ACU For Life, a student-led pro-life group, has grown in attendance this semester.

The group meets bi-weekly on Thursdays in the Onstead-Packer Biblical Studies Building, growing from three members last year to 25-30 regular members this fall semester. At its most recent meeting, the group reached a total of 92 attendees, and see growth still in their future.

ACU For Life is student-run, and advised by Dr. Neal Coates, chair of the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice.

“The group really caught fire due to persistence from the members,” Coates said. 

Gabriela Ramos-Mata, a senior Ad/PR major from the Woodlands, has been with the group from the beginning. Ramos-Mata said the group reached out to younger students, which has resulted in their growing popularity. 

“We decided to reach out to the freshman this year, to have a table during the organization fair, so the majority of our members are freshman,” said Ramos-Mata. 

The group is focused on highlighting the sanctity of life based on scripture rather than centering on a political position. Instead they remain on the stance that there is a religious message to be shared, that “Our God is not one of infanticide,” said Coates.

The organization also largely focuses on the fact that pro-life and anti-abortion are not the same.

“All life is precious…we’re there silently if they want to come to us,” Ramos-Mata said. “If we shout horrible things, they will seek sanctuary in Planned Parenthood. We want them to seek sanctuary with us in Christ.”

The organization is largely female based from all classification years, having about 6 or 7 male regular members. Their most recent event took on a male testimony, explaining how there is not just one victim from abortion, but three. They have faced opposing views, including issues taken to school administrations. Ramos-Mata said she believes that this simply exemplifies that they’re making an impact on the student population.