"Witnessing to the sanctity of human life through education based on the Word of God"

When Abraham Lincoln's mother was dying, she called him and his sister to her bedside in the rude cabin in Gentryville, Indiana. Laying her hand on his head, she told him that she was going on a long journey from which she would not return. So she asked him to obey his father, be kind to his sister, and love God. Lincoln remembered his mom all his life and at one time said, "All I am, or ever hope to be, I owe to my mother."

Throughout the ages, godly mothers have been shaping and molding their children into people of faith who love Christ and who are loved by him. Sarah reminded Isaac of God's promise for him. Moses' mom placed him in a basket and gave him up for "adoption" so that his life might be spared never realizing that he was destined to be the prophet who would lead Israel to the Promised Land. Naomi introduced her daughter-in-law Ruth to the gracious Lord and provided a safe haven for Ruth following the death of Ruth's husband. Hannah dedicated Samuel to lifelong service of the Lord. Mary tenderly cared for and protected her son, Jesus. Lydia was baptized into the Christian faith and made sure that her whole household were recipients of God's grace through baptism as well. Eunice witnessed to the love and mercy of God through word and deed, to Timothy, her son.

My mother, my mother-in-law, and my wife have had a profound influence on my life. Like Eunice, they have witnessed of God's love in Christ through their words and deeds. Much of what I am, and what I ever hope to be, I owe to them. Certainly, it can be said of these godly women, "Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." (Proverbs 31:28-29)

I know these words from Proverbs cannot be applied to all our mothers because they have done (or not done!) things that have been hurtful. Some mothers have made ill-advised choices that have damaged us in painful ways. Some mothers have not nurtured our faith in Jesus Christ. Yet, there is still reason to give thanks to God for them. For example: God brought you into this world through the womb of your mother. Through your mom, the Lord has granted you many fine talents and positive personality traits.

I want to thank the godly women of the Christian church for the faithful and loving witness you give your children from day-to-day. Thank you for bringing your sons/daughters to the house of the Lord so that they might be adopted into God's family through Holy Baptism. Thank you for placing the Word of God into their hands. Thank you for singing Christian hymns and songs to them as you rock them to sleep at night. Thank you for having the mind of Christ in yourself and humbling yourself in service to your children. Thank you for teaching them to pray by being a person of prayer yourself. Thank you for molding your children into "little christs" by modeling his love and forgiveness in your life.

Yes, Solomon's words are true of you women ... you mothers of faith..., "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."

In Christ,

Rev. Dr. Glenn E. Schaeffer, President, LFL-C

1 Timothy 6:12

Did You Know?

• that, in the absence of Canadian law, abortion on demand is available during all nine months of pregnancy. This includes surgical & suction dilation and curettage, saline, prostaglandin and "other" methods, e.g. "partial birth";
• that 1 in 3, (37.4%), of women undergoing abortion, have already had one or more previous abortions;
• that 300 abortions occur each day in Canada which is like aborting a "medium size" city every year. Statistics Canada reported that in 2001, the number of surgical abortions increased 1% as 106,418 babies were killed in their mother’s wombs by abortion;
• that 20% of abortions are performed on girls between 10 and 19 years of age;
• that one abortion increases a woman’s risk of breast cancer, depression and suicide;
• that an Ontario study of 41,039 women during the three-month period after abortion revealed that hospital patients had a more than four times higher rate of hospitalizations for infections, a five times higher rate of "surgical events", and a nearly five times higher rate of hospitalization for psychiatric problems, than the matching group of women who had not had abortions;
• that many women who have abortions feel coerced or pressured to do so by their boyfriends;
• that abortion was legalized over thirty years ago, before ultrasounds and medical advance introduced us to babies before they are born;
• that 36.6% of abortions, (under 9 weeks), occur when an unborn child’s heart is beating, brain waves are detected and ultrasounds have shown them waving their arms and legs; and a further 49.5% of abortions, (9-12 weeks), occur when the child also has fingerprints, urinates, squints, swallows, wrinkles its forehead, sleeps, wakes and exercises; and that 9.6% of abortions, (13-16 weeks), occur when the child also has fine hair, is 8" to 10" long, and can hear; and finally,
• that 4.4% of abortions, (16 weeks to full-term), occur when the unborn child can also be startled by a sudden noise, and could survive, with proper care, outside the mother’s womb.

– Source, Alliance for Life Ontario

(Adapted from LifeDate, Spring 2004, p. 4)

Many Canadians are partisan in favour of one party or another. Some people vote for the same party year after year because: "That’s who dad and grandpa voted for." This is not a very good reason to choose one party over another. Some people choose one party over another because of the party’s position on tax-cutting or social programmes. This is not the best reason for voting for a party or a candidate either.

As Christians, we are partisan for the cause of life. We are interested in helping pro-life candidates get elected to office – MP’s, MPP’s, City Councillors, and School Board Trustees. We look beyond the party label and closely examine the candidates’ positions on the life issues; i.e. abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research, cloning, and same sex marriage, and so on.

In Canada, we do not elect parties, nor do we directly elect the Prime Minister. We do; however, elect our local Members of Parliament. It is a sad reality, that none of the "major" political parties – Conservative, Liberal or NDP – has a pro-life plank in its platform. The only pro-life party in Canada is the Christian Heritage Party. For these reasons and others it is important to ascertain where the individual candidates from your Riding stand on abortion, euthanasia, and other "life" issues, before going into the voting booth.

It is suggested, that you ask the candidates the following questions:

1. What is your stand on the issue of abortion? How will you vote in Parliament on the issue if it comes to the floor?
2. How will you vote on embryonic stem cell research?
3. Should euthanasia be made legal in Canada, as it is in Holland? Why or why not?
4. What is your position on same-sex marriage?
5. What is your position in human cloning?

What are you to do if none of the candidates in your Riding provides you with satisfactory answers to your questions? Should you refrain from voting? No. It is our responsibility, as citizens of this country, to vote. Sometimes we might have to vote for the "lesser of two evils". We might also decide to cast our vote with the only pro-life party in Canada. But certainly, we will work between this election and the next to keep these issues before our MP, and we will pray that God will raise up future candidates who share our love and concern for life.