The Trophy of a Life Saved: Updates on Lia's LIFE Speech

Aimee Herd : Feb 20, 2009
Bound4Life.com

"Please join us in continuing to pray for her YouTube video to spread virally and impact countless lives."

Last week we featured a story about Lia, a 12-year-old in seventh grade who was giving a speech on abortion.

Although she initially encountered resistance from her teachers to choose another topic or forfeit her opportunity to participate in a speech competition, Lia decided to stay with her topic, and eventually her teacher?moved by her presentation?relented and allowed her to compete.

Lia then gave her speech in front of the entire school, and although the principal and other teachers deemed her the "obvious winner," the judges disqualified her because of her topic and stance on abortion. (Photo: Lia/Bound4Life.com)

However, later that day, and after much discussion, the judges reversed their decision, making Lia the winner of the speech contest. Lia advanced to the regional competition with her message of Life.

On Tuesday night, Feb. 17th, Lia again gave her speech, and was said to have done an "outstanding job," however, she did not win. It was suspected that Lia's topic was still keeping her from advancing further.

Sometimes though, we cannot measure victories with trophies, and such is the case with Lia's speech, as you will see when you read the excerpt from her mother's email below?from the Bound4Life website:

"Lia wasn't really that upset?especially when she considered that the only difference between winning the competition and not winning was having a couple extra pictures taken and being given a small trophy. Lia has a much bigger trophy?somebody commented to us on our YouTube account that her aunt watched Lia's video and decided to NOT have an abortion because of it. Yay God! Others have commented that they either never thought of the issue before or were pro-choice?but now they have changed their opinions. So, having a life saved is the best trophy ever!"

Bound4Life adds, "We're thrilled with Lia's courage and conviction. And YES, the best trophy is a life saved. Please join us in continuing to pray for her YouTube video to spread virally and impact countless lives."

Please watch Lia's speech at the link provided, and send it to whomever God puts on your heart.