The Life Choices Pregnancy Center in Longmont, Colorado was vandalized and burned in the early hours of June 25, 2021, one day after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
The damage is extensive. The building is uninhabitable. Life Choices had to direct clients to their other location in Loveland, Colorado, or to the nearest pregnancy center. The facility was also painted with pro-abortion slogans such as “Bans Off Our Bodies” and “If abortion is unsafe, neither are you.”
Life Choices Pregnancy Center Rebuilds
The attack on Life Choices was one of several days following the historic Supreme Court Decision. According to CatholicVote.org, at least 82 pregnancy resource centers and pro-life groups have been attacked and vandalized since the Supreme Court’s May 2022 draft opinion was leaked.
At Life Choice Pregnancy Center, hope rises from the ashes of despair. Reconstruction is underway and the move-in date is estimated to be July.
“The process has been slow due to the large amount of damage and all the additional processes that need to happen in mitigating the fire before construction can begin, but praise God, we are nearing the finish line!” said Kathy Roberts, executive director of Life Choices.
In a video message to financial supporters, Roberts shared an amazing testimony. Amid the fire and smoke-damaged remains, a volunteer found a covered Bible opened to Psalm 68, which included these verses (1-3):
Let God arise,
His enemies are scattered;
Let those who hate Him flee before Him.
While blowing away the smoke,
So drive them away;
As wax melts before the fire,
Therefore the wicked will perish before God.
But let the righteous rejoice;
Let them rejoice before God…
“This scripture assures us that God comforts the weary and that he is a father to the fatherless and provides for widows and orphans,” Roberts said. “We were surrounded by God’s great goodness that day. God moved hearts and many responded from local churches from other states, businesses, ministries of all kinds…The prayers of the saints strengthened me. We are in troubled times where persecution for standing up for life is costly; however, we serve a mighty God, not only in good times, but also in bad times.”
Roberts thanked the financial supporters who responded after the fire.
“We will never tire of this work because we have the best support system. And that’s you. Because of you we can continue this good fight, standing in the space for those who cannot speak for themselves,” she said.
One of the financial backers was Care Net, which sent aid to Life Choices and 16 other pregnancy centers from its Center Relief Fund after the attacks.
Roland Warren, CEO and President of Care Net, addressed the issue last summer when he spoke about the strategies a network of pregnancy centers can implement in response to attacks and threats of attack. .
“As an organization that supports a network of 1,200 life-affirming pregnancy centers, we are deeply saddened by these attempts to intimidate organizations that do so much wonderful God-honoring work to support those women and men in their communities,” he said.
Care Net’s five-point approach, featured in an article on MinistryWatch.comincluding a “Watch and Pray” initiative (based on Luke 21:36, Ezekiel 33:2, and Matthew 10:16), a plan for working with law enforcement to request more patrols near the center, and community participation and awareness meetings to seek help from churches and local organizations.
In November, FBI Director Christopher Wray’s testimony brought the issue front and center in the national media. Wray testified before the House Homeland Security Committee, saying that most abortion-related violence since the Dobbs decision has been directed at pregnancy centers.
In the Life Choices case, the FBI offered a $17,500 reward for information leading to an arrest in the arson and vandalism attack. In a blog post, Roberts wrote that, as Life Choices seeks justice, he prays that “the goodness and mercy of the Lord will visit those who did this and that they will be overcome by his love and saved. I pray that the Lord will turn these Sauls into Pauls (a reference to Saul’s conversion in Acts 9).”
Care Net salutes the stability of Roberts and Life Choices. It’s the faith, courage, and determination of pro-life advocates like her that allow pregnancy centers across the country to continue their important work amid intense persecution and danger in post-Roe America.
“Our mission hasn’t changed,” Roberts said. “We will continue to serve communities by sharing the love of Christ, bringing truth, hope, help, and healing.”
