As I travel around the country speaking to pro-life organizations, I challenge audiences to fulfill the biblical call to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves” by taking a greater role in the pro-life movement.
In response, someone usually steps forward saying: “I don’t know where to get started. What can I do to make a difference?”
At times, I’ve wished I could just hand them a brochure that would provide a quick answer to their question. But it’s not quite that easy.
Discovering your role in the pro-life movement is a process of discernment that involves prayer, patience and faith. It may take time, but if God is tugging at your heart to become active—or more active—in the pro-life movement, this discernment process will reveal how God wants to use you to help save lives and positively impact the world.
As you seek to understand the role God has chosen for you, consider a few of the ways you can make a difference:
Pray. It is easy to overlook the world-changing power of prayer; however, sacred scripture reminds us that “with God all things are possible”—even ending the tragedy of abortion. Ask God on a daily basis to protect innocent children from abortion, to bring healing to those who have experienced an abortion, to strengthen pro-life ministry workers, to bring conversion to those involved in the abortion industry, to embolden church leaders and to give our lawmakers and judges wisdom.
Educate yourself, so you can educate others. Become knowledgeable on pro-life topics by reading books and literature, listening to audio recordings and attending pro-life events. A great place to start is American Life League’s web site ALL.org with its “issues” section and pro-life store, where you can find brochures and educational materials on nearly every pro-life subject. As you learn, share your knowledge with others by talking with family and friends, working a booth at a local fair or college campus, forwarding pro-life action alerts or giving a pro-life talk at your church or school.
Stand outside an abortion facility. If there is an abortion center such as Planned Parenthood in your hometown or nearby, go pray or picket outside it on a consistent basis. Your faithful presence will show the community that something bad is happening there and it will alert the abortion workers that the community does not support what they are doing. Protestors also serve as a deterrent to potential customers of the facility.
Sidewalk counseling. Get trained on how to lovingly reach out to customers outside abortion centers and help them choose life. God can save many lives through your efforts. Learn more about effective techniques from the Pro-Life Action League at ProLifeAction.org/sidewalk
Better alternatives. Provide compassionate help to those at risk of abortion by volunteering for your local pregnancy center, adoption agency or maternity home. Organize a network of local medical providers to help women in crisis pregnancies—regardless of their ability to pay. Spread the word about the availability of these lifesaving alternatives and support their crucial work.
Get sex ed out of your schools. Planned Parenthood undermines parents through efforts to sexualize children with shocking and offensive sex programs in school classrooms. Get Planned Parenthood out of your schools and take preventive steps to keep them out. Learn how by reading Jim Sedlak’s groundbreaking book Parent Power for free online at: www.ALL.org/stopp/pp15.htm.
Prevention. Teach young people about the importance of chastity (purity of mind, body and spirit; abstaining from sexual activity before marriage and remaining faithful within marriage) and help them avoid falling into a promiscuous lifestyle that can lead to heartbreak, pain and abortion.
Post-abortion healing. If you have been through the pain of abortion, seek the help of healing ministries like Rachel’s Vineyard. Once you experience healing and forgiveness, you may want to help others who have been through an abortion tragedy.
Get the word out. Spread the pro-life message across your community by writing letters to the editor of your local newspaper, joining the discussion on a talk show, writing media releases to get news coverage or by raising money to run a pro-life advertisement.
Remove funding from abortion providers. Learn what businesses underwrite Planned Parenthood so you can make better buying decisions. A trustworthy list can be obtained from Life Decisions by calling 540-631-0380. Let these companies know what you think and ask them to stop funding the abortion chain that kills their future customer base. Ask your elected officials to stop funding Planned Parenthood every year with $272 million in taxes by signing the petition at StopPlannedParenthoodTaxFunding.com.
Get involved at your church. If there is a respect life committee, Knights of Columbus chapter, or pro-life organization at your church, get involved. If there isn’t a group—start one! Ask for your pastor’s blessing, but let him know that you are willing to do the work.
Legislative efforts. Become knowledgeable on candidates and proposed laws. Study voter guides, talk to candidates to ask where they stand and vote pro-life. Encourage other pro-lifers to vote. Contact your elected officials to let them know what you think. Who knows? Maybe God is even calling you to run for elected office.
Assist organizations. Use your skills from business, government or non-profit work, to help grow pro-life organizations. Team-building, strategic planning, working with volunteers, committees and boards, public relations and technology all have tremendous value to the pro-life movement.
These are just a few of the ways you can help save lives as a pro-life activist. Your role may be different than one of the options above, but realize that each of us is being called to “Deliver those who are being taken away to death, and those who are staggering to slaughter, oh hold them back. If you say, ‘See, we did not know this,’ Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work?” (Proverbs 24:11-12)
Take steps today to get involved—or get more involved—in pro-life activities. Pray for God’s guidance, assess your skills and talents, look for opportunities where you can make a difference and take action.
As you discover your role and begin to save lives, take comfort in knowing that one day, when you arrive in your heavenly home, you can look forward to hearing those glorious words: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
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