Since the Roe v. Wade decision, generations have fought in the war against abortion. Now, 41 years later, activists are spread across the country working on every aspect of the fight for life. From college campuses to Congress, opportunities abound to join the effort. However, for the uninitiated, it can be confusing to know where to start. And for those whose daily focus lay elsewhere, it can be hard to keep up. This is what has prompted me to launch The Vine.

Each week The Vine will strive to bring you updates from around the pro-life community to help you keep up with the ever constant battle to save lives. If you aren’t plugged-in, it is my sincere hope that The Vine will allow you to get familiar with those on the front lines and find your place among them.

The Bible tells us in John 15 that Jesus is the true vine and we are the branches. As we grow, so will The Vine. The strong roots of our efforts are the Word and the knowledge that all life is precious and protected by the Constitution.

I look forward to serving you each week and welcome your feedback and suggestions as we grow on the vine together.

Each month Students For Life of America (SFLA) provides an “Event-In-A-Box” free to help students across the country advocate for the unborn. This month’s “box” topic is social justice, which seeks not only to protect those unable to protect themselves, but also to defend all those who suffer injustices across the world. Students can fill out SFLA’s online form to have a free box of supplies sent to them and/or check out more information here.

LifeSiteNews has the latest from this year’s 40 Days For Life campaign. Each year, thousands across the world come together in prayer and fasting in an amazing effort to end abortion and this year has continued their success. Now in their final week, with sidewalk counselors reporting at least 437 babies spared from abortion, Campaign Director Shawn Carney reports that even in wind, rain and snow the vigils for life have remained strong.

As if there weren’t enough discrimination as the basis for choosing abortion, a bioethicist at Oxford has come up with another: Low IQ. As LifeNews reports, prenatal screenings may be headed further down the path of eugenics all in the name of giving babies “a better chance at life.”

Imagine being told, not once, not twice, but five times by doctors that you should abort your child because she would be born needing further medical care. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for doctors to urge mothers of pre-born babies at risk of disability to simply terminate the pregnancy (kill their child); despite the fact that disability does not equal death. In the case of Angie Rodgers, not only did she resist her doctors’ pressure to end her child’s life, but her now three year old daughter has become a YouTube sensation with her sweet singing of The Star Spangled Banner. Live Action News has the inspiring story of Grace Anna.

How does your state rank in protecting life? Americans United For Life has the list of how states rank “based on how well they protect life in law.” Whether you are new to the community or have been working to save lives for years, check out the progress here.

In New York City, already known for aborting more black babies than are born there, The New York Post has discovered that tanning salons are inspected more than city’s abortion clinics. While that probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise to most in the pro-life movement, the report is further evidence that abortion is anything but safe.

While the media would have you believe that Kermit Gosnell was an isolated case, his “house of horrors” being the only example they reluctantly covered, the Susan B. Anthony List provides the facts that show Gosnell only highlighted the truth behind abortion clinics nationwide.

To prevent the evils of Gosnell being forgotten and to further shine a light on how the media attempted to turn a blind eye, filmmakers Phelim McAleer and Ann McElhinney have set up a fundraising site to help them make a TV movie. The Gosnell Movie has raised over $400,000 to date, but much more is needed to tell the story of America’s biggest serial killer.

When a woman finds out she’s unexpectedly pregnant, what do you imagine is her first move? If you said go online for more information, you would be correct. And leading the Google results, whether by chance or purposefully, is information provided by pro-abortion groups like Planned Parenthood that don’t care to disclose the lifesaving options available to women. Each week I’ll be highlighting an organization as the Branch For Life that is leading the way in the pro-life movement. This week’s Branch For Life (and the very first!) is Online For Life. If you haven’t heard of them, their commitment to helping women find life online is second to none. They work behind the scenes to make sure that Planned Parenthood isn’t the only option women find online in those first precious days of finding out they are to be a mother. Additionally, Online For Life has a prayer app that allows users to pray in real time for women who are considering abortion and have contacted a Pregnancy Resource Center. Get to know Online For Life and the awesome work they do and download the app!

Finally, as we are in the season of Lent, Priests For Life has provided a Lenten pro-life prayer to help us in this holy time of repentance leading up to the Easter celebration of life.

Until next week, I pray blessings for you and for all committed to life in The Vine.

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