Walk For Life Opportunity to Band Together in Prayer, Support Local PRC
Previously, Walk for Life started at Cathedral Square; this year’s begins at La Grave Christian Reformed Church.
The Pregnancy Resource Center (PRC) invites the pro-life public to take a walk with them over Father's Day weekend.The PRC's annual Walk For Life on June 17 is an opportunity for people to band together in prayer, raise needed funds for the pro-life nonprofit founded in 1985 and experience the contrast between light and darkness.
"The Walk is about building awareness and saying to the community, 'We're here,'" said Jim Sprague, the PRC's chief executive officer.
It's a prayer walk
"It's not a protest. It's a prayer walk. We really want to bring the footsteps of Christ through the community."
The Walk for Life will be held at two locations: The Paul Henry Trail in Middleville and in downtown Grand Rapids.
The Walk in Grand Rapids starts at La Grave Christian Reformed Church, 107 La Grave Ave. SE, and continues first to Fountain Street Church.
"They're (Fountain Street) a church but far and away from pro-life," said Sprague. "Actually, they have a pro-abortion fund people can earmark to pay for abortions for women who can't afford abortions. We pray in the spirit of 2 Corinthians 4:4: 'The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel.'"
From there, the Walk continues to 72 Ransom Ave. NE, which houses LIFE (Life Initiatives For Eternity) International.
LIFE International supports leaders in 83 countries who are working to end the assault on preborn children. But before LIFE International took occupancy of the building, it was home to the largest abortion clinic in West Michigan.
"'The prayer stop there is for Dr. Gordon not to stop abortions but that he would come to know Christ and His forgiveness," said Sprague. "We have all sinned and fallen short of God's glory.
Next is Garden of Hope ministry at Restlawn Memorial Park, 3450 Eastern SE, which offers encouragement and support to women who are considering an abortion, or who have already had an abortion. "There's lots of light and stars in the windows for every rescue they've made," said Sprague.
Final stop: open house
“The Walk is about uniting,” said Jim Sprague, PRC’s CEO. “The thing that units us is the basic principle that life is created in God’s image and needs to be protected by God’s people.”
Walkers then loop back to the PRC's next-door neighbor, Planned Parenthood of West and Northern Michigan, followed by an open house at the PRC at 415 Cherry St. SE.Summer is when contributions tend to dip, said Sprague, and the Walk for Life helps keep this vital pro-life ministry operating.
"Sixty-five percent of our giving comes from individuals," said Sprague, "so this event allows us to hit the revenue with a shot of adrenaline.
Services the PRC provides include proactive and preventive abstinence education through its certified sexual risk avoidance program, Willing TO Wait; pre-natal education; medical services including free pregnancy tests and ultrasounds; sexually transmitted diseases/sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment for men and women; parenting classes; safe sleep training; and essential baby equipment and clothing, plus mentoring for teen moms through its recent acquisition of Cradles of Grace.
All services are provided regardless of sex, race, ethnicity, faith or sexual orientation. The PRC offers contraceptive information, but does not provide them.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Pregnancy Resource Center's Walk for Life
WHEN: Saturday, June 17. Registration, 8:15 a.m.; Walk, 9 a.m.
WHERE: Downtown Grand Rapids and Paul Henry Trail, 100 E. Main St., in Middleville
CAN'T WALK BUT STILL WANT TO DONATE?
Click to www.prcforlife.org then look for donate button.
