Thanks to all who participated in the Elliot Institute’s Church Awareness Project during our third annual Coerced Abortion Awareness Week!
Many people helped to “light one candle” by sharing The Jericho Plan and other resources to help your church leaders address abortion issues in a compassionate, truthful and helpful way. They also used our resources to help and support women, men and families in their churches and communities who are being encouraged or pressured to abort or who have undergone an abortion.
Sharing information like The Jericho Plan and other Church Awareness Project Resources, and personally inviting pastors, church leaders and others to learn about these issues “on the front lines” will open doors in your churches and faith communities. As one participant wrote, “when pastors learn of the impact of abortion they will be much more reluctant to see it as a solution.”
Another noted:
I am post abortive and have received the grace, forgiveness and healing from our Lord Jesus Christ. I have been a group leader/team leader for an abortion recovery ministry for about seven years now.
The burden of my heart continues to be the many women who don’t feel ‘safe’ enough to approach their church fellowship or even leadership with the tremendous spiritual and emotional needs they have as a result of their abortion.
We as ‘the body of Christ’ can and should be doing a better job of demonstrating the compassion and love of Christ toward post-abortive women who continue to suffer in silent grief, guilt, and shame often for decades.
Remember, you can do this outreach anytime of year.
Keep this outreach going year-round! This is also a good time to start planning for next year’s Coerced Abortion Awareness Week and to incorporate a church outreach into your existing pro-life plans.
There are also many opportunities for you to advocate for unborn babies and their mothers, fathers and families, and to spread a message of hope and healing in your church during the rest of the year.
Mother’s Day Outreach
Mother’s Day can be difficult for women who have suffered an abortion or who are pregnant and being encouraged, pressured or forced to abort. It can also be a sad day for hurting families remembering a child, mother, sister or daughter lost to abortion. Spread a message of help, hope and healing with free downloadable Mother’s Day ads (which can be posted on a bulletin board or stuffed into your church bulletin or newsletter), message cards, bookmarks or other resources. Use The Jericho Plan to incorporate a message of help, hope and healing into a sermon, talk or article for your church publication. Include or even a special blessing at church for those who have lost someone.
Father’s Day Outreach
Men are often forgotten when it comes to abortion, but our churches and communities are filled with men who are hurting or in need in help. They may be a father facing a crisis pregnancy or hurting from the loss of an unborn child, a broken relationship or the death of a mother, wife, girlfriend, sister or daughter from abortion. Share our Father’s Day ads or flyers (which can be posted on a bulletin board or stuffed into your church bulletin or newsletter). Use The Jericho Plan to incorporate a message of help, hope and healing into a sermon, talk or article for your church publication. Include prayer intentions or even a special blessing at church for those who have lost someone.
Respect Life Month
Respect Life Month in October is another great opportunity to share our Church Awareness Project Resources with your pastor, church and ministry leaders and others in your faith community. Run our “40 Years” Signature Ad to mark the 40th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade in your community. Encourage your pastor to use The Jericho Plan and other resources to preach on abortion in a compassionate, truthful and helpful way. Plan to do some of the simple ideas from our Activities List to raise awareness of abortion issues — including widespread coerced and unwanted abortions and harm from abortion to all involved — that affect people in your church and community.
Help and Healing Resources
At any time of the year, make sure you have information and resources on hand to help those who may be facing a difficult pregnancy or hurting as a result of an abortion. Keep our Help and Healing Guide and a list of groups that can help on hand to share with those who need it.
More Resources and Information
Links to All Church Awareness Project Resources (you’ll find a link to join the project here if you haven’t already)
List of Outreach and Project Ideas to Do Year-Round
