Hundreds of thousands of pro-life advocates will gather in Washington, D.C., for the annual National March for Life, including 55 students and faculty members from Cedarville University. The Friday, Jan. 23, event is the world’s largest human rights demonstration, uniting participants from across the country around the theme, “Life Is a Gift.”
For Cedarville senior communication major Rachel Hartford from Cedarville, Ohio, the issue of life is not only political but deeply personal.
“I’m so grateful that my biological parents chose to put me up for adoption,” said Hartford. “They couldn’t care for me, but they still gave me the best life possible. And God has used that in amazing ways.”
From a cultural standpoint, Hartford said, she had every reason to be aborted. Her biological parents were high school seniors who didn’t have jobs, and they lacked family support. But she was adopted into a loving, pro-life Christian family, where she was taught that every human life has inherent value.
“We are not made in the image of God because of the DNA we get from our parents,” said Hartford. “We have value because God formed us in His image.”
Hartford challenges a common narrative within the pro-choice movement that unwanted children lack worth.
“There’s this idea that if a child is unwanted, they don’t have value, but that’s not true,” she said. “And personally, I take offense to that. It’s sad and heartbreaking.”
Hartford now serves as president of Cedarville’s Students for Life organization alongside Vice President Ruby Stedman, a senior communication major from Newark, Ohio. After a previous partnership ended, the student leaders began planning a major advocacy initiative: taking a large group of students to the March for Life.
Organizing a trip of 50 students presents challenges, but the group saw strong support from faculty and donors. Several professors, including Dr. Tiffany Thomson, provided logistical help, encouragement and securing donations.
The national March for Life invites marchers “to be swept up into a movement that transcends politics and celebrates the joy, beauty and goodness of life itself,” said National March for Life president Jennie Bradley Lichter.
Traveling by charter bus, the students will arrive in Washington, D.C., early Friday morning — just in time to participate in the demonstration. It is their hope that their presence brings together advocacy, speakers and cultural celebration.
Hartford and Stedman hope the trip marks the beginning of increased student involvement in national pro-life advocacy efforts.
“We want this to be the start of long-term engagement with the March for Life and with pro-life service opportunities,” Stedman said.
Although both leaders will graduate this spring, they expressed optimism about the organization’s future. Additional events planned for the semester aim to increase student participation and leadership development.
Hartford said the pro-life movement doesn’t have to be intimidating.
“It’s not intimidating,” she said. “It can be as simple as volunteering at your local pregnancy center or making donations. It’s what we’re called to do as Christians.”
Also another Christian university is taking part in the Washington march as well:
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it ranks among Ohio's largest private universities and is recognized by The Wall Street Journal as being among the nation’s top three evangelical universities. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.
