Four years ago my son was growing in the womb of another woman. This woman, or perhaps young girl would be a better description, was likely afraid. Her life was unstable, the pregnancy was her first and unexpected. She hadn’t made all the best decisions up to that point and some of her decisions would have lasting consequences for her and her unborn child. Yet I consider this young girl one of the most courageous women I know because she let this little one grow inside her, not knowing what the future would hold. When it would have been perhaps “in her best interest” or “more convenient” to visit the abortion clinic, she chose life. She carried this little one inside her to full-term, went to the hospital when the time came, and gave him life. I’m forever grateful for her decision, and for this little boy, the unborn baby whose life was spared, who I now get to call my son. When we think pro-life, sidewalk counseling outside the abortion clinic and pleading with a young woman to not enter is typically what comes to mind. This is important and vital work. However, if we are going to call

As Christians, we believe that every single person is precious and valuable, regardless of ability or disability. Yet, abortion rates rise when the unborn child is diagnosed with a disability. In fact, Iceland has seen a drastic decline in people with Down syndrome through their horrific practice of aborting all babies who are diagnosed with it during prenatal testing. Our Assistant Director, Katie Van Dyke, recently spoke with her friend, Jamie Luck, about growing up with a brother with Down syndrome. Katie Van Dyke: When did your family first find out Josh had Down syndrome? Jamie Luck: I was 14 years old when we found out that my mom, who was 44 at the time, was pregnant with my brother Josh. It was quite a surprise, as my other brother was 12, and our family of 4 becoming a family of 5 was the last thing anyone expected. Given her age and the unplanned nature of her pregnancy, my mom’s doctor encouraged her multiple times to consider abortion. After she refused, he pushed her to at least do pre-birth testing to determine if the baby had any sort of disability. Again, my mom refused, saying “We will love this baby

We live in a world of assumptions. We assume that if it is raining the morning commute to work is going to be terrible. We assume that if someone get’s engaged at the end of a season of the Bachelor they are going to eventually break up. We assume that The University of Alabama is going to be the best football team in the nation for as long as we all live. We assume that if someone is a Christian they love Chick-Fil-A. We make assumptions about people so frequently we probably don’t even realize we are doing it. It is not uncommon for us to make similar assumptions about people within the church. Through all of my years going to and serving in a church, I’ve noticed that assumptions in the church often come under the cover of labels. All of us have labelled people inside of our churches. The family who home schools. The ones who have been burned by another church. The family who comes to every activity. The young marrieds. The inconsistent churchgoers. The ones who only come on holidays. The young singles. The church hoppers. Almost from the moment people come through the doors, we

2 Corinthians 5:11-21 [11] Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. [12] We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. [13] For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. [14] For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; [15] and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. [16] From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. [17] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. [18] All this is from God,

2017 is coming to a close! We leave 2017 with full hearts and look forward to what the Lord has in store for 2018! As we look back through the year, there are many things we can celebrate and many things we have learned. We are thankful for many Christian writers who share their wisdom with the church. Here are our staff’s top reads for 2017. 10. Work and Our Labor in the Lord Author: James M. Hamilton Jr. Publisher: Crossway Buy Here 9.   12 ways Your Phone is Changing You Author: Tony Reinke Publisher: Crossway Buy Here 8. God’s Mediators: A Biblical Theology of Priesthood Author: Andrew S. Malone Publisher: IVP Academic Buy Here 7. Glory in the Ordinary: Why Your Work in the Home Matters to God Author: Courtney Reissig Publisher: Crossway Buy Here 6.   Missions: How the Local Church Goes Global Author: Andy Johnson Publisher: Crossway Buy Here 5.   The New City Catechism: 52 Questions and Answers for Our Hearts and Minds Author: Kathy Keller Publisher: Crossway Buy Here 4.   Reading the Bible Supernaturally: Seeing and Savoring the Glory of God in Scripture Author: John Piper Publisher: Crossway Buy Here 3.   God’s Very Good Idea: A True

How’s your prayer life? Hardly any question — unless perhaps if someone asks about your evangelistic efforts — can cause more chin-dropping, foot-shuffling embarrassment for Christians than asking about their prayer life. Why is that? Why do so many followers of Jesus suffer with such unsatisfying prayer lives and consider themselves hopelessly second-rate Christians because of it? Method Is Our Madness For almost all followers of Jesus, I believe the problem in prayer is not with the quality of the Christian, but with the method of their prayer. Of course, no change in method will make prayer consistently meaningful to someone who is spiritually dead. But it’s different for those who are spiritually alive. They are born again through faith in Christ and indwelled by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit’s presence causes them as God’s children to cry, “Abba, Father!” (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6), giving them a Godward orientation they didn’t have before. In other words, all those indwelled by the Holy Spirit really do want to pray. And if an individual Christian sincerely seeks to live for Christ, and has no specific sin issue that he or she refuses to confess and fight against, then the basic problem in

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. – Philippians 4:4-9 Joy is a theme found all over the Scriptures. In ancient Israel, God often commanded the people to rejoice when observing their sacrifices and festivals (see Lev 23:40; Deut 12:7). The Prophets described the rejoicing that would come with God’s future deliverance of his people (see Isa 12:3; 35:10; Jer 33:9; Hab 3:18). In the New Testament, Jesus told his followers to rejoice in persecution, for it showed they stood in a long line

In 2017, our then Assistant Director, Katie Van Dyke, had the opportunity to talk about Speak For The Unborn with For Life and Liberty Radio in Memphis, TN.