As in previous years, the memorial will include the Presentation of Roses. Young people ranging in age from one to 30 will process to the front of the church with a rose, tied with black ribbons.

"Those 30 roses are representative of the nearly 1.5 million children each year that are not here - that have been aborted," said Walsh, who will deliver a reflective narration during the presentation.

Along with readings, the service will include songs by a children's choir, under the direction of Mary Conway, music teacher at St. Michael School in Sioux City.

Msgr. Richard Zenk, pastor of St. Patrick Church in Akron, will offer the closing prayer. A coffee social will be held immediately following in the church hall.

The service will continue at Trinity's Height's Circle of Life Memorial to the Unborn with prayers around 3:45 p.m. offered by Fatsher Tim Alikakos of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. The roses will be laid there on the Tomb of the Unborn Child to wither and die out in the cold, symbolizing the cold, harsh reality of abortion.

On the actual 30th anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision, Jan. 22, there will be a 7 p.m. candlelight service in front of Planned Parenthood in Sioux City. Sponsored by the pro-life group, the Helpers of God's Precious Infants, Bishop Daniel N. DiNardo will lead the service.

Those planning to attend the Jan. 22 service are asked to meet at Spalding Farm Park, one block west of Gordon Drive on Stone Ave. They will process to Planned Parenthood.

Walsh stressed the fact that in addition to killing innocent babies, abortion is not a good procedure for young women as some have become sterile and even died as a result. In addition, many who have had abortions have suffered from psychological problems.

"The good news is that regardless of what many people think," he noted, "there are more and more people in this nation that are reluctant to see abortion go on. We do believe the cause is gaining momentum."

The Planning Committee for the Jan. 19 interfaith service includes Dr. Don Cork, Bonnie Hickman, Brian Hickman, Marla Pluim, Connie Rosno, Marge Stanek, Deb Sypersma, Dan Taylor, Judy Verschoor and Walsh.

Sponsors of the prayer memorial are the Diocese of Sioux City, Catholic Charities, Queen of Peace, Knights of Columbus Garrigan Assembly, Carmel Guild, Siouxland Right to Life, Siouxland United for Christ, sYouth for Christ, Rudy Salem Staffing Services and the Alpha Center.