A powerful new pro-life film is capturing the attention of Americans because it features the story of Melissa Ohden, a woman who survived a failed saline abortion attempt on her life and who is now a nationally-recognized speaker.
Over 1.2 million children lose their lives to abortion every year in the United States alone. Over 53 million children have lost their lives to abortion in the United States since the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973. Many know the sad reality of these statistics, but most don’t know the amazing reality that sometimes children survive failed abortions and exist in our world today. Melissa Ohden, a 34-year-old international pro-life speaker and advocate, wife and mother, is one such survivor.
Melissa’s powerful story of surviving a failed saline infusion abortion in 1977, of overcoming the concerns regarding her ability to survive past infancy and go on to lead a “normal” life, of being adopted into a loving family that supported her in her search for her biological family and in her struggle to face the reality of her life as an abortion survivor to ultimately become a voice for the unborn, is featured in the newly released pro-life documentary, A Voice for Life.
Featuring pro-life leaders and advocates including Father Frank Pavone, Alveda King, Dr. John Willke, Kevin and Theresa Burke, and Michael Clancy, A Voice for Life has premiered at events for Heartbeat International and National Right to Life to great acclaim. The Dove Foundation review for the documentary echoes the sentiments of individuals and organizations that have been moved by the film and see its’ value in promoting the sanctity of life: “We highly recommend this inspirational and remarkable DVD and gladly award it our Dove ‘Family-Approved’ Seal in addition to five Doves, our highest level.”
A Voice for Life continues to garner awards on an international level, including the Transforming Stories International Film Festival in South Africa, and the Redemptive Film Festival in Virginia Beach, where it received the highest honor. More importantly, to the creative team of A Voice for Life, Steve Feazel, Gunther Meisse, and Melissa Ohden, the pro-life film is making an impact in the world, touching hearts changing minds, and bringing hope and healing to individuals who have been devastated by abortion.
The soul-baring testimonies of numerous women and a man who have experienced an abortion in their lives, the inspirational testimony of a young woman who stood strong in her beliefs about the sanctity of life in the face of a teenage pregnancy, the heart-warming testimonies of a birthmother and adoptive mother regarding their open adoption, and the testimonies of pregnancy center staff and pro-life advocates woven throughout Melissa’s miraculous story, provide an in-depth perspective to abortion that is both informing and convicting people around the world.
As one such reviewer, Edwin L. Carpenter, stated, “Women share their emotions from post-abortions and reflect guilt but the value of a life lesson learned. The viewer of this DVD will marvel at God’s grace as Melissa Ohden reflects forgiveness and her belief that God spared her for a purpose.”
In addition to the 58 minute documentary, a short, 9 minute film, featuring Melissa as narrator, has also been released for pregnancy centers and other organizations that minister to abortion vulnerable women to utilize as a resource in their life-saving, life-transforming work. Melissa’s powerful message to women in this video as both a survivor and a mother, herself, is beyond description.
To view the trailer of the short resource video, visit www.avoiceforlife.com/trailer.html.
