Each week AFL posts an Anglicans in Action video, which gives practical suggestions, resources, and ideas for life-ministry. This week’s focus is on inviting a pro-life speaker. You can see all the Anglicans in Action videos on our YouTube Channel.
Our action idea this week is to invite a pro-life speaker to share a pro-life message at your church! Depending on the needs of your congregation, you could choose to invite someone specializing in beginning of life or end of life issues. Here are some ideas about who to contact and how to get started.
The first option is to contact a pro-life speaker through your local pregnancy center, so they can come and share their mission and ministry. This opens up opportunities for a community partnership, but more importantly, it creates connections to resources for women in your congregation who may face an unplanned pregnancy and need some where to go for support and care. This idea is a great encouragement for those serving in life ministry but it may also help to recruit people to get involved.
Another option from the end-of-life spectrum is to look into an organization like Not Dead Yet. They are a national, grassroots disability rights group that opposes legalization of assisted suicide and euthanasia as deadly forms of discrimination against the elderly, terminally ill, and disabled. Not Dead Yet helps organize and articulate opposition to these practices based on secular social justice arguments. In addition, you may also consider bringing pro-life speaker from their organization, who are experts on hospice-care for a small group session with those facing end of life decisions.
Anglicans for Life also does a 3-hour informational presentation called the Quasar Conference; its purpose is to energize God’s people to affirm life and shine the light of God’s love onto the culture of death specifically addressing abortion and euthanasia. If you’re interested in learning more, please contact our office.
You may also want to bring in someone to give a testimony about how they’ve been impacted by abortion, like the men and women who are a part of the Silent No More Campaign. As we know there are folks in every congregation who have been touched by abortion and would benefit from healing help. Featuring a pro-life speaker is also a great outreach for your church.
Remember that today’s technology makes it possible to feature a speaker – without them actually traveling to your location! Skype is a great tool that can be used to hear from a speaker that may be financially prohibitive to host, in person! I have given many presentations via skype in the last year!
I encourage you to pray about what type of speaker and topic will resonate with your community. After that, make some calls, and get a date set on your calendar! Remember we are always available to suggest speakers as well.
