As of this morning $40,000 has been raised to support Free Money for New Lives, but a lot more is needed to change a nation's opinion on abortion, says the movement's founder.
Moore College student Rowan Hilsden who is leading the Free Money for New Lives (FMFNL) campaign says the money given so far will provide much needed funding to extending the Carammar Early Interventions program which supports women who want to go through with their pregnancy that otherwise felt they couldn’t.
"From dollar one this campaign is saving lives," Mr Hilsden says.
"But if we really want to see a shift in the way the nation thinks, we will need an advertising campaign that has a lot of legs…for that we’ll need 10 to 20 times what we currently have."
The Federal government has now completed their Economic Security Payments to those families who receive Family Tax Benefit A.
"I know of many people who have said they felt the pull to keep the money and I’m sure there are a plethora of good reasons or other worthy causes to
give to," Mr Hilsden acknowledges.
"However, the number of people who have written or spoken to the
FMFNL team and been so excited to finally be able to do something " showing women and the unborn the love of Jesus " is very encouraging.
"It’s great to see people getting behind this cause and while we have received a substantial amount already that will make a difference to these women and children, this money won’t even touch the sides of the greater issue."
According to Mr Hilsden, clients are currently turned away from Carramar because it is full.
"We need to support this and other safe houses for women," he says.
"More money would see increased capacity in these establishments, reduced waiting lists for those wishing to continue their pregnancy but can't."
Mr Hilsden says "abortion is the slave trade of this age'.
"It's widely accepted by our society and yet so damaging. And not only to the unborn, but to women who go through it as well," he explains.
"If we are going to start something that will turn a nation, by love and not guilt, we will need a significant sum of money. And what a better opportunity than this free money the government has given so many of us."
FMFNL recap
Anglicare's Carramar Early Intervention support program provides support services for pregnant and parenting young women and is one of the main organisations being supported by FMFNL.
"From the start we wanted to express practical Christian care for women who want to make the courageous decision to carry their child through to full term," Mr Hilsden says.
"Anglicare's Carramar Early Interventions support program was therefore a logical choice for us to support."
Moore College student and FMFNL publicist Di Lucas commends Anglicare's "wonderful work which shows the love of Christ to those in need."
"It is the hope of the FMFNL committee that a significant financial contribution can be made to this wonderful service which provides practical and caring love to some of our society's most vulnerable " young pregnant women and their unborn children," she says.
Another key project, which the fundraising initiative will support, is Women's Forum Australia (WFA).
This independent women's think tank conducts research, education and public policy development about a range of issues that affect women.
"WFA brings together women from diverse backgrounds and works across the usual political and religious divides to advocate for life affirming, pro-woman alternatives to abortion which would enhance women's freedom to have their babies," Mr Hilsden says.
"From the very beginning WFA was something which we wanted to support. The recent publication of Women and Abortion: An Evidence Based Review, by Selena Ewing showed us just how important this organisation was for Australian research and public policy work which is both pro-women and life affirming."
FMFNL also hope to produce an advertising campaign that will effectively communicate with the community and provide information on the alternatives to abortion that are available.
"This is the part of the fundraising which has the most unknowns about it," says third year Moore College student Scott Goode.
"Depending on the amount of money that is raised, we are looking at producing a high quality ad campaign that has the potential to be distributed via a number of mediums.
"Our hope is that as Christians we can connect with women where they are at and, at the very least, provide them with quality information and point them to excellent counselling services around our nation that will lay out the options available to women with unplanned pregnancies."
Mr Hilsden says the campaign will not be over until January 2009.
"We have been overwhelmed by the support, encouragement and generosity of so many over the last few months who have caught a glimpse of our vision to care for others as Jesus does, and to make a real difference for pregnant women and their unborn children," he says.
To find our more information about this campaign or donate visit the website.
