We are likely all familiar with critiques of Christians who take a strong stance against abortion, asserting that such a position ignores the complex needs of women, men and families experiencing unplanned or difficult pregnancies.
While there is a time to humbly consider constructive feedback and identify our own blind spots, as Christians with deeply held convictions about the sanctity of human life we must not let our guard down. The scope and complexities of circumstances that often lead to abortion can threaten to steer us off course by keeping us feeling overwhelmed, plagued with self-doubt, focused on creating exceptions to our deeply held convictions and acting out of fear rather than trusting God for better solutions.
Let us not forget that faithful Christians have always been on the frontlines of serving the vulnerable in complex situations. In our own Wesleyan history, a shining example is the 125-year-old Hephzibah Ministries, which began when Bettie Tyler made herself available to meet the needs of four boys entrusted to her care. Over the decades countless children were cared for in residential settings through the time when pregnant teens were housed and supported in the Elizabeth Home. At present, Hephzibah62:4 continues this important work by resourcing Wesleyan families and local church ministries committed to hands-on care of vulnerable children and families.
We can help to keep ourselves and our congregations freshly inspired to stand strong in our convictions by sharing stories of Christians coming alongside those facing “impossible” situations and experiencing God’s provision in powerful new ways.
One of those stories involves a woman named Emily who remembers, in her youth, sending a tithe from birthday, babysitting and odd job money to support the work of Hephzibah Children’s Home. She couldn’t have imagined that one day she would be at the receiving end of a financial gift from the organization, to help her family welcome a new daughter through adoption!
Michael and Emily started considering adoption after three difficult pregnancies and one miscarriage, desiring to add to the big family they had dreamed of since becoming high school sweethearts 15 years prior. Their Wesleyan church’s pastor in New York describes them as “committed followers of Jesus (who) have created a home for their children that is warm, nurturing and loving. Most of all, they have committed themselves and their home to Jesus and to the glory of God.”
Emily describes a pregnancy loss support group she attended after her miscarriage, that included women who had chosen abortion under incredibly difficult circumstances. Listening to these women’s stories led her to ask herself what she would have done in similar circumstances. While still 100% against abortion, Emily told Michael she realized that “as a Christian if I do not agree with abortion, then I need to be willing to do something about it.” He agreed and their adoption journey began.
Emily expressed that after some months of exploring options and talking to friends who had adopted, “We began to feel very defeated by the extensive timeline, the immense cost and the transactional nature of many of the avenues. We chose to step back for a while, being content with our two beautiful children, and give control over to God.”
As they waited, Emily shared with Michael her heart’s desire to adopt the baby of a teenager and her vision for supporting two lives — the birth mom’s and the baby’s.
Unexpectedly, in mid-November 2023 they received a call from a friend. During the call they learned that an 18-year-old young woman was pregnant and considering abortion. She was tackling her freshmen year of college, the birth dad was out of the picture and, as a legal adult, was choosing to navigate the pregnancy without her parents’ knowledge.
This young woman was conflicted about the circumstances that, at the time, felt impossible. So, she reached out for support from her roommate’s friend, who navigated a similar situation that resulted in adding a baby to her family through adoption 15 years prior.
The friend asked Michael and Emily if they were still open to adoption. “Of course, we said ‘yes’; this is what we had left our hearts open for!”
Their desire was relayed to the young woman, but it was not until mid-January 2024 that they received the news she wanted to meet them. Emily remembers, “We had her over to our home for dinner and conversation, really hit it off, and by the end of the evening, she informed us that she wanted us to adopt her baby; our home and lifestyle was exactly what she wanted for her child. God’s fingerprints have been all over this entire process.”
Emily and the rest of the family became the young woman’s main support through the remaining eight weeks of her pregnancy, labor and delivery. God provided spiritual, tangible and financial support their family needed through their church, family and friends, and an Adoption Grant from Hephzibah62:4.
“Piper arrived in March, healthy and strong and beautiful,” Emily said. “We were all immediately in love, especially her siblings. She filled a hole in our lives and family that only God knew was there.”
Since Piper’s birth and private, open adoption, the family has maintained a relationship with the birth mom, sending updates, sharing meals and praying for her as she navigates the next steps. Whatever she ends up doing, Emily, Michael and their family will continue to include birth mom in their lives, forever grateful for the incredible gift of life that she gave to Piper and their family.
While understanding that every adoption story contains grief and loss mixed with celebration and gain, complex emotions and ongoing relational challenges, for these things Michael and Emily are committed to continue to lean into the hope of Christ, our ultimate redeemer.
Adoption and birth parent support are just two of the many ways that Christians are stepping into the vast and complex needs of those around us to promote the sanctity of human life.
How is God calling you and your church to seek and trust him in new ways as you care for those facing seemingly impossible situations?
Jodi Lewis serves as the director of Hephzibah62:4, a subsidiary of The Wesleyan Church dedicated to equipping and mobilizing local Wesleyan churches to transform the lives of vulnerable children. Sanctity of Human Life Sunday will be recognized on January 19, 2025. Visit hephzibah.org/sohl to access a FREE toolkit from Hephzibah62:4, that can help equip your church to protect, preserve and promote the sanctity and abundance of human life through the lens of holistic discipleship.
