At the Day of Mourning I was able to grab a quick chat with the David Benham and Jason Benham, a.k.a. the Benham Brothers.

They shared with me that they’ve grown up in the pro-life movement, watching their dad minister to the Roe of Roe v. Wade and seeing the Gospel as central to transformation. They said the current outcry over abortion is the first time they’ve seen a pro-life movement gain momentum so quickly. They shared why humility, prayer and repentance are essential to seeing change in our nation. They ended our conversation by explained why fighting abortion is the church’s responsibility.

The Benham Brothers’ Interview with The Stream

Aliya Kuykendall: So you guys have been part of the pro-life movement essentially your whole lives, right?

David Benham: Yes. Yeah, yeah.

Aliya: ‘Cause like your dad-

David: He baptized Norma McCorvey who’s the Jane Roe of Roe v. Wade. We were teenagers at the time.

Aliya: Wow.

David: So we were part of that and what most people don’t know is that our dad also shared the Gospel with Norma McCorvey’s lesbian partner. And we went and bought us a blow up swimming pool at Walmart and my dad baptized her as well.

So we’ve always been involved in the pro-life movement, but from a position of the Gospel. The Gospel brings transformation. It’s not fighting an issue but bringing a kingdom.

Aliya: So how have you seen the pro-life movement change over the course of your lives? And do you see this event as being something different or unique?

David: Yes. Yeah, this is a culmination of a culture of darkness that has continued to pervade our land. And finally with what happened in New York and with the way that Virginia’s Governor Northam began to speak about what was happening, I really believe that it awakened inside of the church men and women of God that know that we need to take a stand.

We’re against all abortion. So just because it’s a larger baby doesn’t mean it’s more wrong than a smaller baby. But what this is doing, is it’s awakening the church. It’s the first time that we’ve seen this in our lifetimes — a movement that is getting this much momentum this fast. It’s pretty impressive.

Aliya: What’s the significance of mourning as being the focus of the [Day of Mourning] event?

Jason: Well I think that’s to make sure that our posture going into battle is proper. And our posture should be that of worship and that of repentance. And so II Chronicles 7:14 says “If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray…” So that’s the first two steps. That’s what we’re doing today. It’s humility. It’s prayer. It’s calling out to God, saying God we repent for allowing this to be legal. We repent for the slaughter of these innocent babies and that’s the posture that we then move in, and we try to change this thing completely.

Aliya: So maybe a lot of people in the pro-life movement wouldn’t see this as something that’s on them — that they need to repent.

David: Yeah Jesus in His own words said, “Whatever you did for the least of these, you’ve done onto me.” “What you did not do for the least of these you’ve not done for me.”

So we, as Christians, are to serve our savior, Jesus. The way we do that is “to the least of these.” And there are no more “least of these” than the innocent vulnerable unborn. Everyone in America gets a safe space, except for an unborn child.

That is where the church has to step in. And if we, the pillar and support of the truth, according to 1 Tim 3:15, don’t do it, no one else can. It’s our responsibility.

Edited for content and clarity.