"Respect life because life is a gift."
Kathy Hastings and Michelle Bethke try to convey that message everyday while working at downtown Dexter's Pinckney Pro-Life, located on the third floor in the Monument Park building.
Hastings, who is the director of the organization, said that aggressive tactics of harassing patients in front of clinics isn't encouraged.
"We spread the message of pro-life through billboards around town," she said. "We raise funds through businesses, private donations and churches."
Hastings said that the organization has roughly 15 billboards around the county. Ten billboards cost about $7,500 for a month.
Since its inception in 2000, the organization targets educating young adults, ages 13 to 19.
"The youth being involved in the pro-life movement is synonymous with standing up for justice," said Bethke, who is the organization's program developer. "They are providing a voice for those who don't have a voice because they were aborted. They lost siblings, friends and potential spouses."
THE INSTIGATOR
Pinckney Pro-Life was spearheaded by a then 14-year-old Alex Hastings, now 21, who wanted to convey the pro-life message in a positive way.
"When my friends and I realized the truth of the harmfulness of abortion in our communities and how it has affected our generation we felt as though we had to become involved in order to help women and men and to save children," he said.
"We decided billboards would be a great way by which we could spread a pro-life message to the community. After we began posting LIFEBOARDS, more and more youth desired to become involved in our life-saving ministry. As the number of youth involved in our organization grew, so did the number of programs."
LIFEBOARDS are billboards with a pro-life message. Bethke said there have been some 200 LIFEBOARDS posted around the state over the past seven years.
With the help of sister, Stephanie Hastings, Alex worked hard in trying to spread the "Respect Life" message.
Alex said that he got involved at such a young age because he felt it was important for teens to have a voice in the matter.
"First, it is appropriate that teenagers are involved in this issue. Being that most teenagers in American can legally seek abortion services, sometimes without parental notification or consent, there is every reason for their involvement in the pro-life issue," he said.
"Also, this abortion issue affects men as much as women. Today, the majority of abortion decisions are made by the male in the relationship. Through a lack of support, very often, men in today's culture leave women no choice other than to seek an abortion."
Alex's message has made an impact considering the organization is still going strong after seven years.
He said that he feels that Pinckney Pro-Life's longevity proves that there is a need for such an organization.
A PERSONAL REASON
The mission is personal for Bethke, who was pregnant at 17 and considered an abortion, but changed her mind and gave birth to a son.
"It was a hard decision and there were times I didn't want to go through with the pregnancy, but I did," she said. "Every time I would consider terminating the pregnancy, something miraculous would happen to make me think otherwise."
Ironically, she wasn't supported in her decision to keep the baby. Many people around her advised her to terminate the pregnancy because a child may complicate her life.
"I was told that a baby would hold me back from doing things I wanted to do," she said.
Bethke didn't heed any advice, she followed her gut and said it was the best thing she ever did.
"I went to college and graduated with a 3.4 grade-point average," she said. "It was hard watching my friends have a college-life, but my son changed my life for the better. I was more motivated to do better with my life because of him."
She credits him for making her stronger and pickier about the people she chose to be in her life.
Bethke's sister, however, didn't see going through her pregnancy with the same perspective.
"She chose to go through an abortion and didn't tell me about it until after," Bethke said. "She really regrets her decision and her life didn't really turn out the way she expected."
Bethke is currently married with two children and is looking to adopt.
"There is this myth that a baby complicates everything and that you ruin your life by having one so young," she said. "I think that they change your life for the better. I see my sister suffer for her choice and it's pretty ironic that not having the baby ruined her life."
Her sister's grief and guilt inspired Bethke to work at Pinckney Pro-Life and offer a helping hand to women in need. She wants to provide comfort to women who have gone through an abortion and are still suffering emotionally.
"I'm here for them to provide a number of resources," she said. "Whether it's for a retreat or counseling, I will provide them with plenty of information and will do my best to comfort them without passing any judgment."
For more information, contact Pinckney Pro-Life (734) 426-4899 or visit the organization's Website at info@pinckneyprolife.org.
Staff Writer Sandi Kasha can be reached at 475-1371 or skasha@heritage.com.
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