Editor, Times-Union: As a member of Right to Life I would like to invite all of Kosciusko County to attend our 11th annual Life Chain. It's an opportunity once a year to let our county know, by our actions, where we stand on the issue of abortion.
Many times when talking with people about abortion, I will ask them, "If you saw a mother pushing a stroller with a baby in it and they stopped and she began beating the baby with the intent to kill, what would you do to stop her?" Who wouldn't have room in their hearts to love and protect a baby? We can't call the police in the matter of abortion, but we can keep striving to make our voices louder and louder till our government takes notice, or we can change hearts and minds in the meantime.
If I went by today's advice I would have no children. I was advised to abort both of my children, but by the grace of God, at a young age I had the Ten Commandments placed in my heart and knew his word says, "Thou shalt not kill."
At the very moment of conception a baby has all the chromosomes that determine every detail of who they are and God places a living soul in them; that is the part that a doctor can't see or explain. There are no more or less chromosomes in a baby when they are conceived than when they are born. So they can be no more or less who they are depending on how little they are. At the earliest stages when a baby can be aborted, they can feel pain, so they feel what is happening to them. Please, let's put a stop to this evil! We will stand for an hour on Center Street holding signs saying things like, "Abortion kills children," "Jesus heals and forgives," "Abortion hurts women," and others. If an hour is too long for you to stand, please feel free to bring a chair. This is a peaceful demonstration. We want to encourage our cause, not discourage it.
If every church and every person who doesn't agree with abortion in America took part in their local life chain, our government would know that the numbers against abortion are greater than the numbers for abortion. If you've never taken a stand, this would be a good day to start!
The event will be held Sunday from 2-3 p.m. Pick up signs at the Warsaw First Brethren Church, at the corner of Bronson and Center streets, starting at 1:30 p.m.
Come rain or shine, hopefully shine, hope to see you there!
Pamola L. Engle Vice President Kosciusko County Right to Life
Time Of Need
Editor, Times-Union: I am writing in response to the article that appeared on the front page of the Sept. 27-28 Times-Union.
The state has approved a sizeable amount of money and opened the way for block grants for emergency shelters, transitional housing, etc. Kosciusko County should be commended for their programs that they offer to battered women and single mothers with housing needs. The county does indeed offer temporary housing for the homeless mother and child, no matter what the circumstance.
In 2001, I found myself in need of emergency temporary housing. However, the problem was, I was a 36-year-old male with an infant child. Had I been female, facilities would have been available immediately. There are no facilities available for men. Our Fathers House was offered to me, but it was suggested that it was not a good place for my child, as it is offered to recently released inmates. I could not separate my child and myself.
Due to the nature of our situation, it was necessary to leave our home immediately for the safety of my child. Food came pouring in and certain church groups helped with diaper and gas money, but there was nowhere to sleep.
As we move into the new millennium, more and more fathers are finding themselves in this situation. Homeless, and in need of temporary housing.
If Kosciusko County is to receive any of this money, it would be a welcome addition to our community if this problem could be addressed.
I would like to say thank you to all of those who helped in my time of need.
David Richter Warsaw via e-mail
Tilton Fund-Raiser
Editor, Times-Union: We would like to thank everyone who has helped with our grandsons' fund-raiser, the Tayvin Tilton Cancer Fund. The help from our small town of North Webster has been outstanding! We would like to give a special thank-you to Freedom Express, Lances New Market, CVS, Amoco, Pilchers and Jot 'Em Down for letting us put a fund-raiser can in their stores, and all the people who helped at the car wash. We also would like to thank Mutual Federal Bank for setting up the Tayvin Tilton Cancer Fund account.
We also would like to thank our family, friends, co-workers and all the people who have been praying for Tayvin. Tayvin has A.L.L. leukemia. His treatments will last for 33 months. They are doing a new experiment on babies because most babies only have a 40 percent chance of living. There are only 50 babies nationwide on this treatment. Tayvin just turned 9 months old. He is a very strong and happy baby. Please keep Tayvin in your prayers every night - with all your help we know he will pull through! God bless you all!
