| Do you remember the warmth, love, support and memories of a good family reunion? I sure do. In fact, some of my fondest memories from my childhood are the gathering of my great-grandparents’ large extended family. I remember the old uncles and aunts sharing history; members of each family sharing updates of expected babies, births, marriages; and we all remembered the eternal “home-goings” of our beloved ancestors. Traditions continued. Family members felt loved and supported. And, yes, a lot of my Aunt Kate’s chocolate cake and fried chicken were enjoyed. The older generation embraced the children – born and unborn – who would, in time, take their place. As we departed, the generations of Byron and Rosa Williams all joined hands and sang “Bless Be the Ties that Bind.” There really were ties – deeply rooted in our shared history and values that still exist today. I can still feel that sense of welcome, of belonging, of security. Maybe you can too. On Friday, January 10 and Saturday, January 11, 2025, South Carolina Citizens for Life will host its 2025 Proudly Pro-Life Weekend. This year’s event is a Family Reunion that will be celebrated at both the Dinner on Friday evening and the Rally on Saturday. We welcome your participation by being our guests and yes, being a sponsor. It is because of your faithful support that we have built a Family for Life in South Carolina. This Family must be not only celebrated but sustained for future generations. As you will see from the attached flyer, SCCL will host the events at the Columbia Convention Center for the Dinner and at the State House for the Rally. As with all reunions, we’re inviting some familiar faces to return. Back by popular demand, Seth Dillion, CEO of The Babylon Bee, will bring us post-election and cultural insights. S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson and local radio personality Kelly Nash will return as emcees. Joyful Sound of North Greenville University is “tuning up” for a family hymn sing. Who knows? There might even be cake. But the evening will not be complete without you! Families are important – so important that they were created by God as for human flourishing. No wonder we see in Genesis 1:28 God’s call to “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.” Traditionally, families are defined as a group of people connected bymarriage, birth, or adoption. We at South Carolina Citizens for Life, the oldest and largest single-issue pro-life organization in our state – certainly agree. We also view those who have enabled our work of guarding the sanctity of life of the unborn and of the medically fragile as part of our larger pro-life family. Because of your steadfast support, SCCL has made significant strides in educating the public on the humanity of the unborn and the inhumanity of abortion for both mother and child. Because of your support SCCL has: Successfully advocated for passage of 14 life-protecting laws before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the lethal Roe v. Wade in 2022. Exposed the lies and corruption of the abortion industry’s agenda for tax-funded abortion even as a means of birth control for all nine months of pregnancy and for any reason – or no reason at all. Helped to guard the vital work of pregnancy care centers no threatened by government shutdowns in other states. Exhibited medically accurate pro-life information including fetal models at educational events across the state – the largest being the South Carolina State Fair every year since 1974. Because of your years of faithful support, South Carolina Citizens for Life was positioned to champion model pro-life legislation after the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court Dobbs decision returned regulation of abortion back to the states. Our readiness did not happen overnight. In South Carolina, our elected officials moved swiftly to bring protection to the unborn by passing the Fetal Heartbeat Act. And, it is showing results. According to the Charleston newspaper, the Post & Courier, the number of abortions occurring in South Carolina declined by 80 percent once the Fetal Heartbeat Act went into effect. These “statistics” are about human beings, about lives saved. These are our little neighbors who have heartbeats, the most basic manifestation of human life! Although Planned Parenthood failed with its multiple lawsuits to keep the Fetal Heartbeat Act from taking effect in South Carolina, other states are experiencing relentless attacks by the abortion industry and its collaborators. The abortion industry – supported by the Biden-Harris Administration – is pouring millions of dollars into deceitful ballot measure campaigns that would legalize abortion up to birth and rescind all previous life-protecting laws. We cannot let our guard down. It is now more important than ever for SCCL’s work to continue. We must continue to educate the public about the humanity of the unborn child. We must continue to advocate for laws that protect our most vulnerable family members – our unborn children and their mothers. Why? Because that’s what families do. That’s what SCCL and the “pro-life family of South Carolina” has done for over 50 years. Whether through pregnancy care centers, sidewalk counseling and prayer vigils, adoption, or legal protection, our Pro-Life Family has welcomed the little ones and the medically fragile including the elderly, the chronically sick, and those with disabilities. Although Roe v. Wade is overturned, its legacy of the deaths of 65 million babies in the United States alone is still wreaking deadly affects in its wake. In many quarters the humanity of the unborn is forgotten. Since the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court Dobbs decision returned the regulation of abortion back to the states, we have witnessed an unprecedented, vicious assault on the sanctity of life. We are seeing the fraudulent misuse of the term “health care.” We are witnessing the return to the 1980’s slogans of “My Body, My Choice,” and the phrase “abortion is a matter between a woman and her doctor.” When we hear these anti-life slogans used to corruptly sell abortion as “health care” or “bodily integrity,” they are forgetting someone else’s body: Someone who is genetically complete at conception. Someone who has a detectable heartbeat by 24 days and neural activity by 43 days. Someone who feels excruciating pain by 20 weeks. Someone who deserves to live a full life – as long or as short as that life may be given by God. Only the pro-life movement is welcoming all of its members – including our precious unborn children and their mothers – to be part of The Human Family. While Planned Parenthood pushes death pills for a price, the Pro-Life Family offers free life-affirming resources, hope, and healing. With the money we raised at the 2024 Proudly Pro-Life Weekend, we were able to: Launch a massive, state-wide social media campaign promoting the humanity of the unborn and our care for their mothers while dismantling the lies of those who seek abortion on demand. Update our website to make life-saving information and resources even more accessible. Continue a vital resource, VoterVoice, that enables SCCL to give you instantaneous information to ensure that you can advocate for the humane care of the unborn and the medically fragile. Provide a consistent voice for community leaders and lawmakers on critical legislative issues including judicial appointments, protecting pregnancy care centers, and defunding abortion businesses. As members of the SCCL Family, you share our commitment to valuing the “least of these” to ensure that they receive the care and protection to which all members of our human family have a right. You are part of a Family that welcomes those whom much of our society disregards and, even worse, discards. It is in the Pro-Life Family where members of the Human Family – no matter how small, no matter their location, no matter their medical challenges – can belong and feel secure. Often when seeking information, we are advised to “google it.” When I googled “family reunion” here are a few of the definitions that popped up: To “reconnect” and to enjoy each other’s company. To pass on family history and values. To encourage attendees to support each other. To show love and appreciation. To show how members can work together as a unit. Now, I hope you see why we are hosting a “Family Reunion” for our 2025 Proudly Pro-Life Weekend. We are an incredible Family of Life. We want to see you on January 10 and January 11, 2025. To reserve your sponsorship or tickets, or to make a donation, please click HERE. Thank you for being part of the South Carolina Citizens for Life Family Reunion. Please call our office at (803) 252-5433 or email [email protected] for more information about sponsoring the 2025 Proudly Pro-Life Weekend. |
| REUNITE FOR LIFE WITH US – WHERE YOU BELONG! |