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BIG NEWS: We will have a VERY special guest speaker joining us this Saturday, and you will not want to miss it. Tune in tomorrow to find out.
We are now just two days away from the Statewide Day of Prayer for Life, and the momentum continues to grow. More cities are joining, more churches and families are preparing to gather, and now we have one more exciting reason to be there.
In my last email, I asked: How many things happening in New Mexico today would have seemed unimaginable only ten years ago?
Let’s take a look at the abortion landscape in New Mexico ten years ago, and compare it to where we are today.
In 2014, approximately 4,650 abortions were provided in New Mexico.
Ten years later, in 2024, approximately 12,700 abortions were provided to people coming from outside New Mexico alone. Those out-of-state abortions represented 69% of all abortions provided in New Mexico that year.
Think about that for a moment.
The number of abortions provided to people coming from outside New Mexico in 2024 alone was more than two times the total number of abortions provided in the entire state in 2014.
And the landscape continues to change. New Mexico has committed to a $10 million taxpayer-funded abortion facility.
LUCKILY, THE NUMBERS DON'T TELL THE WHOLE STORY
When I look at what has happened in New Mexico, I do not believe abortion statistics or political headlines tell the whole story about the people of this state.
Nearly seven out of ten abortions provided here in 2024 were for people traveling from somewhere else. Yet increasingly, New Mexico is becoming known nationally for abortion, as though those numbers somehow tell us who the people of this state are and what they value.
That simply does not match the New Mexico I encounter through my work.
One thing that has stood out to me in New Mexico is how many men still understand the importance of honoring women. They step forward to help, to protect, and to make sure a woman knows she is not alone. To me, that reflects something deeper than simple courtesy. It reflects a sense of responsibility, respect, and a belief that women are worthy of being cared for and protected.
Not long ago, I met a young man who could not have been more than 23 years old. As he greeted me, he removed his hat. It was a simple gesture, but it stayed with me because it reflected the respect and courtesy towards women that I see so often here.
Another day, I was carrying heavy furniture out of our office when a gentleman seemed to come out of nowhere and said, “Let me carry that for you.” He did not just help me with one piece. He stayed and helped load the furniture into my truck.
And I see that same spirit in the men who volunteer with us in Las Cruces. They give their time simply to be present alongside our sidewalk advocates, making sure the women serving there know they are supported and are not standing alone.
I see families caring for one another, neighbors quietly helping neighbors, and people giving sacrificially when someone needs it. I have experienced that generosity firsthand through this mission. New Mexicans have given their hard-earned money to help us care for mothers and children, including women and families coming across the state line from Texas.
These may seem like small things, but to me they reveal something beautiful about the traditional culture of New Mexico, a culture where respect for women, responsibility for family, care for neighbors, and service to others are still deeply valued.
And there is another part of this story that deserves to be seen.
Through the Spiritual Defense Coalition of New Mexico, churches, clergy, ministries, families, volunteers, and especially the Knights of Columbus are coming together in prayer and peaceful public witness.
The Knights have been a tremendous part of helping this effort grow. They have shown up, helped organize, encouraged others to participate, and stood beside us in prayer. Their willingness to step forward has been a huge part of why this is working, and I am deeply grateful.
The Spiritual Defense Coalition is becoming a real network of churches, ministries, prayer leaders, families, and volunteers who are willing to respond together when important needs arise.
We have already witnessed New Mexicans standing side by side with families from Texas and Ciudad Juárez, Catholics and non-Catholics, peacefully praying together.
That gives me hope.
Because while the abortion landscape has expanded, something else is happening too. Churches are coming together. Pregnancy-help organizations are serving women. Families are helping families. The Knights are stepping forward. Volunteers are giving their time. People who may never have known one another before are finding ways to serve and pray together.
Abortion is not the only story New Mexico has to tell.
There are many people across this state quietly caring for women and children, strengthening families, serving their neighbors, and living out their faith every day.
STATEWIDE DAY OF PRAYER FOR LIFE
Saturday, September 12, 2026
9:00 AM to 10:30 AM
If your city already has a public prayer location, we hope you'll join others there.
And the prayer network keeps growing! We now have 9 public prayer locations across New Mexico, with Los Lunas joining us. What a beautiful sign of people coming together in prayer.
📍 Las Cruces, NM | Abortion Center Build Site
4391 E. Lohman Ave., Las Cruces, NM 88011
📍 Santa Fe, NM | State Capitol Bldg.
490 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87501
📍 Albuquerque, NM | New Covenant Church
7200 Holly Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113
📍 Albuquerque, NM | Our Lady of Annunciation Church
2621 Vermont NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110
📍 Farmington, NM | The Journey Church
1901 E. Murray Dr, Farmington, NM 87401
📍 Gallup, NM | City Hall
110 West Aztec Avenue, Gallup, NM 87301
📍 Rio Rancho, NM | Saint John Vianny Church
1001 Meteor Ave.Rio Rancho 87144
📍 Clayton, NM | Clayton Methodist Church and Amistad Church
200 N. 5th Ave, Clayton, NM 88415
📍Los Lunas, NM | San Clemente Parish
244 Luna Ave NE, Los Lunas, NM 87031
Standing with you for Life,
Jessica Sifuentes
President & CEO
Southwest Coalition
