Every year since 1973, when the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion on demand, 1.5 million women have turned to abortion as the way out of an unwelcome pregnancy, many repeatedly. That figure represents one-quarter of all pregnancies! It also represents millions of women and families - not to mention babies - in pain and distress. What can Christians do to bring their beliefs of the sanctity of human life and restoration through Jesus Christ to bear on these needy people?
Baptists for Life believes Christians have a threefold obligation:
How does BFL address these responsibilities?
Pregnancy care center (PCC) ministry is one vehicle for the expression of these beliefs and an avenue for giving practical aid to those caught in the cycle of pain and distress.
Specifically, a pregnancy care center helps unborn children by attempting to save their lives. This action arises from knowledge that Scripture and science attest to the fact that human life begins at conception. Already at the moment of conception the embryo possesses all of the characteristics of a human being (genetically) and of a living organism (biologically). By 18 to 25 days, a heartbeat can be detected. At six weeks brain waves can be recorded and the fetus is able to feel pain.
Throughout the Bible, there is evidence that God views the developing fetus as a human person. Job, Jeremiah, David and Paul speak of God working in their lives while yet in the womb. Furthermore, God repeatedly commands His people to protect innocent life and to maintain justice for the weak and needy. PCC's take seriously the charge to "Deliver those who are being led away to slaughter" (Proverbs 24:11).
Baptists for Life is equally concerned for women who contemplate abortion as the answer to very real problems. It is essential that these women be informed of the devastating physical, emotional, and spiritual consequences of abortion, and be offered practical help and advice to make it through an unplanned pregnancy. Francis Schaeffer and C. Everett Koop said it well: "Churches and other groups opposed to abortion must be prepared to extend practical help to . . . the unmarried woman who is pregnant . . . . Merely to say . . . 'you must not have an abortion' without being ready to involve ourselves in the problem, is another way of being inhuman" (from Whatever Happened to the Human Race?). (See Sheltering Church Ministry.)
Baptists for Life's final concern is for society. In a society increasingly schizophrenic in its attitude toward human life, it is not surprising to find more and more cases of child abuse, abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, and suicide. Pregnancy care centers, through education and compassion, attempt to stem this tide and create a more welcoming environment for children, regardless of their condition or the circumstances of their conception.
Providing Alternatives to Abortion
Pregnancy care centers that are associated with Baptists for Life are locally organized and funded ministries staffed with Christians who accept the challenge of Matthew 25:31-46 to reach out to those in distress with acts of mercy and compassion. PCC's bring the resources of local churches and the community to bear upon the problems faced by pregnant women. Each PCC is governed by a local board of directors representing fundamental churches. The executive director supervises trained volunteers, all of whom are members of fundamental churches. Thus, the PCC is able to demonstrate the love of the Lord Jesus Christ to women in crisis due to pregnancy.
PCCs serve the entire community, regardless of race, creed, nationality, age or marital status. All services are confidential. Whenever possible, an attempt is made to reach the fathers and the families involved. All PCC services are free, including pregnancy testing, education on pregnancy, abortion and abortion alternatives; referrals for medical care, social services, legal aid, professional counseling, adoption, foster care, temporary housing with Christian families; clothing and furnishings for mothers and baby; classes in childbirth and parenting; post-abortion counseling; and on-going friendship.
What about the Gospel? Baptists for Life is committed to meeting the needs of whole persons. Each person seeking help from a PCC has spiritual needs, as well as physical and emotional ones. The PCC attempts to minister to them boldly, yet with sensitivity. PCC counselors look for and seek to create opportunities to share the good news of salvation through their relationships with the women who call or come in for help. BFL has found that the Lord uses both our words and our deeds to show His love to needy people.
How the PCC Works
Once a client comes to a PCC, the following process begins:
-
She is given a free pregnancy test.
-
While awaiting her test results, she is offered the opportunity to view a video presentation on fetal development, pregnancy, the methods and risks of abortion, and alternatives to abortion.
-
A trained volunteer informs her of the test results and begins to help her work through the situation that brought her to the center. Non-pregnant, single women receive counsel on abstaining from sexual activity.
-
The volunteer seeks to guide the client to a decision which respects the will of God and which recognizes the sacredness of her own life and the life she carries.
-
Resources are provided to assist the client with her decision, and a caring community of Christians is opened up to her.
How to Get One Started in Your Community
In order to build a strong ministry, there are seven basic steps that must be undertaken in PCC development. Briefly, they are:
-
Build a strong core group of at least five members to serve as a steering committee. A mailing list of other interested persons should be generated.
-
Take a survey to assess the resources available in your community. Survey forms are available from BFL.
-
Incorporate the PCC and apply for tax-exemption. BFL has sample by-laws on file.
-
Establish working committees (such as Finance, Education and Research, Personnel, Publicity and Promotion, etc.) which will supply basic resources for the PCC. Support should be raised for the initial expenses of the PCC.
-
Appoint a director to implement board policy and manage the PCC. A description of duties is available from BFL.
-
Train volunteers to provide the services of the PCC. Training for PCCs affiliating with BFL should be arranged through Baptists for Life. Seminars are typically 18 hours in length.
-
Secure a facility to house the PCC and the necessary furnishings. A neutral setting, accessible to clients and volunteers, is important.
Anyone interested in developing a crisis pregnancy center ministry should contact Baptists for Life offices to receive more detailed information and the materials indicated above. Baptists for Life will also provide speakers to share PCC ministry with steering committees and churches, as well as on-going advice, training and encouragement.
The PCC Statement of Principle
Pregnancy care centers are vehicles though which fundamental Christians can reach out to a lost community. They offer compassionate concern and positive action, making every effort to provide whatever forms of support may be necessary to enable a woman to carry her child to term and to plan constructively for her future.
BFL and its PCCs are committed to creating an awareness in local communities of the pressures facing women with crisis pregnancies. They counsel that abortion compounds, rather than solves, problems associated with a crisis pregnancy. Therefore, PCCs never advise, provide, or refer clients for abortion.
Where Do You Fit In?
Pregnancy care centers depend on input from a wide range of people, including:
-
Women to volunteer as counselors in the center, or on the hotline from their homes
-
Teens, older adults or others to baby-sit while moms volunteer
-
Families to open their homes to women in need
-
Skilled people (graphic artists, printers, carpenters, painters, seamstresses, typists, writers, etc.) to provide support services
-
Businesses to provide employment for clients, donate office equipment and supplies, furniture, baby items, etc.
-
Professionals (medical, legal, psychological, clergy, etc.) to teach childbirth and parenting classes, lend advice and counsel, lead Bible studies, etc.
-
People to assist with public relations and fundraising activities
-
Churches and individuals to provide prayer and financial support (financial contributions are tax-deductible)
-
People to donate new and used baby and maternity clothes and baby furnishings to clients
-
Workers to maintain the facilities (housekeeping, lawn care, etc.) and launder, fold, label and organize donations of clothing
Baptists for Life serves existing and developing pregnancy care centers through Partners in Ministry.
Read These Related Articles:
Anywhere with Jesus
Help Wanted: Humble People
Are We Really So Bad?
Veronica's Story: Her Long Road to Pro-Life Ministry
Contact us to learn how you can start a PCC.