COLUMBIA, S.C. (January 2025) – South Carolina Citizens for Life hosted a very “warm” family reunion on a cold South Carolina Weekend on January 10-11, 2025. At both its dinner on Friday evening at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center and at its March and Rally on Saturday at the State House, pro-life supporters gathered for fellowship, education, encouragement, and a challenge to move forward in this post-Roe world.
Photos courtesy of Abigail Williams and Madeline Peters
The numerous sponsors and hundreds of participants made the weekend a perfect launch for the South Carolina Citizens for Life “Love Them Both” campaign.
Photos courtesy of Abigail Williams and Madeline Peters
The weekend was held in the memory of SCCL Secretary Jo Ann Gorman, who died October 8, 2024. Brenda Cerkez, executive director of Family Honor and the former executive director of South Carolina Citizens for Life, gave a touching reflection on Mrs. Gorman’s life, her establishment of the pro-life organization Insights of Greenville, and her life scripture, 1 Corinthians 13 that fits perfectly with the “Love Them Both” theme.
Photo courtesy of Abigail Williams
Certainly, the love of God and the love of family was central to all aspects of the weekend.
On Friday evening program participants, included emcees South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson and on-air WCOS and WVOC radio personality Kelly Nash; musician and soloist Josh Epton of North Greenville University; Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver who led in the Pledge of Allegiance; Fr. Peter O’Steen, former volunteer with SCCL and now parochial vicar of St. Joseph parish in Columbia who offered the blessing and benediction; and Dr. Tony Beam with the South Carolina Baptist Convention and North Greenville University who brought the benediction.
Photos courtesy of Abigail Williams and Madeline Peters
The evening included welcome and recognition of sponsors, ministries and officials who are part of our pro-life family; a hymn sing by all attendees, and of course a meal that featured chicken and chocolate cake. The “Family Reunion” lifted up the faithfulness of God, the love of family, and our responsibility to love both the mother and her unborn child.
Photo courtesy of Abigail Williams
Although a flight cancellation prevented featured speaker Seth Dillon, CEO of The Babylon Bee, from participating, SCCL President Lisa Van Riper, used the opportunity to unveil Visioning A Way Forward from Dobbs to a Culture of Life. That vision, Mrs. Van Riper said, is to “create a culture in which the unborn child is welcomed into life and protected under law in a way that cares for both the mother and her child and safeguards the right to life of the medically fragile.”
Photo courtesy of Madeline Peters
At Saturday’s rally, (the 51st held since 1974) Lt. Gov Pamela Evette provided a real-life story of how a public-private partnership in South Carolina is helping make that culture of life a reality.
Photo Courtesy of Madeline Peters Photo Courtesy of Abigail Williams
Sally Zaleski, the SCCL executive office manager and volunteer coordinator, presented the Volunteers for Life Award to twin sisters Amy Aubert Fling and Cindy Aubert Moorer for their years of faithfully volunteering at the SCCL Pro-Life Booth at the State Fair.
Cindy Moorer and Amy Fling
Photo courtesy of Madeline Peters
Wrapping up the rally and the weekend, Mrs. Van Riper, introduced a special guest, her brother, the Rev. Henry Cooper, pastor of Gethsemane Baptist Church in St. Matthews, to offer the benediction. As she said, having her brother at the rally was a literal Family Reunion.
Photos courtesy of Abigail Williams
A very special thank you to all of the sponsors, program participants, and the attendees who made the 2025 Proudly Pro-Life Weekend possible. We cannot thank them enough. Please stay tuned for more reports, photos, and videos of the truly wonderful 2025 Proudly Pro-Life Weekend.
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