Evangelicals, Millennials and Snowpocalypse: March for Life Leader on the Pro-Life Movement (Interview)
Bound4LIFE: Now under your leadership since 2012, what has been your approach to moving the March for Life into the 21st century?
Jeanne Mancini: I'm not the greatest strategist on leading into the 21st century! I just feel God wanted me in this job and that it was the right thing. Most of what happens has not been of my own making, but discernment and allowing God to open and close doors.
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The irony of it is, we are not actually an inherently religious organization. We are non-sectarian — though most who work here have a deep faith. We are very prayerful and pray together as a staff. We seek God's guidance on what our next steps should be.
We have built a strategy with a one-year and five-year plan. I think the most important thing since 2012 was our emphasis on social media and engaging the younger generation with a better website. We've shortened the rally and sought out engaging speakers. The evangelical outreach and getting more involved legislatively — it quickly became apparent that our focus should go in those two directions.
There is a constant day-in, day-out administrative challenge in running a non-profit and stabilizing fundraising efforts. We had never done a direct mail campaign until 2012. We rely on God one day at a time as we face each challenge.
Bound4LIFE: Have you seen a change in the demographics of those attending the March for Life over the last few years?
Jeanne Mancini: We've definitely seen more evangelical groups get involved over the last few years. Having come from a background of working at Family Research Council, it was difficult for me to comprehend why —for the most part — my pro-life evangelical brothers and sisters weren't participating in the March for Life. Each group coming on board, such as the OneVoiceDC prayer gathering, seems to have a call from God to be involved and stand for life.
In addition, many groups are joining with us who are not faith-based. One group, Secular Pro-Life, is truly an amazing organization; I'm always impressed with the different resources they have to offer. We encourage all groups to be involved in the March for Life as long as their approach to being pro-life is non-violent.
The March over the last 20 years has progressively gotten younger so that the majority of participants are now young adults in the age range of 25-30, with teens and elementary age children included. It's been said this is the most pro-life generation, and we are witnessing that.
Bound4LIFE: If you could see into the year ahead, what would you envision this next year to look like with regard to pro-life victories?
Jeanne Mancini: If I had my dream, we would see a strongly pro-life president elected as well as a really pro-life and pro-religious liberty justice appointed to the Supreme Court. As to our culture, our prayer is a dynamic shift in the direction of people understanding in their hearts and minds what it means to build a culture of life.
It's difficult to predict right now what may happen in our current landscape. We have enjoyed a lot of freedoms in the past in this country, but I wouldn't be surprised if we are headed to a time of "refining" — where we will need to be stronger in our faith, conscience and standing up as witnesses.
In terms of relying on our government and legislators, I believe we will have less protection in the future than what we've experienced in the past for many, many years.
Bound4LIFE: Millions are involved in the cause to see life upheld in our nation — praying, volunteering, even getting involved in adoption. What is your call to the pro-life movement during this critical election year?
Jeanne Mancini: I believe we are in a spiritual battle. Often we get discouraged thinking our efforts aren't successful, but every voice does make a difference.
I was at a church service right before Good Friday one year. Themes of light and darkness were prominent during the service. At one point, all of the lights went out in the church; then one, single candle was lit, reflective of Christ. It struck me how that one candle lit up the whole enormous church.
It spoke to me how each of us are like a candle which matters all the more, the darker it gets. Back in the first century, Jesus called His followers to "Let your light shine" — those words haven't lost their importance or impact.
Pray, fast, remain close to the Lord and allow God to work through your faith and works: I think that's the most important stuff.
Reprinted with permission from Bound4LIFE.
