Jewels Green is a mother, a writer and a dynamic speaker for the pro-life movement. This January, she spoke at the March for Life Rally in Washington, D.C. on behalf of Silent No More Awareness Campaign.
But when she was 17, she was pressured into having an abortion – an incident that dramatically changed her life. After attempting suicide and a month in an adolescent psychiatric unit, Jewels began marching for “reproductive rights.” A few months later she became a volunteer abortion clinic escort, and then at the age of 18 began working at a first-trimester abortion facility.
She eventually left the abortion business, and in November 2010, became pro-life. Now, Jewels works to spread the pro-life message as a speaker and author. She spoke with LifeNews this week about her journey.
LN: How did you become involved in the pro-life movement?
Green: Once I could say out loud, “I’m pro-life” I knew I couldn’t just be pro-life at home. I had to do something to back up my personal convictions. First, I attended a 40 Days for Life prayer vigil, then I started fundraising for a local pregnancy resource center. It still didn’t seem like I was doing enough so I wrote out my testimony and shared it online with Live Action. This was my first step into public pro-life advocacy.
SUPPORT LIFENEWS! If you like this pro-life article, please help LifeNews.com with a donation!
LN: As someone who once advocated for abortion, what turned your heart towards the pro-life movement?
Green: A little over five years ago I’d learned of a surrogate mother–a friend of a friend–whose contract included genetic testing on the baby she was being paid to carry for an infertile couple. When the results indicated the child would be born with Down syndrome, the surrogate was offered payment of her contract in full to abort–and she did. That was it. It was a true “Ah-HA!” moment for me. I became pro-life that very day.
LN: If you could say one thing to a woman who is working in an abortion clinic and wants to leave, what would you say?
Green: Well, if she already wants to leave I would send her to Abby Johnson’s ministry, And Then There Were None to help her out. The worker we really need to reach is the one who does not (yet) want to leave the abortion industry, and to her I would say, you know the truth, just let yourself follow your heart. We will be here waiting to help you as soon as you do.
LN: Has working so closely in the movement changed your perspective on pro-life issues?
Green: While it was the issue of abortion that first brought my heart around to becoming pro-life, I have learned so much as a result of my involvement in the greater pro-life movement. This experience has led me to speak out against euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, embryonic stem cell research, and third-party reproduction. All of these issues stem from our goal of maintaining the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death.
LN: What are you working on right now?
Green: Right now I am focusing on writing and speaking engagements to share my testimony and witness. I authored a chapter in the book We Choose Life: Authentic Stories, Movements of Hope, edited by Dave Sterrett, and I’m working on my own manuscript.
LN: Who is your role model and why?
Green: My role model is Mary [Jesus’ mother]. She remained humble and accepting of God’s will in her life. This is something I fail at repeatedly so I look to her for inspiration.
LN: Do you have a quote or saying that motivates you?
Green: The song “Brave” by Sara Bareilles is my rallying cry, especially the lyric: “Let your words be anything but empty / Why don’t you tell them the truth?”
LN: And finally, just for fun: What is your favorite movie?
Green: Dr. Strangelove: or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
