Jane Roe of the infamous Roe v. Wade Supreme Court case deciding that abortion would be the law of the land in 1973 died a few years ago. Norma McCorvey was Jane Roe. Unknown to many people, she never had an abortion, though her name will be forever identified with that terrible Supreme Court decision that led to the deaths of millions of babies by abortion. She was a very troubled woman, and certainly a pawn used by the abortion industry.
During the early days of abortion performed in our country following that decision, Norma worked at a Planned Parenthood. One of the early pioneers of the pro-life movement, Pastor Flip Benham, was part of Operation Rescue.
Operation Rescue opened an office next-door to the Planned Parenthood where Norma McCorvey worked. Flip spoke to her every day, telling her about Jesus, and urging her to leave Planned Parenthood and its grizzly work. Though on opposing sides of the abortion debate, they became unlikely friends. Norma was leading a lesbian lifestyle and living with her lover. However, the power of Christ and the gospel permeated her soul. She decided that her stance on abortion was wrong, and that what Flip was offering in her troubled life through the forgiveness and love of Jesus was something she wanted.
Pastor Flip led her to submit her life to the Lord. After a period of time, she separated from her lesbian lover. Not long after that, she was baptized by Flip Benham in her new life with Jesus as Lord. They remained lifelong friends until her death.
Near the end of her life, she seemed to recant her pro-life views and seemed bitter that she had been used both by the pro-life and the abortion proponents. However, Flip does not believe that that was the Norma McCorvey he knew. He agreed that she was a very troubled woman, but he knew that her spiritual conversion was real.
Flip had twin sons who later started the Charlotte sidewalk outreach ministry called Cities4Life. Cities4Life eventually merged with Love Life in 2020. The strong sidewalk outreach component is a vital part of Love Life’s ministry.
The day after the Supreme Court reversed the Roe v. Wade decision, I met up with Flip on the sidewalk at the busiest abortion center in the southeast. Here in North Carolina, abortions will likely increase as a result of the ruling. Nonetheless, we were rejoicing. The acknowledgment that abortion is no longer nationally defined as a constitutional right is a major victory for those of us who have labored long in the pro-life movement.
I asked Flip how he felt on this historic day. In his usual way, Flip gave me a history lesson. He shared what Churchill said when a pivotal battle of World War II was won. When asked his response to that victory, Churchill said, “This is not the beginning of the end, but the end of the beginning.“ That’s how Flip would characterize the momentous day when Roe v. Wade was reversed.
It will not change what he does. He will still preach his beloved Christ relentlessly. He will still show up every day on the sidewalks of abortion centers in the area. He will continue his work as a member of Operation Save America. To proclaim Christ and defend the rights of those who cannot defend themselves is his lifelong passion. That will not end until Jesus calls him home, or Abortion is completely absent as a choice in the heart of every person.
You can hear more from the Benham’s on the overturning of Roe v. Wade, by watching this episode of “Living Among Lions.”
I share my testimony often. My biological mother was repeatedly molested by her father. Even once is awful but to have this done to you multiple times is just devastating. Eventually she became pregnant with me in 1967, he was arrested and then divorced from his wife.
I didn’t know that I was adopted until I was an adult, but I had an idea. Initially, I thought that it was just a careless moment that someone had but when I connected with the adoption agency and was told the actual story of what she went through and the consideration that she had for my life, even before I knew who I was, I was grateful. I pray for her everyday because I can’t fully imagine what she went through.
I grew up in a family that went to church and there is where I developed an understanding of Jesus and the work of the cross. I initially gave my life to the Lord out of fear, because back then preachers preached so strong that you could smell flesh burning in hell. Eventually as I grew in my faith, I started to understand the love of God, the willingness of Jesus to sacrifice His life and the guidance of the Holy Spirit in my life.
All I will say to anyone is that God can take the most messed up situations in life and turn it around for His glory. The deception that abortion gives is that it will solve your problems. Truth is it just gives a person something else to deal with, more problems. I support Love Life (Charlotte) because it is not just an anti-abortion group. They are not out in the community screaming at people that you will go to hell if you do this (abortion). They do outreach with love, teaching the community that there is hope, there is a better way and they are willing to walk along side of mothers who are overwhelmed and hopeless. Blessings and prosperity to you. It is not until we are in the presence of our Heavenly Father will we finally be able to see the full benefit of what you are doing.
Thank you for all that you are doing. I am so happy that Jesus has allowed me to be a part of saving beautiful little babies.