I Spoke to A Youth Group of Teenagers About My Abortion. I Was Amazed by Their Response

[Kathy Gonzales is a Regional Coordinator with the Silent No More Awareness Campaign. Kathy recently had the opportunity to share with high school students about her abortion at age 20. I was curious how her message was received by the youth and Kathy agreed to share about her experience. – Kevin Burke]

Kathy: Valerie Jacobs from Rachel’s Vineyard Seattle asked me to talk to a religious education youth group…8th to 12th graders. I prayed about the event and asked for guidance. The Lord told me to revisit where I was as an 8th grader and share with the students the path that led me to my abortion at age twenty.

Reflecting back on that time, I wanted to share with the youth that in many cases the abortion doesn’t occur as an isolated event in someone’s life. My story reveals that the path to abortion at age 20 began years earlier.
One sin led to another sin. Others, a relative or friend for example, can play an important role in opening the door to darkness in our lives.

So, I shared with the teenagers about my childhood abuse, drugs, alcohol, premarital sex, involvement in the occult. I hope the talk opens up an opportunity for the teachers to revisit some of these issues that can open the door to sin and to life changing events like unplanned pregnancy and abortion.
Most, importantly, I shared how God revealed his great love and mercy in my healing experience in Rachel’s Vineyard.

According to one of the parents I spoke with after my talk, he claimed it was the first night that they didn’t have to discipline the kids for being noisy and off track, or worse…lethargic and bored.

One girl came up afterwards and she hugged me for the longest time and kept thanking me for talking to them. I would say that of all the talks I have given this one struck me as the most meaningful, and I am thankful for the opportunity.

I concluded the evening by passing out fifty fetal models (at ten weeks gestation.) The models I believe help bring what can be very abstract in the minds of many people, particularly teens, to something tangible and real. I encouraged the students to keep the model as a reminder to pray for babies in danger of abortion.

I am continually amazed at how God so loves me…loves all of us. I pray that others will consider inviting a regional representative of the Silent No More Awareness Campaign for the youth and young adults in their community.

[Speakers are available from the Silent No More Awareness Campaign to share their abortion testimony at your high school, youth group or college. You can contact us at mail@silentnomore.com for more information.]

God Bless
Kathy Gonzales – RC Silent No More