Speakers
Every year, we invite speakers to inform and inspire us as we stand up for the lives of unborn children and their families. Below is a short bio for the speakers we have lined up this year:
Rebecca Kiessling
Rebecca is an international pro-life speaker and advocate. She was conceived in rape has been a staunch advocate for “no exceptions” in the pro-life movement.
Politically influential, she changed the heart of Gov. Rick Perry during his presidential campaign, as well as Newt Gingrich, and many legislators across the U.S., Canada, Latin America and Europe.
She’s helped pregnant rape victims all around the world to choose life for their children. She’s also an attorney and raised 5 (two oldest were adopted and passed away July 29, 2020 to fentanyl poisoning.) Rebecca lost 2 additional babies to miscarriage, as well as her 33 day old adopted daughter Cassie, who was born with special needs.
Rebecca is the National Spokeswoman for and Executive Committee Board Member of Personhood Alliance.
Shawn Carney
Shawn is the CEO, President, & Co-founder of 40 Days for Life. He began as a volunteer in the pro-life movement while still in college. During this time, he helped lead the first ever local 40 Days for Life campaign. From its beginning, Shawn has been instrumental in growing 40 Days for Life nationally and then internationally.
Shawn is a regular media spokesperson, and his work has been featured on hundreds of outlets, including Fox News, The Laura Ingraham Show, Fox & Friends, The Glenn Beck Show, The Guardian, USA Today, and Christian media including The Christian Post, National Catholic Register, Sirius XM Catholic Radio, EWTN Radio, and Focus on the Family.
He has executive produced award-winning pro-life documentaries. Shawn co-authored the #1 top-rated Christian book: 40 Days for Life: Discover What God Has Done … Imagine What He Can Do and also wrote the bestselling books The Beginning of the End of Abortion, To the Heart of the Matter, and his recent #1 Amazon New Release and #2 Amazon Christian Bestseller, What to Say When: The Complete New Guide to Discussing Abortion. Shawn lives in Texas with his wife and eight children.
Angela Minter
The president and co-founder of Sisters For Life, Inc, Angela Minter is a champion for pre-born babies, their families, and the sanctity of life! She has dedicated her life to awaken, train and mobilize, the whole church, particularly the historically black church, to end abortion in the community. She strives daily to see families restored, change teenagers’ and young adults’ trajectory, share the gospel of Jesus Christ, and achieve a Kingdom first, Christ-centered culture change that glorifies God!!!
She resides in Louisville, KY, with her high school sweetheart and husband of 35 years, Parnell Minter. After losing two children through abortion (Summers Justice and Judah Star), God showed them mercy and blessed them with three more outstanding children, Ryan Whitney, Parnell O’brey, and Isiah Jasper Minter. Angela and Parnell live with gratitude for the five beautiful grandchildren and a precious daughter in love and son in love.
Rev. Clenard Childress
The Rev. Clenard Howard Childress, Jr., has spoken at almost every Walk West for Life Coast since its founding. A life- long resident of Montclair, New Jersey, he joined the New Calvary Baptist Church in September of 1974 under the pastorate of Dr. Shellie Sampson. He was ordained in 1988 by the North Jersey Shiloh Association and installed as Senior Pastor of New Calvary in April of 1989. The Reverend Childress is a tireless advocate for the Right to Life for all American, with a special emphasis on eliminating the scourge of abortion from the African-American community. He is one of the most respected leaders in the pro-life movement. His accomplishments and awards are too many to list here, but include his 1999 appointment as President of the Life Education And Resource Network (L.E.A.R.N) in Northeast Region; and the founder of BlackGenocide.org. Rev. Childress was extensively profiled in PBS’s Frontline documentary “Anti-Abortion Crusaders inside the African American Abortion Battle.”