150 ABORTION OPPONENTS RALLY AS VETO SESSION NEARS

Before heading off to battle, warriors have to be ready to fight.

As warriors in a spiritual battle over partial-birth abortion, nearly 150 people gathered Sunday to make their preparations.

They came to pray among the rows of white crosses at the Cemetery of the Innocents along Siemers Drive.

The crowd, numbering about 150, gathered under overcast skies hinting of rain to pray for legislators, Gov. Mel Carnahan and themselves as they braced for a veto override Wednesday. Legislators will decide later this week whether to uphold the governor's veto on a bill banning partial-birth abortions in Missouri.

"This has happened on our watch," said Mike Woelk, pastor of Livingway Foursquare Church. "We have to take responsibility. We have not exercised our might and power as the church on earth."

Christians have not allowed God to arm them for battle, instead they have taken up the weapons of the enemy and asked for God's blessing, he said, but the fight isn't a physical one. It's spiritual.

In a symbolic action remembering the pain of the broken women and children hurt by abortion, Woelk asked those gathered to kneel and ask for God to humble them and arm them with the weapons needed to stand as His servants.

The group gathered as obedient children of God, said Sherri Mehner, who helped organize the rally.

"We need to call out in times of trouble" and gathering before the veto session illustrates that it is "a troubled time," she said. "By being obedient, we believe that He will bless our obedience."

Angela Beise knows that society tells people that perfect gifts come in perfect packages, but she's convinced that sometimes perfect gifts come otherwise.

She and her family earned one of life's most valuable lessons when her fourth child, Michael, was born with special needs. The lesson: God loves imperfect people.

"I'm the mother of an imperfect child that is one of the most perfect gifts from God," Beise said before singing a song that brought tears to the eyes of many in the crowd.

"It's one of God's lessons about life," she said. "I know that He loves imperfect people and that includes me."

People must remember that life is valuable "because God says it is and He gives it," said the Rev. Ron Watts of LaCroix United Methodist Church.

People are bearers of God's image and that means they are valuable. In some way, people reflect His glory, he said.

People must remember, Mehner said, that God gets the credit for changing lives and performing miracles.

"We are asking for an override of Governor Carnahan's veto on Wednesday and when that happens, who will get the credit?" Mehner asked. "It's not our human efforts but God who performs miracles."

Mehner asked the crowd to continue praying and fasting as the veto session approaches.

"We are convinced that prayer does and can change people," said the Rev. Charles Lance of First Assembly of God Church.

Buses will leave Cape Girardeau at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday to attend a prayer rally at the Capitol in Jefferson City. The group will return later Wednesday.

Seats for the trip are still available by calling Richard Cuba at 334-7000 or 334-0913. Cost is $25.