When speaking of unplanned pregnancies it seems many people want to discuss options through the lens of only ‘parenting vs. aborting’. Too often we focus on this battle for life (and yes, it is a battle) as a 50-50 toss of a coin while we lament, “She’s likely to abort.” Abortion seems like an invincible force that woos women to believe the lie “out of sight, out of mind.” Research has proven post abortion stress is seen not only within clinic walls but also in the pews on Sunday mornings.
Unfortunately many Christians have restricted their influence by choosing to focus on only two options: parenting and abortion. We want women to see the value of life, so what should we do? Push parenting? Tire of the battle and give in? Neither, but how can we as "pro-lifers" and especially pregnancy counselors gain an advantage for life in these circumstances?
Along with counselors, we gain an advantage for life when we introduce adoption to people within the framework of “parenting choices” right from the beginning. In our country it is true that there are three choices: abortion, parenting, and providing parents (through adoption). Every pregnancy counselor should be able to speak truth about each of these, yet statistics show us that too many counselors shy away from presenting adoption. There are a multitude of reasons why. Often adoption is omitted from the counseling room discussion because people make assumptions that a woman will not really consider adoption. While it is true that most birth mothers who have placed for adoption did so by considering adoption later in their pregnancy, we must assume nothing and intentionally plant a seed for adoption from the start.
When we exclude adoption we make it easier for some women to parent before they are prepared. Likewise, when we exclude adoption, we make it easier for women to abort. Please keep these two thoughts in mind while reading the following article.
Houston will be the site of the largest freestanding abortion facility in the Western Hemisphere
(taken from Houston Coalition for Life website)
As most of you are very well aware, our local Planned Parenthood is expanding and purchased a very large building at 4600 Gulf Freeway a little over a year ago. This expansion is being done to comply with Texas law stating that an abortion of a pregnancy of 16 weeks or more has to be done at an ambulatory surgical center or hospital licensed to perform the abortion.
What we didn't realize is that when this move takes place, which is projected for the fall of 2008, Houston will have the notoriety of having the largest freestanding abortion facility in the Western Hemisphere. Planned Parenthood of Houston & Southeast Texas plans to open a multimillion-dollar "flagship" abortion center just outside the gates of the University of Houston's main campus. This six-story building is 78,000 square feet, and the ambulatory surgical center will take up the entire third floor. This is where unborn babies up to 25 weeks will be aborted. This is more than half way through a woman's pregnancy! We know that babies born after 24 weeks have a very good chance of survival.
Planned Parenthood writes, "Our new building at 4600 Gulf Freeway is significantly larger and more secure than our current location. The new expanded campus will allow us to provide a safe and welcoming health care home for our current clients, and to meet the future needs of clients throughout the Houston area."
_________________________________________
Since Houston will soon be known for “having the largest freestanding abortion facility in the Western Hemisphere” where better a place for God to plant the ministry of Act of Life?
At Act of Life, we recognize that to truly love women and empower them to make the best decisions for themselves and their babies they must be allowed to consider adoption as a parenting choice. All of our educational programs are geared toward equipping people with tools and information to share the truth of adoption.
Partner with us to become the largest voice for the voiceless by defeating the evil of abortion by advancing the truth of adoption.
Adoption saves lives and creates families!
"Teach me, O Lord, the way of Thy statutes, and I shall observe it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may observe Thy law, and keep it with all my heart."
Psalm 119:33-34
