"I think the youth of America are tired of what's going on in this country.  The new pro-life kids realize they're the ones who could have been aborted.  They're the surviving generation," said Bryan Kemper, founder of Rock for Life.  The organization, which he began in the early 1990s in California and then moved to Portland, Ore., recently became a division of the American Life League (ALL) in Stafford, Virginia.

"The value of their life meant nothing within the womb and it won't when they're senior citizens," Kemper said, referring to the contemporary culture of death.  "It's up to us to change that, not the government, or the politicians or the media."

Rock for Life organizes and promotes pro-life bands, concerts and recordings and provides pro-life evangelization and education.  During concerts, affiliated bands preach pro-life beliefs from the stage between sets of music.  There are nearly three dozen chapters in the Untied States and Canada.  The goal is to have at least one chapter in all 50 states.  Local branches include Baltimore, Washington D.C., Manassas, Richmond, Stafford and a few in Pennsylvania.  There has also been some interest in starting some chapters in England, Kemper said.

"There's a strong spiritual battle going on in this country," he said, adding that today's youth, fortified with strong Biblical standards, have rallied to the pro-life cause.

"We're building an Esther generation," he said, speaking of the Jewish heroine in the Old Testament who challenged the king of Persia to save the lives of her people.  "Her courage is a reminder of what we need to win."

His colleague, Rock for Life's Assistant Director Eric Whittington, agreed.  During a recent phone interview from Portland, where he was recording with co-band members of Tragedy Ann, he spoke of the pro-life wave among youth.

"A few go out because of their conscience, and the more that get involved, the more that come behind them.  It's like the effect of a snowball rolling down the mountain," he said.  "We'd like to see the young people register to vote, especially to support the 'Choose Life' (Virginia) license plate.  It's disheartening to see that the pro-choice stance, which is so popular and deceiving, has a foothold on the culture."  He mentioned organizations such as Rock for Choice and Voters for Choice, saying that his group is working to "neutralize them through righteousness."

Rock for Life boycotts unchaste or pro-choice promotions in the media or music.  A list of bands, who have performed for the pro-abortion cause, is available on their web site.

Whittington began promoting the pro-life cause through the Christian rock music scene in the fall of 1994.

"If you're a serious musician, at 80 hours a week, you don't have time to pray at a (abortion) clinic or do any sort of street outreach," he said.  "I see Rock for Life as an avenue."

When Kemper and Whittington joined forces in Portland several years ago, they devoted themselves wholeheartedly to their ministry.  Both are non-denominational Christians.

"We were putting our whole lives into it, sleeping in and working out of a friend's basement," Whittington said.  As "pro-life missionaries," they spent "only a few hundred dollars a month for basic expenses."

"I felt God leading me to pro-life," he said. "I left all that music to do this and God has blessed me even more."

They both married last summer and in October, when Rock for Life joined ALL, the two men and their wives moved to Northern Virginia.  Kemper is expecting his first child in May.

Kemper, involved in Christian music for 11 years, was previously a self-professed "Satanist and drug dealer."  In 1987, at a Bob Dylan/Grateful Dead concert in Anaheim, California, he overdosed on drugs and almost died.  Due to the "witnessing" of the doctor and fireman who helped him, and a subsequent prayer service, he converted to Christianity.  He describes the transformation as "total deliverance."

Whittington, who has been involved in Christian music since early 1995, said he had been part of the secular music scene and pro-choice lifestyle.  Several years ago in Portland, while witnessing a Life Chain, he realized the "pro-life truth," and has since been working on behalf of the unborn.  As a guitarist, he is a recording artist for the Christian label, Organic Records.

Rock for Life has released two CDs --- 1997's "No Apologies," partially funded by ALL and "No Compromise" in 1998.  A third is planned for release soon.

Rock for Life is organizing a small youth rally in D.C. to coincide with the arrival of Crossroads, Inc. walkers, who trek cross-country annually for pro-life awareness.  Nest year they will host a larger rally, at which time a pro-life petition with a hoped-for 100,000 youth signatures, will be presented to the president of the United States.

During last week's March for Life, Rock for Life joined other youth organizations for a united front.  Participating groups included ALL division Why Life? and Crossroads, Inc., as well as Collegians Activated to Liberate Life (CALL).  Also allied with them were Rock for Life's Virginia chapters from Manassas headed by Matthew Schenck, and Richmond, as well as branches from Baltimore; Allentown and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Detroit, Michigan; Dayton, Ohio and Portland, Oregon.

"It's always amazing to see so many young people bringing their enthusiasm to great pro-life events like this," Kemper said.

Information, merchandise and petition forms may be obtained from Rock for Life's web site:   http://www.rockforlife.org
by mail:  P.O. Box 1350, Stafford, Virginia 22555
by phone:  (540) 659-4171
 

Send a pro life letter (letter is preferable) or an email to your  Senators and representatives using the Directory at the Congressional Email Directory.  Point and click here to surf to their web site.

Copyright ©1999 Arlington Catholic Herald, Inc. All rights reserved.

This article was published in the Arlington Catholic Herald,
200 N. Glebe Rd., Suite 607, Arlington, VA 22203; Vol. 24, No 5;
page 20, dated Feb 4, 1999.
E-mail: letters@catholicherald.com
Fax: 703/524-2782;
Editorial: 703/841-2590;
Advertising: 703/841-2594;
Circulation: 703/841-2565

A note from the Web Master:

It is noteworthy and honorable that some folks are willing to stand up for a ban on Partial-Birth Abortion.  Let us not forget that ordinary everyday Abortion is also murder.  We must understand that murder is murder no matter the method.  Because one method of abortion seems to be horrible does not justify the other methods.  We should be horrified and sickened by any Abortion regardless of the method.  The Fifth Commandment spells it out clearly: "Thou shalt not kill."  A fetus is a person, a human being with a God given soul.  Imagine the pain the Lord must feel when any Abortion occurs.  Please contact both of your Senators and Representative, via letter or phone,  to let them know how horrified you are that Abortions are legal and to stop Partial-Birth Abortions and all other Abortions as soon as possible. (It has become apparent that they do not respond to email therefore you will have more of an impact by writing or telephoning.)

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