Joe Mack, director of the office of public policy of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, received the South Carolina Citizens for Life 2008 Pro-Life Citizen of the Year award on Jan. 17.
Pictured with award recipient Joe Mack are Holly Gatling, left, executive director of SCCL, and Lisa Van Riper, president of SCCL and a professor at North Greenville University.The award was given at the annual “Stand Up for Life” march and rally at the State House.
Mack works closely with members of the South Carolina General Assembly, the governor and other elected officials to see that laws are passed and enforced to protect families, including unborn children.
According to Lisa Van Riper, president of South Carolina Citizens for Life, “Joe has worked tirelessly to protect the right to life and to educate our legislators about life issues. He and the Baptist convention made it possible for us to have the ‘Choose Life’ license plate that came out a few months ago. The monies generated by this tag will be dispersed among our pregnancy care centers across the state.”
Holly Gatling, executive director of Citizens for Life, said, “I’ve worked with Joe for many years as we’ve talked to our elected officials about protecting unborn victims of crime and giving civil rights to unborn children. He has been a faithful advocate of pro-life issues at the State House.”
“I am honored to receive this award,” Mack said. “I look forward to the day when babies will be regarded with all the rights and dignity that you and I share. I hope we see the day soon when all people will understand that an unborn child is a life and that choice should not be a death sentence.”
Rep. Greg Delleney, Chester, and Sen. Mike Fair, Greenville, also received awards for their pro-life work. Delleney and Sen. Larry Martin, Pickens, were honored through resolutions adopted at the 2008 annual meeting of the South Carolina Baptist Convention in November.