Pro-Life Church Members March on Ottawa

For 60 people from Chatham, Ontario, taking their views to the streets of Ottawa meant covering a lot of road first—about eight hours’ worth.

The group, many of whom were from Christian Reformed churches in Chatham and surrounding towns, packed a bus and two vans and left at midnight to travel to Canada’s capital last Thursday for the annual pro-life rally that takes place on Parliament Hill. Then they boarded their vehicles again for the long trip home.

CRC members were among more than 10,000 people at a pro-life rally in Canada’s capital.

Brandy Robertson Young

Jeff Bultje, a member of Grace CRC in Chatham, was one of the organizers of the bus trip from Chatham. Asked why he participates and encourages others to, he responded, “To create a law for unborn children and to give them status. A child in the womb has no status—they’re not considered a person.”

Kaitlyn Bos, 13, agreed: “It’s neat to see so many people fighting for the same cause.” Ryan McNamara, 16, added, “I think it’s a very important issue . . . and if I can do something about it, I thought this is a great opportunity.”

This is the second year the Chatham-area churches have sent a bus to the event. “We’ve tried other years,” said Bultje, “but couldn’t get enough people.”

While he’s encouraged by the rising numbers of participants—both locally and at the event as a whole—Bultje said he hopes more Christians will take up the challenge of seeking rights for the unborn. “If Christians don’t get involved, politicians don’t get involved. Churches have not stood up and proclaimed this as an issue.”

Canada has been without an abortion law of any kind since 1988.

According to local media reports, this year’s rally drew more than 10,000 people.