Grand Rapids holds successful youth rally

Bursting with youthful energy and striking poise, Lakita Garth brought the Grand Rapids Right to Life youth rally students to their feet...more than once. With her truthful discussions about teen sexuality and abortion, Garth elicited more than her share of ovations from the audience. Her ability to blend facts with emotional and spiritual pleas about healthy life choices caused even the oldest in the crowd to stand up and take notice.

The second annual REALITY Check youth rally for the Grand Rapids based affiliate brought in more than 250 teens from area high schools and churches to a local high school auditorium on the south side of Grand Rapids, Saturday evening, February 23.

"You can make choices in life but you cannot choose the consequences," Garth warned as she strolled up and down the aisles, making sure every eye in the room was on her and every ear heard her message.

"We couldn't have been more pleased with the turnout at this event and we feel confident the students left with a memorable message of life and a renewed conviction of true chastity," said Tricia Worrell, GRRTL's Students for Life Coordinator.

Garth, a nationally known motivational speaker, singer and abstinence advocate has appeared on MTV's Sex in the 90's, Politically Incorrect, the Image Awards and more. Garth spoke openly about the myth of safe sex, the reality of STD's and the need for teens to educate themselves and make Godly choices in their lives. Garth brought the house down with her quick wit and playful audience interaction and ended the night with her own solo singing performance.

The rally began with a set from the local Christian band, Richie Bates and the Cedar City 3 band, followed by five skits from the 15 person GRRTL drama team R.E.A.L.I.T.Y. (Responsible Educated Activists Leading and Inspiring Today's Youth) before Lakita took to the stage.

"The rally allows us to educate our young people on a variety of life issues in an energetic and relaxed atmosphere. The future of the entire life debate rests in the hands and hearts of this generation and so we will continue to inform, inspire and educate them so that they may become equipped with the knowledge and strength to make healthy life-affirming choices that will ultimately bring this nation back to LIFE! " said Worrell.

For more information about reaching high school age students throughout Michigan, contact Amanda Peterman at the state office at (616) 532-2300 or via e-mail at sflday@rtl.org.

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