Speaking Points

God placed intrinsic value on all human life. When God created mankind in His own image, He placed intrinsic value on each human life. As image-bearers of God, we have the responsibility to affirm and celebrate the sanctity of human life in every season and state of life. (Genesis 1:27)

Every life has purpose. From the moment of conception through natural death, God creates each person uniquely and places intrinsic value upon every life. From preborn children to aging adults, individuals with special needs or orphans, each person is fearfully and wonderfully made by God. (Psalm 139:14)

We are called to protect life. God is the creator, but He has entrusted us and made us stewards of His creation. Therefore, we hold a great responsibility and are called to protect life and uphold the value of all life. We must speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves, including the unborn, those with disabilities, orphans and the elderly. (James 1:27, Jeremiah 22:3, Isaiah 1:17, Proverbs 31:8-9)

God sent His Son to give us life to the fullest! “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full…” (John 10:10b, NIV) Your work to honor and uphold the sanctity of human life has a physical, emotional and spiritual impact in your community. By volunteering at a pregnancy center, providing respite care for a foster family or serving an elderly individual in your neighborhood or church, you demonstrate that every life has value and is loved by Jesus Christ.

Josie’s story demonstrates the power of compassion and support. Josie (name changed for confidentiality) was an expecting mother who was conflicted about her unplanned pregnancy. She reached out to New Life Pregnancy Center for support. She already had experienced two abortions in the past and felt unsure about what to do. The center director greeted her with a warm smile and brought her into a private room for a peer counseling session. She listened attentively as Josie shared her fears, doubts and concerns. The director provided compassionate and non-judgmental support, offering practical information about pregnancy, adoption and the resources available to her. She communicated that the center was there to walk alongside her throughout her pregnancy and beyond, providing her with physical, emotional and spiritual support. As the conversation progressed, they began to discuss their faith. The director shared about the hope that Jesus offers to all who put their trust in Him, and she offered to pray with her. Josie walked out of the center several hours later having chosen life for her baby and having accepted Jesus Christ into her life! Before she left, the director invited her to attend the church on campus for further connection and community.

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The Dobbs Decision

Roe V. Wade was a Supreme Court case in 1973 where the Court ruled that the Constitution of the United States generally protected the right to have an abortion. Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization was a Supreme Court case made in 2022 which overturned Roe v. Wade. This decision allows each state to determine their own laws regarding abortion.

In a post-Roe world, the work to uphold the sanctity of human life not only continues but will need to expand. From pre-born children to aging adults, individuals with special needs or orphans, each person is made in the image of God and therefore has inherent value and dignity. The mission of the Body of Christ remains the same – to provide hope, care and the love of Jesus to our neighbors in need (Matthew 22:36-40, Matthew 25:20, James 2:8).

Click here to learn more ideas on how the church can engage in a post-Roe world and continue reading the list below to learn about how every individual can be part of the solution.

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Calls to Action

Ways everyone can uphold the sanctity of human life:

Reach out with grace to a mom who finds herself facing an unplanned pregnancy.

Pray for pregnancy resource centers.

Share life-affirming scriptures, such as Psalm 127:3, Psalm 139 and John 10:10.

Learn how to advocate for the unborn by reading books, articles or attending prolife workshops.

Donate gently used clothing or household items to a local pregnancy or resource center.

Support a pregnancy center financially.

Volunteer at your local pregnancy center to help women, children and families in need.

Visit an assisted living center or nursing home to listen to the resident’s stories or volunteer.

Serve an elderly individual in your neighborhood or church.

Provide respite care for a foster family or the parents of a special needs child.

Share about the orphan crisis in Arizona and the need for foster families.

Consider becoming a foster or adoptive parent.

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Facts, Quotes & Statistics

93% of abortions occur during the first trimester – at or before 13 weeks. An additional 6% occur between 14 and 20 weeks of pregnancy.
– Guttmacher Institute, 2020

There are 14.4 legal abortions in the U.S. per 1,000 women ages 15 to 44.
– Guttmacher Institute, 2020

More than four in 10 women who have had an abortion were churchgoers when they ended a pregnancy.
– Care Net, 2021

“I call upon the citizens of this blessed land to gather on that day in homes and places of worship to give thanks for the gift of life, and to reaffirm our commitment to the dignity of every human being and the sanctity of each human life.”
– Excerpt from the Sanctity of Human Life Sunday presidential proclamation, 1984

“The first of the unalienable rights affirmed by our Declaration of Independence is the right to life itself, a right the Declaration states has been endowed by our Creator on all human beings — whether young or old, weak or strong, healthy or handicapped.”
– President Ronald Reagan, National Sanctity of Human Life Day proclamation, 1984

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Fetal Development

The first weeks of life:

24 days: Baby’s heart begins to beat.

Week 4: Brain and nervous systems are developing. Blood now circulates through baby’s own blood vessels.

Week 5: A tiny face begins to form. Baby is the size of a fingernail as its skull bones close around its brain.

Week 6: Dimples on the head soon turn into ears. Baby is covered with a very thin layer of translucent skin.

Week 7: Baby is the size of a grape. Brain is developing rapidly and heart is beating about 140-150 times a minute.

Week 10: Color starts to develop in baby’s eyes, and eyelids have formed. Taste buds are forming, and jawbone is developing.

Week 12: Baby now has fingernails and toes start to separate. Organs, limbs, bones and muscles are complete and in place. Baby is tiny but fully formed.

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Video Resources & Articles

Baby Olivia | Watch the development of a child in the womb.

Abortion Recovery and Healing | View a heartwarming journey on how post abortion recovery resources provide healing, hope & care for women and men.

Map | View a map of current pro-life policies by state.

It Goes Too Far | Learn about a proposed Arizona abortion amendment that removes safety standards at abortion clinics and allows for painful, late-term abortion.

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Workshops

Below are a list of current workshops offered by New Life Pregnancy Center. To request a workshop, contact our state co-director Raquel Kerr at rkerr@abcs.org or (602) 346-2300.

Purity . . . The Struggle is Real – Purity is more than just physical. Explore with us a holistic approach into the four aspects of purity: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Let’s be real as we talk about purity in-depth and the struggle that comes with it.
Intended Audience: 7TH-12TH grade.

Pregnancy & Abortion: What Do I Need to Know to Help a Friend? – Your friend is pregnant … what can you do? Whether she’s going to have the baby or already had an abortion, you can be a caring friend! Come learn the truth about crisis pregnancy, the options available, and how you can be a friend to her no matter what.
Intended Audience: 7TH-12TH grade.

Identifying Signs of Domestic Violence (Simulation & Discussion) – As a leader, do you know what signs to look for and how to respond to domestic violence? This workshop provides an eye-opening simulation of living with domestic violence and a discussion on how to minister and navigate these situations among your students and families.
Intended Audience: Leaders; Can be made available for 11TH-12TH grade.

Responding with Grace and Truth – It’s challenging being pro-life in a pro-choice culture and we want to equip you to do it well. This class is about giving you practical tools to have conversations with those who hold life-opposing views. Topics include practical conversation tools as well as guidance on how to reach and minister to an abortion-minded individual who faces an unplanned pregnancy.
Intended Audience: Adults; 6TH – 12TH grade.

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