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Breaking News: My Pro-Life Heroes

ve8QAd   |   November 13, 2000

Breaking News Archive 2012


My Pro-Life Heroes

Everywhere I go, people ask me about Doctor and Mrs. Jack Willke. During this 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, I thought it would be good to give you an update. Jack and Barbara Willke have done more for the world’s unborn babies than anyone in history. They’re credited with being some of the founders of the pro-life movement. We used to call them the parents of the pro-life movement. Now we call them the grandparents of the movement.

Jack and Barbara have been my mentors throughout the 36 years that I’ve been in pro-life work. As a high school senior in Montana (also known as God’s country) back in 1975, I did a report on abortion. I went to the local right to life group and was given something they called the Willke slides and a Handbook on Abortion. Before my presentation, I took a poll of the students, and they were split about 50-50 on the issue of abortion. After my speech, using Jack and Barbara’s materials, I once again did a poll. But this time it was unanimous for life. At that moment, I realized education was a powerful tool to combat this modern-day holocaust they call abortion.

Dr. and Mrs. Willke established an amazing legacy of pro-life education. Millions of copies of their Handbook on Abortion have been printed. Their materials have been translated into 32 different languages and they’ve lectured in over 80 countries worldwide.

Dr. Willke was the voice of our daily radio commentary, Life Issues until 2003 when I assumed the role as host. Life Issues is now heard on 1,043 radio outlets and aired well over 1,400 times a day. We estimate that our radio outreach alone reaches 35-million people a week. We also produce 2 half-hour radio specials each year. One is for the anniversary of Roe. It’s an incredibly uplifting story airing this weekend on over 700 radio outlets. You can listen to it by clicking here.

Many people ask me how Dr. and Mrs. Willke are doing and what they’re up to these days. Mrs. Willke turns eighty-nine on February 5th and is doing well. She continues to serve on the board of directors of Life Issues institute. Dr. Willke is eighty-six—I often kid Barbara about “robbing the cradle.” He continues to serve as President of Life Issues Institute—a volunteer position he’s held since its inception 20 years ago. Jack also serves on our board of directors and still comes into the office most days to work.

These newlyweds have been married for sixty-three years. And they’ve just completed a fascinating book on the history of the pro-life movement, called An Insider’s View. Nobody is more qualified to write the history of one of America’s most important movements than the Willkes. They’re currently shopping for a publisher.

The Willkes began a legacy of pro-life education that has evolved for over 4 decades. They’re personally responsible for the pro-life conversion of millions of people around the world—from your neighbors to President George H W Bush.

God-willing, the Willke legacy will continue through the work of Life Issues Institute long after their departure from this world. Their contribution to the sanctity of innocent human life is immeasurable. As technology and the world around us changes, their legacy of pro-life education has taken on new forms through websites, social networking, email blasts and an award-winning weekly TV program that reaches into over 200-million households. You can watch it here.

The work of Dr. and Mrs. Willke has helped give birth to countless other pro-life organizations such as Students for Life of America. As a high school senior, I would have greatly benefited from the resources this group now offers. Take a look at their most recent video and see just how far we’ve come toward ending the killing.

Finally, I’d like to encourage you to send your personal greetings to Dr. and Mrs. Willke. Let them know how much you appreciate their countless sacrifices to protect unborn babies and their parents. Send a word of encouragement to Dr. and Mrs. J.C. Willke and I’ll see that they receive each and every one.

May this anniversary of Roe be a reminder for us to keep this legacy alive until all innocent human life is protected from womb to tomb.

God bless you,
Bradley Mattes
Executive Director
Life Issues Institute

1/20/12

Life Issues Institute is dedicated to changing hearts and minds of millions of people through education. Organizations and individuals around the world depend upon Life Issues Institute to provide the latest information and effective tools to protect innocent human life from womb to tomb.

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