And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. –Ephesians 4:11-12
Only God can energize more healthy, grace-based churches to lead in ministry to the abortion-vulnerable.
Abortion is a problem both in the church and outside the church. Two national surveys confirm that four in ten women who have had abortions were attending church at least once a month at the time of their first abortion. A story from Care Net’s Pregnancy Decision Line coaches illustrates this reality well:
I spoke with a woman who was 11 weeks and three days along in her pregnancy. She described herself as a person of faith with a church community. Yet, she was considering abortion due to the morning sickness that she was experiencing. She has two older sons ages 7 and 4. Their father and the father of the current baby wants her to carry to term. Yet, she was considering abortion. Thankfully in our discussion she changed her mind.
God is at work. More and more pastors are learning about these private, hidden issues and starting to speak to them. Often it starts with a local pregnancy center beginning to see churches in their area as partners.
One of the managers from a pregnancy center in Holland, Michigan, who emphasized that all their efforts begin with a season of prayer, shared a praise report during a year of fruitful ministry. The center hosted several “Abortion and the Gospel” conversations, quarterly meetings where various pastors talk about the problem of abortion in the church and the need for discipleship. One meeting had 26 attendees and, as a result, more churches in the area are considering Care Net’s Making Life Disciples curriculum.
One post-abortive woman asked if she might use her testimony to help others. She was invited to attend an “Abortion and the Gospel” conversation. At the meeting, one pastor asked, “How do we love the abortion-vulnerable/post-abortive in our congregation?” This brave woman was able to share her story and then respond, “I just need to know that my story is safe in the church and that my whole self is welcome.”
Imagine what would happen if this kind of safe space existed in all of our churches?
God, we cannot decrease the number of abortions in a transformative way without you working behind the scenes to change the human heart. Please strengthen Your local church to lead well. Strengthen our pastors to lead with grace and courage.
Find encouragement like this post, along with many more days like it, when you download Care Net’s 365 Days of Pro Abundant Life devotional. This devotional is a daily invitation to grow in your faith, understand the sanctity of life from conception, and be inspired by Christ’s promises.