Jessen to be keynote speaker at Hope For Life banquet Nov. 3

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

Hope For Life Pregnancy Center’s Fall Dessert Banquet, “Rising Above,” will be held Sunday, Nov. 3, at the Floyd County Youth Enrichment Center at the Floyd County Fairgrounds, starting at 7 p.m.

The banquet will feature keynote speaker Gianna Jessen, who will share her story. Jessen is a nationally recognized pro-life speaker and advocate, as well as the inspiration behind the 2011 movie “October Baby.”

“The movie ‘October Baby’ was loosely based on her life,” said Gayle Opp, the new director at Hope For Life.

Opp added that a “fantastic local speaker” who has “a great story from here in Charles City” will also be featured at the banquet.

“I don’t think anyone is going to go home with a dry eye,” she said.

As described in materials promoting the banquet, Jessen was born two months premature, weighing just 2½ pounds, after her mother underwent a failed procedure for a saline abortion. “Her life has been a short path littered with obstacles at every turn — challenges, betrayal and cruelty — but a life that was never meant to be has been used to inspire and save others.”

“We love her. She’s a great person,” said Lynelle Shirk, administrator and volunteer coordinator at Hope For Life. “We just think that her story is such a cool story, and it’s something she loves to share.”

Shirk said that the banquet will also include homemade goodies, and Aroma’s in Charles City will be providing a coffee bar. She said the Bridge Church in Charles City would be providing the worship.

Last year, about 250 people attended the banquet to hear keynote speaker Greg Baker, vice president of church engagement for The Family Leader Foundation.

To register for the event, or for more information, go to the Hope For Life website at hopeforlifepc.com, find them on Facebook, or call them at 641-715-1537.

“Or just stop in and meet us,” Shirk said. “We love to have people come in here and see what we’re doing.”

The Hope For Life Pregnancy Center is located at 705 N. Main St. in Charles City.