Troy Christian Elementary School hosted its 16th annual Celebration of Life on Friday, January 22 in honor of Sanctity of Life Week. All grades walked the sidewalks with teachers on Friday morning in front of Troy Christian High School carrying colorful signs made by the children saying things like, “Choose Life,” “Help Babies Around the World,” or “Life is special.” One parent remarked that the students’ walk down Dorset Road at 8:40 a.m. coincided with the March for Life happening in Washington D.C. during that same time. Despite the cold, the children were enthusiastic for the walk and cheered when motorists honked as they passed.

Shortly following their 15 minutes on Dorset Road, students, teachers, and parents gathered together for a special chapel in the school’s gymnasium. Once there, they collected items like diapers, bottles, blankets, etc. that had been brought for donation to the downtown Dayton’s crisis pregnancy organization, the Elizabeth New Life Center. The morning’s festivities included music, pledges, dedications of the new babies of Troy Christian families, including those unborn, and an appearance by guest speaker Lauran Bunting. Bunting and her daughter, Isabella, have been on Right to Life campaign billboards and posters all over the country. She has spoken at numerous local churches, has addressed the Ohio State House three times, once before a senate subcommittee on the Heartbeat Bill (issue 69), and even recently shared her story at a Sanctity of Life event for college students at Cedarville University.

Bunting was still in high school when a young man she considered a friend raped her. After discovering that she was pregnant, the option of abortion was presented to her.

“I knew it was wrong,” Bunting said. “But the decision to have a child when you are still a child yourself is so hard.” With the encouragement and support of her mother, Susan, and counselors at Elizabeth New Life Center, Bunting chose, not only to have the baby but to raise the child herself.

“I was given a verse that became my theme,” Bunting said, “It was Jeremiah 29:11 that says “’I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.’” Bunting has, since that time, viewed her story as a way to provide hope for other expectant young mothers, taking every opportunity to volunteer at women’s shelters and pregnancy centers. Her daughter, Isabella, is now in Kindergarten at Troy Christian Elementary School.

Principal Amy Long expressed appreciation for Bunting’s courage in light of her own history. Long’s mother was advised at 18 years of age to abort her. After a visit to Miami County’s Right to Life Center, Long’s mother decided to have her baby. “If she had not made that decision, I wouldn’t be here,” Long said.

Although Long is continuing a tradition begun by a former teacher, she feels a deep connection to the Celebration of Life at Troy Christian. In closing remarks made to students, Long said, “It’s important for us all to know that life is precious, even if you can’t fully understand everything today; I hope you can grasp the fact that life is important, that the baby who is developing is important, and that you are important and, like Miss Lauran said, God has a plan for you.”

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