Yesterday was the 42nd anniversary of perhaps the most calamitous decision of American jurisprudence – it was certainly the deadliest. On January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court (in Roe v. wade) ruled, essentially and practically, that abortion-on-demand was the law of the land. Conservative estimates show that ruling has cost the lives of 55 million babies. Sad. Tragic. Immoral. Ungodly.
The right-to-life movement has been a very effective instrument of good over the decades, and there is much to celebrate in recent gains against the abortion industry. Still, somewhere in the neighborhood of one million babies were aborted in 2014 (around 3500 at Louisville abortion clinic, which includes many from Southern Indiana). It is not an overstatement to claim this is the darkest curse of our times. Most of us feel powerless to have an impact, but there are ways we can engage in the fight against the taking of the most-innocent and most-vulnerable of lives. Here are a few:
- Provide financial support. On Sunday, we will begin our annual collection for Choices For Women – the “baby bottle” campaign. Rose Condra, Executive Director at CFW, tells me that funds raised via this campaign account for 15-18% of their budget, and they are hoping to receive around $45,000 from the bottles this year. The baby bottles are a creative way to remind people that babies’ lives are at stake. Please grab a bottle or two, and fill it with coins and dollars. Or you can write a check, made payable to CFW. ( You don’t have to use a baby bottle, you can just put a check (to CFW) in the offering plate.)
This collection effort is one of the five annual, major efforts at HHBC. Last year, our total collections dropped off somewhat from previous years. I hope we can reverse that trend in 2015. (If it matters to you, these donations are tax deductible.)
- Pray. This is the most powerful work the church can do to support the right-to-life folks.
Pray for expectant mothers (and the fathers of the children). Pray that, no matter how the baby was conceived, those who are involved will see the baby as a precious image-of-God-bearing human being.
Pray for the CFW Center; for the staff that oversees operations. Paid staff includes Rose Condra, Robin Faith, Shelly Vejar, Kiersten Swopshire (who is pregnant J – due in May, I think).
Pray for two critical volunteer physicians: Dr. Lewis (oversees ultrasounds), and Dr. Kamer-Thompson (who will oversee the newly established STD-testing ministry which begins in February).
Pray for their many other volunteers who help CFW carry out multiple ministries – pray for a sufficient number of volunteers and pray for them as a group of servants.
Pray for more churches to contribute support (finances, volunteers, etc.).
Pray for your elected representatives.
- Contact your elected representatives and graciously tell them you will be keeping an eye on how they vote on right-to-life legislation. You can contact your representatives here: http://www.harrisonhills.org/elected
Speaking of votes, the linked-article from Dr. Russell Moore (ERLC) informs us that a bill to prohibit abortions after 20 weeks was scheduled to come to a vote on Thursday, and was pulled on Wednesday night. Here’s the article: http://erlc.com/article/erlcs-russell-moore-disgusted-by-gops-decision-to-drop-major-pro-life-bill
After reading this article, I placed a call to Congressman Todd Young’s office, and politely told his staff that I was disappointed the bill was pulled from consideration, and that I supported the bill (H.R. 360). I’ve done this on several occasions, either via email or via telephone. Contacting your representatives is not hard – it’s your right and your duty – and if you are polite and your tone is friendly, so are they and so is theirs.
- Volunteer. Currently, two of our folks carve a couple of hours out of their weeks to assist at the CFW Center (on Charlestown Rd, in New Albany). Here is their website which has info on all of their services and on how to get involved: http://www.cfw4life.org/
No doubt, there are other ways to be engaged in protecting the sanctity of human life. (I did not address the sanctity of life in other arenas. That’s a subject for a separate email, but it carries the same weight and requires similar efforts.)
As we kick-off our ‘baby bottle campaign’ on Sunday morning, let it be a reminder that babies are still being destroyed in the wombs of mothers. When Ashley is able to return to our gatherings, carrying little Athens, let him be a reminder about how precious each child is in the eyes of God. Thank you for reading this lengthier-than-planned email, and thank you for investing your time and finances to help fight against what American jurisprudence set loose forty-two year ago, yesterday.
Funding, praying, contacting and volunteering with you,
Pastor Gary