The LIFE CHAIN is a peaceful, prayerful public witness of pro-life Americans standing in honor of 55 million lives lost to abortion. The Life Chain is an opportunity to pray for our nation, for people in crisis situations, and for an end to the killing of unborn babies. The Life Chain is a visual statement of solidarity by the Christian community that abortion kills children and that the Church upholds the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death. Ours is one of over 1500 Life Chains taking place across the U.S.A. and Canada on the first Sunday in October, proclaiming the pro-life message.
The annual Life Chain of Melbourne, Florida, was be held on Sunday, October 1, 2017, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. After 18 consecutive rain-free Life Chains (in October in Central Florida!) we were due for some sprinkles. And indeed we had some downpours in the morning hours. But by 2:00 p.m. the rain had decreased to a drizzle, so we decided to go ahead and stand for the unborn. (After all, if thousands can march in Washington DC in the snow for several hours in January at the March for Life, we could put up with light rain for one hour!) So our turnout, according to our videographer, was 253, which is down from previous years, but very good considering the rainy conditions. And right around 3:00 p.m. the rain began to come down harder, so we ended up having the best hour of the day, all things considered. We held signs for this one special hour along the north side of U.S. 192 in Melbourne to silently, prayerfully, and peacefully show our support for the innocent unborn babies and their mothers. We could stand, sit, or kneel, as we displayed to the community our dedication to the sanctity of human life. Thus, the Life Chain is one Sunday afternoon event where kneeling is strongly encouraged!
A big THANK YOU goes out to the numerous volunteers who worked very hard for a successful 2017 Life Chain!
We had a nearly 6-mile-long chain mapped out along the heart of Melbourne's busiest thoroughfare, New Haven Avenue and Strawbridge Avenue (U.S. 192). Everyone held a sign proclaiming one of the following messages to thousands of passers-by:
- Abortion Kills Children
- Adoption, the Loving Option
- Jesus Forgives & Heals
- El Aborto Mata Niños
- Pray to End Abortion
- Life - The First Inalienable Right
Some of these messages may sound harsh, but as we know, abortion is a serious matter, and it does indeed kill children. We also request that the "Jesus Forgives and Heals" signs be reserved for clergy.
What is *not* a Life Chain?
The LIFE CHAIN is not a "March for Life". These are huge and very uplifting events held every January near the anniversary of the infamous Supreme Court decision that took away the right to life of innocent unborn babies. Washington, D.C. holds the largest of these Marches, as does (closer to home) St. Augustine, Florida. All Pro-Life people are encouraged to attend these Marches, as they greatly energize everyone involved with the the Pro-Life cause. Here are the links:
The LIFE CHAIN is also not a "Walk for Life". That is very fun and worthwhile event held annually in the spring to raise funds for Pregnancy Resources in Melbourne, to help them with their very effective life-saving work:
What does a Life Chain look like?
Like this -- Here is a link to a video of the 2016 Melbourne Life Chain (opens in new window): Click Here
And here is another fine video produced by a couple of our 2016 Melbourne Life Chain participants (opens in new window): Click Here
Where to go to be a link in the Life Chain:
The Melbourne Life Chain extended about 6 miles along the north side of U.S. 192 (Strawbridge and New Haven Avenues) from 1/2 mile east of U.S. 1 (west end of Melbourne Causeway) to about 1 mile west of Wickham Road. Several churches gathered along their own "adopted" sections of the Life Chain (see table below), due to large turnouts last year or significant commitments this year. Participants from other churches, and anyone not affiliated with a church, gathered in front of the Melbourne Square Mall.
The churches with their own adopted sections at the 2017 Melbourne Life Chain (east to west) are listed in the following table. Next to the name of each church are the section boundaries and approximate location where everyone could pick up signs so that we spread the message of LIFE to our community! The right-hand column contains links to customized handouts and maps for each section.
CHURCH |
Section EAST to WEST |
Sign Pick-up / Parking (approximate) |
GPS (approximate) |
More Info |
|
Strawbridge Ave.: West end of Melbourne Causeway to Riverfront |
2 blocks east of U.S. 1 (along riverfront); park at Front Street Park 1 block south |
(Melbourne Causeway shoulder) |
|
|
Strawbridge Ave.: Riverfront to U.S. 1 |
1 block east of U.S. 1, (Sooner Investments) |
1228 E. Strawbridge Ave. |
|
|
Strawbridge Ave.: U.S. 1 to Livingston St. (Trinity Towers) |
1 block west of U.S. 1 (City Hall) |
1002 E. Strawbridge Ave. |
|
|
Strawbridge Ave.: Livingston St. (Trinity Towers) to New Haven Ave. fork |
Vacant lot at Hickory St.; Park at church 3 blocks north |
500 E. Strawbridge Ave. |
|
|
Strawbridge Ave.: New Haven Ave. fork to Babcock St. |
Vacant lot at Bryan St., 1 block east of Babcock St. |
22 E. New Haven Ave. |
|
|
New Haven Ave.: Babcock St. to Airport Blvd. |
Vacant lot at Elizabeth St., 2 blocks west of of Babcock St.; Park at church 3 blocks north |
114 W. New Haven Ave. |
|
|
New Haven Ave.: Airport Blvd. to Central Blvd. (Berube Dental) |
2 blocks west of Airport Blvd. (Florida Prep Academy) |
616 W. New Haven Ave. |
|
Our School House |
New Haven Ave.: Central Blvd. (Speedway) to Palm Blvd. (Meredith's) |
West of Speedway |
700 W. New Haven Ave. |
|
Christ's Family Fellowship |
New Haven Ave.: Palm Blvd. (Meredith's) to Dairy Rd. (Eyeglass World) |
Vacant lot at Poinsettia Blvd., 3 blocks east of Dairy Rd. (Tranquilo Cigars) |
900 W. New Haven Ave. |
|
|
New Haven Ave.: Dairy Rd. (Cumberland Farms) to NW Irwin Ave. (UHaul) |
Knights of Columbus hall on Dairy Rd. 1 block south of New Haven |
2150 Dairy Road |
|
|
New Haven Ave.: Court St. (UHaul) to Melbourne Square Mall (Shells) |
Signs at Church, 1/2 block south of New Haven |
79 Park Hill Blvd. |
|
All others |
New Haven Ave.: Melbourne Square Mall (Shells) to Evans Rd. (Chase) |
Melbourne Square Mall: East Table (near Outback) and West Table (near Red Robin) |
1600 / 1900 W. New Haven Ave. |
|
|
New Haven Ave.: Evans Rd. (T.G.I. Friday's) to Woodland Dr. (Cheddars) |
Northwest corner of Evans Rd. and New Haven Ave. (Best Buy) |
2000 W. New Haven Ave. |
|
|
New Haven Ave.: Woodland Dr. (Cheddars) to Maybeck Pl. (Olive Garden) |
1/2 mile west of Melbourne Square Mall at Pentecostal Lighthouse Church (between Arby's & Salvation Army) |
2330 W. New Haven Ave. |
|
|
New Haven Ave.: Maybeck Pl. (Wendy's) to Wickham Rd. |
East Table: 1/4 mile east of Wickham Rd. (Target); West Table: Corner of Wickham Rd. and New Haven Ave. (Walgreens) |
2790 / 3000 W. New Haven Ave. |
|
|
New Haven Ave.: Wickham Rd. to Hickory St. (Thunderbolt Fireworks) |
1 block west of Wickham Rd. (Fiesta Azteca) |
3170 W. New Haven Ave. |
|
|
New Haven Ave.: Hickory St. (Sky King Fireworks) to Katherine Blvd. (Patio Depot) |
Vacant Lot west of Gray Rd. (Antonelli's Furniture) |
3400 W. New Haven Ave. |
|
|
New Haven Ave.: Katherine Blvd. (Patio Depot) to Elm St. (west of Tractor Supply) |
Vacant Lot in front of Tractor Supply |
3660 W. New Haven Ave. |
|
|
New Haven Ave.: Elm St. (west of Tractor Supply) to Vista Lake Circle (Meadow Lake Subdivision) |
Vacant Lot between Antique Mall and In Joy Thrift Store |
3830 W. New Haven Ave. |
|
Other Brevard County, Florida, Life Chains:
There were two other Life Chains in Brevard County, also on October 1, at 2 p.m. For contact information on the Cocoa Beach and Titusville Life Chains, please go to :
Click "Florida" on the left side of the page, and scroll down to Cocoa Beach or Titusville.
How to be a link in the Life Chain:
Welcome! It's as simple as:
- Find the location for your church in the above table. If it is not listed, please meet in front of the Melbourne Square Mall.
- Bring water, sunscreen, and a chair to sit in if you like.
- Please car-pool to the Life Chain, as parking is often limited along the route.
- Go to a table where the Pro-Life signs are handed out. The Life Chain committee provides all the signs.
- Sign in on one of the clipboards (helps us in planning the 2018 Life Chain); all information is kept confidential!
- Pick up a Pro-Life sign to hold. And a drink of water, if available, as Life Chain Sunday temperatures are often in the mid- to upper- 80s!
- Spread out 20 feet apart along the north side of New Haven and Strawbridge Avenues. The better we cover the entire route, especially near major intersections, the more people will see our life-affirming messages!
- If you can, please walk to the east or west end of your section (see links to maps in the above table), to prevent gaps in the Life Chain. Standing near major intersections (Safely!) is very effective as this promotes our Pro-Life message to north-south traffic.
- Stand (or sit, if you prefer) for one prayerful hour, and trust in God to use the Life Chain to increase respect for human life, from conception to natural death, in our community.
What not to do:
- Please do not respond to hecklers, except with smiles and prayers.
- Please do not politicize the Life Chain; we are there to support unborn babies, not parties nor candidates.
- Please do not stand in intersections, entrances, or construction areas.
- Please do not park in tow-away zones.
- Please do not stand in the median nor on the south side of the street.
- Please do not "bunch up", but instead try to fill in your entire section (see links to maps in the table above), especially in spots visible from major cross streets. We do not want anyone to miss our Pro-Life message due to gaps in the Life Chain!
- Please do not bring your own signs, unless the message is the same as, or similar to, the list at the top of the page. Graphic images of aborted babies have their place. But in the interest of safety on a busy street, we ask that the Life Chain consist only of signs with simple 3- or 4- word Pro-Life statements.
Contact us:
Please feel free to contact the Life Chain Committee with any questions or suggestions! Here is our E-mail address:
Inspiring words from Scripture:
- "You knit me in my mother's womb" (Psalm 139:13)
- "From my mother's womb you are my God" (Psalm 22:11)
- "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you" (Jeremiah 1:5)
- "God ... from my mother's womb had set me apart and called me through his grace" (Galatians 1:15)
Links for more information: