Math education major Anna Hoduski (KS) has a burden to “be the voice” for unborn babies across America. The idea to “be the voice,” which comes from Proverbs 31:8–9, is the slogan for the transcontinental run Anna plans to begin in June 2016 with her sister Sarah Marie. Through this run, Anna hopes to gain more support for unborn babies’ right to life.
Anna’s burden for the right to life began when she was still in elementary school, but it was during her sophomore year at PCC that God really began to work in her heart about her role in doing something for the unborn. After reading Francis Beckwith’s book Defending Life, recommended by her political science teacher, Anna knew that she could defend the right to life from both a biblical and a scientific standpoint. A few days later while jogging near the college campus, she felt God leading her to combine her passion for running and her conviction about the right to life into something that would really get people’s attention.
When Anna told her close friend, junior elementary education major Megan Maier (IL), about her idea for the transcontinental run, she hoped Megan would discourage her immediately; however, Megan started helping Anna think about what needed to be done to make the journey happen.
The list is long, but already God has answered prayers. Someone has volunteered to provide running shoes; another person donated a van; and Answers in Genesis has agreed to be a publicity sponsor. Anna’s older brother is currently designing a website for the campaign; it will be up and running this June. On the website, supporters can buy T-shirts or make a donation to the cause. Anna is hoping that the website will also encourage churches and other venues to schedule her to speak as she travels across the United States.
“I’ll speak as often as they’ll give an opportunity. High schools, churches, anywhere that will open the doors—I’ll be willing to speak,” Anna said. “I want to educate people on some key [pro-life] arguments and also to explain to them why they should believe it.” But Anna hopes to do more than just convince people to believe in a cause. She said, “If you’re going to believe something, don’t just say you believe it, but actually be able to defend it.”
Because Anna wants to do this run the right way, she is training while working hard in her college classes. She is not only training physically but also focusing on her walk with Christ and her knowledge of support material for future speeches. “I have to know my stuff,” Anna said. “I have terms and flashcards to memorize. Ignorance would really hurt the cause.”
In the upcoming months, Anna plans to finish her degree while improving her public speaking abilities in her teaching classes and upcoming internship. She plans to graduate in May 2016, just one month before starting the run.
The run, which totals over 3,000 miles, will begin at the Golden Gate Bridge in California and end 11 months later in Washington, D.C. To complete the trip within a year, Anna plans to run 13.1 miles five days a week with her older sister. Her friend Megan will drive a van in front of them. For lodging, they plan to stay at churches where they are speaking about the pro-life cause.
Thinking about what lies ahead during the next two years, Anna admits that it’s a little frightening at times. But she has been challenged and encouraged during this past school year to keep pressing on. During one message in particular, Anna felt God reassuring her. “Many live under a sentence of death,” Pastor McBride said during his message on Esther’s role in saving her people. “Who do you know that are under a death sentence?”
Anna immediately thought of the unborn. “I don’t have a choice but to live this out,” she said, remembering that message. “It’s the most dangerous place in the world to be an unborn child. It breaks my heart.”
Like Esther, Anna is only one person, but she knows that small numbers do not limit what God can do. “I am one; but if God will use me, I will give everything,” Anna said.