Truett-McConnell students speak out for the unborn at UGA gathering

Truett-McConnell College

Truett-McConnell coed Meghan Lee discusses abortion and pro-life issues with University of Georgia passersby during a recent outreach event at the Athens campus. She was one of five students who participated in the event sponsored by Justice For All, a national organization that promotes sanctity of human life. Lee is from Cumming and a member of Sugarloaf Community Church.

ATHENS — Truett-McConnell College students joined with representatives of Justice for All (JFA) to speak out for pro-life issues at the University of Georgia on March 21.

The five students were accompanied by TMC Baptist Collegiate Ministries Director David Kirkland and Larry and Tina McDonald. Larry McDonald serves as associate professor of Christian studies and chapel coordinator at the college.

Teaming up with leaders from the national organization, the students interacted and dialogued one-on-one with UGA students on topics such as “When does human life begin?” and “What constitutes or determines our humanity?”

Students then asked “If life is worth defending outside the womb, why would it not deserve the same justice inside the womb?”

Kelsey Smith, a sophomore humanities major, said the day of outreach “was an incredible opportunity for eternal impact, not just for the unborn but for the individuals with whom we spoke.”

Before the event, TMC students received training by JFA leaders in methods that concisely and effectively communicate their beliefs regarding the defense of the unborn.

“The training and outreach sponsored by JFA is something that every Christian needs to experience,” says sophomore Christian Studies Major Dee Jay Faircloth.

“We learned not to just debate the issues, constantly pushing our own opinion. Instead we were led to discuss even such extremely controversial problems like abortion while showing care and love for the person with whom we were speaking.”

Tina McDonald said the training helped participants “how to use the right questions to nudge and guide others toward the right conclusions.”

Truett-McConnell College

Truett-McConnell students recently partnered with national pro-life group Justice for All on the UGA campus. The students mixed with the crowds at a large outdoor display and shared their belief on the sanctity of human life. The outreach occurred just weeks before an historic U.S. Supreme Court decision banning partial-birth abortion.

“We learned to view the people with whom we spoke not as enemies to be conquered, but as individuals in need of the truth of God.

“We had to ‘earn the right to be heard’ by first listening to those we wished to influence, showing them the care and respect that all human beings deserve. The communication skills I’ve learned through JFA have already changed for the better how I interact with other people.”

“The Justice for All staff was tremendous,” Kirkland added. “They were thoughtful and engaging, and handled the questions and comments of UGA students with the respect deserved any human.”

Kirkland also sites an additional benefit of the JFA training, “Our students that were a part of the training event now have specific answers to the questions raised by the pro-choice movement.”

Information on Justice for All and its pro-life lobbying efforts on college campuses can be accessed from their website at www.jfaweb.org.