Valentines for life

Pro-life club, Lifeline, held a charity gala to support education and prevention

Liberty University’s pro-life club, Lifeline, held a Valentine’s Gala on Feb. 13 in the DeMoss Grand Lobby from 9 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Close to 35 students showed up for the event and, for $10 a ticket, were able to enjoy refreshments and music by a group of students who formed a local Liberty Band. There were also games such as “Who’s Their Other Half” for students to play and a magic act, as well as many raffle prizes.

“The purpose of this event is to bring awareness to Lifeline and raise money for those affected by abortion,” the group’s president, Lillian Otieno, said. “Our mission is to minister to those affected by abortion and to educate and equip students to be active pro-life leaders.”

Lifeline’s president and leaders made it clear that they are all about saving lives in the name of Jesus Christ. According to the club’s website, the club’s purpose is to honor and glorify Christ by defending the “least of these” through pro-life activism and incessant prayer.

“On Saturdays we meet on campus at 6 a.m. and travel to either abortion clinics in Roanoke or Charlottesville to do counseling and sidewalk prayer,” Otieno said. “Sometimes, we have random people approach us and tell us thank you for what we are doing, and even ask if they can pray with us.”

According to Otieno, it is not just people in Roanoke and Charlottesville that have supported them, but the Lynchburg community alone donated $369 to the Valentine’s Gala through selling raffle tickets and gift card donations.

“Lifeline took a day to just go out in the community and ask for donations for raffle prizes for this event, and the community responded in a way we never imagined they would,” Otieno said. “La Carreta, Olive Garden, Chick-fil-A, Lifeway, Buffalo Wild Wings and Ledo’s Pizza all contributed, just to name a few.”

“I am here to support Lifeline and everything it stands for,” senior Andrew Hodges, who came out to the Valentine’s Gala, said. “I think this event is a good way to bring about awareness to students.”

According to Otieno, Lifeline has three main goals: to minister to men and women pre and post abortion, to educate students to make an impact in the pro-life movement and to equip and enable students to be effective pro-life leaders.

“If I could encourage Liberty students to do anything it would be to just keep up with the pro-life movement in Washington,” Katie Jeffries, Lifeline’s secretary, said. “People need to know that they don’t have to abort their babies. There are other options.”

The event raised over $300 in Valentine Gala ticket sales, which Lifeline’s treasurer, Ian Kirkland, said the club was very thankful for.

Lifeline meets every Monday night in DeMoss 1105 from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and students are welcome to join. For more information about the club, email lifeline@liberty.edu, or find the group on Facebook by searching Liberty Students for Life.