Project Description
Cover Story
Annual West Virginians Life Convention Draws Attendees
by Alicia Martin, WVFL Program Director
“Making Abortion Unthinkable:” that was the theme that drew approximately 100 attendees to the Trinity Assembly of God fellowship hall in Fairmont for the Annual West Virginians for Life State Convention on Saturday, October 14th. Doors opened at 9 a.m., and the Doddridge and Marion County WVFL chapters graciously provided coffee and a continental breakfast. Pastor Doug Joseph, from the Christian Apostolic Church in Clarksburg, gave the Invocation (and, later, Benediction).
The primary speaker was Dr. Randall O’Bannon, the Education and Research Director at National Right to Life. Dr. O’Bannon’s keynote was entitled “Will Abortion Pills be Sold in West Virginia?” Nearly three decades of study, analysis and monitoring of abortion data made him well-qualified to summarize the issue of chemical abortion. In the light of current law, Dr. O’Bannon then went on to explain the risks that West Virginia women and babies face, along with strategies for protecting them.
In a separate workshop, with the Teens, Dr. O’Bannon presented “The Glory of Our Humanity Found in that Single, First Cell.” Throughout the day, the Teens often had a parallel Convention, led by WVFL Legislative Director Sadie Keaton and former Delegate Riley Keaton. During these times, they followed up on their Leadership for Life Weekend, and were presented with topics such as Introduction to Political Action.
WVFL’s 2024 Legislative Agenda was presented by Sadie Keaton and Mary Tillman. WVFL Legislative Director Keaton summarized the first piece of priority legislation, the Women’s Right to Know Act – which would be, primarily, a re-instatement of informed consent laws that were lost when the Unborn Child Protection Act passed. WV Alliance for Ethical Health Care Legislative Coordinator Mary H. Tillman, J.D., explained why an Assisted Suicide Prevention Act is necessary in West Virginia.
Karen Cross, NRL Political Director, presented “Saving Lives Through Elections.” In this workshop, attendees were given effective strategies for how best to help the pro-life cause in the pivotal year of 2024. Then, in a surprise departure from the Convention Agenda, Dr. Franz presented Cross with a Lifetime Achievement Award (see Cross Recognition, right).
In between the morning and afternoon sessions, Convention attendees enjoyed a delicious catered lunch from Gourmet Catering, by Mary Kay Lindsay. Rev. Phillip Szabo, from St. John University Parish in Morgantown, offered a poignant prayer and blessing, which lifted up both mothers and fathers. Immediately after lunch, WVFL Legislative Director Sadie Keaton introduced the eleven elected public servants in attendance.
The primary workshop after lunch was “Abortion’s Impact on Medical Practitioners.” This was co-presented by WVFL President Dr. Wanda Franz and Maryann Lawhon, Executive Director of The Voice of John. Lawhon is the nurse who found an aborted baby (whom she named John) left to die on a dirty utility counter at the WVU Medical School in 1977. After sharing about pro-life ministry opportunities that grew out of that experience, she went on to describe how her Dad, who was also named John, became the inspiration for The Voice of John ministry to extend into end-of-life issues.
The Teens returned to the main fellowship hall for the final segment of the Convention, and Thomas Dinkel, the new president of Teens for Life, addressed the audience. He provided an encouraging glimpse into the reality that there are young West Virginians who are passionately pro-life.
The Angel of the Year award recognizes an individual who has contributed to the pro-life cause for decades, and is presented at the end of each Convention. The 2023 Angel was Sherri Stevens, who serves as WVFL’s Financial Manager. Because she works in the office from which the plaque was ordered, it had been challenging to keep the award secret. But the staff succeeded, and Stevens was surprised.
The day concluded with a replay of Jay Sekulow’s closing remarks during the Rose Dinner, several months earlier. He reminded them that, with Dobbs, the U.S. Supreme Court “leveled the playing field,” but that’s just the beginning. Now, pro-life advocates “have to show up.” And they did – that’s why chairs were filled at the Convention. Sekulow encouraged them to persevere, and keep working. And they will.