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This week’s post is a continuation of last week’s blog that highlighted three practical ways the Church (people who put their hope and trust in the God of the Bible) can respond to abortion. Today we’ll look at three more:
Adopt
Let me begin by saying that not all Christian families are called to adopt. However, all Christians are called to care for the fatherless and oppressed (James 1:27), and this can be done practically in many ways: contributing financially, offering ongoing prayer support, and being available spiritually and emotionally for families who are trying to foster or adopt.
The act of adoption is a beautiful way to demonstrate the message of the Gospel (John 1:12,13). The majority of abortions occur because the mother and/or father is not ready or not able to parent a child at that time. That being the case, adoption is a legitimate solution to these perceived needs for abortion and further affirms the Christian belief that life at all stages is valuable and worthy of love and protection.
If you are interested in learning more about adoption, check out Bethany Christian Services and Christian Adoption Services for answers to some frequently asked questions.
Vote
As Americans, we are blessed with the privilege of using our voices through the means of voting. Abortion and the so-called war on women have been topics of debate for years, and the opportunities to vote on such issues are plentiful. You may be thinking to yourself, “What is the point of voting in a world that seems to be spinning out of control? I’m just one person, what difference could my one vote possibly make?”
I could camp here quite a while, but instead I’ll simply borrow from an external source that speaks to this issue quite well. In an article entitled “Why Christians Should Vote,” Micah Watson, a contributor for The Gospel Coalition, defines the civic practice of voting as: “Judging what good(s) should be promoted or preserved and which public servants would most faithfully carry out that mandate.” Watson holds that voting is a practical way to cultivate “a just and merciful society” and to seek out the standards of morality that God has revealed to us through his Word.
Further, Watson makes an interesting point by drawing attention to the early church fathers’ involvement in political issues:
“These early leaders, who knew a thing or two about persecution and preaching the Gospel, loved their neighbors enough to speak to political issues in a system that afforded them no formal power. How much more should we speak out given our political tradition is predicated on the active commitment of an informed citizenry?”
Check out the rest of the article here, and consider your opportunities to vote in the upcoming months.
Give
As Christians, we give for many reasons. We give to imitate Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:3-8) and because he expects us to give (Matthew 6:2). We are called to give with the proper motivation (2 Corinthians 9:7), sacrificially (2 Samuel 24:24), and for the purpose of growing God’s kingdom (2 Corinthians 9:6,11).
Giving is not up for debate for the Christian. It is an outward sign of the inward change that has taken place in the life of a believer. The amount of what we give pales in comparison to the quality or sacrifice of what we give (Mark 12:41-44). Scripture reminds us that we brought nothing into this world and will take nothing out (1 Timothy 6:6,7) and implores us to make investments here on earth that will have an eternal impact (Matthew 6:20).
So how does this call to give relate to the issue of abortion? Here are a few ideas:
Give financially. Like it or not, money matters, and everything comes at a cost. The only way the Care Center is able to offer services to clients free of charge is through the generosity of its supporters. It’s a tangible way to make an investment into a ministry that advocates for life on a daily basis. There are several ways to do this through the Care Center: giving monthly, at special events, or even through AmazonSmile. You can find out more about these options here.
Another great way to invest is by attending our upcoming Benefit Dinner on October 21. The goal for this event is to raise $250,000 to go towards our $500,000 annual operation budget. It’s an incredible task, but we are confident that God will provide for the mission of the Care Center through the generosity of our partners.
Give time. One simple example of this would be through volunteering at the Care Center. There are opportunities to meet one-on-one with clients, help with event planning, serve as a receptionist, assist with cleaning, and so much more. Or maybe your church has an abortion recovery group or a ministry that serves young mothers. Do some research and find out where you can use your talents and gifts to advocate for life within your community.
Give resources. Do you have baby or toddler clothes in good condition that you no longer need? How about maternity clothes? Consider giving these to the Care Center or to another ministry that serves young women in unplanned pregnancies. Have access to computers or tablets? Find out if one of those ministries could use them when working with clients. Own a business? Consider offering a ministry discounts on your products or services. Think about what you have to offer that is unique to you and consider offering it as a gift. You might be surprised at how you will be able to bless others.
Empowered to Serve
We at Greensboro Pregnancy Care Center desire to remove the perceived need for abortion in our city, but we absolutely cannot do it alone. We are passionate about providing the Church with opportunities to serve women and men in Greensboro, and we invite you to dive right in with us. You will be blown away by how God uses you to make a difference in someone else’s life.
Mary Holloman is the Communications Assistant at GPCC. When she’s not at the Care Center she’s probably chasing her 18 month old, spending time with her handsome hubby, or serving at Lawndale Baptist Church. You can follow her on her personal blog at www.AllMySpringsBlog.com.
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