Oct 12, 2023 – An Israel update from Brian Brodersen from the Island of Cyprus

Greetings, friends. Pastor Brian here, and I am standing on the shores of the Mediterranean. Just about 200 miles southeast of where I’m standing is Tel Aviv.

Of course, we are all aware of things that are happening in that region currently. I just wanted to take a few minutes to give you an update from where I am in Cyprus.

We are here for a conference that we do fairly regularly, and it just so happens that we ended up here at this time. It always seems like we end up here at strategic times!

At the moment in Israel, we have a number of students from our Bible college who are happy to evacuate the country. And thankfully we’re here and we’re able to have many of them come and join us here in Cyprus as they make their way back home to the U.S. If you would keep that in prayer, that would be wonderful. I know that their families would appreciate that.

Of course, our hearts go out to many of our personal friends in Israel. Today, we have been in touch with them, and we’re keeping in close contact to monitor the situation to see what we can do to help towards whatever needs arise.

And we’re also, of course, praying for the Palestinian people of Gaza. We actually have friends who have family there. So we’re not disconnected from that as well. I was in touch with one of them this morning, and they definitely asked for prayer. It’s a complicated, horrific situation.

Israel’s decision to eradicate the terrorism of Hamas, I personally think, is the right and obvious decision. And yet, it’s going to be a difficult road.

Many have asked this question, is this a fulfillment of Bible prophecy?

The answer is: no and yes at the same time. No, it’s not a fulfillment of any specific prophecy. However, it is a fulfillment of the larger prophetic scenario that the Bible lays out where Jerusalem would become this burdensome stone to all the nations, and the Lord promises that for all those who would come against Jerusalem, He would rise up in judgment against them.

So, we’re not there at this moment, but that’s where things are headed. Are they headed there in the next few months? It doesn’t seem to me that that’s the case. But that is, generally speaking, the direction that the world is moving in. So in one sense we see the stages continuing to be set for the final acts, which could be years out ahead of us. We don’t really know.

What I think what this does is it moves us to pray. It moves us to realize the seriousness of the situation, and the world that we are living in today. It creates in us an urgency for the Gospel. People need Jesus.

The craziness unfolds around us with the various opinions, with some people actually coming out and publicly supporting the murderous rampage that these terrorists went on!

A lot of things are being revealed right now. And hopefully, as a result of this, there will be people that are turning to Christ. That’s our prayer.

Please continue to pray for us:

Pray for the conference that we’re having because it’s for people from the region. They’re coming to be encouraged. They didn’t know they were going to be coming in the midst of this conflict… but that’s where we’re at. But we’re trusting that the Lord has good things, and people are going to be encouraged to go back to their communities in the Muslim world, for the most part, and in the Jewish world as well, to bring the hope of Christ!

So, thanks for your prayers.

God bless.

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Oct 9, 2023 at 08:19 PST – More Prayer Requests From Friends In Israel

*Editor’s note: submitted by one of our Calvary Chapel pastors. A message from friends in Israel about the current crisis. Names have been withheld to protect those in the field.

Terrorist are still inside some of the towns near Gaza, and the fighting is still going on. As of now (Sunday night), over 700 Israeli citizens—women, children, and soldiers—have been killed and over 2200 wounded.

This is the worst incident ever in Israel. Such brutal and ruthless killing … As a result, Israel has declared war against Hamas. Since last night, Israel has been striking hundreds of strategic targets deep in Gaza and will be preparing for a full assault. It seems like we are far from the end.

And the most disturbing is the kidnaping: a large number (over 100) of soldiers and citizens have been taken into Gaza.

The IDF is calling up all reserves and is preparing for major operation in Gaza.

Please continue to pray for the situation to be resolved quickly, for the men and women who have been taken captive to be released, for the many wounded to recover, and for the families of the deceased.

Five men and women from the Netivah team were called up. The rest of the team are creating opportunities to bless the soldiers on the front line.

We are also working with other ministries to provide necessities and also looking into the possibility of providing shelter, food, and accommodation for residents of the southern towns.

 

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Oct 7, 2023 – Prayer Request From Friends In Israel

*Editor’s note: submitted by one of our Calvary Chapel pastors. A message from friends in Israel about the current crisis. Names have been withheld to protect those in the field.

By now you are probably aware of the difficult situation that we are under at these moments in Israel.

From 6:30 am, we have been under an unusual rocket attack that enabled hundreds of Hamas militants to break through the Gaza border straight into the nearby towns and kibbutzim on a killing spree, killing over 200 civilians and soldiers, wounding over 1500 people, and kidnaping dozens of men women and children, taking them across the border into Gaza as hostages. As of 10:00 pm there is still fighting in fifteen different locations.

This has been described by many as a 9/11 incident, and the IDF is calling up reserves and is preparing for a full scale response which will probably temporarily escalate the situation.

Please pray for the situation to be resolved quickly, for the men and women that have been taken captive to be released, for the many wounded to recover, and for the families of the deceased.

Many of our messianic young men and women have been called up (also reserves) and some are in the heart of the battles.

Please join us as we pray for their safety and that they may be an encouragement and light in times of fear and pain.

Please pray for us at Netivah to know how to encourage and support the men and women serving and also for some of our team that has been called up as well.

 

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Oct 7, 2023

The following is an update from Matt Davis of The Jewish Road, an organization which endeavors to restore the Jewishness of the Gospel through teachings and trips. 

On the 50 year anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, Israel’s enemies once again have blindsided and invaded the land. As the joyous Jewish holiday of Sukkot ended last night, and on the morning of another holiday, Simchat Torah, the terrorist organization Hamas began an attack by air and land into peaceful Israeli communities. At the time of this writing, Hamas has launched over 3,000 rockets into Israel. On foot, terrorists have kidnapped and murdered hundreds of Israeli citizens including women, children, and holocaust survivors. Thousands of Israelis are wounded and the death and injury toll will continue to rise in the foreseeable future as Israel engages to protect their Jewish homeland. 

Prime Minister Netanyahu has declared that the State of Israel is at war. What exactly this will bring and how the surrounding hostile nations will react and respond remains to be seen. Pray for Israel. As the church, we are grafted into the spiritual body of Abraham, and when our big brother goes to war, we should too. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Pray for wisdom for Israel’s leaders. Pray that this battle would soon end and for justice for the victims of these heinous hate crimes and their families. Pray for the innocent civilians, Jews and Arabs alike, who are caught in the crossfire of this ancient hatred and modern day battle that rages on. 

Make no mistake, this is not a battle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

The following is an update from Jim Stretchberry of AEBM (American European BETHEL Mission) in Haifa, Israel. Bethel is the hostel AEBM owns and operates in Haifa.

As of 0700 October 7, 2023 …

The situation in Israel is dire: 500 wounded, unknown number captured and taken to Gaza, at least 100 known dead. Israel was not ready, and infiltration came from many points. 

Bethel is prepared: bomb shelter is perfect, provisions are being increased and preparations made for whatever we can do. They already have some tourists and refugees staying at the hostel but are committed to use every inch of the facilities as needed.

Prayer Requests:

• PRAYER: For AEBM’s obvious concern: Hezbollah. 
• PRAYER: For additional concerns about some of the radical Muslim villages in the North. The streets of Haifa are deserted at this time.
• PRAYER: For Arabs around the country and especially for our dear partners who are Arab believers. 
• PRAYER: That many would turn to God and realize Jesus as Messiah. 
• PRAYER: For the peace of Jerusalem. Kindly pray and pray.

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Veszprém Community

One of the biggest challenges people face in a new country is integrating into a new social circle. With all the differences in language, culture, accepted daily routines, and other details, it is not easy to feel “at home” in a foreign country. Adapting takes a long time.

The situation is even more complicated if you are a refugee. On the one hand, the move was not something you planned and prepared for: you did not have enough time to say goodbye to your old life, so you are often not ready to accept your new one. On the other hand, you almost never feel equal to the locals: they may pity you or want to help, but often they are not ready to make you a part of their lives.

That is why we, the BridgeUA team in Hungary, see such great value in creating Ukrainian-Hungarian communities. And we can already share our first success story. Recently, a team of people from Calvary Chapel in Philadelphia, USA traveled to Hungary to help us serve Ukrainians here. With their help, we organized a holiday celebration to bring together Ukrainian and Hungarian women in the city of Veszprém.

Despite the language barrier, the women were able to make earrings together, have lunch together, and even have a lesson in traditional Hungarian dances!

The church in Veszprém did a short Bible study. The story of Hagar, who was forced to flee into the desert while pregnant and met God there, touched the hearts of the Ukrainian women, who are also going through trying circumstances. At the same time, it was obvious how good this time was for the Hungarian women because they too received spiritual encouragement, care, and an opportunity to practice the love of Christ.

We all need healing.
We all need community.
And each of us has something to share with others.

Are you eager to explore how our faith intersects with the world of ideas and beliefs that shape our lives? Then you won’t want to miss “Isms That Cause Schisms,” the brand-new podcast series from CGN. Hosted by the dynamic duo of Pastor Jeff Gipe and Professor Brian Nixon, this podcast promises to take you on a thought-provoking journey into the heart of some of the most divisive and contentious topics of our time through the lens of the Kingdom of God.

From politics to religion, from culture to philosophy, “Isms That Cause Schisms” will delve into the many ways in which our beliefs and ideologies can both unite and divide us, all while exploring how these issues intersect with the Christian faith. With insightful commentary, personal anecdotes, and a good dose of humor, Pastor Jeff and Professor Brian will challenge your assumptions, expand your understanding of the faith, and help you see the world in a new way that aligns with God’s Kingdom vision.

Listen to episode one here!

 

A word from Jeff:

“Why are people so divided today? Why is there so much anger and disdain? These are the type of questions that have been ricocheting around in my head for the past few years. In one sense, I understand why the world is divided, but why the church? Why is there so much anger and distain in the church? The concept of unity was in the heart of the apostles and the church fathers. In fact, John Chrysostom (c. 347-407), Archbishop of Constantinople, wrote ‘The name of the Church is not one of separation but of unity and harmony.’ ¹

“Having a desire to overcome division for Kingdom unity, I set out on a quest to answer questions like these. I found myself diving into the book of Ecclesiastes. This wonderful book deals with questions that have puzzled philosophers for thousands of years. Unlike philosophers of today, the book of Ecclesiastes gives us answers to questions, not from a philosopher but from a Sovereign Creator. The answers found in Ecclesiastes are certain to restore unity, harmony, and joy in the church.

“In this podcast we will look at eight isms found in the book of Ecclesiastes and how these isms have caused schisms in the church today. What are those isms? Scientism, intellectualism, hedonism, materialism, existentialism, capitalism, religionism, and humanism.

“Considering my background, I knew I could define and discuss such isms as hedonism, materialism, capitalism, and religionism but didn’t feel qualified to speak on the other isms.

“Then one day I was reading a book written by a long-time friend, artist, musician, educator, minister, and a Fellow at Oxford Graduate School (DPhil), Brian C. Nixon, titled Tilt: Finding Christ in Culture where he defines the theological principle of common grace: “Common grace refers to the gifts given by God for all of humanity to use and enjoy. These gifts include creation (the natural world and science) and culture (the humanities, arts, and civilization).” ²

“It was at that very moment I knew I had to have him join me on the podcast. When I shared with Brian my idea for the podcast and how my background and his background together would make one whole Solomon, he immediately said yes.

“In this podcast series we try and accomplish three very important things: direct you to scripture text found in Ecclesiastes, define our terms, and discuss the isms at hand.”

Listeners can expect a lively discussion that will challenge their views and invite them to think deeply about the isms that shape our world. Tune in to “Isms That Cause Schisms” to gain a better understanding of the roots of the divisions in our society and church.

New episode every Friday!

 

References

¹ Thomas P. Halton, The Church: Message of the Fathers, Vol. 4 (Wilmington, DE: Michael Glazier, Inc., 1985), 56.

² Brian C. Nixon, Tilt: Finding Christ in Culture (Eugene: Cascade Books, 2020), xvii/Introduction.

The Jesus Revolution movie premiers today, and you should definitely go see it!

On Wednesday, our church rented out our local theater for a private showing of the movie before its public release. Tickets sold out fast, and the theater was full of people of all ages.

The movie chronicles the early days of the Jesus Movement, through the eyes of Greg Laurie. At the forefront of the Jesus Movement was Chuck Smith and Calvary Chapel, and their stories are told in this film, along with that of hippie evangelist and preacher, Lonnie Frisbee.

The stories told in the movie are stories that I heard from my pastor, Tom Stipe, over the years: Chuck Smith telling his board members, who were concerned about shoeless hippies ruining the new carpet in the church, that he would rather rip out the carpet than send the hippies away, or make them feel unwelcome; baptizing thousands at Pirate’s Cove in Corona del Mar, the concerts in the tent, and more.

Tom, who passed away in 2020, was good friends with Greg Laurie. When Tom passed away, I had the honor of speaking at his memorial, along with Greg. Unfortunately, Tom wasn’t mentioned in the film, although he was right there in the thick of the events that the movie chronicles.

When I, as a teenager, gave my life to the Lord and started attending church at Crossroads – the Calvary Chapel church which Tom pastored in Arvada, Colorado – my dad told me: “You know, back when I was in high school, I remember there were all these hippies playing ‘Jesus music’ on their guitars.” It was only later on, when I got to know Pastor Tom, that I realized the significance of the experience my dad was sharing with me.

Several times during the movie, I found myself moved to tears. There is something incredibly powerful about the hope of the gospel and the message of redemption.

I was so happy to have my kids be able to see this movie and connect the dots with some of the things we’ve shared with them about the history of our movement. Furthermore, I was proud to have the members of our church who were less-familiar with Calvary Chapel see this depiction of the Jesus Movement, and understand the roots and the values of the movement to which our church belongs.

Something I really appreciated about the movie was how they portrayed the nuances of the relationship between Chuck and Lonnie, and the reasons why they parted ways. The film portrayed that tension in a palpable way.

Tom Stipe used to tell me that what God did through Calvary Chapel and the Jesus Movement in the 1970’s was a story that needed to be shared and never forgotten. This movie tells the story of this important part of American history, which has spilled over and changed the world.

I encourage you to go out, watch the movie, and invite a friend or two. I hope many people will see the movie, and that God will use it to spark a Jesus revolution in our generation as well.

The Bible tells us to “give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute; rescue the weak and the needy; (and) deliver them from the hand of the wicked” (Psalm 82:3–4). Our nation’s constitution reflects this heart when it says that “no person shall be…deprived of life…without due process of law” (Amendment V, U.S. Constitution).

The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is a significant step toward rectifying one of our nation’s worst sins. Though nine justices cast their votes, the God of Heaven is the one who sovereignly gave us this merciful outcome. The Ten Commandments tell us not to murder, but since Roe’s passing in 1973, over 60 million children were given no choice to live—they were deprived of life (Exodus 20:13). Reversing Roe moves us in the direction of justice for the weak and deliverance of the needy—a direction God himself loves.

But, as a Christian minority in a culture filled with those who believe abortion should be a right, how do we respond today? Let me offer four attitudes becoming of believers on this occasion:

1. We should celebrate without gloating.

Many believers—and unbelievers—have worked hard to see this day. Prayers have been prayed. Sermons have been preached. Hearts have been changed. Legislation has been introduced. And now the good day has come—Roe has breathed its last.

But, as we rejoice, we must do so with fear and trembling, recognizing the staggering number of children who have already died. And we must respond humbly, knowing that Christ still longs for the hearts of humanity. He is not content with an overturned legal decision but wants people to decide for him.

2. We should have sober gladness.

We should be exceedingly glad that our federal government no longer validates a practice unbecoming a civilized nation like ours. We should be exceedingly glad that thousands of babies will now be given a chance at life. We should be exceedingly glad that the normalization of abortion will no longer trickle down as the approved law of the land.

But we should be soberly mindful that this decision does not recognize human life in the womb. We should be mindful that many states will legalize (and perhaps even promote) abortion. We should be mindful that abortion access will still be found over state lines and in mailboxes throughout the union. We should be mindful that we have not eradicated ourselves from this act.

3. We should be concerned with all of human life but also be decidedly pro-life.

Many have said Christians should not be pro-life only but also care for the whole life. This point is well-taken and true—it is not right for us to fight for a baby to be born without caring for that same child after they leave the hospital.

Christians should care about mother and baby, not just at birth but beyond. But this whole-life approach—an approach we try to take here at CGN—should not dilute the importance of the pro-life position and work. The tireless and resilient people who have made the pro-life cause their primary (or even exclusive) mission owe us no apologies.

4. We should be compassionate without compromise.

Abortion law is problematic because it pits the interest of a woman against the interest of a child or the interest of a child against the interest of a woman. But, though we hold the biblical conviction that abortion is wrong, Christians must also hold a conviction that the mother needs compassion. Both baby and woman are made in God’s image, so believers ought to rush towards the confusion, distress, and panic that an unplanned pregnancy can cause.

Just as Christ entered into our messy world to help us, we should become more willing than ever to enter into the complexities of life and aid those in need. Unlike Jesus, we cannot save them all. But, with the help of Jesus, we can love.

So let’s be the body of Christ in a time such as this—his hands and feet and ears and eyes and mouth. Let’s do Jesus-work.

Let’s support those who have been working hard for this day.

Let’s partner with pregnancy centers.

Let’s gather our resources for those who need them more than we do.

Let’s pray for women and families facing unwanted pregnancies.

Let’s learn more about how to esteem both mother and child.

Let’s get qualified to provide emergency short and long-term foster care.

Let’s set money aside for the expense of adoptions.

And let’s keep on preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to anyone who will listen because he loves this world more than we know.

Where will women and men go when they can no longer run from their shame? Where will they find hope when the world seems to be crumbling around them? Many women are experiencing severe anxiety this week because they are unsure what abortion law will look like in the near future.

Possibility of a Post-Roe Era

In the coming months, we could be moving into a Post-Roe era. This week, news outlet Politico leaked the Supreme Court majority opinion (supposedly written by Justice Samuel Alito) on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.

Albert Mohler extensively covered the leak in his Tuesday briefing.

Mohler says:

“…the big story last night was actually the leak itself. The document, that appeared to be a draft of the court’s forthcoming opinion in the case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, did reveal a sweeping decision. It would strike down Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood versus Casey. It would be a comprehensive repudiation of those two precedents. It would utterly transform abortion law in the nation.”

I think there is an important distinction to be made. Striking down these two precedents will not end abortion in our country: It will diversify it. The legality of abortion would go back to the states. In the past few years, in anticipation of the Supreme Court’s decision, many states have passed “trigger laws” to protect the unborn while other states have built the right to abortion into their constitution.

If you want to know what your state laws will be in the Post-Roe era, have a look at this map:

For further study on state laws, visit Abort73.com.

An Important Question: Where Will Women and Their Unborn Children Find Help?

I cannot help but think of the women battling severe anxiety this week. Many of them are crippled by fear of what the future holds for them.

If I get pregnant, how will I provide for my child?

If I get pregnant, can I finish school?

If my parents find out I am pregnant, will they disown me?

Where can I go to get help with my crisis pregnancy?

When I think of these women, I think of my mom.

In 1986, my mom was informed that she was pregnant… with me. Like many young women today, she faced an unintended pregnancy.

She was single, an unbeliever, 23 years old, and in nursing school. She checked all the boxes for “crisis” pregnancy. But when the nurse left the room after telling my mom she was pregnant, the Lord spoke a word of encouragement to her.

When my mom told the nurse about the voice that she heard, the nurse responded by giving her the Gospel right there in the doctor’s office! My mom gave her heart to Christ moments after being confronted with my unintended life!

That was not the end of her journey. She still faced all the fears and struggles that an unwed mother faces. The answer to her great needs was found in a local Calvary Chapel. I am still in awe each time I read the card she received (anonymously) from someone at the church.

As I write this article, I wonder if you, dear reader, were possibly the one who blessed us 36 years ago?

Here are my mother’s own words to me describing what happened and what was in the card:

“The night before I received this card, I laid in bed and cried. My faith was wavering that night as I wondered how I was going to provide all that you needed. I had nothing for you: no clothes, no baby equipment, and no maternity leave. As I lay in bed crying out to the Lord, I begged Him to forgive my unbelief. I went to sleep that night feeling forgiven, and I slept peacefully that night.”

“The next day this card came in the mail. Before I looked inside the card, I just read the verse over and over (Numbers 6:24, 26), and when I did open the card, there was a check for $3,000. I called the church and talked to Pastor Bob, asking who gave it to me. He kept saying ‘God did.’ That money enabled me to take three months of maternity leave and buy all the baby things I needed! That is the Almighty Lord we follow!”

In our greatest time of need, it was the Church that displayed the love of God to us. Our story illustrates the reality that the Church is a gift of grace to families in need. I am so thankful for that small church-plant that blessed us 36 years ago.

The Church is Going to Be Needed More Than Ever.

In the Post-Roe era, the Church will be needed more than ever. The sanctity of life is not merely a political issue—It is a personal issue. Even if every state outlawed abortion, we would still have crisis pregnancies. Theoretically, we will face even more “unwanted” pregnancies. In the Post-Roe era, I believe the pro-life movement, and the Church, will need to respond in greater magnitude.

Let me share with you a few simple reasons why we are going to be needed in the coming months and years.

1. More “unwanted” children will be born.

The latest statistic from the CDC estimates that 629,898 abortions took place in 2019. With numerous states armed with trigger laws to protect the unborn, we will see a dramatic decline in abortion. This is something to celebrate! Lives are going to be saved if Roe is overturned! But we will also see a dramatic increase in unwanted pregnancies.

It is a tragic reality that there will be parents who find themselves in these situations and choose to define their children as unwanted. But we know, as the body of Christ, there is no such thing as an unwanted or unnoticed child. We are not defined by the attitudes of our birth parents but by our Heavenly Father. The heart of Christ is for the orphan. This is the Gospel: We were once orphans, enemies of God, and He adopted us into His family.

As J. I. Packer says in Knowing God:

“You sum up the whole of New Testament religion if you describe it as the knowledge of God as one’s holy Father. If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thought of being God’s child, and having God as his Father. If this is not the thought that prompts and controls his worship and prayers and his whole outlook on life, it means that he does not understand Christianity very well at all.”

As the Church, how we love orphans declares the Gospel to a broken and selfish world. Adoption flies in the face of the “me first” American culture. Adoption not only silences the critics, it also displays the Father to a world of spiritual orphans. In the Post-Roe era, we will need to support adoption in a significant way. Adoption is not the only answer to unwanted children. The Gospel transforms hearts of sinful parents. We need to share the Gospel and be the Gospel to broken families. This may involve foster care or financial aid.

2. Post-abortive mothers will face insurmountable guilt.

In our postmodern society, legality is the same as morality. I have worked with youth for 16 years. Often their common justification is not morality but legality. If it is legal, they argue, it is moral.

What does this then mean for abortive women? Statics show 24% of women will have an abortion by age 45. That means that 1 in 4 women over the age of 45 may face guilt because of their abortions. Many women may, for the first time, recognize that their abortion was immoral because now it is illegal. Still, others who have always known in their hearts it was immoral may be forced to face their deepest hidden fears and shame. How should we respond as the Church? Scott Klusendorf, in his book The Case for Life, brilliantly lays out our response:

“My message to that hurting post-abortion woman was simple: You don’t need an excuse; you need an exchange—your sinfulness for Christ’s righteousness. The Bible speaks of this exchange in 2 Corinthians 5:21: “For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. If you’ve had an abortion, you don’t need an excuse. You need an exchange—His righteousness for your sinfulness.”

There it is. The Gospel. No excuses; complete atonement. Most post-abortive women know in their hearts that they have taken a life. Many erect a series of defenses to protect themselves from the pain of their past. When their state now declares abortion illegal, they may face guilt for the first time. We do not need to excuse their sin; we need to point them to the one who can forgive it. We need to point them to Jesus, the Savior who died for their sin.

As pastors, it’s essential that we shepherd people to the truth, even if it’s the hard truth! We must help people see the reality of their sin because if people don’t face their own darkness, they won’t experience the freedom of repentance.

The reality is there are women who need to face and grieve the truth that they chose to take a life. There are boyfriends, ex-boyfriends, and husbands who need to face and grieve the hard truth that they pressured or even forced a woman to take a life.

Once this hard, sad truth is acknowledged, it may crush people’s hearts, but that’s where the beauty of the Gospel comes in. As leaders, we should never let people wallow in their sin but immediately point them to grace and the beautiful exchange that the Gospel offers: His righteousness for our sinfulness.

We can help both women and men see that their story doesn’t end with abortion—it begins at the Cross.

Jesus is ready to forgive all sins, yes, even the taking of a life. He restores and redeems the broken. Jesus wholly exchanges the post-abortive identity of “one who has killed” for the identity of “one Jesus died for, beloved daughters and sons.”

He gives them hope that one day, those who chose abortion will see their children again in heaven, and those reunions will be a tearful, joyous, extraordinary declaration of the power of what Jesus did on the Cross.

I would also encourage you to connect with your local pregnancy care clinic to find post-abortive counseling. We cannot marginalize the deep pain that post-abortive families carry. It is important to mention that this counseling is not only important for post-abortive mothers but post-abortive fathers too.

3. Many will become complacent because of perceived victory.

The overturning of Roe and Casey would be a huge victory politically. I am not dismissing its impact. But those of us who are in the pro-life movement also understand that this does not bring an end to abortion. It returns the issue to the states.

But my biggest concern is not political complacency, but rather, personal complacency. We, as the Church, are in danger when we no longer have something to fight against because we may forget that we have something to fight for: broken families. When the dust settles and abortion is out of the mainstream media and social media news feeds, will we remember our neighbor with the crisis pregnancy?

We have to move from being pro-life in sentiment to pro-life in conviction. We cannot rely only on a vote. We must participate in our broken communities. We must continue to support just laws, but we also need to support the broken homes.

4. Shame will drive young girls to abortion-friendly states.

As a youth pastor, one statistic has never left my mind.

“Many abortion patients reported a religious affiliation—24% were Catholic, 17% were mainline Protestant, 13% were evangelical Protestant and 8% identified with some other religion.”

Why are so many of our kids ending up in abortion clinics? Since when has the abortion clinic become a safer place than our youth rooms and sanctuaries? Shame drives Christians into unthinkable acts of cover-up. I am looking at you, David (2 Samuel 11). Actually, this has been happening since the day Adam and Eve sinned in the garden.

I was 18 years old when I was in Bible College seeking to be a missionary. I volunteered in youth ministry, on multiple worship teams, evangelistic teams, and taught on occasion. That same year, I fell into sexual sin with my girlfriend and continued to live a double life. I was struggling to stay pure on Saturday night and worshipping God on stage on Sunday.

During my final semester, I went on a mission trip overseas. My girlfriend called me and said, “I am weeks late. I am scared, and I have no one to help me. I have no way to buy a pregnancy test, and I do not know how to even go about doing that.”

I made one of the hardest calls of my life: I called my mom and confessed my sin and asked for help to walk us through the consequences of this decision. My girlfriend did not end up being pregnant. But what has stuck with me is the great lengths that I went to, as a Christian kid, to hide my sin and pretend everything was normal.

Just because abortion is no longer offered in your state, it does not mean that young people will not find ways to travel to cover their sins. How do we address this shame within the Church? We need to preach the covering of sin provided by Jesus on the Cross so that they no longer feel the need to cover up their sin with abortion.

When we first give our hearts to Christ, we are abundantly aware of the sufficiency of the Cross. We know that the Cross bridges the gap between our wickedness and His holiness. But as we grow in our understanding of His holiness and our wickedness, we often fail to grow in our understanding of the grace of God.

If our understanding of the Cross does not grow daily, we will fill in the gaps with pretending and performing. It is this pattern of pretending and performing that leads young people to hide their sin with greater sin. The remedy to the covering up of sin is Gospel preaching and Gospel community.

Young people need to be convinced that they have a High Priest they can go to in their darkest hours. They need to be convinced that their Christian community will walk alongside them.

What Can We Do?

One of the greatest challenges a pastor faces is being confronted with endless real needs while no one seems to recognize our limited resources.

We are expected to be experts in current events, psychology, sociology, and politics, and now we can add health experts, given the last couple of years.

Maybe you are reading this article thinking, “There is no way that I can engage in the pro-life movement. I cannot add another thing to my plate.”

In 2019, I began writing and speaking on pro-life issues. I began a collective called Speak Life Collective. You can find our content at speaklifecollective.com.

One thing I repeatedly communicate is, “You don’t have to do everything, but we all can do something.” Everyone is going to have a different bandwidth to engage in pro-life issues. But to do nothing would be a failure on our part as pastors and Christian leaders.

There are several things we can do to engage in pro-life work. We have listed these on our website: Share your story, educate yourself, vote pro-life, engage in activism, or volunteer at your local pregnancy care center.

But what is the most important thing you can do? Pray.

Prayer will end abortion in America. Prayer is ending abortion in America. Since “40 Days for Life” started in 2007, 21,534 lives have been saved, 239 abortion workers have quit, and 116 abortion centers have closed.

Forty-five percent of U.S. abortion facilities went out of business forever following a 40 Days for Life campaign even when located in liberal states, including those in cities like San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Former abortion workers report that when somebody prays in front of an abortion facility, the no-show rate for abortion appointments goes as high as 75%.

If I could encourage the Church to do one thing, it would be to Pray. Prayer is the greatest work the Church could ever do.

And as we pray, let us ask God to use us—not only end abortion in America, but to bring the hope of the Gospel to broken families.

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Editor’s note:

We hope you found this article helpful. To hear more from Ryan, check out this section on his website that contains great information on how to navigate hard conversations about abortion. You can also listen to this conversation our team had with him on one of our shows, The GoodLion Podcast.

^{CalvaryChapel.com does not necessarily endorse or agree with every message or perspective in the diverse links posted. By providing these links, we hope to help you stay informed of important events and conversations taking place in the world that are relevant to the Christian faith.}