Contact: Troy Newman, President, 316-841-1700; Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Policy Advisor, 316-516-3034; both with Operation Rescue, info.operationrescue@yahoo.com

WICHITA, Kansas, Dec. 31 /Christian Newswire/ -- Operation Rescue announces today that it has chosen Rev. Johnny Hunter as Man of the Year for 2007.

Rev. Hunter is the President of L.E.A.R.N., Inc. (Life Education And Resource Network), the largest African-American Pro-life organization in the country. Under Rev. Hunter's leadership, the African-American community has become aware of the devastating effects of abortion on their racial group, and have activated like never before to stop abortion. African-Americans now comprise the fastest growing segment of the Pro-Life Movement.

"We do not want our people to perish because of ignorance. Ignorance and apathy has hindered the proper response to the main destroyer of our future and the child. The single biggest threat to the survival of children, especially children of color, is imposed death by induced abortion," said Rev. Hunter. "The African American community alone has lost over 12,000,000 people due to this most racist act. In the United States, over 36,000,000 human beings have been unjustly destroyed and the numbers are getting worse by the addition of over 4,000 more deaths each day."

"The revival taking place in the African-American community regarding the Sanctity of Life is an amazing and underreported story," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "This remarkable awakening is a direct response to the leadership of Rev. Johnny Hunter and L.E.A.R.N. Operation Rescue is proud to announce Rev. Hunter as our 2007 Man of the Year."

Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the nation. Operation Rescue recently made headlines when it bought and closed an abortion clinic in Wichita, Kansas and has become the voice of the pro-life activist movement in America. Its activities are on the cutting edge of the abortion issue, taking direct action to restore legal personhood to the pre-born and stop abortion in obedience to biblical mandates.