Reimagining Pro-Life: 30 Days With Save the Storksনমুনা

## HEART // Speaking up for both the unborn and abortion-vulnerable moms is one way that we value all human life. Standing in the gap for the poor and needy means more than social media posts and going to the polls. It’s being the hands and feet of Jesus through the work of the local church and responding to the needs of our brothers and sisters facing unplanned pregnancies with the passion, forgiveness, and love of Jesus. Historically, the Church and those involved in the pro-life movement have struggled on top of a slippery slope — sliding down one side into hateful speech and judgment, or toppling down the other side, trying to please all parties with hopeless passivity. This balance can be hard to find but is so important. In the early pro-life movement, we can look back and see that while our intentions were honorable, the aggressive methods used may have had unintended consequences of pushing people further away. Dominick Brignola, Esq, Founder of Alight Care Center in Troy, NY beautifully and graciously shares his experience in finding this balance: “The pro-life rescue movement of the 80s energized us to employ civil disobedience to close the doors of abortion clinics. At the time it was what we thought was needed to awaken the soul of our nation to the horror of abortion. There was never any hostility in our hearts or actions towards women seeking an abortion, but the way we went about closing clinic doors was confrontational and resulted in closed hearts. After a legal battle with Planned Parenthood and contemplating the next steps for pro-life activists, I came to understand that if we were going to follow Jesus’ example, we had to figure out a way to start opening doors – not closing them . He said of Himself: " I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” (John 10:9). That just stuck with me as something to model without exception.” Now, in partnership with Save the Storks, Alight Care Center uses a mobile ultrasound van, and it’s sliding door is meant to be opened! Dominick continues, “Behind that van door lies truth and nonjudgmental support from a dedicated staff looking to assist anyone facing an unplanned pregnancy.” While we pray that abortion clinics doors will continue to close by the power of God, an attitude exclusively focused on "closing doors" can miss the opportunity to open doors to conversations, friendships, and changed hearts. Today’s verse reminds us that we are called, as followers of Christ, to defend the rights of those in need, but we are not alone! Jesus, who died and was raised to life, is at the right hand of God and is also “interceding for us” (Romans 8:34). He is present with us even as we do the hard work of speaking up for justice in love. Let’s show up and speak up, like a light on a hill (Matthew 5:14). We shine most brightly as humble children of our Creator, who simply cannot stay silent on the topic of life in the womb. ## // WORK We outwardly defend what we internally champion. Today, we want you to speak up, showing the God-given value of life in the womb. Start a humble and open conversation with someone — one of your friends or family members about the burdens of moms and babies vulnerable to abortion. You could share a statistic or an encouraging story. Use your voice, your words — and be sure it isn’t on social media this time. As you carry the bag of burdens today, you could even use it as an opportunity to tell people about what you are doing and why you are doing it. Pray that as people hear these things, you would learn something — and so would the other person. Pray that they too would be moved to value the voiceless. Pray that they would be moved to act as advocates, just as today’s verse instructs us to.