Young Pro-Life Interns Spend Summer Affecting Change in Novi area
In a show of dedication and determination, 22 young pro-life activists have devoted their summer to making an impact locally in the Novi area. The young people – high school and college age interns – have been living and working from the Holy Family Parish since May under a new summer-long internship initiative by Protect Life Michigan.
The young interns have stepped out in their community, carrying on civil dialogs about the controversial topic of abortion with the aim to enlighten and change perspectives. Their respectful methods of outreach have included door-to-door canvassing, sidewalk counseling, and engaging people in personalized, one-on-one conversations. The fruitful result so far has been a notable change in public opinion with the report of reduced pro-choice stance and increased pro-life support in the area.
The Holy Family Parish, albeit usually quieter during the summer, has willingly offered its premises to serve as home base for these zealous youths. Roxanne Hundsrucker, director of Christian Service for Holy Family, expressed her admiration at the faithfulness and dedication of the interns.
“It is a breath of fresh air to walk into the church and see young people, young adults,” Hundsrucker said. “They pray — we find them in the chapel, we see them in the church. It is pretty powerful, and we’ve all felt the same way.”
An hour every day at Holy Family is dedicated to prayers and grounding themselves. The extensive training received here has further equipped them with the necessary tools for their community outreach. The interns have also been provided with housing facilities in local rental homes to strengthen their bond and resilience.
On a typical day, the interns head out to publicly discuss the topic of abortion, employing the ‘human rights argument’ to change hearts and minds. “We establish that we all believe in human rights for all human beings, and after laying out that abortion takes the life of an innocent human being, wouldn’t that make abortion a human rights violation?” says Whipple.
Despite the heavy nature of the cause they advocate for, the young activists remained undeterred and motivated throughout the summer. The experience of their small efforts causing significant changes in thought process has motivated them further, with some witnessing a shift in stance by people they’ve had conversations with.
As the summer internship draws to a close, the fervor and dedication of these young people have only increased. In terms of the number of people their efforts have impacted, they currently have a promising tally. Their hearts filled with hope and faith, they continue to work towards a future where every human life is valued and protected.
