For years I supported the Right to Life movement. I'd talked at schools and churches against abortion. I still remember a high school teacher who said to me, "You're the type that preaches against abortion, but if you ever find yourself pregnant, you'll be first in line for one." He wasn't too far from the truth. When I discovered I was definitely pregnant, I wanted an abortion. But I knew too much about it.

I was afraid to tell my parents, but I did tell the baby's father. He wanted an abortion, too. Neither of us wanted to get married. As much as I wanted to, I couldn't abort the baby. So when I was six months pregnant I moved to Atlanta, Ga., to live with a girlfriend.

The night before I left, my mom confronted me, so I told her. It turned out both my parents were really supportive. That made it hard. I was so ashamed. Once I got to Atlanta I had to quit denying there was a baby. I had an ultrasound test done and I saw it. I started wearing maternity clothes. I felt the baby move. And I fell in love with it.

Initially, adoption was a way out of this mess. But by now, I wanted to keep the baby. Then I started to look at what I had to offer a child. It wasn't much. I know that God's plan for children was a mother and a father. I realized adoption was still the best.

But it hurt so much to think of not having my baby. I cried every evening. I finally told God, "I can't visualize placing my baby for adoption; but when the time comes, I believe You'll give me the strength and grace." I was referred to New Beginnings Adoption Agency in Columbus, Ga. I met Phoebe, the director, and came to love her. She cared about me; she didn't just want my baby.

Finally, two days before my due date, I went into labor about midnight. I didn't know that's what it was; I thought I was sick. I hurt bad. I was scared. But I couldn't wake up my roommates. It was so lonely. My son was born early the next morning. I was alone with him for the first hour. I held him and nursed him and that day I was at peace.

But three days later I had to sign the release papers. That was hard. Phoebe came and we had a baby dedication. I gave Matthew to God, not to these people. There was a 10-day period when I could have changed my mind. I ached for my child. I wanted God to take away the pain, but He didn't.

You know, I'd heard and recited John 3:16 for years. But it wasn't until then that I began to understand what it cost God to give his Son to us. At least my son was being sent to people who would love him.

Only a few months after Larry Lewis became president of the Home Mission Board, he set in motion an agenda to develop local abortion alternative ministries across the country. In March 1988, Sylvia Boothe—a former foreign missionary and crisis pregnancy center director—was employed by the Home Mission Board to help churches develop ministries to pregnant women in crisis.

Lewis' quick implementation of this ministry was motivated in part by memories of the early years of his marriage—and the fear of never being able to have a family. "After several years of marriage, Betty Jo and I were told we would probably never have children. We wanted a family more than anything, so we applied to adopt," Lewis recalls.

At the first meeting with adoption officials, the Lewises—and a roomful of other hopeful parents—were told that only a third of the group would receive children. "I remember looking around at all the other people and wondering 'Who will be the lucky ones?’" says Lewis.

Before they could complete the adoption process, however, Betty Jo bore their first child, Janet. "We thought we was our miracle baby, so we decided to wait two years and start the adoption process again," says Lewis. But, 22 months later their second child was born, and 13 months after that their third. "Needless to say, with three kids in diapers, our interest in adoption waned considerably," explains Lewis.

But it did leave the growing family with an appreciation for the miracle of life. Lewis then served on the advisory board of Southern Baptists for Life—an unofficial group of Baptists who support the pro-life cause. As president of the Home Mission Board, Lewis takes seriously the 1984 Southern Baptist Convention resolution on abortion urging "agencies and institutions to provide leadership for cooperating churches and members, by preparing literature to take a clear and strong stance against abortion, and to inform and motivate members to action to eliminate abortion on demand."

Concerned that more than 1.5 million legal abortions are performed annually in the United States, the Home Mission Board directors voted to employ someone to educate and train churches and individuals in abortion alternative ministries.

The North American Mission Board embraced this mission and continued the ministry through the Church and Community Ministries Unit.   Lura Sheppard was chosen to lead the Alternatives for Life Ministries.   Southern Baptists are doing something about the tough decisions faced by a person in a crisis pregnancy.  Shelter, safety, education, job training, employment, clothing, love, and enouragement are all part of the solutions.  Bringing the life-changing message of the gospel is the best way to assist a man or woman facing tough choices.

Church-sponsored crisis pregnancy centers are powerful ministries in reaching young women and men and educating them to all the ramifications of all their choices in a suspected pregnancy.  A crisis pregnancy center is best when on neutral ground, separate from the church building. At these centers a free pregnancy test and practical help are offered by volunteers trained to deal with all areas of the clients' lives.  Spiritual counseling and a presentation of the gospel are always included.

Ignorant of the issues of abortion, Andy Merritt, associate pastor of Edgewood Baptist Church in Columbus, Ga., in 1978 attended a premier of the film Whatever Happened to the Human Race. The film was produced by theologian Frances Schaeffer and United States Surgeon General C. Everett Koop to educate the general public about the abortion issue.

"My eyes were opened. I felt our church needed to take a stand—but not just a moral stand. We needed to provide compassionate ministry to pregnant women in crisis." With the help of two local doctors, Merritt began to educate his fellow church members. As they worked through the political system to protest abortion, they also decided to develop plans for a crisis pregnancy center.

"It was to be an evangelistic ministry, but it was to be holistic in nature," explains Merritt. The plan met with apprehension from many church members. "They had lots of questions about legal liability, money, volunteers. Some said the church was to evangelize, not to be involved in social ministry." The church opted not to start the full program, but to try it out—in the church building. "Not an ideal situation, but it was the best we could do. This ministry just wasn't too popular at first," Merritt admits.

They opened in March 1981 and operated for 19 months out of the church. A one-inch classified newspaper ad brought women in for free pregnancy tests. "It was an interesting time," recalls Merritt. "They brought urine samples in every imaginable container to the receptionist. Then I put the samples in vials and carried them to a local doctor who agreed to run the tests for us."

Every afternoon, Merritt called each "client" with test results and counseled her over the phone. "I would never recommend anyone do it this way, but it was our only option at the time." During those 19 months, 1,100 women called the center and 395 came in for free pregnancy tests. Today Edgewood's crisis pregnancy center is located in an unobtrusive office complex about two miles from the church.

Each client walking into the center is greeted by a warm, "Hi. Are you here for a free pregnancy test?" "They should never have to ask for a test," explains one director. "We want to put them immediately at ease, since it takes a lot of nerve for some women just to walk in the door." Within 30 to 45 minutes, a client has supplied information on an intake card, provided a urine sample for the pregnancy test, watched a video presentation, and been shown her test results. A volunteer working one-on-one becomes the client's advocate.

If the test is negative, the volunteer tells the client about the benefits of abstinence before marriage. If, however, the test is positive, the volunteer talks with the client about her options. And always, the volunteers look for opportunities to share the gospel. Each volunteer is educated in the different techniques of abortion and will present these facts to a woman considering abortion.

One of the greatest fears is telling parents about a pregnancy. A young teenager who came to the center had a positive pregnancy test. She cried, "I'm against abortion, but I can't tell Dad. He's a minister. He'll just die." Crisis pregnancy centers encourage young women to tell their parents and ask for their help. If parents abandon them, the crisis pregnancy centers have resources that meet real needs; however, parents are rarely as horrible as their daughters fear.

A crisis pregnancy center exists for ministry and evangelism, not merely to "save the life of the baby," says Merritt. "The only thing I have against some pro-life groups is that many of them are out only to save the life of an infant—not to care for the mother. Once the baby is born, there's still a lot that needs to be done."

Because of Merritt's philosophy, the center expanded its work beyond free pregnancy testing and one-on-one volunteers. Several families from Edgewood Baptist Church have opened their homes to unwed pregnant women, providing shelter, food, and love. The church has also begun a post-abortion counseling group, recognizing the needs of women suffering from Post Abortion Syndrome (PAS)—defined as a series of symptoms and behaviors that occurs after an abortion, resulting in emotional and psychological disturbances, which may include depression, insomnia, nervousness, guilt, and regret.

Although research is limited, one study reported in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology indicates that 50 percent of the women who have had abortions suffer from PAS. The church has also set up a transitional home—a place of readjustment for mothers who have placed their babies for adoption. And in 1985, the church became a licensed adoption agency to provide Christian homes for birth mothers who choose to place their children for adoption.

"We're here as a ministry to birth mothers. We are not here to provide deserving couples with babies," says Phoebe Dawson, New Beginnings Adoption Agency director. Dawson protects "her girls," helping them work through decisions to keep or place babies. Says one birth mother, "Phoebe cares about the mother and child. She wants what's best for both. The day I signed the release papers for my baby, Phoebe told me, 'This is a wonderful couple who want to adopt your baby. They can't have children and that's too bad. But it is not your responsibility to provide a child for them. "You do what's right for you and this baby."

Jane DeLaney, former director of the crisis pregnancy center of First Baptist Church, Euless, Texas, says the greatest problem she faced was continuing to recruit people after the "honeymoon was over. The challenge came in getting long-term commitments from volunteers." The center is one of the most important ministries of the church. "It works. We save lives—not only physically, but spiritually," she says.

I was raped. Late at night, after finishing up at my job at a theater, I was driving home. Not far from the theater, A man I vaguely knew was beside the road, waving me down. I stopped, thinking he had car trouble. But he didn't. He raped me there.

I went home that night and went to bed. I didn't tell my mom. I didn't want to make her go through that. I thought I'd forget about it, but every day became worse. I couldn't sleep at night. I was so angry with God. I had struggled through high school to stay a virgin. Then God let this happen. About the time I had my 19th birthday I skipped a period. I just figured it was from the tension. But then a went another month. I couldn't take it anymore. I finally told my mom. She was real strong.

We went to the doctor and he told us not to worry because my chances of being pregnant were about 1 in 10,000. But the next day he called and said the test was positive. Then he said, "Don't worry, we can put an end to this." I kept hearing those words. Everyone said I could have an abortion. It would be OK in this situation. But I couldn't do it. I kept thinking that this horrible experience wasn't this innocent child's fault. But I prayed for a miscarriage.

I wasn't all that spiritual. But I had to depend on God just to make it through each day. He was with me. Finally, I talked with the director of my church's crisis pregnancy center. I said I didn't want an abortion, and I received help in sorting things out. The church was told about my circumstances. They were so supportive—praying, sending cards, giving me maternity clothes and baby showers.

When I first heard the heartbeat at the doctor's office, I decided to keep my baby. I kept waiting to feel some resentment or anger toward the baby, but I never did—and I still haven't. I was in labor for three days, complicated by toxemia, but I finally delivered my little girl. I named her Grace because that's how I got through everything.

Read an article about a mother's joy at having kept her little boy

Note: The North American Mission Board's Alternatives for Life Ministries office offers educational materials, guidance to groups developing crisis pregnancy centers, and a 16-hour training session for center volunteers.

For information, write:  Alternatives For Life, North American Mission Board, SBC, 4200 North Point Pkwy., Alpharetta, GA 30022-4174. Or call 1 800 962-0851, Monday-Friday.

Abortion Facts

• Every year, more than 1.5 million abortions are performed in the United States, with 10 percent being late abortions (performed after 12 weeks).
• In most states, a teenager may have an abortion without the consent of a parent or guardian.
• About one-third of all abortions are performed on teenagers. Another third who received abortions are in the 20-24 age group, while the remaining third are age 25 and older.
• Abortion is legal for any reason at any stage of pregnancy.
• Recent studies indicate that by age twenty, 81 percent of today's unmarried males and 67 percent of today's unmarried females have had sexual intercourse.
• According to a study by Christian author Josh McDowell, 65 percent of church youth have had some type of sexual contact by age 18 and 43 percent have experienced sexual intercourse by that age.

What Can I Do?

Become educated about abortion and abortion alternatives. A few books to get you started:

Abortion: Questions and Answers, Dr. and Mrs. J. C. Willke, Hayes Publishing Company, Inc., Cincinnati.

Abortion: Toward an Evangelical Consensus, Paul B. Fowler, Questar Publishers, Portland, Ore.

The Least of These, Kurt Young, Moody Press, Chicago.

Beyond Choice, Don Baker, Multonomah Press, Portland, Ore.

Ask your pastor to preach a sermon on the sanctity of life.

Provide your church library and local school libraries with the best books available on these issues.

Learn your state and national congressional representatives' voting records on abortion and family issues. Write to tell them of your concern or support.

Become involved in or help start a crisis pregnancy center. Some of the needs you can help meet at a center include: volunteers, professionals (physicians, attorneys), office space and equipment, childbirth coaches, financial help.

Pray.