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MARLYS POPMA

Marlys Popma was raised in a Christian home in Jenison, Michigan (suburb of Grand Rapids, Michigan). She had the privilege of attending Christian grade school, High School, and graduating from a Christian college. During her college years, the world began to collide with her commitment to Christ, and she became what she calls a "prodigal daughter." Her Lifestyle was in no way becoming to that of one who had accepted Christ as her Savior.

In her senior year of college she became pregnant by a man whom she barely knew. Marlys life took many twists and turns. By the time Marlys discovered she was pregnant she had been reunited with an earlier college love. She had agreed to marry him until she discovered that she was carrying the child of another man. After many sleepless nights and much prayer (when in trouble wayward Christian's often run back to God) she decided to marry the father of her child rather than the man she loved.

All was not perfect in Marlys' early-married life. She and her new husband struggled to make things work for two years until the Lord intervened and showed Marlys how much love she indeed had for the man she had married. At this time Marlys began speaking to young people about abstinence and proper sexual decision making.

In 1983 Mrs. Popma because concerned not only with young men and women who might be faced with sexual decisions, but also with those young women who were already pregnant and frightened. She decided to form a local pro-life group in her community. From that time she became involved in the development of dozens of pro-life organizations across her state. Her life has since been dedicated to helping young people make healthy decisions about their sexuality, helping young women in crisis, helping counsel young women who have experienced the trauma of abortion, and helping in the elections of dozens of pro-life candidates to political office.

Marlys Popma is known by family, friends, pro-life individuals, and the media as one of the leading pro-life advocates in the state of Iowa. Her love for unborn children and their mothers is what drives her to continue in her public role as an advocate for those in need.

Professional Information

1983 Founding president of the Agape Christian Action Council in Sioux Center, IA.
1986 Pro-Life coordinator of Congressional candidate Fred Grandy.
1986-1988 Founding Chairman of the Board of Iowa Right to Life Committee
1988-1992 President of Iowa Right to Life Committee
1992 Organization and Political Director for the congressional campaign of Congressman Jim Ross Lightfoot.
1993 Founding Director of the Vitae Society. Pro-Life media campaign in Iowa.
1994 Field and Coalition Director for Governor Terry Branstad.
1995-1996 Iowa Deputy Campaign Manager and Coalitions Director for presidential candidate Sen. id Gramm
1996 Executive Director of The Republican Party of Iowa
1998-1998 Executive Director of the Iowa Family Policy Center - pro-family organization associated with Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council
1998 Spokesperson and media contact for the McCaughey septuplets and their family members.
1998-Feb, 99 National Deputy Political Director of the Campaign for Working Families, a pro- life, pro-family, pro-free enterprise political action committee chaired by Mr. Gary Bauer, president of the Family Research Council.
Feb, 99-Present National Deputy Political Director of the Bauer for President 2000 presidential campaign.
1983-Present Speaker on various topics ranging from abstinence to communication from pass roots organization to motivation. Have addressed groups in Texas, Illinois, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Michigan, etc.