HUMBLE SERVANTS, MARVELOUS WORK

By Jacki Ragan
NRLC Director of State Development

I recently had the opportunity to attend a NRLC state affiliate's "Chapter Appreciation Luncheon." What I witnessed took place in one southern state, but the lessons in encouragement, humility, and faithfulness I took away could have been gleaned anywhere in our great nation, from Maine to Florida, from Virginia to California.

This luncheon is an annual event bringing together all the chapters throughout this state. It is the state affiliate's opportunity to try to show its appreciation for the local groups and to demonstrate to them how instrumental they are.

The morning started out with a pouring rain. Adding to the less-than-auspicious start, people from many of the chapters had to drive for several hours to get there. Not to worry - - these are dedicated women and men, many with decades of service behind them.

Once they arrived, they found a bonanza of material - - table after table running over with resources for the chapters to take back home, all provided by a grateful state office.

The program began with each local chapter giving a brief overview of what it had done in the past year, what it planned to do in the coming year, and how, in general, the chapter was faring.

Several of the chapter leaders started by insisting that because their chapter was new, it really hadn't "done very much" yet. A few other chapter leaders began their presentations by saying it was increasingly difficult to get people to attend meetings and get the projects done.

Talk about understatement on the one hand, and modesty on the other! The same people (who tended to be new) who insisted they hadn't "done very much," went on to describe a list of projects that included all the things, and more, that a chapter should be involved in.

And those who talked about sparse attendance (who tended to be veterans) then rattled off an equally impressive list of accomplishments. Clearly, both sets of people had severely underestimated the magnitude of what they were doing to further the cause of unborn babies.

Indeed, as I sat in the room and listened to chapter after chapter give an update on their communities, I couldn't help but feel completely overwhelmed and humbled. Here was a group of people who stays very busy keeping the right to life movement alive and growing within their communities talking as if what they were doing was a meer pittance.

These pro-life champions were so dedicated they simply couldn't understand that they were faced with the same problems ALL volunteer organizations face. The difference was they didn't give themselves credit for having overcome those hurdles.

As I listened to their problems, I took pride in how creative were their solutions. As I listened to their victories, I could see the satisfaction in their faces for the work they are doing on behalf of God's innocent babies.

I watched and listened as the chapter leaders watched and listened to other chapter leaders to get fresh ideas and new approaches which they would adapt to their own communities.

When the chapter presentations were complete, a delicious (and donated!) lunch was served. During the meal, this state's executive director provided both encouragement and congratulations on the successes the chapters are having, and guidance and information on the projects that the state organization would be promoting in the months to come.

She [like the majority of pro-life leaders and volunteers, it was a woman] provided a handout that discussed the expectations and responsibilities of each chapter and, in return, what those chapters could/should expect from the state organization.

Without mincing words, she asked candidly if the state organization was meeting their needs and expectations - - and then gave them an opportunity to speak frankly about their needs.

I've been in the pro-life movement since the 1970s. This gathering was one of the most motivating and encouraging meetings that I've ever had the pleasure to attend.

As I listened to the chapters discuss their ups and their downs, I felt so greatly encouraged. Why? Because the Movement is not the national office in Washington, D.C., but the hundreds of thousands of people found in the 50 states. Here in communities just like yours is where the impetus will come that will result in the return of legal protection to unborn babies.

The very foundation of our Movement is the grassroots chapters and activists that keep us all going. It is their work - - typified by the dialogue at this "Chapter Appreciation Luncheon" - - that literally keep us alive and growing.

And because our Movement is alive and growing we know our cause will prevail. Thank you!