Kirsi Morgan-MacKay 

Chairman

I am Kirsi Morgan-MacKay, a mother of four who lives with her family in the United States.

We are a multicultural family, as my husband is from the United States and the main language at home is English. I have worked as a flight attendant, a barber, and in the hospitality and sales industries.

Defending the right to life of unborn children and providing more effective support for families are especially close to my heart, as I have undergone two abortions as a young adult.

I regretted my abortions immensely and they left a great trauma in my life. I wish our society would wake up to support better mothers and families in unexpected pregnancies and recognize that the right to life also belongs to the baby growing in the womb.

I feel it is important to share the message of the sanctity of life also in churches, because unfortunately many churches are silent on the subject. However, the gospel and the message of the sanctity of life go hand in hand, and the gospel is the only medicine for women and men hurt by abortion.

Tuulikki Tepora  

Vice chairman 

I am Tuulikki Tepora, a wife, mother and grandmother. I am a classroom teacher, have a Master's degree in education and have had a long career as a primary school teacher.

I am active in several associations and also in a political party. 

I enjoy choral singing and Israeli dances.

It was great to be invited to establish an important social association, 'Right to Life'. This association is especially needed now, when legislation increasingly speaks of 'a woman's right to her own body' and 'her own will to decide whether to terminate a pregnancy that has begun.

I want to influence the protection of the defenseless unborn child's right to integrity and life. Every child is a unique and valuable individual created by God, whose life from its beginning - from fertilization - until the end of days is known to God, before any of them have come into being. No pregnancy that has begun is a mistake. Let's support pregnant mothers! Let's make room for life!

Mirja-Riitta Sjöholm 

Secretary

I am Mirja-Riitta Sjöholm née Waldén, a mother, wife and Christian from Turku. My family consists of my husband and three adult children. I have a Master of Philosophy degree, a Bachelor of Science in Public Health Nursing and a childminder.

Human rights, freedom of speech and defending the vulnerable are close to my heart. My values are based on a Christian understanding of humanity, where the foundation of a welfare society is formed by neighborliness, caring for others, moderation and social justice.

Human life begins at conception. Women's equality is not promoted by trampling on the right to life of the most vulnerable party -the child living in the womb. A woman or couple considering abortion should, above all, receive first-hand information about alternatives, such as support measures during the continuation of the pregnancy or open adoption.

Kaija Lehtinen

Board member

I am Kaija Lehtinen. I am a doctor by training. like my husband, and a mother of three children. I will soon have six grandchildren.

Finding a spouse and having children is not a given. I originally came from a family with a dozen or so children. Without any plan of my own, but without anyone forcing me, I moved from the country to the city to study with a family without children. When I was younger, the husband and wife of the family had unsuccessfully tried to adopt a small child. Before I got married, as an adult, I became the only child in this family through adoption, without losing my biological family.

Our firstborn son died suddenly at the age of 13 from a very rare disease for children. We had been able to keep this child, who was so dear to us, with us for 13 years and spend many wonderful moments with him. I often think about how much more those who live alone against their will, without even a spouse, have lost. And those married couples who have not had any children, even if they had very much wanted them. Today I am especially happy that my adoptive father's new wile now a widow.

Maria Roimaa Paul 

Board member

I am Maria Roimaa Paul, a 35-year-old wife and mother of a little girl. We live part of the year in Rovaniemi and part of the year in my husband's hometown, Bangalore, India.

I have a degree in social work and a youth work counselor. In recent years, I have worked as an early childhood education teacher and in youth work. My work history includes working in both children's homes and schools - always in one way or another with children, young people and families. Missionary work is in my heart, and I have done missionary work in, for example. Brazil and Nigeria.

The reality of abortion began to dawn on me after I converted to Christianity in my early twenties. However, the real impetus to act for life came in the fall of 2016, when I unexpectedly met a woman in a crisis pregnancy. I was able to support her. especially in early pregnancy, and she decided to keep her baby. The event was a concrete demonstration to me that many women considering abortion can keep their babies if they receive at least a little support. Since then, I have wanted to act for the lives of unborn children in one way or another.

Päivi Ruuskanen 

Board member

I am Päivi Ruuskanen, a wife and mother of three little girls from Southwest Finland.

I am a social worker by education. I have worked in child welfare for over 10 years with children, young people and parents in various challenging life situations. During these years, I have learned that meeting another person should always be based on respect and humility, because every life is unique, and everyone has their own place in the world, set by the Creator.

Currently, I am mainly a housewife, and in my free time I attend and serve in the church. I am interested in history, politics and theology. My most important calling is to raise my own children in a Christian manner and with respect for others.

Defending the rights of unborn children was originally a result of my Christian upbringing. but it has come to my heart as an adult, after I converted to Christianity while expecting my first daughter. It was shocking to realize that at a time when there is so much talk about the importance of human rights, human rights are simultaneously being taken away from the most vulnerable. In addition to defending unborn children, women and families, freedom of speech and religion are important values for me.

The rights of children, women and families will not be improved by denying the humanity of the unborn child and expanding abortion rights. We deserve much better!