High School Oratory Contest showcases the pro life generation

One of my favorite events is the Right to Life Oratory Contest. Students in grades 9-12 write, research and deliver a 5-7 minute speech on one of the life issues. I chaired the one in Robertson County and each year I say they can't get any better than this, but each year they do.

Seventeen contestants competed in my contest and the winner was 10th grade homeschooled Olivia Malham of Cross Plains, TN. She went on to compete at the state contest in Nashville and won second place.



Susan Allen (L) presents Olivia Malham with award for first place in Robertson County

Samantha Seger (L)  from Putnam County won state..pictured with Frances Arthur state coordinator.

Oratory Contest for high school students....

TN: Winner from NE TN represents state at national contest...wants to change the world.

Johnson City Teen Wins Pro-Life Speech Contest, Wants to Change the World

Melissa Temple NASHVILLE--16 year old Melissa Temple is passionately pro-life and not afraid to speak up for her convictions.  "I want other teens to know that one person can make a difference and that one voice can change the world," Temple says.  On Saturday her enthusiasm and speaking skills combined to make the Johnson City teen winner of the 13th annual Tennessee Right to Life Oratory Contest for High School Students, one of the largest such competitions in the nation.  "I've always been pro-life for as long as I can remember," says Temple who was born and lived in Cape Town, South Africa before moving with her family to Johnson City. "In 9th grade I became passionate about the cause of life after studying the issue and learning more about the humanity of the unborn," she said.  Temple then entered the local Right to Life speech contest in Northeast Tennessee and went on to win the state finals in both 2011 and 2012.  Due to age restrictions, this is the first year for Temple to represent Tennessee at the national finals to be held in Washington, D.C. later in June. "Once my interest was piqued there was no stopping me," a joyful Temple explained.  "After my first participation in 2010 I was more determined than ever to come back." The oldest child of David and Susan Temple, Melissa has four younger siblings, is home-schooled, and attends Heritage Baptist Church in Johnson City.  Other winners of the state contest include Benjamin Borck of Lebanon, Joshua Jackson of Nashville, and Abigail Kouns of Knoxville, all of whom received cash prizes from Tennessee Right to Life and financial scholarships from Aquinas College in Nashville, a lead sponsor and host for the annual competition. "It is a joy to host this competition each year," said Sister Elizabeth Anne, VP of Academic Affairs for Aquinas. "Hearing these students gives me hope that there is still good left in our youth...and the future of the pro-life movement looks bright!"   Melissa Temple, Benjamin Borck, Joshua Jackson, Abigail Kouns Late last month, the Tennessee State House officially recognized the Tennessee Right to Life student contest with passage of HJR 1133, an honorary resolution commending the more than 1,000 students who have participated since 2000.  "One of the most important things we can do as pro-life legislators is to encourage our young people to stand for life," said state Rep. Kevin Brooks of Cleveland, Tennessee.  "I am very proud to have brought this resolution forward in support of Tennessee's pro-life movement and, especially, our pro-life youth," Brooks said.

TN: Sign saves baby's life...victim of past forced abortion celebrates this save....

This weekend I helped with the TN state oratory contest as a room moderator. I always enjoy listening to the teens original speeches on the life issue. Another volunteer in attendance was  Judy Charest. I have heard her testimony many times but each time I hear something else that stands out.  

Judy's heartbreaking testimony is of being forced as a 16 year old in 1972  to under a late  salt saline solution abortion by her step father is very moving .  She describes that her life following the forced abortion spiraled out of control and was self destructive in many ways. After years of therapy she wanted to do something to honor  the life of the son  she lost on that fateful day.  Read her  amazing  story here.


Never active in pro life  matters previously she found TN Right to Life by surfing the Internet and emailed a question that ended up being answered by the president of TN RTL. This led to a meeting and subsequent discussions and the end resulted in a plan of action for her to become involved...in a public way that could honor the brief life of her son she named David and  give him a voice.

She decided to lobby with TN RTL for a bill mandating  every abortion facility post a sign  in the waiting area  advising that it was illegal in TN for  anyone,  regardless of age,  to be forced to have an abortion against her will. This has always been the law but women and girls are not informed of this since informed consent is not a law in TN. Post abortive women have stated  they have been forced to make an abortion decision by their boyfriends, parents or husbands.  The abortion industry fought against this simple act of informing women of their rights  showing how prevalent it is and potentially cuts into their profits.

It certainly was a bold step to share what had been a family secret before legislators and committee members but with each step Judy became bolder and stronger. The bill became law in  2010.  Judy became vigilant in walking into abortion mills to see if the sign was properly displayed. One such facility under observation was the Women's Center in Nashville that is located just three doors down from a pregnancy resource center.   So what good does one sign do??

Just last week a young girl was brought to the Women's Center to have an abortion against her will by her mother. She thought she had no rights as a minor but saw the sign informing her of her rights under the law. She got up and ran out of the center to speak the the people praying outside. She wanted help and they directed her to the pregnancy resource center up the street. There she was able to receive and see a free ultrasound  of her baby boy. She was also able to find out about resources available to her in choosing life for her baby. 


Judy had the honor of reporting that this one sign resulted in giving this baby boy  a voice.....and through him  her son's  voice will be heard.

TN: Robertson County Right to Life Oratory Contest Winners

Robertson County Right to Life president, Susan Allen, announces that the winners of the Robertson County Right to Life Oratory Contest.

RCRTL Oratory contest winners
From Left to Right: Senator Kerry Roberts, Austin Plymill, 3rd place, Caleb Hardin, 2nd place and Tori Johnstone 1st place, Susan Allen President of Robertson County Right to Life. Ms. Johnstone is in the 10th grade at Christian Community High School in White House. She will represent the county at the state contest in Nashville on April 30th. Congratulations to all contestants.

Celebrating in TN: Clay Smith wins National Right to Life Oratory Contest

 Clay Smith of TN won first place in the National Right to Life Oratory contest held this past weekend in Pittsburgh. Clay lives in Nashville and graduated this year from David Lipscomb High School. He plans to attend Harding University in Searcy, AR next year.

His speech on abortion summed it up with “America’s view of abortion defies common sense”. I did hear him deliver his speech at the state contest on May 1st when our historic storm and flood was being waged outside the building. We actually had to interrupt the contest to take shelter for a period of time. Clay went on to deliver his speech with maturity and conviction despite the obstacles presented by the weather.  

Our youth are pro life because they can see what some of their elders fail to see.....America's view of abortion defies common sense.....be encouraged by our youth!

Congratulations to Clay and the other winners...

1^st – Clay Smith -TN

2^nd – Alexa Sleadd – Oregon

3^rd – Beth Maisane – Texas

4^th – Trisha Herbert - Kansas

TN winner to National Right to Life Oratory contest in Pittsburgh...in June

And the winners are: L-R

1st – Clay Smith, Maury County

2nd – Margaret Cody, Overton County

3rd – Nancy Wehby, Davidson County/Nashville

4th – Kayla Huddleston, Wilson County

Clay Smith will travel to the National Contest in June to Pittsburgh to represent TN. Congratulations to all!

TN youth are strongly pro life...high school contestants at state oratory contest in Nashville

You can't help but be impressed by them. These high school students researched, wrote and delivered a 7 minute speech on one of the sanctity of human life issues. THEY GET IT!THEY REALIZE A THIRD OF THEIR GENERATION IS MISSING!  They will be the generation to fix what my generation messed up

.

Speech from Casey Rogers....pro life orator in TN...pictures of Kinsley used with permission

 Top picture at 9 weeks and 4 days...Kinsley is waving..bottom picture taken during her 30 minutes of life.

Speech by high school student Casey Rogers.....Claiborne county, TN

 When the life of the unborn are snuffed out, they often feel pain.  Pain that is long, and agonizing."  President Ronald Reagen's statement is as true today as it was in January of 1984.  While this president spoke against abortion, our current president,  Barrack Obama, voted three times against the "Born alive protection act", which would have forced hospitals to protect the lives of babies who survived an abortion.  (Rather than leaving them in a sink or on a shelf to die, as has been done on many occasions) 

Picture in your mind, if you will, this scenario; A baby is rushed into the ER, suffering, fighting for her every breath. She cries out in torment from the amount of pain she endures. Her body is horribly burned. Docters and Nurses fight to keep her alive, to comfort her, but in the end, she doesn't make it through. Her parents are charged with child abuse for this horrific act.

A second baby, also suffering, charred, Black with horrific burns that mar his small, fragile body. No Docters or nurses rush to help this baby, but leave him alone, in a sink, to suffer for long, agonizing moments before he dies. No mother is charged, nor prosecuted, for this child is a victim of saline abortion, Which is a "legal" form of murder.

All across our nation, many babies are daily denied the right to life by such disturbing means. Babies are a gift of life. I would now like to introduce you to Kinsley.  Kinsley was born  on  July 12, 2009  to proud parents Bubba and Rachel.  She was born weighing 3 pounds and 9 ounces and was 16 inches long.  When Kinsley was 16 weeks gestation, it was discovered that all her major organs, including her brain,  were literally on the outside of her body.  Doctors told Rachael and Bubba that they should abort the baby, which was already known to be a baby girl.  They refused to take their precious daughter's life! The doctors fully well expected her not to live through the course of a pregnancy and were almost certain, her birth would be a stillbirth should she make it that far.  Imagine their surprise and her parents joy when little Kinsley was born,breathing, and lived for 30 minutes after her birth.

 Her family held her, touched her tiny hands and feet, kissed her little body, and spoke softly to her for those precious 30 minutes of life.  Ultrasounds show  her little organs, protruding on the outside of her body.  You can see her little hands and feet, perfectly formed.  You can even identify at 16 weeks the fact that she is a little girl.  She was a life that was miraculous.  Many people ask, "why did they go ahead with her birth?"  "Why would they take that risk?"  They did it because, even though there was a very slim chance of her living a full and productive life as we know it, they knew she deserved a chance to live for however long God chose to leave her with them.   They believed in the sanctity of the life that was given to them by God in the womb.  They believed she was "Fearfully and wonderfully made" and that God knew her in her mother's womb.  They gave her a chance to live. She gave them the strength and love needed to continue on in their lives, awaiting the future blessings and opportunity to have more children.  Every child, from the womb to the world, deserves a chance to live.  Having an abortion would have robbed little Kinsley of ever knowing or feeling the love of her parents.

When a person chooses to have an abortion, they are only thinking of themselves.  Selfish motives are the only thing they are thinking about.  Perhaps they were thinking about keeping this child, but then second guessed themselves, thinking, " Hey, I have a life to live and this child will only ruin the plans for my future."  Maybe this is even you!  Don't  lie to yourself!  This child has a life too, or will if it is not taken away from him.  You have heard a tremendous, victorious story today, and it proves how precious a life is, even if it is shortened by some life threatening prognosis. 

 Imagine if you will, the cry of the unborn before  someone chose to snuff it out.  Envision his face in your minds eye, before the doctor swept him out of the room.  Whatever you see and hear in your minds eye, please don't let it slip away!  Help us put an end to the murderous act that takes the lives of so many children daily.  Speak out and be the voice for the unborn.  Give them a chance at  what has been taken away from so many others. Every child deserves a chance at life,  Kinsley would agree, I am sure.