More dates and info on how to be Silent No More

Below is a copy of the Silent No More News letter I recieved today.  It has dates and times and meeting places and other contact info for events going on nation wide.  It is very encouraging and gives tips on how to prepare for a gathering.  I found it very helpful and uplifting.  I hope and pray by sharing it here others will read it and find the courage and strength to either take part or start those baby steps in healing and facing their hurts.

January 10, 2006

Dear Silent No More Awareness Friends,

Happy New Year!

Opportunities to be silent no more occur throughout the year, but at no point is there more focus on our message than in the next few weeks when our culture en masse looks at abortion on January 22nd, the actual day the Supreme Court handed down the Roe vs. Wade decision that made abortion legal.  It's the
one opportunity every year to raise awareness and get some help from the media!!!

That's why we use this time to plan Gatherings to happen over the next few weeks nationwide. We have 20 Gatherings planned where we'll break the silence and join our voices together to tell the truth about abortion and share the message of hope and forgiveness we have for those still locked in silence or
contemplating an abortion.

The symbolism behind our solidarity in speaking out at the same time nationwide has been effective in reaching many women and men who are now going through healing programs because they heard our message and responded. WE WANT TO REACH EVEN MORE THIS YEAR!!!

As the co-founders of this Campaign, we know that in order to reach the hurting, we need more wherewithal than we have on our own; so we approach this season by renewing our own commitment to God, seeking His guidance, help, and intercession, and recognizing our own limitations and shortcomings!

The story of King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles, chapter 20 is inspiring us about how we need to approach this unique time of year (fasting, prayer, praise and worship - verses 1-13) and gives a great illustration of
God's power to fight this battle for life. It also encourages us not to be afraid of what's going to happen (verses 15-17) and assures us of victory with God's help (verses 18-27). In our case the victory is in all the people who will seek help and all those who finally see abortion hurts more than it helps, leaving many victims in addition to our babies.

King Jehoshaphat also reminds us to trust God as He calls us to share our stories at the Gatherings. The king had to have faith in God to help him defend their property; he couldn’t hide or expect others to do it for him. The king had to go for it by faith.

It's scary to go out and bear your soul and regret in public - but we want to encourage you to ask God prayerfully if that is what He is calling you to do. Is He asking you to walk by faith and not by sight? (Hebrews 11) A recent passage in Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest says it well...Let the
attitude of your life be a continual willingness to ‘go out’ in dependence upon God, and your life will have a sacred and inexpressible charm about it that is very satisfying to Jesus.

While we will never pressure anyone to share their testimony, we do want to encourage all of us to never let fear keep us from trusting God and living to bring Him glory. We want to make the most of the opportunity to raise awareness about abortion - so please remember the exhortation of Jesus, Pope John Paul, and the Cowardly Lion - TAKE COURAGE! Be not afraid!

Here is a list of where Gatherings are taking place, please contact the Regional Coordinators and let them know if you will be participating. Remember, people are welcome to attend to hear our testimonies, hold
"I Regret My Abortion/Lost Fatherhood" signs (often a first step in sharing testimony) and sharing 3 minute testimonies.

Gatherings

1.Join us for the National Event in Washington, DC!  Monday, January 23, 2006 at 4 pm in front of the Supreme Court. (following the March for Life)  If you plan to participate with Silent No More Awareness in Washington DC - please send an email to Sheila@NOELforLife.org  or call her at 800-707-6635, so she can give you information about hotel accommodations, etc.  We are also thinking about having a time to gather, pray and visit so please let us know if you're interested in getting more information about those plans.

2.Alabama, Birmingham - Saturday, January 21, 2006, 12 noon to 1:30pm Brother Bryan Park. Serena Mitchell, 205-982-1536, throughhisgrace@mindspring.com  Joy Boyd, 205-621-0247, DBoyd3968@charter.net

3.Arizona, Phoenix - Sunday, January 22, 2006, Joan Maloof, 480-471-8706, jjmgm@cox.net

4.California, Riverside - Friday, January 27, 2006, 12 noon to 1:30pm next to Riverside City Hall.  For information contact Karen Reynoso at 951-361-9355or renewedhope@earthlink.net.

5.Connecticut, Hartford – January 22nd, 2006 Rachel Torres O’Leary, 203-313-0101, torresoleary@yahoo.com

6.Florida, Ocala - January 14, 2006 from 12 noon to 2 p.m in Town Square.  Contact Mabel Ryan at 352-854-8892 or gulcry@cs.com or Gail at 352-291-7601 or gaildermfl@hotmail.com.

7.Florida, Sanford - January 21, 2006 at 12 noon at Magnolia Square on First St. in historic downtown Sanford.  For more information contact Laurie Wren at lwren2001@aol.com or call 407-333-0404 or 1-866-967-HOPE. 

8.Idaho, Boise – January 28th, Barbara Gough, 208.284.4922, hiswillnotmine@hotmail.com

9.Illinois, Chicago - January 10, 2006 at 11 am at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. Contact Renee by email at purplelatte@insightbb.com or phone at 608-365-5433.

10.Indiana, Fort Wayne - January 28, 2006 at 12 noon at the Scottish Rite Auditorium on Berry Street with Dr Alveda King as keynote speaker. The SNM event takes place in front of the building which houses offices and court rooms for our federal representatives. The Gathering will begin at approx. 1:30pm with the SNM speakers along with Dr. King. This lasts approx. one half
hour.  For more information contact Julie Brown at nana7142@hotmail.com or 260-463-7142. 

11.Michigan, Monroe - Friday, January 20 at 3 pm in St. Mary's Park in Monroe, MI. For more information contact Christine Stevens at silentnomoredetroit@yahoo.com or 313-520-9446. 

12.Minnesota, St. Paul - January 21, 2006, 12 noon to 2 pm at the State Capitol inside the rotunda.  For more information contact Ann Marie at Silent No More Minnesota at 763-536-8800 or e-mail at silentnomoremn@hotmail.com

13.Missouri, Jefferson City- January 18, 2006 at 12:00 Noon at the State Capitol, Amy Martin, 636-273-0496, amy@clothedwithjoy.org

14.North Carolina, Charlotte - January 19, 2006 at 12:00 Noon at the corner of Trade and Tryon Streets.  For more information contact  Andrea Hines at HinesAL@aol.com or 704-996-4597 or Katherine Hearn at moby5@carolina.rr.com or 704-877-2551. 

15.Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh - Market Square.  For more information contact Georgette Forney at georgette@noelforlife.org or at 1-800-707-6635. 

16.Texas, Dallas - January 21, 2006, 11 am, Downtown, Patti Pfeiffer-Parr, 972-874-5640, pattip913@verizon.net

17.Texas, Corpus Christie - January 21, 2006, 11 am across from the abortion clinic on the corner of Morgan and Crosstown. Sister Anne Sophie, 361-814-7685, savesoul@swbell.net

18.Washington, Seattle - Saturday, January 28, 2006 at Westlake Park.  Gather at noon, begin speaking at 12:30 pm, will end around 1:30 pm.  For more information contact Mary Emanuel at 206-853-6874 or mde@firstwebsites.com.

19.Wisconsin, Madison - January 19, 2006, 12 noon at the State Capitol.  For more information contact Leslie Graves at lbgraves@aol.com

Healing/Prayer Services

1. New York, Garnerville -  An Afternoon of Prayerful Remembrance and Intercession.  We gather to pray and intercede on behalf of our entire nation, seeking forgiveness and healing in God's merciful love. Prayer Service, January 21, 2006 1pm-4pm, Holy Sacrifice of the Mass Location: Church of St. Gregory Barbarigo 21 Cinder Road Garnerville, NY 10923-1131 For further information call: Theresa Bonopartis - 1-877-586-4621 or tbonop@optonline.net.

2) Wisconsin, Wautoma - January 19, 2006 at 7 pm at the Crossroads Family Church.  For more information contact JoAnn Jones Holden at 920-987-5221 or e-mail her at ctr22969@centurytel.net. 

Locations where people will carry Silent No More Awareness Campaign Signs.

1) Arkansas, Little Rock, - Debbie Magee is organizing people to hold Campaign signs during their March for Life event at the capitol in Little Rock on January 22nd. For more information contact Debbie at 479-313-3756, mageed1@cox.net

2) California, San Francisco - The Walk for Life walk will begin at Justin Herman Plaza and end at the Marina Greens. The Rally starts at 11 am and the Walk follows. visit the website: http://www.walkforlifewc.com./ for exact details. Contact Barbara Gough at 208.284.4922, hiswillnotmine@hotmail.com or Karen Reynoso at 951-361-9355, renewedhope@earthlink.net

We are so honored to work with you all to raise awareness about abortion. Please join us in praying, fasting, praising and worshipping our Awesome God, trusting Him for the victory.  Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns and remember... we will be silent no more.

Janet Morana, 888-PFL-3448, Janet@PriestsforLife.org
Georgette Forney, 800-707-NOEL, Georgette@NOELforLife.org

When sharing your testimony, please remember to keep it to three minutes or 1000 words! Here are some tips to help you prepare it:

Information for Writing Your Testimony

These are recommended guidelines to help us effectively share how God has taken our tragic abortion experience and transformed it into a testimony of His love, forgiveness, hope, and joy.

Preparing your testimony about how abortion has affected your life can seem overwhelming. 

Sometimes getting started is most difficult. It helps to start by putting everything about your abortion out on paper. Then you can whittle it down to a couple of pages, then whittle that down to one page (3 minutes). Below we have some beginning sentences to prompt you. Keeping it brief is extremely hard but
important, especially for the Silent No More Awareness Gatherings.

This information, plus lots of practice, and prayer will be plenty to prepare you to share the truth.

Please remember to talk about your abortion experience, personal testimony is the most powerful voice of truth. It's tempting to interject comments about the laws, or editorialize but YOUR story is what people need to hear.

Sample comments to Seek to Answer in Testimony
*    I am speaking today because I regret my abortion and I...
*    They did not tell me about the risks or the consequences I would suffer later like...
*    If you have had an abortion, I want you to know...
*    The most important thing about abortion I think people and all women need to know is...

Key Points
*    Make sure you provide the following information in your statement:
o    I had an abortion because...
o    During the abortion procedure I experienced...
o    Immediately after the abortion I felt...
o    As time went on after the abortion I felt...
o    I found help and forgiveness through...
o    It's great if your last line includes "and that's why I am silent no more!" For example, "after years of such and such pain, I went through a healing program and was able to receive God's forgiveness and forgive myself, I finally feel free from the shame and that's why I am silent no more!"
*    Make sure it is brief. Each testimony for the Gatherings MUST BE no longer than 3 minutes.
*    Try to use short, impact statements. They are memorable.
*    Have a friend who can pray for you while you prepare and when you actually share it.
*    Read your statement out loud lots times before the event; then read it to a friend.
*    If you've had more than one abortion, you can either discuss all of them or focus on the experience of one of them.
*    If participating in a Gathering, we recommend printing testimony in big font and place in sheet protector facing out so you can read without having to shuffle papers.

What not to say...

Please don't talk about various projects, programs you're involved in. This isn't time to make editorial comments about abortion, it about telling your story of how abortion affected you.The Gathering isn't the forum to share opinions about legislation or political candidates/parties.