Essential Elements of Pro-Life Activism

Session 1

(1) How to use the Pro-Life Library DVD.(2) The four foundation stones of Christian activism.(3) The benefits of training.(4) The skills a competent pro lifer possesses.‑(5) The general principles of recruiting.(6) The recruiting process.(7) The four elements of every individual.(8) The five categories of personal skills.

Training Objectives

(9) The sources of stress and strain and how to deal with them.

(10) The importance of gathering information.(11) The basics of intelligence gathering.(12) The definition of the interior life.(13) The benefits of a healthy interior life. (14) How to pray effectively.(15) How to fortify your interior life.

Training Objectives

The Four Foundation Stones of Pro-Life Activism (TRIP)

TrainingRecruitingInformationPrayer

Why Are the Anti-Lifers so Effective?

They have easily defined goals. They recruit, train and exchange information. They act as if they are in a war. They freely share their secrets. They use strategies and tactics that work. They act as if life is The Exciting Game Without Any Rules (TEGWAR). Satan is the prince of this world.

Who Will Gain the Victory in the End?

For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.And His commandments are not burdensome.

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our Faith.

Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

— 1 John 5:3-5.

The First Foundation Stone of Christian Activism:

Training

• Enters the pro-life movement at random.• Receives little or no training.• Learns the principles of activism “on the job.”• Is inefficient and wastes time and resources.• Is not prepared to deal with stress and strain.• Doesn’t know the “rules of the game.”• 80% to 90% burn out in the first year.• If he endures, he will only achieve full effectiveness in 3 to

5 years.

The Typical New Pro-Lifer’s Experience

• Not knowing how to debate.• Having a bad attitude.• Putting themselves or their group at risk by making mistakes.• Falling prey to the media.• Inability to lead, manage or plan.• Inability to prioritize or delegate.

Typical Mistakes Made by Untrained or Improperly Trained Pro-Lifers

What is a “Pro-Lifer?”

Anti-lifers rank people according to their physical characteristics (pornographers, abortionists, slavers, euthanasiasts).

But pro-lifers know that we are all created in the spiritual image and likeness of God, which gives each of us an eternal soul that makes us all equal in His eyes.

A Competent Pro-Life Activist;

• Can refute the 40 pro-abortion slogans.• Can make an accurate self-assessment.• Knows the logic behind the Church’s teachings.• Can avoid traps set by pro-abortionists.• Has a balanced personal life.• Maintains a professional attitude.• Knows how to lead, manage and plan.• Has a good sense of the contexts.

The Benefits of Training

• Helps activists learn from the experience of others.• Helps place new activists in the proper

organization.• Increases the new activist’s efficiency.• Decreases friction between pro-life groups.• Increases endurance for the long battle ahead.• Confers a “battle mentality.”• Stresses universal concepts.

Outline of the CompletePro-Life Basic Training Program

• Phase 1: This Pro-Life Basic Training Program PowerPoint presentation, either in a group or on your own (~8 hours).

• Phase 2: Review of this training program on the Facts of Life DVD (~15 hours).

• Phase 3: Reading and study of basic pro-life knowledge with The Facts of Life on the DVD (contraception, abortion, Church teachings, etc.) (~20 hours).

• Phase 4: Individual and/or group debate practice with the Debate Drill Sheet (Session 6 on the DVD, 10-15 hours).

The Second Foundation Stone of Christian Activism:

Recruiting

The Four-Step Recruiting Process

(1) Learn how to recruit.(2) Learn who to recruit.(3) Actively recruit your prospects.(4) Train and involve your new recruits. Don’t let them languish!

General Principles of Recruiting

Keep recruiting in mind at all times.Recruiting increases the size and power of the

pro-life movement.Recruiting brings in new talent and ideas.Recruiting heightens church and public

awareness of the abortion issue.

There are Three Kinds of People;

Those who make things happen ― The Activist 5%;

Those who watch things happen ― The Uninvolved 15%;

Those who wonder what happened ― The Uncaring 80%.

Public Attitudes:The Uncaring 80%;

Are not involved in any kind of activism. Are totally uninformed about moral issues. Easily accept pro-abortion slogans. Are easily influenced by the media. Have very fixed opinions. Often say that they are “spiritual,” not “religious.” If they claim to be “religious,” their faith is lukewarm.

Think they don’t have the time to get involved.Willing to discuss and think about the issues.Are less likely to accept pro-abortion slogans.Usually have only one or two very specific reasons why

they aren’t involved.Are somewhat distrustful of the media.

Public Attitudes:The Uninvolved 15%;

The OccasionalPro-Life Activists;

• Are 80% of all of the activists in the pro-life movement.

• May participate in one or two large events per year.• Are usually “secret” pro-lifers.• Should be a natural recruiting focus.• See the fight for the pre-born as a hobby or as a

movement.

The Part-TimePro-Life Activists;

• Are 15% of the total activists in the pro-life movement.• Spend 1 to 5 hours per week on activism.• Are the backbone of the pro-life movement.• Don’t mind being publicly identified as pro-lifers.• Eventually become expert in one or two areas.• See the fight for the pre-born as a philosophy.

The Fully Committed Pro-Life Activists;

• Are 5% of the total activists in the pro-life movement.• See activism as a primary element of their identities.• Are usually generalists.• May put their pro-life projects first and their families

second.• Satan is most likely to attack these pro-life individuals,

their groups, and their families.• See activism as an apostolate and a way of life.

Why Are Christians Not Involvedin Pro-Life Activism?

Fear of the unknown (lack of faith).Fear of the known (lack of courage).Being assimilated by the world.Ignorance of the issues and the facts.Dislike of stress and strain.Complacency.Stereotypes by the media and anti-lifers.Shift in emphasis from personal to societal sin.

Trusting in the Lord (Psalm 27:1-3)

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

When evildoers assail me, uttering slanders against me, my adversaries and foes, they shall stumble and fall.

Though a host encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise against me, yet I will be confident.

Reasons People Join the Pro-Life Movement

• Personal salvation.• Personal or societal reparation.• Obedience to God’s

commandments.• Social concern and a sense of duty.• Personal satisfaction.• Abortion has touched their family.• Revulsion to the vile nature of

abortion.• Compulsion.• Vengeance.

Unique Qualities of New Activists

• Life experience.• Personalities• Skills and talents.• Motivations.• Levels of commitment.• Strengths and weaknesses.

Five Categories of Personal Skills;

(4) Technical

(3) Spiritual

(2) Inspirational

(5) Creative

(1) Organizational

A Person With Organizational Skills;

Is a good planner.Is a natural moderator and facilitator.Identifies and outlines goals and problems

quickly and correctly.Has good attention to detail.Makes a good manager of a large project.Would make a good writer or editor.Would do very well in political, investigative or

research work.

A Person with Inspirational Skills;

• Explains ideas well.• Is a good motivator and

communicator.• Is a good decision-maker and

leader under pressure.• Would make a good sidewalk

counselor, rescue or picket leader.

A Person With Spiritual Skills;

• Has an excellent sense of the temporal/temporary and eternal/infinite contexts.

• Listens well and is a natural healer.• Is faithful and patient.• Has good endurance.• Would be a good CPC worker, PAS counselor,

or NFP teacher.

A Person With Technical Skills;

• Can put high-tech equipment such as computers and camcorders to work.

• Can grasp and analyze complex problems immediately.

• Would be a good researcher, writer, political advisor, private investigator or debater.

A Person WithCreative/Imaginative Skills;

• Is the person whose skills are most often neglected or overlooked.

• Can express complicated ideas in appealing ways.

• Adds color, creativity and excitement to pro-life events.

• Would be an outstanding media spokesperson or graphics layout artist.

(1) The Physical (the body)

(2) The Mental (the mind)

(3) The Emotional (the heart)

(4) The Spiritual (the soul)

The Four Elements of the Person

(Mark 12:30)

Review: Principles of Recruiting

People are gifted in many areas, but are usually strongest in only one; appeal to this area.

Each person is unique and must be approached differently for maximum recruiting success.

Emphasize recognition, honesty and teamwork.Give your new recruits a sense of purpose.

Why So Many Pro-Lifers Drop Out So Fast

• Number one reason: Unrealistic expectations.• Lack of transition time.• Stress and strain.• Lack of confidence in themselves and in the pro-life

movement.• Lack of faith that God will take care of them.• Lack of a “battle mentality.”• The media’s propaganda campaign.• Fighting between pro-life groups.• Conflicting strategies and tactics within the pro-life

movement.