More than 100 residents gathered Saturday at Washington Park to take a stand for life, calling abortion evil.

“No other word will do,” said Shane Legler, a pastor who led the Stand for Life event. “This is not a political issue; it is a right and wrong issue.”

The event in Powell was one of many across the country in recent weeks — including a pro-life march in Cody on Jan. 18 — that coincided with the 47th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark abortion decision. Nationally, the annual March for Life took place Friday in Washington, D.C., with President Donald Trump addressing anti-abortion protestors.

Legler opened Saturday’s gathering in Powell by saying they weren’t there to condemn those who have had an abortion or participated in an abortion.

“There is no condemnation for you here,” Legler said. “Rather, there is hope and forgiveness at the cross of Christ.”

The Garland Community Church of God pastor read several Bible verses outlining the biblical position on life, and said all human life is sacred.

“All children are given as a gift from God from the womb,” Legler said. “They are not a burden or a curse. They are his gift from the womb, from conception.”

He also read a passage from the Old Testament that referenced people sacrificing their infant children to an idol in hopes of getting a material blessing.

“We moderns recoil at that kind of child sacrifice … yet we participate in the institution of abortion,” Legler said.

He said what Americans do “is no different from what the ancients did except in the fact that they were more honest about it than we are.”

Legler led the group in prayer for the nation and also encouraged attendees to stand for life throughout the year.

He shared various ways to take action, including by supporting Serenity Pregnancy Resource Center in Powell and Cody. At Saturday’s event, over $500 was raised for Serenity.

Legler also encouraged residents to be willing to open their own homes to pregnant women in crisis, and to be willing to adopt or provide foster care. Another way to get involved is by volunteering as a child victim advocate in the courts, he said.

“There are so many places where we just need to be willing,” Legler said. “And in fact, the only reason you’re listening to me right now instead of somebody else is because I’m willing to stand here.”

He also encouraged residents to “be willing to be informed and vote for life,” and to speak up and engage with those who don’t agree.

Out of about 125 people at Saturday’s gathering, Legler said 88 signed a Stand for Life Pledge, vowing to “fight for the lives of the unborn until the stain and shame of abortion is removed from our nation.”

“As Americans, we, in agreement with the founding generation of our nation, affirm that the right to life is an inalienable human right,” the pledge says. “A right endowed by the Creator alone.”

The pledge called it a privilege to stand for life “not only out of love for God, but out of love for our fellow citizens.”

Sponsors of Stand for Life included the Powell Ministerial Association, Serenity Pregnancy Resource Center, Park County Right to Life and several area churches.