“Thankful for…Lifelong Skills”

Impact Report, Nov. 2025

As we approach Thanksgiving, we want to take a moment to thank God for each of you who partner with JFA by supporting JFA financially, praying faithfully for our outreach events, using our training in your everyday life, hosting our teams in the field, or sharing our training with others.

In this Impact Report, JFA volunteer Isabella gives us an amazing inside look at JFA’s training program, including both Seat Work and Feet Work. Thank you for helping us train Isabella so that she could make an impact in these past few months and now also throughout her life! Thank you for partnering with us as we train Christians like Isabella to advocate for unborn children and the Christian worldview. Would you take a moment and consider giving a generous year-end gift so we can reach more people?

Isabella (facing camera) uses JFA’s kiosk, poll table, and brochure to engage a student in dialogue at Grossmont College near San Diego, California in October 2025.

Steve Wagner, Executive Director

Isabella (right) interacts with students at Cal State University San Marcos in Nov. 2025. Find more pictures from recent events at www.jfaweb.org/photos.

“I have volunteered in pro-life pregnancy centers where I have been able to love the unborn and their mothers through patient care. However, Justice For All has been an incredible blessing in training me how to love the third person involved in abortion conversations – the person who disagrees with me. It can be intimidating in today’s climate to know exactly how to speak the truth about abortion.

I had the passion and eagerness to speak about this topic, but I did not have the practical skills and information needed before JFA to be an equipped ambassador of Christ. Their training really emphasizes commitment to truth – that the unborn are human beings to be protected – in loving dialogue. They prepared me with the important knowledge behind common abortion discussion points, and skills to both listen, care, and respectfully challenge those I am dialoguing with. Their extensive training was interactive, so I was able to practice sharing truth and being challenged.

When I joined the college campus outreach, I was a bit nervous. However, after watching the dialogue between students and JFA staff, I saw how well the training prepared me for these conversations. I went into conversations with students who disagreed with my stance on abortion. Without JFA, I probably would have been busy worrying about my next response to theirs. But with the training, I was able to truly listen and ask questions to better understand their point, and it naturally allowed moments where I could respectfully challenge their perspective. I learned that many times, the people who differed had their own painful experiences I could have compassion towards, and a lot of common ground we could relate to, without compromising on defending the unborn. Many of the conversations were fruitful and even led to discussions about the Gospel. I am so thankful for this experience and the lifelong skills I now have in sharing the truth in love.”

– Isabella, JFA Volunteer

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JFA intern Martha (center) and JFA volunteers talk with Kansas State University students in early November.

Recent Outreach Events

9/10 University of Kansas (Lawrence, KS)

Jeremy Gorr and Susanna Dirks dialogue with students at Univ. of Missouri - Kansas City in early November.

9/15-16 Indiana University (Bloomington, IN)

9/22-24 Colorado State Univ. (Fort Collins, CO)

10/7 Quincy University (Quincy, IL)

10/13 UCSD (San Diego, CA)

10/13 Gannon University (Erie, PA)

10/14-15 Grossmont College (El Cajon, CA)

11/3-5 Kansas State Univ. (Manhattan, KS)

11/3-4 Univ. of Missouri Kansas City (MO)

11/17-20 UT San Antonio & Texas State (TX)

11/18-20 Univ. of Arkansas (Fayetteville, AR)

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Conversation Excerpt: Andrea Thenhaus

I asked Tim when he believed life began scientifically speaking. He was not sure, so I shared what biology teaches on this question. We discussed the fact that life begins at conception and that the unborn is a living human being that is growing and developing over time.

Tim: Wow! That makes sense. That cleared up a lot of things for me. I am on the fence with this issue. I can see both sides of the argument. I now see that the unborn is a human being, but some women are in challenging situations.

We found common ground about how important it is to care for women in difficult circumstances. Then I asked Tim if he was open to seeing images of abortion, and he said yes.

Tim: Wow. That is horrible.

Andrea: I agree. Do you think abortion is a medical procedure or does an abortion take a life?

Tim: I would say both. Abortion is taking a life, but it is also a medical procedure.

Andrea: Well the purpose of a medical procedure is to promote life, like heart surgery or removing a tumor. Abortion takes a human life.

Tim: That is true. I think women should have a choice, but I am realizing that a woman should not have the choice to kill her unborn baby.

It was energizing to be on campus that day as I spoke with many...open-minded pro-choice students. While there is so much darkness in the world, God is moving.

Note: See jfaweb.org/blog for the rest of the story above (“A Charge to Continue”) and more stories from recent events, including these:

• This Conversation Has Really Opened My Eyes

• I’ve Never Heard that Perspective Before

• Putting a Face on Abortion

• Which Path: Equality or Inequality?

Putting a Face on Abortion

In a conversation with a student at Grossmont College, October 2025

Our culture claims that abortion is ‘healthcare’ and a "human right." Too many people don't really believe and understand that abortion kills a human being. But it does. It's harder to justify the injustice of abortion when you are looking at the body of a dead human being. I had a conversation with a student at Grossmont College in October who was not aware of what abortion really does to another human being. Here’s my recollection of the conversation:

Rebekah: What do you think about abortion?

Allie: I don’t really know what I think about the issue. I’m in the middle.

Rebekah: Okay. Do you think abortion kills a human being at a certain point?

Allie: At a certain point. Probably here. [pointing to the human fetus between 7-12 weeks]

Colleen Smith (right) and me in a conversation at UCSD, October 2025

Rebekah: Okay. Is that because the human fetus at that point is more recognizable to us in that they have more distinct human features?

Allie: Yes.

We spent time discussing the biology, when human life begins, and what makes it wrong to kill human beings. Allie started verbally processing and told me she thought abortion should be legal because there are certain situations where a woman might not be prepared to have a child and can’t care for him, especially if she was assaulted. As she was saying this, she went on and said that even as the words were coming out of her mouth, she understood this wasn’t a good argument for abortion. She shared with me that there was someone very close to her who was raped and got pregnant, and this person continued the pregnancy and placed the child for adoption. I asked her how this person was doing now and expressed how sorry I was that she went through that.

As we continued discussing, I asked her:

Rebekah: Have you ever seen graphic images of abortion before?

Allie: No.

Rebekah: Would you be open to seeing them?

Allie: Sure.

We walked over to the image, and before I pulled back the paper covering the graphic photo, I said:

Rebekah: I understand why some people want to be in the middle on this issue as you brought up earlier. When you take a side on a controversial subject like this, that can be difficult. Before I show you this image, I want to ask you if you ever think it’s okay to do this to someone’s else’s body because of a difficult circumstance someone else is experiencing?" [I uncovered the graphic image of an 11-12 week aborted human fetus.]

Allie: [She paused as she looked at the image] I had no idea that’s what [abortion] looked like. I thought it was more like cells that get absorbed back into the woman’s body.

Rebekah: How do these images impact your view on abortion?

Allie: I think it’s a gray issue.

Rebekah: I think there can be a lot of issues that are gray. How can it be a gray area to mutilate and destroy someone’s body like this though? [pointing to the graphic image]

Allie said she didn’t know. I asked her if she wanted to continue the conversation or if she needed time to process on her own. Allie told me she needed time to think, so I politely ended the conversation.

While earlier abortions might not look as grisly as the image I showed Allie, all abortions, regardless of when they happen in pregnancy, end the life of another image bearer of God. Our culture tries to put a sanitized “face on abortion” and act like it’s just a simple medical procedure. I think it’s important we counter those lies by putting the real “face on abortion” by using graphic images in some contexts and presenting arguments in defense of the most vulnerable among us.

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*To view the image I used in this conversation, go to jfaweb.org/brochure. To receive training on how to use graphic abortion images in conversations, take our online Love3 Workshops in December:

December 1, 8, & 15: Monday Evening Sessions (3 Weeks) 5-730PM (PT).

With JFA’s Love3 Workshops, you can learn to create conversations in which you love the woman, the child, and the person who disagrees with you equally at every moment of every conversation. Register at jfaweb.org/register.

Conversations with Unbelievers

I had the privilege of speaking in the Sunday morning service of Bluemont Church in Manhattan, Kansas a week ago. You can listen to the message here.

Click the image to listen to Steve’s message at Bluemont Church on 11/2/2025.

Here are the Biblical passages I referenced in my message:

Matt. 12:9-14

Departing from there, He went into their synagogue. And a man was there whose hand was withered. And they questioned Jesus, asking, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” — so that they might accuse Him. And He said to them, “What man is there among you who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand!” He stretched it out, and it was restored to normal, like the other. But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.

II Cor. 5:17-21

(17) Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

(20) Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Col. 4:2-6

Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.

(5) Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.

Note about the Series and Image

The image above is from the series of messages currently in progress at Bluemont Church.

More about Deception Island:

• Wikipedia Article

• Article at Atlas Ocean Voyages: “How Did Deception Island Get Named”

"That's a Baby!"

Recent Event Reflection

I started a conversation with a man named Ocean at Colorado State University (Sept. 2025) by asking his thoughts on abortion. He said he wasn’t sure, having gone back and forth on the issue, but he currently leaned more pro-choice. He mentioned that his mom had him at 15 and that he sometimes wished she had aborted him. I felt terrible hearing this and couldn’t imagine what he has experienced to feel that way. Later, he shared that he struggles with depression. I told him I was glad he is here and that his mom didn’t abort him, and I expressed sincere sympathy for his struggle with depression. I think part of Ocean’s difficulty in recognizing the value of the unborn came from not recognizing his own worth. We discussed various aspects of the issue, but the breakthrough came when I showed him pictures of human development. He was shocked—pointing to the six-week embryo and exclaiming, “That’s a baby!” By the end of our talk, Ocean said he was “more pro-life now.”

– Martha Depew, JFA Intern

Note: See jfaweb.org/oct-2025-andrea for another recent campus story by Andrea Thenhaus (“A Charge to Continue”).

Recent Events in Pictures and Numbers

Our team conducted outreach on busy Library Walk at Univ. of California at San Diego (UCSD) on October 13. (Image signs are not shown here.) In September and October, JFA trainers conducted outreach during 15 days on 9 campuses in 7 states.

Kristina spoke to an all-school assembly at a high school in Illinois on October 7. JFA trainers also conducted 11 interactive workshops in 7 states in September & October.

Martha and Andrea display two approaches to rain-readiness during our Colorado State University outreach in September. The rain led to splitting our team between outdoor and indoor locations, leading to even more conversations!

Pray for Upcoming Outreach Events

11/3-5 Kansas State Univ. (Manhattan, KS)

11/3-4 Univ. of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC)

11/17-18 Univ. of Texas, San Antonio (UTSA)

11/19-20 Texas State Univ. (San Marcos, TX)

11/18-20 Univ. of Arkansas (Fayetteville, AR)

• See Upcoming Training Events: jfaweb.org/calendar

• Love3 Online Interactive Events: jfaweb.org/love3

• See Recent Events: jfaweb.org/impact-quick-look

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A Charge to Continue

I was at the University of Kansas talking to students when I started to receive notifications that Charlie Kirk had been shot. As we continued outreach that day, it was sobering to think that Charlie had been shot for speaking the truth.

I had the privilege of meeting Charlie in March of 2022.

The assassination left many Christians grieving and wondering what is next. Charlie was a man of courage and boldness, and he loved the Lord and our country. His faith was inspiring. His love for his family was touching. His determination to spread the gospel was convicting. America lost a true hero.

Just a few days after Charlie Kirk was murdered, I went to the University of Arkansas to lead an outreach event. A student I’ll call “Tim” walked up to the poll table and signed “Yes” to the question, “Should abortion be legal?” I asked Tim if he had time to share more of his thoughts. This is how our conversation went.

Tim: I believe women should have choices. I think women should be able to choose if they want an abortion or not.

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Five volunteers participated in outreach at the University of Arkansas in September of 2025. 

Andrea: I agree with you that choice is super important. We should all be able to make choices for ourselves as long as that choice does not harm other human beings. Murder, rape, and child abuse are wrong because those choices harm human beings.

Tim: That is true.

As I began asking Tim about his beliefs, he shared that he believed abortion should be legal for circumstances such as rape and poverty and for a certain duration of pregnancy, but not for all nine months.

Andrea: Yes. Those are hard circumstances for sure. Rape is a horrific crime. Poverty is a difficult situation as well. If a woman feels like she can’t provide for her baby, that is so stressful.

Tim: Yes, definitely.

Andrea: I have a hypothetical situation that I want to bring up. Let’s imagine that there is a mother with a two-year-old that is in a situation where she can’t afford to care for her toddler. Would it be okay for the mother to end the life of her toddler if she feels like that would help her situation?

Tim: No, of course not.

Andrea: I agree with you. This is probably an obvious question, but why can’t that mother kill her child?

Tim: That would be wrong. That toddler is already born and alive.

Andrea: Yes, that toddler is alive, and it is wrong to kill human beings. If the unborn are human beings like the toddler, then should we protect the unborn like we would the toddler?

Tim: Yes, if the unborn are human beings, then they need to be protected, too.

I asked Tim when he believed life began scientifically speaking. He was not sure, so I shared what biology teaches on this question. We discussed the fact that life begins at conception and that the unborn is a living human being that is growing and developing over time.

Tim: Wow! That makes sense. That cleared up a lot of things for me. I am on the fence with this issue. I can see both sides of the argument. I now see that the unborn is a human being, but some women are in challenging situations.

We found common ground about how important it is to care for women in difficult circumstances. Then I asked Tim if he was open to seeing images of abortion, and he said yes.

Tim: Wow. That is horrible.

Andrea: I agree. Do you think abortion is a medical procedure or does an abortion take a life?

Tim: I would say both. Abortion is taking a life, but it is also a medical procedure.

Andrea: Well the purpose of a medical procedure is to promote life, like heart surgery or removing a tumor. Abortion takes a human life.

Tim: That is true. I think women should have a choice, but I am realizing that a woman should not have the choice to kill her unborn baby.

It was energizing to be on campus that day as I spoke with many pro-life students and open-minded pro-choice students. While there is so much darkness in the world, God is moving.

As I have been reflecting on the assassination of Charlie Kirk, I am reminded that God is all-powerful and can use each one of us to impact the world. I believe the reason the world was so impacted by Charlie’s life was because He gave it to the Lord. He told the Lord, “Here I am, send me.” God has called each of us to serve Him in our unique corner of the world. That will look different for each person, but being faithful to serve the Lord where He calls us is what matters.

1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 says, “you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” May we be comforted in the Lord and charged to live a surrendered and courageous life.

Thank you for your love and support toward my work with JFA. I appreciate each of you very much.

In Christ,

Andrea

Kristina Churchman talks conversation skills

JFA Continues Campus Work in the Midst of Tumultuous Year

““When people stop talking, really bad stuff starts. When marriages stop talking, divorce happens. When civilizations stop talking, civil war ensues. When you stop having a human connection with someone you disagree with, it becomes a lot easier to want to commit violence against that group. What we as a culture have to get back to is being able to have reasonable disagreement – where violence is not an option.””

— Charlie Kirk

You may be wondering how our team is doing in the midst of a tumultuous year where we’ve seen more vandalism than in previous years and where we’ve watched, along with you, a shocking succession of murders unfold over the past few weeks, including the assassination of Charlie Kirk in the midst of a college campus free speech event. Our team gathered that night to pray for Charlie’s family, for college students, for protection over our work that likewise seeks to create dialogue with those who disagree, and to entrust ourselves to God.

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JFA Intern Martha (left) creates dialogue at University of Kansas on September 10, 2025.

Our team continues to be eager to engage on campus and reports that our recent events (see below) have been very busy and active, with many people stopping and willing to engage. Our trainer Jeremy Gorr shared a quote from Charlie Kirk (right) at our online Love3 training event shortly after the murder. I think it captures an important part of why we do our work.

I also want you to read an excellent reflection from JFA’s Director of Community Engagement, Jon Wagner. You can read an excerpt below or read the whole reflection by clicking here. Thank you for praying for us and for supporting JFA’s work financially. We can’t do this without you.

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“Prayer and Encouragement in the Midst of Grieving” (Excerpt)

Jon Wagner, JFA Director of Community Engagement

I’ll always remember where I was when I heard of the shot that took Charlie Kirk’s life at Utah Valley University. In between phone calls for setting up Justice For All speaking and outreach events, I was dropping off donations for our local pregnancy help ministry when one of the staff members alerted me...

As I reflected, I thought of the tens of thousands of people who have engaged our JFA team in dialogue or observed our displays. I am praying they each have a caring friend to process with during this trying time. I am praying they are encountering Christ and flourishing. I pray for our many thousands of seminar trainees, presentation participants, and volunteers to maximize their impact during this critical time – that now more than ever they would heed James 1:19 and be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger...

“My prayer is that this horrific injustice, this critical cultural moment would open doors for dialogue, forgiveness, and understanding in our communities, especially with those who oppose us most firmly. ”

— Jon Wagner, JFA Director of Community Engagement

Even as some opponents of Charlie publicly praised the horrific act, most condemned it as evil. Pro-life and pro-choice, conservative and liberal, various political parties united against this horrific act against a man and organization...

How do we grieve in a godly manner? I suggest we should refrain from either immortalizing or demonizing Kirk. Kirk himself would want us to focus on Christ rather than himself. Even most of Kirk’s opponents refuse to demonize him. Instead, can we unite against violence, unite for free speech, and unite in seeing the image of God in each other? Let us resolve to dialogue with, respect, and befriend others even if we don’t agree...

Kirk prioritized those with whom he disagreed, listened carefully, and stayed on point. He countered ideas much more than people. He was an earnest defender of the preborn... He challenged bad thinking, challenged young men, shared his faith in Christ unapologetically, and engaged culture.

Did you agree with much of Charlie’s worldview? You have an opportunity to grieve with those who are likeminded, but you also have an opportunity to love those who are confused that a person they despised is being celebrated – by hearing their concerns and committing to healthy dialogue. Did you disagree with much of Kirk’s worldview, strategies, or his event optics? You have an opportunity to unite in grief and prayer for Charlie’s family and friends, to affirm the importance of free speech, to unite against violence, and to also commit to listening to those with whom you disagree...

Read Jon’s Entire Reflection, including specific prayers by clicking here.

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Recent and Upcoming Events

8/26-27 Surveys at CO Colleges (Various, CO)

9/10 University of Kansas (Lawrence, KS)

9/11 Univ. of Missouri at Kansas City (MO)

9/15-16 Indiana University (Bloomington, IN)

9/22-24 Colorado State Univ. (Fort Collins)

10/13 UCSD (San Diego, CA)

10/14-15 Grossmont College (El Cajon, CA)

11/3-4 Kansas State Univ. (Manhattan, KS)

More Upcoming Events and Details: jfaweb.org/calendar

More Recent Events: jfaweb.org/impact-quick-look

Prayer and Encouragement in the Midst of Grieving

“... so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy...
”

— Colossians 1:10-11 (ESV)

I’ll always remember where I was when I heard of the shot that took Charlie Kirk’s life at Utah Valley University. In between phone calls for setting up Justice For All speaking and outreach events, I was dropping off donations for our local pregnancy help ministry when one of the staff members alerted me. The news seemed especially frantic in the midst of the shooting at Evergreen High School near Denver the same day, the stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a train about two weeks before, the murder of Minnesota state representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in June, and other acts of violence this year.

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“As I reflected, I thought of the tens of thousands of people who have engaged our JFA team in dialogue or observed our displays. I am praying they each have a caring friend to process with during this trying time.” - Jon Wagner, who is shown above, speaking to a student just a few months ago at University of Arkansas in April 2025.

As I reflected, I thought of the tens of thousands of people who have engaged our JFA team in dialogue or observed our displays. I am praying they each have a caring friend to process with during this trying time. I am praying they are encountering Christ and flourishing. I pray for our many thousands of seminar trainees, presentation participants, and volunteers to maximize their impact during this critical time – that now more than ever they would heed James 1:19 and be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.

Campuses hold a special place in my heart. College was a critical time for my growth as a young man due to discipleship at campus and our local church, friendships, classes, and being part of a championship tennis team.

“My prayer is that this horrific injustice, this critical cultural moment, would open doors for dialogue, forgiveness, and understanding in our communities, especially with those who oppose us most firmly. ”

— Jon Wagner

Universities have been the main outreach venue for our educational and outreach endeavors around the sanctity of life. Our team has had tens of thousands of interactions about abortion, unplanned pregnancy, and human dignity. We’ve regularly discussed purpose, sin, salvation, and Jesus Christ, who reconciles us and invites us into His ministry of reconciliation (see II Cor. 5:17-21, a major theme passage for our team). We strive to make the unique college campus venue a better free speech opportunity for everyone, especially for those with whom we disagree.

Campuses should be a safe environment for learning, debate, and character building, so when we watched in horror on September 10 as conservative speaker and activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated, it was heartbreaking. It would have been heartbreaking for any activist to be gunned down, especially in the midst of free speech activity, but this felt more shocking to me personally because of Charlie’s persistent defense of human life, willingness to engage those with whom he disagreed, and bold proclamation of Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Even as some opponents of Charlie publicly praised the horrific act, most condemned it as evil. Pro-life and pro-choice, conservative and liberal, various political parties united against this horrific act against a man and organization – a despicable and cowardly atrocity that was an afront to decency and free speech.

How do we grieve in a godly manner? I suggest we should refrain from either immortalizing or demonizing Kirk. Kirk himself would want us to focus on Christ rather than himself. Even most of Kirk’s opponents refuse to demonize him. Instead, can we unite against violence, unite for free speech, and unite in seeing the image of God in each other? Let us resolve to dialogue with, respect, and befriend others even if we don’t agree.

Should Kirk have sometimes used a slower, more measured approach, pausing or asking more clarifying questions before making a strong statement? Perhaps. But whatever is true about the best strategy in various high-pressure contexts, I want to focus on something else: Kirk prioritized those with whom he disagreed, listened carefully, and stayed on point. He countered ideas much more than people. He was an earnest defender of the preborn even at a time when many other leaders, especially the powerful and popular, were not. He challenged bad thinking, challenged young men, shared his faith in Christ unapologetically, and engaged culture.

Did you agree with much of Charlie’s worldview? You have an opportunity to grieve with those who are like-minded, but you also have an opportunity to love those who are confused that a person they despised is being celebrated – by hearing their concerns and committing to healthy dialogue.

Did you disagree with much of Kirk’s worldview, strategies, or his event optics? You have an opportunity to unite in grief and prayer for Charlie’s family and friends, to affirm the importance of free speech, to unite against violence, and to also commit to listening to those with whom you disagree.

My prayer is that this horrific injustice, this critical cultural moment, would open doors for dialogue, forgiveness, and understanding in our communities, especially with those who oppose us most firmly.

Here are some of my prayers as I grieve and reflect…

• I pray for Charlie’s family, friends, supporters, as they grieve this unspeakable loss. For this injustice to guide these folks closer to Christ rather than further away.

• I pray for each person involved in or defending this murder to be reconciled to God.

• I thank God that Frank Turek, Marco Rubio, Erika Kirk, and others proclaimed Christ at Charlie’s memorial. Rubio said, “God took on the form of a man and came down and lived among us and He suffered like men and He died like a man, but on the third day He rose unlike any mortal man... because He took on that death, because He carried that cross, we were freed from the sin that separated us from Him.”

• I thank God that Charlie’s widow, Erika Kirk, is showing the courage and faith to forgive and graciously press on. Look at her statement at the memorial: “On the cross, our Savior said: ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ That man – that young man – I forgive him. I forgive him because it’s what Christ did. And it’s what Charlie would do.” Taking a cue from Erika’s model, “Is there anyone you or I need to forgive? Is there an old friend or family member with whom you are angry and don’t think you can forgive?” I pray God will help you seek His strength to forgive.

• I pray for our JFA community to take this tragedy as yet another opportunity to employ our Three Essential Skills: listening to understand, asking questions with an open heart, and finding common ground when possible. People are grieving, talking, processing, hurting, and angry. The opportunities are right in front of us.

May we be a people who are ready to forgive, humbled by our own need for forgiveness. I often reflect on the names of those at our events who have been the most disrespectful, loud, and crude – and by God’s grace I take joy in praying for them, asking God to guide them, and re-affirming my forgiveness and love for them: “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” – Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭31‬-‭32‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Charlie would want you to put your hope in Christ rather than any man, woman, or strategy. I am reminded of 1 Peter 1:13-15 which states, “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’”

Which Path: Equality or Inequality?

In this Dialogue Example, Jeremy Gorr shares the strategy he uses in many of his conversations to help people see more clearly the problems with arguments that divide the human community based on functional abilities.

Would you like to join us for an upcoming outreach event? Go to jfaweb.org/register to sign up for an upcoming event or to let us know you’re interested in participating when we’re nearby. Or, go to jfaweb.org/love3 to register for upcoming online courses. Thank you for partnering with JFA through financial support and prayer as we seek to reach more people.

-Steve Wagner, Executive Director

On a recent visit to the University of Wyoming I had a conversation with “Grace.” We established early on that the unborn is biologically human, but Grace then pointed to the differences between the unborn and the rest of us.

Grace: I don’t consider abortion killing. You’re stopping a heartbeat so it’s technically killing, but consciousness and awareness is what matters for me.

Jeremy: Do you think human rights and value are grounded in the fact that we are human? Or do you think human value comes from the capabilities humans have?

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Background: Jeremy interacts with a student at the University of Wyoming in Laramie in April 2025.

Foreground: JFA’s Art of Life Exhibit signs encourage students to reflect.

Grace: You’re asking if you and I should be compared based on our capabilities? I would say no. After the fetus is born it should not be judged by its capabilities, but before viability I think it’s different.

Jeremy: Do you see how judging any humans, even young ones, based on their capabilities destroys the whole basis for equality? Treating humans before viability differently is the definition of inequality because they are equally human.

Grace: I see what you’re saying.

Jeremy: I look back at history and see that we’ve killed tens of millions of humans because they were different in some way. Each one of those killings was an atrocity, right?

Grace: Right.

Jeremy: I think we’ve learned throughout history that there’s no good reason to kill unwanted humans. Can you think of any?

Grace: No. When you say “unwanted” I think I see where you’re going. The fetuses that are aborted are obviously unwanted.

Jeremy: They are different in some ways to you and me, right?

Grace: Yes.

““We should strive towards equality. On the path of equality our differences don’t matter, and that’s why we can’t exclude the unborn because of their differences. That’s antithetical to equality.””

— Jeremy Gorr

Jeremy: What I think we’ve learned throughout history is that there are only two paths we can follow – the path of equality or the path of inequality. I think we both want equality, right?

Grace: I think everybody wants equality, but I don’t think that’s completely achievable for any society.

Jeremy: I agree, but we try. We should strive towards equality. On the path of equality our differences don’t matter, and that’s why we can’t exclude the unborn because of their differences. That’s antithetical to equality.

Grace: I guess, but we’re always fighting inequality. The idea of equality is really nice, but everybody’s different opinions will forever keep us from equality.

Jeremy: Then let’s stand against inequality together. We can start by treating all humans equally under the law, and protecting all our lives, even those young humans in the womb. Wouldn’t that be a start?

On this trip we conducted outreach for the first time at the University of Wyoming. See also Kaitlyn’s reflection here, and see more spring 2025 photos here.

Grace: I don’t know. It’s a super important conversation to have. It was really good to talk to you about this.

Grace then had to leave because her ride home arrived. I had given her a lot to think about. While she didn’t tell me in that moment that her mind had changed, I trust that God is still at work. I pray the questions I asked will stay with her, and that God will use those questions to gently guide her toward the truth because we can build a world where every life – born and unborn – is valued equally.

"You're Changing My Thoughts."

Outreach at UCLA, May 2025

Many people who say they are against abortion believe it should be legal in the case of sexual assault or if the child won’t live long outside the womb due to an illness or fetal deformity. When I was at UCLA in May, I spoke to “Jake,” a Christian who held this perspective on abortion.

Our conversation went something like this:

Talking to “Jake” at UCLA

Rebekah: I think abortion in the case of rape is a really difficult topic. I understand emotionally why people want to be pro-choice in this case. If a woman feels like abortion will help her heal, it’s hard to tell her she can’t access it. You mentioned earlier that you are against abortion in most other cases. Why are you against abortion in general?

Jake: I’m against it because it kills a human being.

Rebekah: I am too. If you agree the unborn are human beings made in the image of God, and if there is a human being involved in both a consensual pregnancy and a pregnancy that resulted from rape, how does your faith inform your view on that?

He was quiet for a moment as he thought about this question. When I felt like it would be helpful to share more, I continued:

Rebekah: If we believe the unborn are human beings made in the image of God from conception, then they should be protected no matter how they came into existence. I understand that this is really hard emotionally though. Here’s something that might help. Imagine I show you two images of an ultrasound, and I ask you which child was conceived in rape? You wouldn’t be able to tell. Both are human even though one came into existence through something that was really awful.

Jake: I think you’re changing my thoughts on this.

I then asked him if he thought abortion should be allowed in the case of fetal deformity since that had come up earlier. He said yes.

Rebekah: That’s also really hard. If I got pregnant and found that my baby was not going to live very long, I think that would emotionally wreck me. I think it would help to think about it this way: Imagine that I am pregnant, and my child has some illness or deformity that makes it unlikely that she will live past a year, but I don’t find out about this until my baby is born. Do you think I should be able to kill my child after she’s born because she won’t live very long?

Jake was quiet again. I could tell he was really thinking. Then he said:

Jake: Yes, I agree you cannot kill your child after she’s born.

Rebekah: So if that human in the womb is equally human to the born child, then we should protect both of them. It makes sense that these are really hard cases emotionally. As Christians, we know that human beings are made in the image of God so our value stays constant despite the pain and suffering we experience.

Jake: Thank you for this conversation. You’re changing my thoughts on this, but I do need to think about it more.

In nearly every conversation I have about abortion, I confront the question of whether abortion should be legal in these hard situations. They don’t typically end with someone telling me they are changing their thoughts on the issue, and that makes sense because these questions can hold so much pain and trauma for some people.

When I was at the University of Nebraska in Kearney in early May, I talked to a student who was against abortion in general because he believed it killed a valuable human, but he thought there should be an exception in the case of rape. I asked him, “Since you are generally opposed to abortion because you think it kills a human being, how do you reconcile that view with allowing someone to kill a human in the case of rape?” He told me it was personal. He has a childhood friend who experienced assault and got pregnant as a result. She chose to keep her child. He told me he can see the pain in her eyes when she looks at her child.

Most of my conversations about this aspect of the abortion issue are like the one with the Nebraska student in that they bring up some of the most traumatic things a person can experience. Women who have experienced assault matter. Women who are pregnant and get a fatal diagnosis for their child matter. While we find common ground and sympathize with people in these situations, we must also help them widen their circle of compassion and concern to include the unborn child who is too often forgotten and ignored in these situations. We need to love them and protect them as well.

“I’ve Never Heard that Perspective Before.”

Impact Report, July 2025

In this Impact Report, Kaitlyn Donihue shares a conversation she had in April at our first-ever outreach on the University of Wyoming campus. Kaitlyn’s conversation with “Ian” illustrates what’s typical of many pro-choice people we encounter, that they are open-minded and ready to think about the case against abortion, especially if it is clearly articulated. This is why we’re eager for every Christian to participate in JFA’s “Seat Work and Feet Work” training program. We could change more minds if more of us were trained to do what Kaitlyn made look effortless here: ask good questions and give reasons that are easy to understand. Thanks for partnering with us to help us bring this training to hundreds more in 2025!

-Steve Wagner, Executive Director

Many of us hear hostile and extreme pro-choice perspectives in the media and assume that all pro-choice people are equally hostile and extreme. In reality, many pro-choice people are not hostile or extreme at all. Many are open to conversations. Many are even persuadable. As I found in one conversation recently, many have never heard a clear, reasonable articulation of the pro-life view, and if they did hear it, they might be willing to rethink their own position.

In April our team was at the University of Wyoming talking to students. It was cold and windy, but we still had many wonderful conversations. I was standing by one of our signs that shows images of unborn children at different stages of development when “Ian” walked up. I struck up a conversation with him, and it went something like the following:

Kaitlyn (right) interacts with a student during JFA’s Univ. of Wyoming outreach.

Kaitlyn: Do you have thoughts on this issue?

Ian: Yeah, everybody does.

Kaitlyn: That’s so true. What are your thoughts?

Ian: I don’t think the government should have a say in healthcare.

Kaitlyn: I’m definitely hearing you. Healthcare is really important, and our rights to get the healthcare we need are important. Do you think abortion should be legal for all nine months of pregnancy or just a window of time?

Ian: It’s really complicated, and there’s a lot more than just timing to consider.

Kaitlyn: I agree that it’s complicated. It’s a tough issue for sure.

Ian: Yeah.

Kaitlyn: Do you think the unborn is a human being at any point in pregnancy?

Ian: I don’t know. I haven’t really looked into the science.

Kristine (left) creates dialogue at JFA’s Univ. of Wyoming outreach.

Kaitlyn: Would you be open if I share my understanding of what biology teaches?

Ian: Sure, go ahead.

During JFA’s Wyoming seminar, Jeremy (left) and Kaitlyn (center) illustrated with a dramatic dialogue the tool Kristine (right) was teaching.

““If the unborn are human beings, do you think we should protect them?””

— Kaitlyn Donihue

Kaitlyn: According to biology, there are three characteristics of living things. Living things grow through cellular reproduction, metabolize food for energy, and respond to stimuli. We know something is alive if it is doing all of those things. The unborn is doing all of those things at every stage of development so we know they are alive. We also know they are human because they have human DNA. As soon as sperm and egg come together, both cease to exist and a new genetically distinct human organism comes into existence. That human organism is different from us in the same way an infant is different from us. An infant is less developed than you and me but we would never say she is less human. In the same way, the unborn are less developed, but according to embryologists they are full human organisms just like you and me. What are your thoughts on that?

Ian: I’ve never really heard that perspective before. That’s interesting.

Kaitlyn: If the unborn are human beings, do you think we should protect them?

Ian: Yeah, I believe every human has value and deserves protection. I’ve just never looked into the biology before.

Our staff and volunteers enjoyed creating numerous conversations at the University of Wyoming.

We talked a little more before Ian had to leave, but his comment that he had never heard the pro-life perspective laid out that way was a good reminder. As pro-life people, its easy to assume that people who reject our perspective at least understand it. Many reject it, however, because they don’t understand it. When we take the time to share it with them, they might be willing to think about it and even one day embrace it themselves. This is true of the abortion issue and the gospel. This is why conversations are so important and often so life-changing.

Thank you for supporting our work and helping to make these kinds of conversations possible!

How Feet Work Changed Four Volunteers

Impact Report, June 2025

A fishing seminar without casting a line into the water? A dialogue seminar without talking to people who disagree? Ever since David Lee, the founder of Justice For All (JFA), started talking about this in the early 2000’s (at least to me), it has been a deeply-held value at JFA to see that the training a seminar can accomplish (even a very interactive one like JFA’s) is incomplete without the step of putting things into practice in a real-life experience. In this Impact Report, Rebekah Dyer illustrates how important it is for every person we train to experience more than just a protected seminar environment (Seat Work). They also need practice in real-life conversations (Feet Work). Thanks for helping our team give volunteers “Feet Work” experiences that change their lives...and help them change the lives of others.

-Steve Wagner, Executive Director

An integral part of my work with JFA is helping others engage their world in dialogue about abortion. Recently, several friends and other locals have joined me as volunteers on campus. While many of our volunteers attend an Abortion: From Debate to Dialogue seminar (Seat Work) before volunteering on campus (Feet Work), these four California volunteers joined us for outreach first, and the seminar then provided additional training before venturing out on campus a second or third time. Whatever the order, we’ve found that both the Seat Work and Feet Work are important to helping people develop as Christ’s ambassadors. These four shared these reflections:

Jennifer

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Jennifer (left) and Karen (right) interact with students at Cal State San Marcos in April 2025.

I’m so glad to have been introduced to Justice For All a little over a year ago. The JFA training is incredibly effective, and campus outreach opportunities have provided valuable times to implement the training in practice... One of the most encouraging conversations I’ve had was with a student I’ll call Tim. Tim believed that abortion should remain legal and was a woman’s choice. He agreed the unborn was a human being but denied it was a person. After taking Tim through the equal rights argument, he sat in silence a while, thinking. He would start to say something, then stop as if catching himself, then begin again, then stop and process some more. Finally, he confessed that he had never had a case made for the unborn in that way. Tim told me that he had a whole new outlook on the situation now and that this changed everything for him.

Colleen

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Rebekah (center) and Colleen (right) engage two students at MiraCosta College in March 2025.

In my experience on the college campus with Rebekah I was asked one question more than any other… “Why are you here, why are you doing this?” Often times it came with a tone of dissension. Why was I there? I was there because I wanted to be a voice for the voiceless! I believe entering into honest, graceful dialogue with those who have opposing viewpoints will begin to open up truth into a social narrative that has silenced truth. College campuses are filled with diverse worldviews, and many young minds prioritize autonomy over reason. “It’s my body, my choice” rings loudly in the common square, yet disregards innocent body within her own. Even amid resistance, moments of genuine connection emerged. I interacted with students who paused to listen, asked sincere questions, and even admitted they had never considered the humanity of the unborn in such personal terms. These moments of mutual respect and curiosity reminded me that hearts can be stirred, even in hard soil.

Karen

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Karen talks to a student at San Diego State University (SDSU) in March 2025.

The first time I stepped onto campus with JFA, I was incredibly nervous. I only managed to speak with one student, and he was already pro-life, which made my interaction with him feel safe and manageable. I spent most of the day observing the JFA staff and more experienced volunteers. Watching them listen with compassion and ask thoughtful, respectful questions was both inspiring and educational. By my second outreach, I felt more courageous… Thanks to JFA’s training, I knew how to ask good questions and search for common ground by listening with an open heart. As I got into a rhythm and stopped overthinking things, I found it easier to connect. My third visit to campus was especially memorable. I connected deeply with one young man in particular. He was thoughtful, compassionate, and genuinely engaged in talking with me. At one point he shared a poignant story about his uncle that brought him to tears and he ended up asking me for a hug. I had been thinking the same thing moments before so it felt natural and organic that we embraced. He let his guard down by crying on my shoulder. I felt such a strong sense of connection that I gave him my phone number with the hope we could stay in touch. For the first time, I felt prompted to share about Jesus with someone during an outreach.

This journey has changed me. Justice For All’s training gave me the tools I needed to step into these dialogues with humility and compassion. I’ve discovered the power of simply being a humble listener and asking thoughtful, respectful questions. That alone is enough to spark meaningful conversations –conversations that can save lives and transform hearts, including my own.

Shannon

My courage has been constantly challenged throughout my experience working with JFA. At times fear has been almost paralyzing. Being out in public has made me realize that I am fearful of what people will think of me, I am fearful of saying the wrong thing, I am fearful of what people may do to me. For me, it was a huge step just to show up and participate in other people’s conversations. Later, I was able to go out and conduct surveys. Finally, I was able to engage in conversations on my own… Two young women that I encountered while conducting surveys had never seen pictures of the results of abortions. We asked them if they would be willing to look, warning them that they would be graphic, and they agreed. The looks on their faces made it clear that they had not realized the gruesomeness of the process. My prayer is that after our conversation and the experience of viewing the pictures they will have new information with which to think about the topic. People are much more likely to change their minds later in private than in a public setting. Even though we may not always see the results, it is so important that Christians engage in conversations so that bit by bit people will come to recognize the horrors of abortion.

Thank you for your support that empowers my team and me to lead these events and help others gain confidence in having these important conversations.

-Rebekah Dyer, for the JFA Team

Clayton's Testimony

This testimony has always been very special to me.

"This Conversation Has Opened My Eyes."

Impact Report May 2025

Our trainers are working in the local areas where they live to create more training events, including interactive workshops (Seat Work) and outreach events (Feet Work). In this Impact Report, Andrea Thenhaus explains some of her experience getting events planned with Alora Tunstill in their local area of Northwest Arkansas, and Andrea describes in vivid detail a conversation that was made possible through those events. In addition, Andrea shares a reflection (blue box, below) from one of the young women who volunteered at the campus outreach events. Thank you for partnering with us through financial gifts and prayers. -Steve Wagner, Executive Director

I moved to Arkansas three years ago. Ever since then, I have been wanting to organize a Justice For All outreach event at the University of Arkansas (U of A) to start conversations. I was told that it would be challenging for an outside organization like JFA to set up outreach tools in a high-traffic area of campus.

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Lauren (pictured second from right) and Alora Tunstill (center) in conversation at the University of Arkansas

My friend Alora started an internship with JFA last August. Together, with prayer and determination, we made it our mission to figure out how to get on the U of A campus. After a whirlwind trip all over the university and a series of referrals from students and other clubs, we were sent to the Event Services Office. They helped us understand the process to reserve a space. Our first outreach took place on February 4 and 6! Then on April 15-16, we went back to the U of A, and my colleagues Jon Wagner and Kristina Massa, along with some friends of ours, joined us for outreach. (See Lauren’s reflection below.) We are so grateful for their willingness to join us.

“It’s been such an honor to visit campus with Andrea and the JFA team these past few times! I had no previous experience with pro-life outreach, but it turned out to be an amazing experience. It was so neat to see God use us, give us the words to say, and just overall bless our time of outreach. Students appreciated how peaceful and “non-combative” pro-life conversations can be as we helped them contemplate their views. JFA outreach has helped me understand the pro-choice mind and has proved to be such a wonderful avenue to “open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die.” (Proverbs 31:8) – Lauren”

— Lauren's Reflection

Here’s my memory of one conversation that happened during our February event:

A student I’ll call “Mark” walked up shortly after we had finished setting up our poll table. The poll asked the question, “Should abortion be legal?” We had “Yes” and “No” signs with notebooks for the students to weigh in and express their views.

When Mark finished signing “Yes” to the poll question, I asked him if he had time to share his thoughts. Mark started by saying that he thought abortion should be legal. He was in the military where many of his female colleagues had experienced assault.

Andrea: Wow, that is terrible. Rape is a horrible crime, and no woman should have to go through that.

After talking about his time in the military, the issue of rape, and other related topics, we began to discuss the science related to when human life begins.

Andrea: If the unborn is growing, would you agree it is alive?

Mark: Yes, I would agree with that.

Andrea: If the unborn has human parents, would you agree it is a human being?

Mark: Yes, I agree with that as well.

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Andrea (green jacket) in conversation at the University of Arkansas

Andrea: We can know the unborn is a living human being. Obviously, it takes time for the unborn to grow and develop, but science shows that life starts at conception. The development of the unborn is similar to a polaroid photo. Are you familiar with polaroid cameras?

Mark: Yes.

Andrea: After I take the picture, it takes time for the film to develop. However, as soon as I take a picture, that image has been captured. I just need to wait for it to develop in order to see it. From conception the unborn is a whole, living human organism. The unborn grows and develops [but it’s the same organism through all those changes]. Does that make sense? What are your thoughts on that?

Mark: Wow, I agree with what you are saying. This makes sense.

As we talked, I was able to show him images of abortion from the JFA brochure (jfaweb.org/brochure). After giving him a minute to look at the images, I could tell that they were having an impact on him.

Mark: Wow, this is terrible.

Andrea: I agree. After seeing these images, would you say that abortion is a medical procedure? Or does abortion take a human life?

Mark: Abortion is definitely taking a life.

Andrea: I agree. It comes down to whether or not the unborn is a human being. If the unborn are not human beings, then it does not matter if women get abortions. If the unborn are human beings, abortion is taking a life. We talked earlier about life starting at conception, so I agree with you that abortion is taking a human life.

Mark: I have had a lot of training on various things in my life, but I have never learned what you just taught me. Thank you so much for being out here today. I have learned so much, and this conversation has opened my eyes.

As I reflect back on outreach opportunities God has given us here in Arkansas, I am reminded of the power of prayer and of God’s faithfulness. At first it felt challenging to get an event confirmed at the U of A, but God led us each step of the way. I am thankful for the friends God sent to volunteer with us. I am also grateful for the opportunity to talk to Mark and witness the Lord working in his heart and mind. Please pray for us as we plan to do more outreach here in Arkansas.

-Andrea Thenhaus for the JFA Team

"Do you believe Jesus is God?"

Conversations about Jesus and the truth of Christianity come up often when I talk about abortion. The nature of this ministry not only helps people see the value of unborn children; it also helps people understand there is a God who is worth seeking and knowing.

I talked to “Mary” at San Diego State University in March. She was pro-choice. As we talked, I felt that I wouldn’t be able to make more progress with her on the abortion issue, and I wanted to go deeper with her, so I asked her what she believed about Jesus.

She told me she believed he was a man who lived, died on the cross, and rose from the dead. Noting she said Jesus was a man, I then specifically asked her, “Do you believe Jesus is God?” Mary paused and said, “I’ve never thought about that before.”

Her response to this question illustrates how important it is to ask clarification questions because they help us understand what other people believe. When you understand a person you are in a better place to share the truth and challenge her false beliefs.

I shared with Mary that Jesus said He is God in human flesh, and that it’s really important to read God’s Word so we can know Him. As we talked, I also asked her, “If you died and faced God today and had to give an account for your life, would be you prepared for that?” She said, “No.”

I planned to share the gospel with her next, but she asked me a different question that turned the conversation in another direction. Then she told me she had to leave and walked away. Although this conversation didn’t end the way I wanted it to, I think it is really significant that I was able to ask her these important questions. She listened and took time to consider them.

This student’s ability to hear the gospel certainly does not rest on me, and I am confident that God will bring others into her life to finish what he allowed me to start that day on campus. We plant seeds, sometimes water the ones someone else panted, and we trust God to bring the growth in a person’s life in His time (1 Corinthians 3:5-9). No matter where we fit in the process, it’s an honor that God allows us to be ambassadors of His truth.