A 4-year-old girl is safe today after surviving an ordeal that many first responders feared would end in tragedy. Instead, what unfolded along the Oregon coast became a powerful reminder to thank God for His protection and mercy.

According to one report from KATU, the young girl became separated from her family at Cape Lookout State Park on the Fourth of July, prompting a massive search involving local, state and federal agencies.

The search quickly became complicated because many of the girl’s family members primarily spoke Russian. Netarts-Oceanside Fire District Chief Jeff McBrayer said resident firefighter and EMT Vlad Bilan became “absolutely critical to gaining information from the family members that we would not have been able to get otherwise.”

The breakthrough came after a campground visitor reported seeing what appeared to be an unattended child walking alone on the beach. Searchers followed small footprints into a brush-covered area that had not been part of the original search.

“We estimate that she traveled almost five miles, which for a four-year-old is pretty much unbelievable,” McBrayer said.

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The girl was ultimately found about five miles from where she disappeared. She was dehydrated and hypothermic, but was transported to a local hospital in good condition.

McBrayer admitted hope had begun to fade as crews prepared to continue searching through the night.

“We had reached kind of a point of despair because we felt like, obviously, if she had been caught by a sneaker wave or had been pulled out into the ocean, the chances of survival were very low,” he said. “We were worried at this point that we might not even be able to return her to her family if we did locate her.”

Responders later revealed the little girl had been found only about 15 feet from the surf, showing just how close she had come to even greater danger.

For Bilan, the most unforgettable moment came when the child was reunited with her mother.

“Her face was filled with kind of nervous anticipation,” he said. “But that moment when she looked through the window of the back of the ambulance and her entire demeanor changed, and she just lit up. And then to be able to get eyes on the girl myself and just see that she was full smile in the ambulance warming up, that was incredible.”

Bilan also praised everyone involved in the search, saying, “Everybody was on the same page. There was that energy of if this takes all night or if this takes days, everybody’s committed to be here.”

We thank God that this little girl was found alive despite the overwhelming odds. We also give thanks for the first responders and the observant bystander whose actions played a vital role in bringing a frightened child safely back into her family’s arms. Moments like these remind us that even in humanity’s darkest hours, God’s mercy can shine through in extraordinary ways.

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.

A Roman Catholic therapist who refused to bow to the LGBT altar is no longer being threatened with a $90,000 fine for being true to his beliefs.

Frank Canepa ran afoul of Oregon’s rules when he refused to get all gushy over a client’s same-sex relationship, according to Just the News.

Oregon’s Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists decided that standing up instead of bowing down required a hefty dose of discipline, and whacked Canepa with a $90,000 fine. The penalty and the disciplinary notice that went with it have both been rescinded.

Then came a March ruling from the Supreme Court that cut the legs out from under Oregon by ruling in favor of a Colorado therapist, Kaley Chiles, who did not fall into line with state thinking by saying minor clients suffered from gender confusion.

During a counseling session with a client Canepa had seen for more than two years, he refused to support her same-sex relationship, as noted by a news release from the Alliance Defending Freedom.

Canepa explained that his faith would not allow him to do what his client wanted.

“The government can’t target counselors for their views and force people to say things that go against their core convictions,” ADF Senior Counsel and Vice President of Litigation Strategy Jonathan Scruggs said.

“The Supreme Court recently took Colorado to task for censoring counselors and mandating orthodoxy in the counselor’s office, and Oregon should take notice. ADF will continue to ensure that free speech is protected in Oregon — and every state where it’s threatened — and halt states’ attempts to weaponize their licensure systems,” he said.

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Although Canepa tried to avoid passing judgment on his client’s relationship, the client persisted until he finally told her what he believed was not compatible with what she was doing.

For that, the Oregon board said Canepa violated Oregon law and the American Counseling Association’s Code of Ethics. In addition to the fine, he was ordered to undergo six hours of education.

“The Supreme Court has ruled that the First Amendment protects counselors and that the government cannot then attempt to punish counselors for answering a client’s question about a counselor’s view on a subject,” Logan Spena, legal counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom’s Center for Free Speech, said, according to the Statesman-Journal.

The ADF had argued that Oregon violated Canepa’s First Amendment rights to free speech and free exercise of religion.

In a post from the Standing for Freedom Center, author Dillon Burroughs noted that there was more at stake in the case than one person.

“It’s important to point out that Oregon didn’t overtly fine Canepa because of his Christian faith. Its reasoning is simpler but still indefensible: The state has an official position on what licensed counselors can and cannot say about sexuality and relationships,” he wrote.

“In other words, it openly admits it punished Canepa because his answer departed from its official state-sanctioned orthodoxy — and officials insist that stance is perfectly justified,” he wrote.

“Even Americans who disagree with Canepa’s beliefs should recognize the danger of a state insisting it has the authority to decide the ‘right’ beliefs,” he continued.

“A government that can punish a counselor for declining to affirm one contested viewpoint today can punish a different professional for dissenting from another official viewpoint tomorrow.”

This article originally appeared on The Western Journal and is reposted with permission.

A growing conversation about earthquake readiness is putting renewed attention on one of America’s most vulnerable regions.

Residents across California, Oregon and Washington are being reminded that while scientists cannot predict when a major earthquake will strike, technology now exists that could provide crucial seconds of warning before powerful shaking begins.

According to a recent Daily Mail report, emergency officials are encouraging West Coast residents to use earthquake alert systems that notify people moments before seismic waves reach their locations.

The technology, known as ShakeAlert, was developed through a partnership involving the U.S. Geological Survey and regional seismic networks. The system detects earthquakes after they begin and rapidly sends alerts to areas expected to experience significant shaking.

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This conversation comes amid ongoing concerns about the Cascadia Subduction Zone, a massive fault system stretching from Northern California to Canada. Scientists believe the fault produced a devastating magnitude-9 earthquake in 1700, generating a tsunami that traveled across the Pacific Ocean.

Emergency officials routinely encourage families to keep disaster supplies on hand, establish communication plans and become familiar with local emergency procedures. Smartphone alerts and emergency notification systems have also become important tools for public safety.

Reminders of nature’s unpredictability can serve as a call to both practical and spiritual readiness.

Throughout Scripture, God’s people are encouraged to prepare wisely while placing their confidence in Him. Proverbs 22:3 declares, “The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.”

Earthquakes remain among the most sudden natural disasters on Earth. Unlike hurricanes or storms that can often be tracked days in advance, major seismic events can unfold with little or no notice. The existence of warning technology may provide a brief opportunity to react, but experts emphasize that preparation before a disaster occurs remains the most effective defense.

In a world marked by uncertainty, preparedness remains an act of wisdom. The goal ultimately is the same: to be ready when unexpected challenges arise.

For millions living along America’s western edge, that reminder may be arriving just in time.

Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the newly released book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.

Chaos erupted outside an In-N-Out Burger drive-thru on Feb. 9 when gunfire tore through a family’s vehicle, striking 28-year-old Marcio Garcia in the head while his wife and two young sons sat beside him.

What followed stunned doctors, investigators and everyone close to the family.

According to a report from Fox News, Garcia somehow remained conscious after the bullet entered his head, driving his wounded family away from danger and to safety before seeking medical treatment himself.

More than three months later, on Wednesday, May 14, Oregon police announced the arrests of two suspects connected to the shooting.

Authorities arrested Ethan Adrian Armenta-Lagunas, 20, and Gabriel Alex Javier, 18, both of Salem. They face charges including first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, criminal mischief and recklessly endangering another person.

Police said multiple firearms were allegedly discovered inside Armenta-Lagunas’ apartment during the investigation. Authorities are still searching for a third suspect, Anthony Taylor-Manriquez, 22, who is considered armed and dangerous.

Investigators said Garcia was leaving the restaurant with his wife and children, ages 2 and 7, when shots rang out near the drive-thru. Bullets shattered the family’s car windows, though Garcia’s wife and children escaped physical injury.

Yet amid the violence and fear, Garcia’s actions became the story that captured widespread attention.

“In the middle of chaos and fear, while he was injured and in pain, he somehow found the strength to drive us out of the scene to safety,” Garcia’s wife wrote in an online fundraiser, according to Fox News. “He protected our family before thinking of himself. That is the kind of man and father he is.”

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The account reads like something out of a movie, but for this Oregon family, it became a testimony of survival and what many are calling a miracle.

Images shared online reportedly showed the bullet removed from Garcia’s head during surgery. Despite the severity of the injury, his wife said he avoided major brain damage and is now recovering at home.

“The doctors told us what we already believe — this is nothing short of a miracle,” she said, according to Fox News. “Now he faces a long road of rest, healing, and recovery.”

Stories like this remind us how fragile life can be and how quickly ordinary moments can turn into tragedy. A routine stop for food became a nightmare no family should ever endure. Yet in the middle of violence, God’s protection remained evident.

Scripture reminds us in Psalm 46:1 that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Garcia’s survival after such a devastating injury stands as a powerful reminder that the Lord still moves in ways doctors and human understanding cannot fully explain.

As Garcia continues recovering and authorities search for the remaining suspect, we should keep this family lifted in prayer. Pray for complete healing for Garcia, peace for his wife and children after the trauma they experienced, and protection over their family in the difficult days ahead.

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.

Two Oregon high school athletes, Alexa Anderson and Reese Eckard, made headlines at the state track and field championships in Eugene on May 31, 2025.

After finishing third and fourth in the girls’ high jump, they refused to stand on the medal podium alongside Liaa Rose, a transgender athlete assigned male at birth.

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Footage captured the athletes turning their backs and stepping off the platform as Rose was announced—a silent protest against the competitor’s inclusion.

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Anderson later told Fox News that their protest was not driven by hatred: “We did it because someone has to say this isn’t right. In order to protect the integrity and fairness of girls sports we must stand up for what is right”.

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An official escorted Anderson and Eckard off the stage, and it remains unclear whether their actions affected their official rankings.

The incident adds to a growing trend of female athletes voicing concerns over transgender participation in girls’ sports. Oregon follows recent state-level protests in Maryland and California.

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The protest has reignited national debate over Title IX protections and federal involvement. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at preventing biological males from competing in women’s sports—a move supported by the America First Policy Institute, which also filed a Title IX complaint against Oregon on May 27.

This article originally appeared on American Faith, and is reposted with permission.

An Oregon educator has filed a federal lawsuit against the InterMountain Education Service District, alleging that his constitutional rights were violated when he was ordered to remove Christian-themed children’s books from his office.

The case underscores ongoing tensions between religious expression and institutional policies in public education settings.

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Roderick Theis, a licensed clinical social worker and education specialist with IMESD since 2008, displayed three books in his offices at La Grande Middle School and Elgin School District: He Is He, She Is She, and Johnny the Walrus. Theis stated that these books reflect his Christian beliefs about gender and were intended to inspire children to embrace their God-given identities.

In Oct. 2024, a staff member filed a complaint, labeling the books as “transphobic.” Subsequently, IMESD officials instructed Theis to remove the books, deeming them a “hostile expression of animus” toward individuals based on gender identity. Theis was warned that failure to comply could result in disciplinary action, including termination.

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The lawsuit, filed with the assistance of Alliance Defending Freedom, argues that IMESD’s actions constitute viewpoint discrimination. Theis contends that while his expression of Christian beliefs was censored, other employees were permitted to display materials supporting various ideological perspectives, including LGBTQ+ themes and political messages.

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Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Tyson Langhofer stated, “Government officials are wrong to tell me I can’t express my sincere religious beliefs about male and female. Every American, including my co-workers, has the same freedom to express their own views on the subject.”

Theis seeks damages and a court order allowing him to display the books, asserting that IMESD’s policies infringe upon his First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. The case highlights the broader debate over religious freedom and free speech within public institutions.

This article originally appeared on American Faith, and is reposted with permission.

Christians in the Pacific Northwest are persecuted at every level for even talking about the biblical foundations of biological gender and standing up against extreme legislation threatening parental authority.

Remember how they had to fight fines and prison time for keeping their churches open during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020?

It is a different world for them.

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Last Saturday, May 24, we stepped into Seattle knowing that it was going to be different from previous cities we had visited in our May Day USA Tour. But when our event began at Cal Anderson Park in the heart of the Emerald City, it was unlike anything I had ever seen.

Many hundreds of protesters arrived, I estimated from my vantage point to be 500 to 1,000, that lined our permitted area with signs, bullhorns, extended fingers and vulgar shouts. It included Antifa that showed up among the crowd heckling all day in a “Pro Trans Support Protest” hurriedly planned on social media in response to May Day organized by Jenny and Bob Donnelly, Her Voice MVMT. Ross Johnston, a young, dynamic evangelist from Hollywood, California, had also joined in partnership with Jenny and Bob for this worship, evangelism and truth rally in five cities.

I was there adding my small part to pray complacency off of the church, connecting the body of Christ to how they could get involved with government and inspiring them to pray, vote and engage.

Our teams have traveled to New York City, Miami, Houston and Seattle together, and we will conclude in Los Angeles on May 31, holding events every weekend during May to stir up the church and win the lost.

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In New York City, some protestors held up signs as Rep. Alyssa Brown from Arkansas delivered our message of prayer, voting and engagement in the pouring rain. Kids received bikes, families were blessed with gift cards and children received haircuts from caring Christians before the worship, evangelism and call for reformation in our culture began. People came to Jesus, and many experienced deliverance on the streets while the Gospel was proclaimed. The progress continued in Miami and Houston with passionate worship and thousands in attendance.

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These events were a breeze compared to what we walked into on Saturday. Seattle was something altogether different.

Jenny Donnelly had worked on the permit for one park and was later pushed by city officials to go to another one, Cal Anderson Park. The ministry followed the proper procedure, going through the process that any church or ministry can follow nationwide to hold a Christian service outside.

The Seattle Mayor, Bruce Harrell, condemned us as Christians for being in the city, calling us a “right-wing national effort to attack our trans and LGBTQ+ communities.” He then directed the Parks Department to review all the circumstances around our application.

It is hard to describe what I saw in this city in the Pacific Northwest. I watched hundreds of protestors over eight hours—broken people, deeply angry, with some who looked afraid of our Christian beliefs. These hurting souls found community among themselves, their mutual pain, confused sexual identities and deception. My heart broke as I watched them in disbelief.

Coming to Seattle on a tour that not only deals with repentance, revival and reformation, a tour that is calling the church to get out in culture, stand up for biblical truth and push back against the darkness, I should have expected this reaction, but I didn’t believe that it was going to be this bad.

In the end, we saw 23 arrests, a riot that broke out as we worshipped and Christians praying and worshipping for hours to push back the darkness in the atmosphere. Families with children boldly stood rather than leaving or pulling out of danger. These Washington state Christians amazed me as we were later accused of “fascist family values” by the Seattle Times.

We came to worship and pray But also to stand up for children and families to say as a church family—don’t mess with our kids. Jenny Donnelly has adopted these words that became popular in Peru’s family values movement. In her words, she felt led to bring them to America “to copy/paste” for our nation.

Multiple churches in Washington state united for this event. Many came under the banner of #Dontmesswithourkids, tired of the indoctrination of their children with gender ideology in public schools. Many were frustrated that abortions can be offered to their teenagers without their parental consent. Many were concerned about the church around the nation staying silent. In the end, none of these statements were made from the stage in Seattle. We worshipped, prayed and preached the Gospel as the #Dontmesswithourkids flags flew in the crowd.

Pastors like Russell B. Johnson from Pursuit Church prayed from the stage and declared, “Seattle belongs to God.” He and his young son boldly prayed and stood on the stage. Sweet men and women of God from Spokane and all over the state came. Even a group from Portland, Oregon, traveled nearly two and a half hours to support the cause.  

Pastors Russell Johnson, Jenny Donnelly and Ross Johnston will not be silenced as they host a rally on the steps of the Seattle Mayor’s office on Tuesday, May 27, at 5 p.m. (Pacific Daylight Time) and push back for our constitutional rights as Christians to assemble and pray.

Second Corinthians 5 talks about us being ambassadors for Christ and pleading with the lost to be reconciled to Christ. We did that in Seattle. We stood outside the walls of the church, and it was life-giving to those involved. We had more people attend than would ever come through the doors of a church on a Sunday morning. They heard the Gospel, they heard about the love of Christ and they were prayed for.

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I can tell you that Seattle has personally wrecked me. I have been awakened from any last sleep or complacency that I had left in me. I am fully awake.

Even in America, there is a world hostile to our beliefs. But it is time for us to be the light and venture into the darkness, making a difference. As Jesus said in John 12:46-47: “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.”

Don’t be afraid. The Light overcomes. Our heart needs to be broken for a world that needs salvation.

Bunni Pounds is president and founder of Christians Engaged, a ministry activating the body of Christ to pray, vote and engage regularly. Formerly a congressional candidate and 16-year political consultant, she is a motivational speaker and Bible teacher. She is the author of the book Jesus and Politics: One Woman’s Walk with God in a Mudslinging Profession.

Something is brewing a few hundred miles off the coast of Oregon.

An underwater volcano known as Axial Seamount is showing signs that it will soon erupt, NBC News reported.

Scientists have seen telltale signs that an eruption is coming — including a growing bulge accompanied by more than 1,000 earthquakes a day, according to Bill Chadwick, a volcanologist and professor at Oregon State University.

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“This volcano is similar to the ones in Hawaii that erupt very fluid lavas,” Chadwick told NBC.

“They tend to inflate like a balloon in between eruptions. At Axial, the seafloor is actually rising, and that’s a big signal.”

As alarming as all of that sounds, Chadwick said there’s no danger to people on land — or even at sea.

“There’s no explosion or anything, so it would really have no impact on people,” Chadwick said. “Even if you were out on a boat right over the seamount when it’s erupting, you probably would never know it.”

The University of Washington also said residents don’t need to fear.

“An eruption at Axial Seamount also has nothing to do with seismic activity on land, so Pacific Northwesterners don’t need to worry about this event triggering a major earthquake or tsunami,” an announcement by the University of Washington’s College of the Environment said.

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“That said, while most of us are happy to remain at a safe distance from volcanic eruptions, the researchers we spoke to were eager to see as much of this one as possible.”

It explained that “scientists are excited because it is giving us a window into some of the most important geological and biological processes on Earth.”

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According to a blog post by Chadwick and Scott Nooner of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Axial Seamount has been declared “the most active submarine volcano in the NE Pacific, with known eruptions in 1998, 2011 and 2015.”

Because of that distinction, it is home to the world’s first underwater volcano observatory, dubbed NeMO.

Researchers at the American Geophysical Union conference announced last year that the volcano was about to explode, IFL Science reported.

t quoted Chadwick as predicting it would likely blow by the end of 2025, though the publication added that predicting a volcanic eruption more than a few hours in advance is tough to do.

When it does blow, researchers will be watching their monitoring equipment and gathering data.

“Whatever it does, we’re going to learn something new,” said William Wilcock of the University of Washington’s School of Oceanography.

This article originally appeared on The Western Journal, and is reposted with permission.

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Oregon Governor Tina Kotek signed a proclamation on Monday declaring the day as “Abortion Provider Appreciation Day,” reaffirming her administration’s commitment to maintaining access to abortion services in the state.

Governor Kotek stated, “Here in Oregon, we understand that abortion is healthcare, and providers are appreciated and can continue to provide care without interference and intimidation, To our providers and to the patients who live in Oregon or have been forced to retreat to our state for care, know that I continue to have your back.”

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The proclamation comes amid a reported increase in out-of-state patients seeking abortions in Oregon. According to the Oregon Health Authority, of the 10,075 abortions provided in the state in 2023, 1,661 were for out-of-state residents, reflecting a nearly 60% increase from the previous year.

Governor Kotek’s actions have drawn criticism from Oregon Senate Republicans, who questioned her priorities. In a social media post, they wrote, “Fix crime? Fix schools? Fix affordability? Nah… Kotek declares ‘Abortion Provider Appreciation Day’ instead.”

Additionally, the pro-life organization Oregon Right to Life expressed opposition to the proclamation, stating, “You may have heard it’s Abortion Provider Appreciation Day—but we’re not celebrating abortion. We’re honoring a brave former abortion worker who chose to walk away from the industry.”

Governor Kotek has been a long-time advocate for reproductive health equity. As Speaker of the Oregon House, she worked to pass the Reproductive Health Equity Act in 2017. In 2023, as Governor, she signed the Access to Reproductive Health Care law, House Bill 2002 (HB 2002), which protects access to reproductive health care and provides state funding to support community organizations and clinical partners to ensure broader access to “necessary services.”

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HB 2002 also allows minors to have an abortion to undergo gender-affirming surgery without parental consent or knowledge.

Chairman of the Oregon GOP, Justin Hwang, shared with Fox News his perspective on the bill, saying, “This bill represents a new low for Oregon and an even bigger loss for children and parents. Imagine being a father or mother who finds out that their child has made a life-changing decision without any consent or notification.”

This article originally appeared on American Faith, and is reposted with permission.

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Oregon Governor Tina Kotek signed a proclamation on Monday declaring the day as “Abortion Provider Appreciation Day,” reaffirming her administration’s commitment to maintaining access to abortion services in the state.

Governor Kotek stated, “Here in Oregon, we understand that abortion is healthcare, and providers are appreciated and can continue to provide care without interference and intimidation, To our providers and to the patients who live in Oregon or have been forced to retreat to our state for care, know that I continue to have your back.”

Breaking News. Spirit-Filled Stories. Subscribe to Charisma on YouTube now!

The proclamation comes amid a reported increase in out-of-state patients seeking abortions in Oregon. According to the Oregon Health Authority, of the 10,075 abortions provided in the state in 2023, 1,661 were for out-of-state residents, reflecting a nearly 60% increase from the previous year.

Governor Kotek’s actions have drawn criticism from Oregon Senate Republicans, who questioned her priorities. In a social media post, they wrote, “Fix crime? Fix schools? Fix affordability? Nah… Kotek declares ‘Abortion Provider Appreciation Day’ instead.”

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Additionally, the pro-life organization Oregon Right to Life expressed opposition to the proclamation, stating, “You may have heard it’s Abortion Provider Appreciation Day—but we’re not celebrating abortion. We’re honoring a brave former abortion worker who chose to walk away from the industry.”

Governor Kotek has been a long-time advocate for reproductive health equity. As Speaker of the Oregon House, she worked to pass the Reproductive Health Equity Act in 2017. In 2023, as Governor, she signed the Access to Reproductive Health Care law, House Bill 2002 (HB 2002), which protects access to reproductive health care and provides state funding to support community organizations and clinical partners to ensure broader access to “necessary services.”

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HB 2002 also allows minors to have an abortion to undergo gender-affirming surgery without parental consent or knowledge.

Chairman of the Oregon GOP, Justin Hwang, shared with Fox News his perspective on the bill, saying, “This bill represents a new low for Oregon and an even bigger loss for children and parents. Imagine being a father or mother who finds out that their child has made a life-changing decision without any consent or notification.”

This article originally appeared on American Faith, and is reposted with permission.

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