AP

Walk for Life, Hyde Park, 19 September 2026

A sea of white t-shirts, children blowing bubbles, testimonies of lives saved, singing God’s praises in the middle of a city lost in darkness, the gospel clearly proclaimed, and a group of people committed to speak up for the vulnerable heartbeat in the mother’s womb.

This was the scene on Saturday, the 19th of September 2026 as another annual LoveSydney Walk for Life event took place.

It began with the hymn ‘All creatures Great and Small’ being sung across Hyde Park, a welcome and prayer. Pastor Joel Radford spoke on the story of Zacheus, a short man that received a visit from Jesus. Christians are also short – spiritually (from Rom.3:23) –  but have received a visit from Jesus. We must seek for the lost in our city to receive this same visit from Jesus (Luke 19:10).

Pharmacist Mark Cutrupi then described the way chemical abortions work. Shockingly, the majority of abortions are now happening through drugs dispensed from pharmacies, not in abortion clinics or hospitals. There has been a dramatic increase in these chemical abortions in recent years. In July 2026 alone, 4604 prescriptions for the common abortion drug MS-2 Step were filled across Australia – over 50,000 per year. Each prescription is another child murdered before having the joy of breathing for the first time. Even the common ‘Pill’ contraceptive is potentially causing abortions as it hinders fertilised eggs from implanting on the uterus wall.

Lyle Shelton spoke about how our culture is far worse than we may care to believe. He told two stories. The first was about a scan Lyle and his wife were getting for their first pregnancy. One of the measurements suggested that the child might have Down syndrome, so the doctor immediately recommended a risky amniotic fluid test to check if this was so. The reason for validating? Because they may wish to abort the child. My husband and I had the same experience with our first child. The speed at which doctors run to recommend murder is astonishing and heart-breaking.

The second story Lyle told was about our politicians. In one discussion about abortion, Lyle was told that we couldn’t ban abortions because our health system would be put under too much strain if we had more disabled children born into this world.

Read that again and then stop and pray. Lord, restrain the hand of our wicked rulers. We are living in a society that promotes eugenics. Nazi Germany is not a thing of the past. It is a present reality in Australia.

The next speaker was Michelle Pearse, the CEO of the Australian Christian Lobby. She gave a clear, gospel-saturated speech, calling out fear as the driving force behind abortion – fear of the cost of providing for a baby, fear of the cost to our lifestyle, but ultimately, a selfish fear driving a murderous outcome.

As Sarah Sparks put it in her song, Religion:

And we’re still sacrificing our children

As we lay them down at the feet

Of the idol of convenience

‘Cause the only god I fear is me.

The answer to this fear is love. After all, ‘perfect love casts out fear’ (1 John 4:18). The love of Christ in the gospel is the only solution to our country’s wickedness and corruption. New laws cannot change the heart. The gospel is what will heal our nation. Michelle’s call was to churches, to pray and cry out to the Lord for mercy and a great move of the Holy Spirit.

That is, indeed, our only hope. May the Lord stir us to such prayer.

Rev. Matt Johnson from Redfern gave a powerful testimony  from his own experiences, and challenged the churches of Sydney to say ‘no’ to abortions AND to say ‘yes’ to helping the mothers and children that live with unplanned pregnancies.

If you or your church are looking for a way to say ‘yes’ to helping mothers and children, get in touch with Hope House (0433 930 220 or info@hopehouse.com.au). Hope House volunteers attended the Walk and provide support for women in need who wish to keep their babies. More volunteers are needed for this important work.

The crowd then had the privilege of hearing a live heartbeat from the unborn baby of Nathan and Rashmika Athavle. This is a sound that never grows old and reminds us of the miracle of human life.

The Walk for Life is an important event. As Christians, we must speak out against the horror of abortion in our country. Put next year’s Walk for Life in your calendar (18 September 2027). Tell your family, your friends and your church.

We must speak out for the unborn.

“If the unborn is not a human person, no justification for abortion is necessary. However, if the unborn is a human person, no justification for abortion is adequate.” — Greg Koukl

– Shamira Eglinton