The Church has the greatest opportunity of any institution to defend life in the womb. Our churches help to shape culture, educate the public, and shape the worldview and morality of millions of Americans. But what if your church is not actively pro-life? What if people are not hearing about abortion or seeing the pro-life movement at church?
Here’s what churchgoers need to know: It might be up to YOU to initiate pro-life action in your congregation.
Pastors sometimes need support and encouragement to activate this very important ministry. And sometimes, they just need help. You might be the key to your church advocating for the dignity of mothers in unplanned pregnancies and the babies they are carrying.
Here are three tangible ideas to help you get started today:
- Organize a pro-life prayer group
You can help organize and lead groups specifically dedicated to praying for life to win. Pray for moms considering abortion, for children in the womb, for fathers to step up to the plate, and for families and communities to rally around their pregnant moms. Pray for elected officials to be courageous in pursuing policies that protect life. Pray for people of other faiths and political persuasions to unite around the dignity of human life.
Pray that abortion will be unthinkable and unnecessary in our country.
- Teach classes about abortion and pro-life values.
You don’t have to be a college professor to facilitate education at your church! This can be as simple as inviting local experts to come speak or setting up a projector in a classroom to watch a pro-life apologetics series or film together. You could invite the local pregnancy center director or someone who trains sidewalk advocates. You could watch videos from organizations like White Rose Resistance, Live Action, or the Equal Rights Institute.
I would also like to encourage you to start a small group in your church using our new Small Group Guide. It’s a 4-week study called “Living Pro-Life: God’s Heart for Every Human Being.” This study equips small groups to explore:
The sacred value of every life created by God
God’s healing and forgiveness for those impacted by abortion
Love in action — practical ways to support moms, children, and families
Building a culture of life in your church and community
You can find that free resource by clicking here: 4 Week Small Group Study Guide
The possibilities are endless, but the point is this: You can be the bridge between your church community and the education and information that will inspire them to take action with you.
You can be the bridge between your church community and the education and information that will inspire them to take action with you.
- Integrate your church with the larger pro-life movement.
The pro-life movement is diverse and active, with many opportunities for engagement.
You could coordinate your church’s involvement in Sanctity of Life Sunday or help your congregation make the journey to a local, state, or national March for Life.
- Bring pro-life resources into your church community.
You can also look for opportunities for your church to partner with Embrace Grace or Gabriel Project to care for the moms and dads most in need of compassionate support in your church community.
Finally, help the post-abortive members of your church community find healing by creating a group for post-abortive churchgoers. Groups like Save One, Rachel’s Vineyard, Surrendering The Secret, Help After Abortion, and Forgiven and Set Free exist just for this purpose.
Even if your church isn’t currently active in t he pro-life space, you have the opportunity to do what is within your control. My personal experience in working with churches across the nation is that when congregants show initiative, pastors often take up the banner and lend their own leadership.
