Interview with Mr. Cal Zastrow

(This is the 2nd in a series of interviews with prolife activists across Michigan and America. It is my hope that you will be blessed and encouraged to read about others who are fighting to stop the murder of preborn children.)

Dear reader,

Today I would like to introduce you to Mr. Cal Zastrow. Cal is a prolife activist who lives in the Saginaw, MI area. He is the chairman of Michigan Citizens for Life, and has fought for the right to life of every preborn child for many years. Cal has also gone on mission trips to China, and is a great encouragement and asset to the prolife cause.

Now to the interview:

JN: Cal, thank you for taking the time to do this interview with me.

CZ: Thanks for asking.

JN: First, could you tell us a little about yourself and your family?

CZ: My family and I are missionaries to the preborn who minister in front of Saginaw's child-killing facilities. We homeschool our children while also travelling to other cities and states to stand against the murdering of children as we proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

JN: Why, when, and how did you first become involved in the prolife cause?

CZ: While youth pastors in the mid 1980's, my wife and I helped a friend start a crisis pregnancy center. We heard about the Rescue movement in the late 1980's and I knew that some folks were finally getting serious about stopping child-murder in peaceful ways.

JN: I have read about the "Rescue Movement" in the late 80s and early 90s. Have you ever participated in any rescues? If so, could you describe the experience, knowing that you could be fined, arrested, and even serve jail time for rescuing?

CZ: Yes, I've participated in many peaceful rescues. Sometimes police arrest us and sometimes they let us sit there all day while the killing office remains closed. Both my wife and I have been arrested, repeatedly. Peacefully interposing yourself between a child and a murderer is wonderful. Whatever consequences befall us for rescuing are trivial compared to children getting their limbs and heads cut off.

JN: What do you believe it will take for the murder of preborn children to end in America?

CZ: For church people to believe and act like Christians. Christians love Jesus and love their neighbors as themselves.

JN: In the spring of 2006, Michigan Citizens for Life conducted a petition drive to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot that would define life as starting at conception. Why do you feel we need an amendment? Are you concerned that, if Michigan adopts a personhood amendment in the future, the Supreme Court will simply strike it down as un-Constitutional?

CZ: The Michigan Constitution does not define who a person is. Biologically, personhood begins at conception. Therefore, every innocent person should be protected by law and by love. The U.S. supreme court should be defied or ignored when it rules contrary to God's Law and the Constitution.

JN: Please tell us a little about some hurdles MCFL encountered during the petition drive. Also, please share any tactics you found helpful while petitioning, like places to petition, memorable experiences, and such.

CZ: The main hurdle we encountered was unbelief - unbelief in God's ability to bless truth and obedience. Unbelief prevented us from a successful petition drive our first try. The best places to petition are where there are lots of pro-life people: churches, festivals, parades, religious concerts, etc. Don't get frustrated with pro-death people, just keep asking more people and you'll get more signatures. I enjoy petitioning and talking to people about King Jesus and the personhood of pre-born children.

JN: How can people help MCFL in their efforts to criminalize abortion/child-murder?

CZ: Contact us, volunteer, donate, and pray.

JN: Are you involved in the political arena? (I do not consider child-murder to be a political issue- it is an issue of right and wrong.) If so, in what ways? And are you affiliated with any particular party?

CZ: I'm currently not affiliated with any political party. I do work with various political officials in efforts to stop child-murder.

JN: Please take this time to give us any final thoughts you may have, and how people can actively work to stop abortion/child-murder.

CZ: Look in the Yellow Pages of your phone books. Turn to "abortions" and read how they market the murdering of babies. Read how they dehumanize children and attempt to deny their personhood. Ask God to put in your heart what is in His heart for innocent children. Tear the stinking ad out of the phone book and follow the map to the death pit! Lift up your voice for the babies in front of your local killing center. Offer help to the mothers. Hold up large pictures of pre-natal babies and ones murdered by choice. After they are done killing for the day, take your voice and your signs and try to get others to care. Cry out in churches, at ball games, on busy sidewalks, and from door-to-door! Allow this wicked culture no rest until the violence stops.

JN: Once again, I would like to thank you for taking the time to do this interview. May God bless you and your family as you serve Him! May He hasten the day when every preborn child is once again protected!

CZ: Amen. May our children be blessed by our faithfulness.