A mother who lost her child to abortion, an abortion survivor, a Christian constitutional conservative Senator and a former police officer-turned baby-rescuer all shared their views on abortion at Celebrate Life Montana. Folks from as far as Helena, Kalispell and Missoula came out to celebrate the second anniversary of the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe vs. Wade in a historic event Monday in Hamilton. The first annual Celebrate Life Montana event, sponsored by Montanans for Life, featured raffles, games, t-shirts, fun, food, and speakers who brought messages of hope and encouragement to commemorate the momentous Supreme Court decision recognized on June 24, 2022.
The Bitterroot House of Israel worship team, featuring David Hardin, opened the event with songs of praise, as children played a variety of outdoor games under shade trees. The sunny day was a perfect backdrop, as participants bought a steady stream of huckleberry shakes and hot dogs from the dedicated food truck. Volunteers sold tickets to a variety of raffles, and silent auction items. Everything from a Ruger Mini 14 chambered in .223, or a stay in Las Vegas, to an exquisitely decorated chocolate cake were up for grabs. While they perused the raffle and auction offerings, attendees bought t-shirts, and munched on Polish sausage.
Attendees cheerfully made their way in past the raffle items, to tables sharing information from TPUSA Faith, S.M.A.R.T. Women’s Healthcare, Montanans for Life and Pro-Life Montana. Signs, posters, brochures and pamphlets from each organization explained their position, all variations on one theme; the value of human life, from the moment of conception to natural death. The pro-life flag festooned the back of the sanctuary, with one pink and one blue baby foot, symbolizing the baby boys and girls whose lives hang in the balance while lawmakers push agendas and the abortion industry reports profiting in billions of dollars. Balloon trees in matching pink and blue graced both sides of the platform, where speakers shared their messages about their personal convictions regarding the value of human life, some speaking of how the Dobbs decision impacted them personally.
Bill Lussenheide, Master of Ceremonies, welcomed the attendees and graciously introduced each of the speakers as they made their way to the stage. Kathy Smith, Chaplain for Montanans for Life, thanked the Lord for the overturning of Roe vs. Wade in her opening prayer. Robin Sertell, Chair of Montanans for Life, shared how the organization began. As a survivor of three abortion attempts, Sertell shared that her passion was to “serve God and save babies”, and that there had been no politically active group focused solely on pro-life efforts in Montana recently, and Montanans for Life’s purpose was to fill that need. Senator Theresa Manzella spoke about several pro-life bills that had been passed by the legislature, yet enjoined in the state’s court system. Both Sertell and Manzella shared how they began in their respective public service positions, and both shared the challenges they faced in doing so. Manzella’s recent primary being particularly grueling, and Sertell recounted how difficult it had been to get pastors to speak to their congregations about LR-131, the Born Alive Referendum of 2022. Both also recounted their dedication to their work, and encouraged the crowd to notice the needs and current trends in their communities, and step up when called.
Deborah Tilden, the mother of a child lost to abortion, exposed the lies she’d believed while pregnant with her daughter, Guinevere Rose, and the foundation she began in honor of the deceased child. Tilden shared how she grieved as a mother who’d lost her precious daughter, yet she eventually found healing at a Christian retreat at Church on the Way in Van Nuys, California. Now, Tilden facilitates that same healing through a variety of ministries, and fights at the state and national level for informed consent. Fighting back tears, Tilden read from the Dobbs decision itself during her speech, laying it’s inch-plus-thick stack of paper on a stool at the front of the stage for all to see. Her personal connection to Dobbs? Tilden is an amici on the brief, having been represented by the Justice Foundation. Tissues were brought to Tilden to tend her tears on stage, as she read her testimony from the pages of the amicus brief, and the room leaned in to the moment with her, contemplatively and empathetic.
Tennessee native Chet Gallagher brought his keynote address, sharing how he’d been a police officer in Las Vegas, and took his oath to protect and to serve quite literally. Gallagher recounted his attendance at rescue operations, peacefully praying and singing worship songs in front of abortion clinics, and how that had landed him in jail multiple times. Reading from Matthew 25, he brought clarity to his position; what we do to the least of these, we do unto the Lord. He shared his heart to save babies, and how he’d held up one of the very children whose lives had been spared during a rescue, when asked during an interview if he’d had any regrets. His face beamed with pride, as he held his hands up in the manner he’d done while holding the infant, and one could almost see that baby in his hands, wiggling joyfully. Tearfully choked up, he recounted how the baby’s mother was elated to have her child alive that day of the interview. Because of the F.A.C.E. (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances) Act, Gallagher is now facing potential jail time of more than a decade for saving the lives of children.
The event wrapped up with drawings for the raffles. After the winners enthusiastically received their prizes, many sought out the speakers to connect further, and learn more. Many could be seen hugging one another, snapping pictures together to remember this significant day, and discussing plans to celebrate this momentous occasion again, next year.
