Forming a Gospel-centered Response to Abortion

The challenge we face:

72,140 abortions in Florida (2015). 47,699 in 2016 (as of 10-05-16)*

"What does Christianity look like in a nation that murders its own children?"

~ Pastor Rusty Lee Thomas**

Sharing the truth of the sanctity of human life
76% of women indicate local churches had no influence on their decision to terminate their pregnancy***

The spiritual battle behind abortion
Abortion the Devil & the Church-Exposing the Spiritual Forces Behind Abortion - John 8:44; 10:10; Psalm 106:37-38**** Read or watch Here

The Biblical case for life (creation, image of God, dominion, personhood)
The Sanctity of the Unborn - Genesis 1:26-28; Psalm 139:13-16**** Read Here

Pro-Life Apologetics - defending life in a secular culture
The Scientific, Philosophical & Metaphysical Case for Life**** Read Here

The clash of two worldviews behind the abortion debate
Responding to 41 Years of Legal Abortion - Romans 1:25**** Read Here

Abortion and the doctrine of Blood Guilt
How Should I Respond to the Shedding of Innocent Blood? Genesis 3:15; 4:8-10; 9:5-6;
Deuteronomy 21:1-9**** Read/listen Here

Ministering forgiveness, healing and hope to the post-abortive
52% of churchgoers who have had an abortion have no one at church who knows they have had a pregnancy terminated***

Nearly two-thirds of women having abortions say they are Christians (Focus on the Family 2015)

35% of Christian women who have had an abortion indicate they currently attend church once a week or more***

23% of Christian women who have had an abortion consider themselves to be an evangelical Christian*** (250,000 evangelical women abort their children each year)

65% report symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder they attribute to their abortions.*****

Post Abortive emotional problems: anxiety/panic; grief/Loss; fear of losing your child; guilt; self-hatred; depression; anger/rage

Post Abortive Behavioral problems: drug/alcohol/child abuse; promiscuity; eating disorders; protective parenting; inability to bond with children

Responding with practical Gospel centered compassion
Luke 10 - "Love the Lord your God...and love your neighbor as yourself." The lawyer asked, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied, the traveller left for dead. What is love? Jesus, it is "Samaritan compassion." "Go and do likewise." According to Jesus our salvation has a moral imperative built into it with regard to the needs of those around us, our neighbors - those vulnerable to choose abortion, the 72,000 unborn murdered by abortion each year, and the post-abortive. "Loving my neighbor will occasionally arrest me, and maybe even require me to help prevent someone from being murdered." ~ Pastor John Ensor (Innocent Blood)

Some of the churches where I have brought sanctity of human life messages:
Cathedral Church of God (COG Cleveland TN), Deerfield Beach, FL - (formerly Eddie Solomon)
Community Baptist Church, Stuart, FL - Phil Smith
First Baptist Church Stuart, FL - Darrell Orman
First Baptist Church Oakland Park, Oakland Park, FL - Merlin Berkey
First Christian Church Wilton Manors, Wilton Manors, FL - John Stauffer
Hollywood Hills Alliance Church, Hollywood, FL - Tim Williamson
Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church, Pompano Beach, FL - Robert Stanley
Jesus Is Lord Worship Center, Miami, FL - Verbert C. Anderson
Jesus Supernatural Faith Center, Pompano Beach, FL - Gary McLamore
Moorepark Community Church, Three Rivers, MI - (formerly Ken Miller)
Mount Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, Pompano Beach, (formerly Alonzo Neal)
New Hope Community Church (C&MA), North Port, FL - Eddie DeJesus
New ope Fellowship (Nazarene), Palm City, FL - Gary Durham
New Life Romanian Baptist Church, Hollywood, FL - Florin Vancea
Piedmont Park Alliance Church, Tallahassee, FL - Chris Greaves
Pines Baptist Church, Pembroke Pines, FL - Luis Acosta
Restoration Outreach Church & Ministries, Davie, FL - Gerard Bishop
Riverside Church, North Lauderdale, FL - Brian Brookins
The Harbour Church, Pompano Beach, FL - Darren Davis
The Lighthouse Chapel (C&MA), Port St. Lucie, FL - Jeff Norus
Tropical Farms Baptist Church, Stuart FL - (formerly Lee Fielder)
Westwood Church, (C&MA), Orlando FL - Dan Hall
Worldwide Christian Center, Pompano Beach, FL - O'Neal Dozier

Other venues:
Faith Forum at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, FL, January
Florida Right to Life 2013 Pro-Life Leaders Forum, Orlando, FL
Florida State University Noles 4Life, Tallahassee, FL
Flourish 2016 Conference (Catholic Witness), Fort Lauderdale FL
LifeChoice Pregnancy Center Banquet, Winter Haven FL
Nova Southeastern University Students for Life, Davie
Three Rivers Pregnancy Helpline Center Banquet, Three Rivers MI
Trinity Baptist College, Jacksonville - Chapel - Jeremiah Stanley, Dean of Students
Trinity College, Trinity - Chapel - Al Depoutot, VP Student Development
Trinity International University, Davie - multiple class lectures
Westminster Academy, Chapel, Fort Lauderdale FL
15th Annual Pregnancy Care Center Conference, Lake Yale FL

The Church for Life online resources:
The Church for Life blog - see right side bar for messages & resource indexes
The Church for Life on Facebook
Linkedin

Footnotes:
*See State of Florida Abortion Data - Induced Terminations of Pregnancy [ITOP] Reports (by county)
**Field Manual for Abortion Ministry, 2014 - Free download from Operation Save America website
*** Study of Women Who Have Had An Abortion and Their Views On Church CareNet - Free
download
**** Churchforlife.blogspot.com This message is available online - see side bar indexes
*****Rue VM, et al

The Church for Life

Serving the Church in its response to America's abortion crisis