One Atlanta church has a bold challenge to anyone considering abortion: “Peachtree Presbyterian Church will care for any newborn baby you bring to this church.”
So says Pastor Vic Pentz in a recent sermon. The church is partnering with the adoption agency Bethany Christian Services to make this happen and to start the education process for their congregation. Adoption is never simple and easy, but I love this bold action instead of the usual rhetoric around abortion.
We don’t need more protests and picket signs. We need more churches stepping forward and making life an easy choice (whether it’s adoption or helping a pregnant woman keep the baby).
Michael Buckingham
August 18, 2009
We need more of this. The church should be a place for answers. This is such a great example of this and shows the power of the church. We can have all the catchy slogans and sayings about changing lives…but this will truly change lives.
I said in Twitter but I’ll say it here, I would love to say thank you by helping this church with a free project. If anyone has a contact, send ’em my way.
Rosemary
August 18, 2009
I wish we saw more of this! Instead of the church yelling a message of, “you’ll go to hell if you kill your fetus”, it extends a warm, welcoming hand and offers the woman/girl a concrete, needed option. They are supporting women who other churches would condemn and shun. How amazingly Christ-like of them.
Kevin Shorter
August 18, 2009
I love this! This reminds me of the story that was on Oprah, where a church in NC adopted an entire boy’s choir from an orphanage in Liberia. God is the father to the fatherless. He cares for the ophans. Peachtree had taken a bold first step. May many orphans find homes and many women find a better alternative to abortion.
Uncle Luther
August 18, 2009
I would love to see more of this. I think if the church had taken this approach at the time abortion was legalized, we wouldn’t be so stereotyped on this issue. This is incredibly refreshing.
Geoff in CT
August 18, 2009
If we saw more of this kind of Christian behavior, it would be much less of an embarrassment to be a Christian in New England.
Mr Paroxysm
August 18, 2009
I can’t wait until all the child abuse and paedophilia cases turn up in 20-30 years.
Rarian Rakista
August 19, 2009
As an athiest progressive pro-lifer this should the gold standard for the pro-life movement not ‘fire and brimstone’ xtian crap.
Ian
August 20, 2009
I’d love to know more about this…I think it’s pretty incredible that someone is willing to put their money where their mouth is on this issue: “Life is precious” actually means something in this context. Like a couple of others here, I’m a little concerned about long-term ramifications, but I’d think that for this congregation to be so bold as to make that statement, there’s been a lot of work and planning that’s gone into making it work and work well.
Sometimes the best marketing is just to give a damn about other people. Bravo!
the one at church
August 20, 2009
While I appreciate a church that puts its money where its mouth is, I can see a few snags.
First, it’s not as if adoption wasn’t already an option. There are places that aren’t churches that offer adoption services, and they’re still not being used by people who get abortions. What does this church offer these infants that other programs don’t? Guaranteed placement in a home? If so, then see the next point.
Second, there are millions of children already in an overcrowded, in-desperate-need-of-a-rehaul foster system. Why hasn’t the church directed its efforts to adopting these already unwanted children?
It’s a good sentiment, but it would be interesting to know the logistics of their plans, and it’ll be interesting to see whether the services are used any more than they already are through other programs.