I’m very pleased to announce this years recipient of Life Issues Institutes prestigious Hero at Heart award. Its given to select individuals who demonstrate outstanding courage or compassion on behalf of innocent human life.
Past recipients of the Hero at Heart award have included such notables as: our pro-life hero Congressman Henry Hyde, Ambassador Mary Ann Glendon, former KS state Attorney General Phill Kline, Abby Johnson and Olympic medal-winner Tasha Danvers-Smith. Learn more details at the link above.
Last Friday I presented the 2011 award to Rev. Walter B. Hoye, II in Washington, DC at a gathering of fellow pro-life leaders. Walters wife, Lori, stood by his side during the award presentation.
Rev. Hoye is a resident of the Oakland, California area, and has led a ministry of reaching out to abortion-minded women. He and his volunteers stand outside area abortion mills to speak with women who are going in to end the lives of their unborn babies. His gentle message of hope and love has been enormously effective in this bastion of bay area pro-abortion thinking. Of course Walter was so effective; the abortion mill was hemorrhaging business, so it cried foul to the Oakland City Council. They in turn passed an ordinance against pro-life speech in an attempt to keep Walter and his volunteers away.
Rev. Hoye challenged the ordinance in court, and in the process, was subjected to arrest, harassment, physical threats and court challenges. Through it all, he has remained faithful to his call to minister to women in crisis. I first met Walter when the TV film crew and I traveled to Oakland to interview him for an episode of Facing Life Head-On. You can watch the full episode by clicking here.
A huge turning point in Walters journey was a unanimous decision by the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appealslong known for its far-left rulings. The city ordinance was so blatantly discriminatory against pro-life speech that even the Ninth Circuit couldnt stomach it. By sending the case back to a lower court, the Court effectively declared victory on behalf of Rev. Hoyes efforts.
Ever since my very first encounter with Rev. Hoye I was impressed by his demeanor and dedication to a just cause. Walter is a still, small voice in the verbal turmoil of the abortion debate. Yet his humble and loving actions are effectively turning the hearts and minds of women against abortion. Life Issues Institute is honored to give him this award.
Congratulations Walter. I pray your ministry continues, and I look forward to working side-by-side with you in the future.
Bradley Mattes
President, Life Issues Institute
Life Issues Institute is dedicated to changing hearts and minds of millions of people through education. For 32 years, organizations and individuals around the world have depended upon Life Issues Institute to provide the latest information and effective tools to protect innocent human life from womb to tomb.