By By ERIN VER BERKMOES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Nearly 540 southwest Michigan residents gathered at Lake Michigan College's Grand Upton Hall Tuesday night to celebrate the 20 years of service provided by the Pregnancy Care Center in Niles.
The event was a way for those in attendance to celebrate life, as well as raise money for the work the center does.
They were also there to listen to keynote speaker Alan Keyes.
In 2004, the Pregnancy Care Center served 507 clients. The center offers women, counseling, an abstinence program and pregnancy tests.
Keyes, who is a former Republican presidential candidate, Illinois senatorial candidate, syndicated radio host and is passionate about his pro-life and pro-family views, started off the evening saying not a word comes from the mouth of God, which isn't fact.
God does give true forgiveness for those women who are involved in abortion, as he has the power to do so and can transform lives, Keyes said.
The real nation is right next to you. The nation is your neighbor, it is us, we are the ones who elected those into the positions we have there for we are the nation, he said.
Keyes went on to talk about the treasure of our nation.
The issue with Roe v. Wade wasn't just about to have or not have an abortion, Keyes said. It was about should a child in the womb be treated as a person.
Keyes said he hopes the work being done now to end what he called the travesty of abortion continues.
Keyes said people like those in attendance Tuesday night need to continue to do their work and plead the case for the lives of unborn children.