The Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity is tomorrow, and one baby has already been saved.
We are one day away from the event and the participation is astounding. As I am writing this here are the numbers so far.
4,305 Schools
308 Homes Schoolers
68 Business/ministries
768 Individuals
19 Countries
With many of the schools reporting that hundreds will be taking part in Silent Solidarity at their schools, there will be over 150,000 people taking a stand tomorrow. There have been over 67,000 invites sent out for the Facebook events page alone, with over 10,000 people joining the Facebook group for the Pro-life day of Silent Solidarity. The website is averaging over 139,000 page hits a day. We are so excited to see so many people, especially students willing to stand in solidarity with their brothers and sisters who are being silenced at a rate of 4,000 a day. Please don't forget to take pictures and submit them to www.silentday.org along with stories about how the day went for you. These pictures and stories from past years have ministered to thousands of people.
I have been getting hundreds of e-mails and internet messages each day, I cannot keep up with answering them all personally. I know many of you sent in questions and we hope this e-mail can answer most of them for you. If you still have questions you can e-mail me at bryankemper@standtrue.com or call the office at 937-339-5648
The Vision Behind the Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity
In the spring of 2004, a student from McNeese State University asked me, "What can I do to work with other students around the country, in solidarity, to help end abortion?" hear things like that all the time from the students I speak to. "What can I do? I have ideas, but I don’t know what to do with them. Can I really make a difference? I'm just one person." Then this student asked me, a spark went off in my head.
I replied, "What if we got students to not only act in solidarity with others, but also with the children that are dying every day?" As soon as I said it, I knew God had set something in motion inside of me.
At the time, I was one person working from the basement of my home with a computer, a website, and a small e-mail list that I had been collecting for a few months. I wasn't really sure what could be accomplished with that, but I offered it to God and started sending out emails. Now, something that started its first year as just a few thousand students from 300 campuses has grown into a nation-wide outpouring of love and action. The Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity is on its fourth year, and we have tens of thousands of people from all over the world from thousands of campuses that are participating.
Hearts are being changed, babies are being saved, and women are being spared the trauma of post-abortive pain. People are coming together in unity to promote a culture of life. Personhood is being restored on campuses across the nation. I really cannot take any credit for the success of this movement. It is only God who grants us the power to do this. I was one person who listened to God and, through Him, acted on the vision He gave me. If you have an idea, a vision or dream, don’t be afraid to stand up and let your voice be heard. Don’t doubt what you can accomplish with Christ. Don’t think that because you are just one person you can’t make a difference.
“I have a dream”--a statement powerfully spoken by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and yet so much more than just words. He did not cower in the face of adversity. He spoke those words with passion and conviction. He challenged the world to stand up for the rights and equality of all men. I, too, have a dream. I, too, will not cower in the face of adversity. I believe that, through Christ, we can restore personhood to the most innocent of our brothers and sisters: the children in the womb.
Today, 4000 of my generation will be silenced.
Today 4000 of my brothers and sisters lives will be ended simply because of their age.
Today, I will stand up and share my dream, my idea, and my vision with the world.
Will you stand with me?
For Christ I stand,
Bryan Kemper
Founder – Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity
Things You Need to Remember About the Event
The silence part is hard, I know. But it is so small compared to being silenced forever, like the 4,000 children that die every day from abortions. Be respectful to your school staff, this is not about rebellion. If they harass you then immediately contact us and our legal team at the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF). The ADF will help you for free.
Phone: 1-800-TELL-ADF
Fax: 480-444-0025
Website: www.alliancedefensefund.org
Don't be legalistic about the silence, if you have an opportunity to talk to someone who needs to talk then take that opportunity. Last year students took those opportunities and we heard back about 16 girls that canceled abortion appointments and kept their babies. React in LOVE. People may get angry at you, but that is no excuse to be mean to anyone. We must love everyone and put out a loving, compassionate message. I highly encourage you to read this commentary I wrote entitled "Loving, Compassionate Pro-life vs Angry, Anti-abortion." ( http://www.standtrue.com/pages/commentaries/loving.htm )
If you are unsure about some of the pro-life facts and arguments, spend some time educating yourself. You can find information at www.standtrue.com and also at www.abort73.com.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Event
These should help to answer most of the questions you have about the Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity
Question - What if my school, teacher or administrator says no?
Answer - If they tell you that you cannot participate in the Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity you need to contact our lawyers who will help you fight for your rights. Their contact information can be found on the website under the legal help section. www.silentday.org
Question - Do I have to wear red duct tape on my mouth all day?
Answer - The red duct tape is only one option for the event. You can also wear it on your arm or shirt. You can also wear a red arm band or a pro-life t-shirt to show your support. This is up to you and what you are comfortable with. Some schools will allow you to participate but not allow the duct tape on the mouths because of safety concerns.
Question - What if someone wants to talk to me about abortion or has a serious question?
Answer - While we are taking a vow of silence for the day we do not want to be legalistic about this. Last year many kids broke their silence to talk to girls who were considering abortion. We know of at least 16 of these high school girls who then cancelled abortion appointments and decided to keep their babies. Use your best judgment and speak if you need to. Some people may be just trying to harass you, while others may seriously need to talk to someone.
Question - I don't know if I can be silent all day, that seems too hard.
Answer - Use the time you are silent for prayer. Prayer is the most powerful tool we have in the fight against abortion. There will be thousands of students across the nation participating with you in solidarity: keep them in your prayers throughout the day. Pray for the abortion doctors and clinic workers to come to Christ. Pray for all involved in the abortion industry, that we can be a witness to them and that God will give us opportunities to share the Gospel with them.
Question - What do I pass out to people who want to talk to me.
Answer - The flyer is available as a free download on the website. You may use other pro-life literature along with the flyer, but the flyer is important to explain what you are doing. If you cannot afford to make copies of the flyer we can help by printing some for you.
Question - What date is the Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity on?
Answer -Tuesday, October 23, 2007. Next year it will be on Tuesday, October 21, 2008.
Question - Where do I get red duct tape?
Answer - You can get it at almost any hardware store, Wal-mart, Target or stores like that.
Question - Where do I get a red arm band?
Answer - Just use any piece of red fabric or red duct tape.
Question - Can I find out who else at my school is doing this?
Answer - We have a strict privacy policy and will not give out anyone's information for their safety.
Question - I have choir, drama, debate ect... Do I have to be silent for those classes.
Answer - That is up to you and your teacher. I encourage everyone who can do it all day to really make an effort to remain silent. Remember we are acting in solidarity with those who are silenced forever.
Question - Does passing notes, e-mail, im and texting count?
Answer - While this is up to you, it would be great for you give all of this up to be in solidarity for those who will never be able to do these things. One day is nothing compared to what happens to them. Notes can be useful in some situation like ordering food and such, but should be used at a minimum.
Question - Are you affiliated with Bound for Life?
Answer - We are not officially affiliated with them but we do work with many of their groups and people. They have promoted this event and I have talked to the leadership about working together on projects.
Question - Is the Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity a non-profit organization?
Answer - We are a division of Stand True - Christ Centered Pro-life, a 501 c3 organization. The Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity is just one project of Stand True. Please visit www.standtrue.com for more information about Stand True.
Question - How can I help promote this event?
Answer - There are so many opportunities to promote this event, especially with the internet.
- You can download fliers to pass out from the website at www.silentday.org
- You can join the Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity MySpace and Facebook groups and promote through those sites.
- Official Students Day of Silent Solidarity MySpace www.myspace.com/silenced12273
- Official Students Day of Silent Solidarity Facebook Group http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2248662014
- We have also created some banners for you to post on your websites and blogs. Go to http://www.standtrue.com/pages/downloads/pldbanners.htm for the codes to post them on MySpace.
- You are also encouraged to come up with other ideas to help get the message out about the Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity. Some college groups have set up pro-life booths on campus during the day of silence to distribute literature.
Question - Are we supposed to wear the official Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity T-shirt?
Answer - First let me say that the shirt is in no way necessary for this event. We actually did not design a shirt for the event on purpose the first few years. We did not want this event to be about money or selling shirts. However, so many people have asked us to do a shirt we decided to pick one of our shirts that best spoke for this day and promote that one instead of just making a shirt specifically for the event. Remember this is just an optional part of the Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity. One of the other things kids do is to make their own shirts for the event and we think that is amazing. I love to see the pictures of everyone in the shirts they have made. So if you are feeling creative we encourage you to make your own shirt. Please remember to keep the shirts loving and not judgmental; our goal is not to hurt people. The design that has been selected as the official shirt for the Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity this year is available in black, grey and a black zip hoodie. It is also available as a poster or sticker in our store. ( www.prolifeworld.com )
If Your School Said No, You Have Rights
The Alliance Defense Fund has put together a general guide for your rights as a student. Here is the guide in PDF form - Legal Guide - http://www.standtrue.com/pages/studentlegal.pdf Please do not hesitate to contact the lawyers at the ADF, they will help you for free.
Phone: 1-800-TELL-ADF
Fax: 480-444-0025
Website: www.alliancedefensefund.org
Philippians 1:3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
