The first Life Chain, born through prayer, was built in 1987 by "Please Let Me Live" , a small pro-life ministry based in Yuba City, CA. Half the churches of Yuba and Sutter counties occupied assigned sections of a three mile route sister cities Yuba City, Marysville, with 2,500 Christians holding Abortion Kills Children signs on both sides of the street. "It was good to stand for righteousness," was a typical response from participants. "I felt God's presence," remarked others.
The Life Chain elevated the life ministry to high respectability in Yuba/Sutter by helping to unite churches and to inform the local press, law enforcement, public officials, and the area citizenry about the unconscionable killing of pre-born boys and girls. Today, after additional Life Chains, timely picketing, and the comprehensive distribution of pro-life literature, surgical abortions are no longer performed in Yuba/Sutter.
In 1989, Bakersfield, CA. build the second Life Chain with 7500 participants from 101 churches. Soon other California cities followed, including River-side (95 churches and 6000 life defenders); Orange county (205 churches and 17,000 defenders); Fresno (140 churches and 10,000 defenders); San Diego (320 churches and 28,000 defenders); and Sacramento (200 churches and 16,500 defenders).
National Life Chain Sunday '91 saw 373 Chains built in the U.S. with 771,000 participants. On National Life Chain Sunday '92 more then 800 U.S. cities and towns held Chains, with participants of 975,000 and Canada joined with 80,000 participants at 97 Chains. National Life Chain Sunday '93 and '94 saw over 900 Chains built in America and Canada combined each year, but attendance taking was discontinued due to excessive preoccupation with numbers and inadequate emphases on the rightful purpose of the Life Chain.
From 1995 through 1999 approximately 900 Life Chains have been built annually in America and Canada combined, and while total attendance has declined significantly, emphasis on prayer and serious reflection on the current abortion holocaust has increased substantially.
For the development, the Life Chain Ministry is grateful, and we thank our Savior for his all powerful Church and for its contribution to National Life Chain Sunday, held annually on the first Sunday in October.
History of our Life Chain here is Marshalltown, Iowa;
(To come)