Colorado

Determined To Save The Soul Of The Nation
 Across the country, groundswells of Personhood efforts have already altered the focus of the pro-life movement, and over the President’s Day weekend, those efforts were realized. 
In two key states, we gathered enough signatures to put “Personhood” on the ballot. This Personhood Movement and the initiatives it has produced have only one goal: To restore God given dignity to every human person.
I had the honor of attending victory rallies for Personhood in both Mississippi and Colorado. The fervent energy that burns in the hearts of the valiant advocates of Personhood was an encouragement that almost defies description!  Although the rallies were held over one thousand miles apart, both possessed the same purpose that can only be present when Christians band together and sacrifice their time, talent and energy for the love and protection of their neighbors.
Following the examples of heroes like Rosa Parks and William Wilberforce, Colorado volunteers collected nearly 80,000 signatures to place the “Personhood Amendment” on the ballot for a second consecutive election. And this historic achievement was the result of the sweat and labor of purely grassroots volunteers.  Just a few days later and with tears of joy, faithful volunteers delivered over 130,000 signatures to Mississippi’s Secretary of State, affirming the God-given right to life of all people.  The boxes of dog eared petitions were carried into the office of the Secretary of State by mothers, daughters, fathers and sons, and most notably Mississippi’s Lt. Governor, and front-running 2011 gubernatorial candidate Phil Bryant!
We cannot know the exact effects these amendments will bring. But it is certain here and now that we have won major victories.  Volunteers gathered over 200,000 signatures in two states. 2,500 churches opened their doors to the Personhood Movement.  We boldly proclaimed  to hundreds of thousands of people that all human life is sacred: asking and answering the provocative question:  “When should human rights begin?”. While these are all victories in their own right —and are undeniable evidence of the power of this movement — there remains a larger accomplishment that I believe will prove most indelible upon the soul of the nation.
That victory, (and I believe the most significant fruit of the Personhood Movement) is the determination now manifest in the hearts of the thousands of volunteers who are making Personhood a reality. I felt its power lift my spirit with the strength of a three-fold cord at the victory rallies. Recognizing themselves in the tiniest among us, these Christians are engaging the culture around them and selflessly giving of their time, talents and money to affirm the God-given right of Personhood for all children including the pre-born.
Undaunted by anti-personhood naysayers, these volunteers have committed their hearts, and their hands to turn back the perpetration of the most diabolical crime ever committed; a crime that includes the dehumanization and murder of an entire class of citizens. It is this determination, built upon the firm pillars of science, religion, and the common conscience of all humanity that will bring victory over the injustice of abortion. We are witnessing the emerging dominance of the most significant human rights movement of our lifetime because Christians are engaging the culture with Personhood. And the culture is responding!
I’m overwhelmed to think of the hundreds of thousands of people reached with the message of Personhood by this young and growing army of dedicated volunteers.  And with the increasing momentum of the Personhood argument comes ever more Personhood volunteers determined to communicate to millions the truth that every human is a person and should be protected by love and by law.  Such determination is the real victory. And while, like the future effects of the law establishing Personhood, its ultimate impact remains to be fully revealed, this victory has convinced me that dignity shall be restored to all humans.  Praise God!
Keith Mason
Co Founder – Personhood USA
Personhood USA is a grassroots, Christian organization founded to establish personhood efforts across America to create protection for every child by love and by law. Personhood USA is committed to assisting and supporting Personhood Legislation and Constitutional Amendments and building local pro-life organizations through raising awareness of the personhood of the pre-born.

Who: In Honor of The Warriors for Personhood and for the Glory of God and ALL of His Children

What: A Dinner, A Celebration, and Preparation for the Next Stage of the Campaign

When: This Saturday, February 20th at 6:30pm

Where: Maranatha Christian Center, 7180 Oak St. Arvada, CO 8004

Why: Because you and all your fellow laborers deserve it, and because this race is not not over yet!

Colorado Personhood Amendment Encounters Historical March for Life Success, Legal Setbacks

Contact: Keith Mason, Personhood USA, 202-595-3500 ext. 1

DENVER, Jan. 25 /Christian Newswire/ — Friday’s Colorado March for Life, presented by Colorado Right to Life, was the largest in recent history, with marchers at the State Capitol numbering nearly 1,500. The march was marked by an unprecedented number of teens, with young people making up the majority of participants.

‘Personhood’ was the theme, with each speaker highlighting the need to recognize Personhood rights for preborn babies from the moment of their biological beginning. The Personhood USA slogan “Persons Not Property” was displayed prominently, and chants of “Roe v. Wade has got to go!” resounded through the streets surrounding the March.

The March for Life began with a press conference featuring film and television star Eduardo Verastegui. “I am here to support the Personhood movement, and to ask everyone to sign the petition so we can pass this amendment,” declared Verastegui. “Coming from Mexico, I come from a different perspective where the personhood movement is a reality…I am very proud to tell you that in over half of the country, 17 states already, life is protected from the moment of conception to natural death. I would love to see that reality here in America.”

Speakers included Maria Lancaster, a mom who adopted her daughter Elisha as a frozen embryo, Rebecca Keissling, author of “Conceived in Rape: A Story of Hope”, and Pastor Jim Shaddix from Riverside Baptist Church.

Prominent figures included Denver Bishop James D. Conley, Senator Scott Renfroe, Senator Dave Schultheis, Senator Kevin Lundberg, State Representative Amy Stephens, State Representative B.J. Nikkel, State Representative Cory Gardner, Tom Lucero, currently running for Colorado’s 4th Congressional District, and Jimmy Lakey, currently running for Colorado’s 7th Congressional District.

“It was amazing to see such a sizeable crowd standing as a witness for pre-born babies. The West side of the Capitol was filled to overflowing!” remarked Gualberto Garcia-Jones, co-sponsor of the Colorado Personhood Amendment. “Volunteers returned hundreds of full petitions, and we passed out hundreds of blank petitions to both existing and new volunteers.”

Along with the large turnout and petition success came some negative news from the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office. The deadline date has changed from February 15th to February 12th, losing a critical weekend for the signature drive. “We are disappointed by this news, but not discouraged,” continued Garcia-Jones. “We will continue to work day and night to ensure we have the signatures needed to get on the ballot.”

Pastors Commit Sanctity of Life Sunday to Petitioning for Preborn Lives
Washington D.C., January 13, 2010 – Pastors across the nation have committed to using January 24 – traditionally Sanctity of Life Sunday – as an opportunity to put their faith in action and gather signatures for the Personhood movement.

“At First Baptist Jackson, we are thrilled to give our people the opportunity to sign a petition to put the Personhood Initiative on the ballot,” stated Pastor Stan Buckley, Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Jackson, Mississippi. “Abortion – the taking of innocent human life – is one of the most important issues facing our state and our nation. We encourage more Christians and more churches to get involved in the fight for life. Getting the Personhood initiative on the ballot is a huge step because we believe the people of Mississippi, if given the opportunity, will choose life!”

Petition drives in Colorado and Mississippi are getting close to having enough signatures to put personhood amendments on the ballot. “In every Personhood campaign, churches are the key,” explained Keith Mason, cofounder of Personhood USA. “This year, we are very excited that hundreds of churches around the country will be honoring the sanctity of life.”

“By default, we are called to protect human life with our God given rights and resources,” added Pastor Adam Briggs of Damascus Road Bible Fellowship in Indiana. “Let all pastors join together and publicly declare the personhood of all human beings!”

Currently Montana, Colorado, Mississippi, Florida and California are all gathering signatures to put personhood amendments on their state’s ballot. In these states pastors can celebrate Petition for Life Sunday by collecting signatures to protect every child by love and by law.

In other states, pastors can encourage their flocks to restore the dignity of every human person, by supporting or even leading the personhood efforts in their state. Over 40 states are working towards Personhood for all human beings.

More information about Petition for Life Sunday is available at www.PersonhoodUSA.com.

“We will win the battle and restore dignity to every human person in America! Let’s use the coming sanctity of life Sunday to protect children not just in word, but also in deed by affirming their personhood rights in our law and by love,” concluded Mason.

Personhood USA is a grassroots Christian organization founded to establish personhood efforts across America to create protection for every child by love and by law. Personhood USA is committed to assisting and supporting Personhood Legislation and Constitutional Amendments and building local pro-life organizations through raising awareness of the personhood of the pre-born.