Promoting Pro-Abundant Life In The Church

If churches that say they are pro-life want to encourage women and those significant in their lives to choose life instead of an abortion, a pro-abundant life community within the church must be established. According to a 2017-2019 Center for Disease Control’s National Survey of Family Growth, even women attending church monthly kept appointments with the abortion clinic.[1] In the 2016 Care Net study researching the link between abortion and the church, seventy-six percent of women who attended church at least monthly did not seek the counsel of their congregation before their abortion. [2]  If churches say nothing about abortion, congregants are ill-equipped to counsel those who come to them in a crisis pregnancy. Silence could also indicate that an abortion is so evil it could never be forgiven.[3] Neither of these scenarios invites women to run to a church for help when they face a crisis pregnancy. Churches that teach the apologetics for protecting life in the womb, provide the tangible needs for those choosing life, and offer a discipleship ministry tailored to single parents can make it the first place a woman runs rather than the last. [4] This type of community seeks to serve its congregation and its neighbors.

How can such a ministry begin? It seems like a daunting task to start something new. Care Net has met this challenge by offering a 12-week study called, “Making Life Disciples.” They aim to bridge the gap between the para-church pregnancy centers and those sitting in the pews. This curriculum teaches church members how to speak life over those faced with an unexpected pregnancy. It gives practical ideas for reaching out and encourages men and women to turn pro-life words into pro-life action.

Our church recently launched a Bible study for single mothers called, “Next Generations.” One brave mom who had chosen life at a mobile pregnancy unit called our church to join our 8-week program. She was part of a denomination that boasted of their welcome to everyone, but after she revealed her pregnancy, she no longer felt welcome there. She has no family support and little provision to meet the needs of her coming baby. She reached out to our church in hopes of earning a baby shower for her new little one. After the sixth week of classes, she recognized her need to accept the gift of salvation Jesus offered her, and she placed her faith in Him alone. She later revealed that no one had ever told her that God loved her, had made a way to forgive her, or that she could be accepted into His family. She found the abundant life Jesus offered in John 10:10 only because she faced an unexpected pregnancy.

Ten women from our church from various backgrounds committed to coming to class each week to show their support for this brave mom. Most of them worked through at least some of the lessons of “Making Life Disciples” to participate. These women brought snacks and participated in the discussion groups. A couple of them gave our expecting mom rides to doctor appointments or church since she does not have a car.  As the 8-week study came to a close, these amazing women threw her a baby shower. Together, they prayed over her and reminded her of their commitment to be a support system for as long as she needs it. She is continuing to attend church services and plans to participate in the new believer’s discipleship class when it begins.

While our church’s effort did not change the tide of abortion on a large scale immediately, it did change the life of one young woman and her family. Is this not the way the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20 works? It is meant to reach one life at a time. Whatever seeds are planted will bring a harvest, so with intention, it is time to start planting seeds of pro-abundant life within the church’s walls.

I would be more than happy to share the “Knowing God” 8-week study that I wrote for this program. I will add a download below of the schedule of topics and one lesson to preview the program. If you or your church is interested in starting a pro-abundant life ministry, I would love to be a help. The lessons I created are available for free to anyone who wants them. Just send me a message or email and I will send the pdf. Have a blessed weekend, my friends.

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            [1] “NSFG User’s Guide Appendix 2: Topic-Specific Notes for 2017-2019,” 2017, https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nsfg/NSFG-2017-2019-UG-App2-TopicSpecificNotes-508.pdf.

              

               [2] Care Net, “Study of Women Who Have Had an Abortion and Their Views on Church.” 11.

              

               [3] Scott Klusendorf, The Case for Life: Equipping Christians to Engage the Culture (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 2023). 223.

               [4] Tom Strode, “Ministry by Churches Crucial in Post-Roe World, Advocates Say | Baptist Press,” https://www.baptistpress.com/, July 12, 2022, https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/ministry-by-churches-crucial-in-post-roe-world-advocates-say/.