What a Roller Coaster!

I came within a prayer of not boarding that plane to get back to Denver. We had put forward seven separate initiatives (eight if you count the pastors' initiative that we were prepared to support), and this was our eighth! All previous amendments had been unfairly struck down! What would one more time at the Capitol matter? The logistics and personal expense just to show up to be struck down yet again seemed hardly worth it.

Yet, that morning, as I listened to the Bible being read in DC, I didn't hear anything about quitting, fearing, giving up, ... it was all about courage, fighting against all odds, having faith, being obedient .... I boarded the plane with very little hope of winning.

Out of nine amendments (if you count our pastors), we were awarded "title" three times, and this was our third appeal. One amendment we took to the Colorado Supreme Court with 45-pages of argument; we lost with no explanation. While the opposition put forward onto the ballot last election cycle both an amendment and repeal within the same amendment, we were not allowed to do so. We were unfairly blocked from putting life onto the ballot for voters to decide!

I boarded the plane with little hope that all my extra effort would amount to anything. But I would show up. As the plane taxied into the Denver airport, I received the message from an attorney that their schedule had "JUST" opened up to be able to represent us. The relief not to have to argue before Title Board yet another time was encouraging.

While the largest abortion lobby attorney did not contest that we received title, they did try to make the title so wordy, confusing, and deceptive that it would be doubtful we could collect signatures. The panel of staff from the Secretary of State, Attorney General, and Legislative Council listened to their arguments for making the title something that the repeal would not do. This was the last possible day we could get a title this election cycle to be able to collect signatures.

Angela and I have been at the Secretary of State's office so many times that the other attorneys know us. We've celebrated the birth of one of their grandbabies, we've prayed and shared the gospel, and we've argued so many times I have actually lost count. And when at last, a normal title was granted to be able to finally be able to collect signatures, I almost shook with emotion. We do not take this opportunity to collect signatures for granted.

Had I not gotten on that plane, the entire initiative would have been thrown out. And I came within a prayer of not showing up. After all, I was with my family who needed me. And apart from a miracle, there was little hope. I did not expect the miracle that would make this initiative possible. I truly believe it was God moving on behalf of the children, and the many prayer warriors who have been praying relentlessly across the state.

I wonder how many times circulators will be faced with similar dilemmas. It takes sacrifice to gather signatures - it takes time away from family, jobs, vacation, .... It costs something. Oh, it's not storming the banks of Normandy to save these children's lives, but just showing up can be an act of courage, perseverance, and hope that one more day of signature gathering could make all the difference. For some circulators, it may involve a plane ride back to Denver.

We do not take this opportunity lightly. For three months, we will need to "leave everything on the field" and hold nothing back. Of our more than 4,900 households receiving weekly updates from Colorado Life Initiative (some going to spam), we are asking God for 2,500 to 5,000 circulators to gather the more than 125,000 signatures necessary across the state.

It comes down to 125 petitions per Senate District, or 12 Petition Leads in each Senate District responsible for assigning and filling 10 petitions each (plus 5). It comes down to each individual carrying a petition in the car to gather signatures in everyday life - 40 signatures to fill a petition in a month! And a second petition the second month! If 2,500 individuals FILL just two petition packets of 40 signatures each, that's 200,000 signatures!

Like Nehemiah, if each of us does our part with the people in front of us and the places the Lord brings to mind for us to go - gathering signatures from everyone we know and every place we go - for this little brief window of three months time, if we work hard, we could bring this issue before Colorado voters.

Removing abortion death from our Constitution is the first step toward protecting all children. While this direct repeal of 79 will not take abortion out of the state, it takes abortion death out of our constitution so the legislature or another initiative can put the right to life back where it belongs - for all of us, including the youngest and most vulnerable children.

This is what the LORD says:

“Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom,

nor the strong man in his strength,

nor the wealthy man in his riches.

But let him who boasts boast in this,

that he understands and knows Me,

that I am the LORD,

who exercises loving devotion,

justice and righteousness on the earth—

for I delight in these things,”

declares the LORD.

(Jeremiah 9:23-24)

REPEAL 79 | Colorado Initiative