To listen to this message, as it was presented to the National Alliance for Life conference in Durban, click here: https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=10223125172456

Choosing Life
In 1959, while pregnant with me, my mother, Ingrid Hammond, was advised by a gynaecologist at St Josephs Hospital to abort me. Because my mother had been taking the thalidomide wonder drug which suppressed morning sickness symptoms, and amidst the hysteria as thalidomide babies were born horribly deformed, without arms and legs, not only was abortion being tolerated but even recommended in cases of people who had been taking the evidently deforming thalidomide. My mother was a nurse who won a national award for nursing in England. She took the Florence Nightingale pledge seriously and had dedicated her life to serving others. She refused to consider abortion and called for a hospital chaplain to pray for her and her unborn baby. As you can see, by the grace of God, I have both arms and legs. “Choose Life so that you and your children may live” Deuteronomy 30:19
“For You created my innermost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb…my frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body…” Psalm 139:13-16

Pro-choice – that’s a Lie! Babies don’t choose to Die!
Some years ago, I was debating the head of the Abortion Rights Action Group, Dr Marge Dyer, at Stellenbosch University and I mentioned this testimony. A very large smile came across the face of Dr Dyer and she said very audibly: “What a pity she didn’t!” It was quite shocking to see a medical doctor taking delight at the thought of abortion. Pro-choice – that’s a lie! Babies don’t choose to die!
“Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, ‘But we knew nothing about this, does not He who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not He who guards your life know it? Will not He repay each one according to what he has done?” Proverbs 24: 11-12

Anti-choice and Anti-life
At a meeting in Athlone, American author, Ron Sider expressed support for the one child policy of Red China. That seemed to give the lie to their claim to being pro-choice! Communist China’s one child policy gave no choice whatsoever to the parents. The one child policy of red China was anti-choice and anti-life. It was pro-abortion, pro-death. “Do not pollute the land where you are. Bloodshed pollutes the land and atonement cannot be made for the land on which blood has been shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it.” Numbers 35:33

Anti-life and Antichrist
In 1987, At Kirchentag, in Frankfurt, Germany, I saw a pro-abortion demonstration which included a banner declaring: Dr Ernst what a pity your mother did not abort you! Apparently Dr Ernst was the name of a prominent pro-life leader there. And there was an even worse anti-life banner displayed at this event: “if only Mary had had an abortion! Then we wouldn’t have these problems today!” This blasphemous banner revealed that these so-called pro-choicers were not only pro-abortion but anti-life and Antichrist!
“Who will rise up for Me against the evildoers? Who will stand up for Me against the workers of iniquity?” Psalm 94:16

Pro-abortion
In 1990, when my wife Lenora was pregnant, and we were expecting our first child, we attended a pro-abortion meeting at Rondebosch Congregational church where Dr Marge Dyer of the Abortion Rights Action Group was promoting the legalisation of abortion on demand in South Africa. One shocking incident during this meeting was a middle-aged woman who stood up and said that over 20 years ago she had wanted to have an abortion but the apartheid laws prevented her from carrying out the procedure. She then identified the young woman seated next to as her daughter and stated: “there is not a day that goes by that I do not regret that I was not able to have an abortion.” Incredibly, her daughter sitting next to her nodded in agreement!
“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” Isaiah 49:15

Preserving Reputation by Removing Raby
while I was studying at Theological Seminary, I had a very memorable supper with a married couple from college. Over a meal in their home, my hosts disclosed to me that, before they were married, she had fallen pregnant. As he was youth leader and destined to become a pastor in the denomination, and as her brother was high up in the denomination, the father, who was also a church leader, determined to send her to Britain where abortions were legal. The wife said: “as my father prayed for journey mercies before my flight, something died within me!” Evidently this family prized their reputation more than life itself. The baby would be an inconvenience and embarrassment. So this church leader prayed for God to bless his daughters flight even as he sent her to kill his grandchild! And one wonders why our churches are in the mess they are in today!
“They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons, and shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrifice to the idols of Canaan; and the land was polluted with blood. Therefore the wrath of the Lord was kindled against His people, so that He abhorred His own inheritance. And He gave them into the hands of the gentiles, and those who hated them ruled over them. Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand.” Psalm 106:37-42
life begins at conception.
Abortion is murder.

“This is what the Lord says – your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the Lord who has made all things.” Isaiah 44:24

“Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in their gate.” Psalm 127:3-5

“Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. Proverbs 24: 11

“Could you not watch with Me for one hour?” Matthew 26:40

“Now Choose Life so that you and your children may live” Deuteronomy 30:19