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Bound for Life organizer Dusty Reid stands in front of the prayer siege on Pandosy Street. (Photo John McDonald)
By John McDonald
Motorists driving by Kelowna General Hospital Saturday morning were treated to an odd sight; over 100 people standing across from the hospital with red tape over their mouths, with the word life printed on it.
The gathering was a “prayer siege” held by a new group Bound For Life, said organizer Dusty Reid, who claimed the group isn’t political.
“We’re not protesting anything, the tape kind of stops anyone from doing that,” said Reid, who took the tape off her mouth long enough to explain the group’s position.
“We’re out here praying and interceding on behalf of our nation and also unborn babies that don’t have a voice.”
She said the concept of a prayer siege is based on Ezekiel 22:30. “I look for a man who will build a wall, stand in the gap on behalf of the nation,” quoted Reid. “That’s what we’re doing. Standing in the gap and praying.”
According to Reid, the group is not affiliated with Kelowna Right to Life, who for years has run a weekly protest outside the hospital, protesting the abortion clinic that operates inside.
Although this is their first event, Reid said Bound for Life is planning additional pro-life events, including a baby supply drive for next month.
The Interior Health Authority has run a weekly abortion clinic inside KGH since 2001.
john@kelowna.com
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Bound for Life organizer Dusty Reid stands in front of the prayer siege on Pandosy Street. (Photo John McDonald)
50 Responses to “New group stages anti-abortion event outside Kelowna General Hospital”
Tags: anti-abortion, bound for life, kgh, pro-life
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Nutcases with no true biblical understanding…so sad they are! Where is their GOD?
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this is really cool :)
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As a young adult in Kelowna, I am so excited and proud to see this happen in our city. It really is true when we say there is a new moral norm rising in our nation. It’s amazing to see young people standing up for socially-conservative values in our nation.
WAY TO GO BOUND 4 LIFE KELOWNA!!!!!!!!!!!!
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This is great. I’m a 5th year student at the University of Toronto and am definitely pumped to be reading about this. As a young person in Canada I think it’s important the media take part to highlight events and activism like these that happen all over our country. It’s funny how Kelowna is able to track events like these yet when there were 12,000 people who showed up in Ottawa last May for the ‘March for Life’ there was no reporting in the media.
Here’s to Bound 4 Life Kelowna and to their respective media outlets like this one.
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This was a great event to be a part of. Many churches, groups and community members standing in silence with thoughts and prayers turned towards the desire that life be chosen in our city.
I believe this was actually the second event from the bound 4 life team. There will be many more to come and it would be great to see even more young people and community members stand and help this time of prayer grow.
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Well done! Sometimes silence can scream. Keep praying :)
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Why is it that some people cling to the past without getting the message, the world has moved on? At least they
are not engaged in bully activity like some. I have some
respect for that, but I think these people could do something else more productive, as the law is not going to
change anytime soon
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May the Siege grow to where thousands of Kelowna Chirstians come out and create a silent sea of red tape praying for an end to abortion.
Way to go organizers!
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Great to see so many people out in support. We will overcome! Blessings on all those who were there in body or spirit, Bound for Life and all pro-life activists.
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Well, at least they had the good sense to keep their mouths taped shut. Silent and ignorant is much more palatable.
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Way to go Bound 4 Life! I am so proud to be a part of this group and what we are standing for. Standing up for those that do not have a voice (in peace, in prayer and in love) is truly what Christianity is.
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I am a woman in my late 20’s and I’m so grateful for the right to choose. Choice…it’s such a comforting thought sometimes. I think that protests/displays of this nature are innapropriate and misguided. We should want to live in a world where we support one another and accept one another. I feel very frustrated when religious groups condemn people for their choices and their way of living. Instead of tearing each other apart, should we not help each other out? Who is this helping? I am raising my son to accept all peoples regardless of race, gender, age, sexual orientation and yes…pro life or pro choice. My son will know love and what it means to be kind, respectful and non-judgmental. Thank goodness, people can go to a medical facility and know that they are receiving support and care during a most difficult decision. In my opinion, these protesters are doing more harm than good….and that is the key problem with religion today. Just my opinion.
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Standing there was so humbling. I love being a part of a movement where I can stand for something that I believe in and not have to be agressive. I have so much compassion for women who are contemplating and have been through a crisis sitution and it is so empowering to stand there in silence intrerceeding on behalf of those who have no voice but are screaming for life.
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Great Article
I love how so many different people can come together and stand and pray for life, mercy, and justice and appeal to someone much higher
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Good thing these psychos were close to the hospital . . . easy to get psychaitric help that wey.
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way
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As a post abortion woman, I stood up for life in this “wall” feeling no shame.
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Hmmm…Perhaps it is time for some Right to Choice protests to be mobilized? Something to remind these protesters that we live in Canada, which thankfully is a democratic nation that supports a woman’s right to choose!
Abortion is a decision that no woman takes lightly. Having a crowd of people judging them is, in my opinion, not a very “Christian” thing to do.
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I am totally for a woman’s right to choose. She should choose to have sex responsibly or better yet, choose abstinence until marriage. But if she does choose to have sex then he and she should choose to use contraception. So that they don’t conceive another human being. She should choose to educate herself about why God created sex. She and he should choose to take responsibility for their actions and not choose to kill another human being if she does get pregnant. If she conceives then she should only have one choice. Do not take the life of her baby but rather her child the chance to live. This is why I choose to join the ranks of these noble young people this morning.
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Unfortunately, people cannot go to a medical facility and know that they are receiving support and care during a difficult decision. It saddens me that this issue is something taken far too lightly especially by doctors and nurses, leaving many women dealing with the horrible after effects.
This is not a movement to tear people apart, and not a religious protest group who is condemning women for choosing abortion. I think it is so powerful to see young women leading this movement. I felt so humbled by this and having walked by seeing no judgement or condemnation in the eyes and hearts of these young people.
This is a very powerful movement in that it is not a protest, but a silent cry for a change of heart on this issue. A baby has a right to live, and thank God there are people who are willing to stand up for the rights of the ones who have no voice.
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I just have to feel sorry for these pro abortion people whenever I hear their tired old arguments. History will look back upon them with the same distate we now look back upon those who argued for legalized slavery. Both completely bought into the lie that a certain group of human beings can be “non-persons.” So tragic.
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Wow Brandon, FreddyK, Valene and Tammy…u should all be so ashamed of yourselves!
This is an amazing voice for those little unborn children who otherwise do not have a voice…they are a living human being with a heartbeat!
The past is the past, we cannot change that, but we need to stand up in this generation for these kids. ABORTION IS MURDER!!! I don’t care how u look at it, it is MURDER..
I pray for these doctors and nurses who perform these….that they would give their life to our Lord Jesus Christ. God will forgive them.
But as for now…Rock on Bound for Life! what a great group..this wall..wow..soldiers fighting for these babies…God would be so pleased…u will all be blessed who did this!
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to all the Pro Choice peopleyou made a choice you dropped your drawers and perfomed the act to bear children then want to take it back when its an inconvenience. the father of that child gets no choice she can kill his child and there is nothing he can do about it. if you want to choose keep your pants on period.
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I was one of those people standing there today.
We were not protesting, we were praying. I was praying that people wouldn’t get hurt by the decisions they make. Life is so precious.
I know I can’t exactly change the world, but I can be a part of it.
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Oh, and Valene… Freedom to choose. I choose to pray, if that’s alright.
I will be praying for you.
I do believe being a Christian is about living life for Christ, and we should do our best to live as He did- Even if we make mistakes, He is always forgiving. Part of living life like Christ is treating others as He would have.
So if I knew someone who were to get an abortion, I would love them just the same.
And the prostitutes? I love them. Even that guy on the street addicted to drugs. I love them, because I know Christ loved them enough to die for them, and even me.
Those people who ‘condemn’ others and their way of living, I hope they learn the love of Christ.
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Way to go Bound 4 Life! To answer a couple of the comments above….
It’s not judging the women who has made the choice to have the abortion but giving the child in that women a voice! This child too has a right to choose and who, I ask, would choose to die before they are even born? Life is precious and very valuable and I believe no matter the circumstances there is a purpose for every one under the sun. My belief :)
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Pro-choice is no choice and no voice for the very young women in the womb. If these babies had a voice I’m sure they would scream “life”.
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I agree with Jenn and I would stand up for pro choice. I would stand up for women who make the most difficult choice. I would stand up for acceptance and love and respect and all those values that I’m teaching my child.
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Hey. Just wanted to say to all the people who are getting all riled up about this, and saying that people are judging them, that this event is NOT about Judging people. It’s about praying for them not to be scarred for life if they have had/ will have an abortion, It’s about praying for them, and Supporting them, no matter their choice. I was there, and there was no judgement People get so upset when stuff like this happens, but the point of it is not to judge. seriously. before people get all up in arms about ” those Christians, and their judgement” maybe you might want to read the Bible first. It’s all about LOVE.
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I was so glad to be a part of this movement yesterday. I, for one, was praying for the mothers who are carrying a child (even the ones who were conceived in rape) for their hearts and the knowledge of their choices. Life is such a tender thing and there is so much support that is a needed for people who are facing these choices and they dont necessarily have “great families” who will love them and stand by them no matter what. God’s love is so big and I was standing for a movement of God’s love to be shown!
I will be looking forward to future events, I hope the community will actually take time to realize what it is we’re doing and praying for and not just assume this is another “judgmental Christian” organization.
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Greg said:
“I am totally for a woman’s right to choose. She should choose to have sex responsibly or better yet, choose abstinence until marriage. But if she does choose to have sex then he and she should choose to use contraception. So that they don’t conceive another human being. She should choose to educate herself about why God created sex. She and he should choose to take responsibility for their actions and not choose to kill another human being if she does get pregnant. If she conceives then she should only have one choice.”
So…does anybody else detect just a smidge of judgement in Greg’s comment? In many of the comments people say they are not “judging” these women but instead “praying” for them – However I bet if you talked to these women they would say they feel more negativity and intimidation directed at them by these events than warmth and compassion.
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This is incredible. To get so many people out and praying for something – think about how strong the movement must really be.
For all you pro-choicers out there, maybe you should check out some of the stats on abortions and the… ahem… harm that it does to the women who are making that “choice”. Since, in Canada, doctors are not obligated to tell them most of the risks, let’s discuss how much of a “choice” they really have.
GREAT job Bound For Life! Keep up the amazing work! The nation is noticing!
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I am a Christian woman who had an abortion and stood forgiven, and cleansed by the blood of Jesus from my guilt and shame. I pray for women who face an unwanted pregancy that they seek support and to look at their unborn as a person who has a right to life. Abortion is a callous medical legal term to describe murder, a taking of innocent life who has no voice. I pray the Lord would change hearts of people to feel what He feels for His precious ones. Let’s continue to stand for justice, truth and mercy.
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Better yet, why don’t we instead focus our energy on preventative solutions? More funding and volunteering for social programs so that a woman doesn’t even have to consider “making the choice”
Obviously there will be cases that cannot be prevented, but for those that may have been, I think everyone’s efforts would be better spent supporting and empowering these women early on…
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Studies indicate that abortion rates are mainly independent of legality. Abortions continue to happen, and at about the same rate, even when access to safe medical procedures are prevented.
So in light of that, the humane and human action is to ensure that if abortions are happening, that they happen as safely as possible.
Only sick-minded people would prefer to see abortion made illegal, as the inevitable consequence of that is greatly increased harm to women.
Everyone is essentially pro-life: no sane person wants more abortions to occur. The difference is between people who are pro-choice, because it logically reduces the amount of overall harm caused; and people who are anti-access, because they foolishly believe the removing access to safer medical procedures is somehow going to reduce the demand for abortion.
Out there praying that abortion-seekers come out of it all okay: that’s cool. Out there praying that abortion is made illegal: that’s either out of malicious desire to harm women, or out of ignorance.
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What a waste of time, in my opinion. However, the same laws that give me the right to voice my opinion freely, lets them freely voice theirs, no matter how uneducated and judgmental they may be. So, good for them for standing up for their opinions (or their pastor’s).
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Mickayla, hopefully you are never faced with this choice due to conceiving through rape. You’d see how little your prayers do to help women through that situation.
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you think you’ll wear the world down with your insistence in believing in a reality ungrounded in evidence?
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I am in amazement at people and their judgements that they so easliy make about women who seek abortions and the health care professionals that provide this service.
People fail to forget what happenned prior to the legalisation of abortion services…women often died due to “dirty” abortions or become so unwell due to infections that it left them infertile. Many older gynaecologists can tell you horrific stories about these women and how they had to attempt to save their lives.
The reason this service is legalised now is to PREVENT “dirty” abortions from EVER occurring again. The women who seek these services DO NOT take this decison lightly. The health care professionals who provide this service do this in order to prevent the past from ever occurring again and provide SAFE care.
Many speak about the women who are left to deal with the aftermath of the abortion on their own…where are all you when a single mom on welfare is in need a support – you are just as quick to judge that single mom that choose NOT to have an abortion as the one that did.
I think many of you need a REALITY check and need to walk in these people’s shoes before passing judgement.
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Who sees the irony in this?
If I were a betting woman, I would put money on the fact that most of the people taking part in this “prayer siege” consider themselves “conservative,” politically speaking. And of course, conservative political parties and governments (like our own) like to cut programs that help low-income people support children, etc. In fact, our government axed plans for a nationally funded daycare program, and replaced it with the Universal Child Tax benefit, to the tune of $100/month (that is taxable) . . . while daycare costs upwards of $650/month here in Kelowna.
Ask yourselves why you support banning abortion, but you don’t support spending money on programs that might convince a woman to keep a child she other-wise couldn’t afford to keep.
We live in a country where the system punishes women, and men get a free ride. How many dead-beat dads are out there, not paying child support? What happens to them? How long does it take the average mother to collect “back” child support?
While I know in my heart I could never abort a fetus, I don’t want to judge the women that make that choice. I would rather spend my time fighting for social programs to help low-income families, working to change laws that punish men who don’t pay child support, working to educate young people so they make the choice not to have sex until they can be responsible for a child…or if they do have sex, use protection and contraception.
Prayer is a powerful thing, but keep it in your home and your church. Don’t use it as an intimidation technique.
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Kathy says:”I’m sure they would scream “life”.
Would they? If fetuses were aware of, well, anything would they choose to be raised by people who are presumably smart enough to know they aren’t in a position to care for them the way they deserve?
Better yet, would the people in this rally come forward pool their funds and help raise the child, should it be born?
Or, would they cast judgment on it and the mother if the child grows up to be poor, socially maladjusted or worse yet a criminal?
If there are medical issues from alcohol or drug abuse, would they be there to help relieve the burden from the health care or education system?
If the child is a product of sexual assault, should the mother be forced to face that?
This is not an ideal world, and abortion is not an ideal solution to these issues — but it’s a choice that needs to be made available. Clearly life is very simple for those who are doing all this praying. Lucky them.
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Wow, I am so proud of each person who was there standing for life! It is time for a generation to stand for righteous and justice. This is about life and death… not “choice”
I would like to know if people realize tha Canada has NO Laws on this issue, it is legal for an abortion to take place even up to 9 months. We are one of only 4 nations in the world who has no laws.
So, I ask thoes who believe that a woman should have a choice in taking a life of a 9 month old… Do you think Canada needs laws on this? How can a person say that anyone has a right to do this?
Can we agree that laws need to be made?
Can we agree that unless we stand up for life, we will have the next generation of survivors rise up and ask us, ‘Why did you let this happen”
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God Bless you all!
Way to go Bound4Life!
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As a person who has seen the miracle of families created through ADOPTION, I congratulate Bound4Life on their stand for the unborn. There are so many couples who desperately long for a child they cannot conceive on their own. ADOPTION is a courageous choice! I’ve known women who have chosen abortion and those who have chosen ADOPTION. By far, the women who have chosen ADOPTION are so much happier with their choice. Abortion compounds a woman’s pain. ADOPTION gives the precious gift of life to another family. I have so much love and respect for those who have chosen this option.
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Tammy- “Ask yourselves why you support banning abortion, but you don’t support spending money on programs that might convince a woman to keep a child she other-wise couldn’t afford to keep.”
We most definitely support spending money on programs like this!!!!! In fact, many of us young women who are leading this movement are involved and strategizing ways that we can do just this. And involved in many things outside of this movement. The issue is not condemning women for making a difficult choice, and it is certainly NOT what this movement is about. It is about prayer for ALL OF THIS. Once conceived, that human has a right to live, and we are all praying for the circumstances of the mother who is in that crisis.
Saying we are “uneducated” and “judgemental” are shallow arguments that are completely untrue
Rape and Incest are UNDER 1-2 percent in reasons why women choose to abort their babies. Of course I would rather see abortions being done safely, but that does not mean I want to see them done. Prayer is a powerful thing, and what’s more powerful is that this movement is being led by young women. Some who have been through this crisis situation themselves. It doesn’t matter that we’re going against all of society to see lives being saved. We are going to hear every argument out there, but we’re not standing out there to argue. We’re standing out there to pray, and take a stand that we believe those unborn babies are human beings with a voice, and a right to live.
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Valene,I am glad you choose to give your child the chance to live. And I agree that it is wrong to tear eachother apart. As you may of read that it is legal to abort a child in the womb up to the day before its birth. Think about it, is that not tearing apart a human being. Teach your son to respect this fully developed childs chance for life.
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When every single one of you coughs up the $300,000 it takes to raise a child and hands it to the woman who is about to get an abortion because she can’t afford to raise a child, then and only then, will I take you seriously. Actions speak louder than words, I guess that’s why you were silent. :P
And don’t even suggest adoption, my husband was adopted by a “nice christian family” and lives with the post traumatic stress from the horrible abuse he suffered at the hands of his well-off christian adoptive father.
This to me screams a group of young people who protest things they know nothing of and are brainwashed to believe.
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Robbin, my unwillingness or inability to give you $300,000 in no way gives you the right to kill your child.
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“ROCK ON BOUND FOR LIFE” VERY POWERFUL AND SACRET….HOPE TO BE THERE FOR THE NEXT ONE!!!
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defenderofthevoiceless: Fortunately I and any other woman has the right to have an abortion no matter what you have to say about it or how many prayers you mumble. Again, actions speak louder than words, instead of standing on corners with signs, why don’t you spend the same amount of time actually caring about the woman who you protest against, might do you and society more good.
Please continue discussion on the forum: link