On Wednesday, a miracle occurred in the Victorian Upper House. The motion put by the Greens to refer euthanasia to the VLRC was effectively defeated without going to a vote. This was not what was expected. A number of Liberals, the party generally considered to be pro-life, had sided with the Greens to support their pro-death motion. It was the so-called pro-death Labor Party working with pro-life crossbench members that stalled this pro-death motion.

DLP MLC Dr Rachel Carling-Jenkins spoke strongly against the motion and took the opportunity to speak on the value of life.  Today she replied to those who wrote emails saying, "the Greens retreated from the debate" and even though they have "now stated publicly that a vote will be held in May ... it is unlikely they would risk another embarrassing defeat." 

This extraordinary turn of events can only be described as a miracle of God's grace. Miracles usually occur when people launch out in faith and do something. Your 'doing something' helped bring this pro-euthanasia motion to naught. The ingredients in this miracle victory for life were: 
 

• We asked you to pray and you prayed. THANK YOU.
• We asked you to send emails to the Upper House Members and thousands of emails were sent. Pro-death members even complained in their speeches about the volume of pro-life emails. Note: a small number pro-death emails were received. THANK YOU AGAIN.

The Canberra Declaration acknowledges the prayers and work of many like Paul Russell, Founder and Director of HOPE Australia, Australian Christian Lobby, Australian Family Association, Endeavour Forum, Family Voice Australia, Saltshakers and the many Right to Life and pro-life groups and advocates. We thank God for those DLP, Labor, crossbench and Liberal parliamentarians who are pro-life advocates. A list of those who spoke against this potentially disastrous motion is found below. Please write and thank them for speaking against the Greens motion.

This year we have seen others instances of Christians praying and sending emails which have resulted in the tide turning in a particular issue. This is what being part of the Canberra Declaration community is all about. Our goal is to build a loving and caring community of people passionate to support faith, freedom, marriage, family and life. Together we can do it!

This is why we are passionate about the Canberra Declaration community growing. This is why we are about to launch the final phase of the campaign to Double Our Numbers to 100,000 signees by 23 July 2015. We want to be more effective for the coming battles. To achieve this miracle we need much prayer and everyone's help. As Saint Augustine once said, "Without God I can't, but without me God won't." 

1. We ask for your prayers. To double our numbers by the 23 July will be a miracle of prayer first and foremost. Please pray for favour with prospective Canberra Declaration signees. 
2. We need your help to grow. Please help us put into action your suggestions received in our survey. We will release a different strategy every two weeks over the next few months. 
3. We need your help financially. The Sophie Scholl 'Double our Numbers Appeal' to raise $21,000 (Stage 1 of $50,000) began in December in 2014. See our video here. This money is needed to double our numbers, improve our communication and marketing, refurbish our website and renew our technology to cope with higher numbers as well as pay our current ongoing costs. Thank God over half of this, $12,211, has been raised so far. Thank you to those who gave. That leaves only $8,879 of Stage 1 to go. Praise God!

Courtroom Scene from  Sophie Scholl: The Final Days

Together we can build a stronger Canberra Declaration community to support faith, freedom, marriage, family and life. Thanks for your help.

Yours for the defense of human life,

Warwick Marsh and David Rowsome