A church that celebrates and supports the value of all life embodies the heart of God. As we approach the end of 2023, many people eagerly anticipate the new year, as it brings new opportunities to make a difference.
For a life-affirming ministry, it is helpful to plan and schedule outreach activities for the upcoming year. If your church offers post-abortion Bible studies, as well as studies for those who have experienced miscarriage or stillbirth, it is beneficial to have them calendared for the next twelve months. Consistency is key. Don’t be discouraged if no one shows up to a scheduled post-abortion Bible study or a study for miscarriage/still-birth support. By consistently keeping these events on the calendar, you are available for those who need it when they are ready. This also helps the church staff and leaders to be aware of upcoming Bible studies and offer them to those they are ministering to. I would suggest scheduling each post-abortion and miscarriage/still-birth Bible study at least twice a year.
To avoid potential triggers between those who have chosen abortion and those who have experienced miscarriage, it can be beneficial to offer these Bible studies on different nights or at different times of the year. You can find curriculum and training for post-abortion and miscarriage Bible studies in our Resource Guide HERE.
Here are some other outreach ideas. While many of these ideas focus on single parents and their children, remember that the purpose is for your church to be seen as a welcoming place for families with only one parent. This sends a powerful message to those facing unplanned pregnancies, as they will know that your church will support them, not judge them, and welcome them with open arms. They will see your church as a place they can call home.
JANUARY: Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. This month is dedicated to promoting, remembering, and advocating the value of life at all stages. Care Net has put together a Sanctity of Human Life Sunday kit for churches, which you can find HERE.
FEBRUARY: Host a Valentine’s Party for single parents. You could host a wonderful dinner with a speaker and offer childcare. Alternatively, you could organize a night for single parents and their children to come and enjoy a pizza and a game night together.
MARCH: Your team could put together Easter baskets for the babies and children you are ministering to from your life-affirming ministry. Alternatively, you could bless your local pregnancy center with these for their moms and babies they serve. If you don’t already know of the pregnancy center closest to you, you can find it HERE.
APRIL: If you have someone willing to share their story of experiencing an unplanned pregnancy and how their baby was a blessing to them, approach your pastor about having them share their testimony. Following their testimony would be a perfect time to share about all your life-affirming ministry offers to your church congregation.
MAY: Mother’s Day can be difficult for those who have lost a child through abortion or miscarriage. They are still mothers, yet their arms may be empty. Make extra effort to comfort and encourage those in your church who have experienced this loss during this time. This can be done through a personal card and gift, a coffee time to offer a listening ear, or other means.
JUNE: Father’s Day can bring similar triggers for men as Mother’s Day does for women. Be aware of this and reach out to those who may be struggling during this month.
JULY: Create a list of all the church staff and ministry leaders and schedule a time to share about what your life-affirming ministry offers to those in your church. Remember, there are many conversations happening throughout the week in various ministries and you want everyone in key positions to know what you offer and how you can help.
AUGUST: As school is gearing back up, this may be the appropriate time to provide back-to-school supplies for the children you serve. This would be a huge blessing to the parent!
SEPTEMBER: Organize a diaper drive to bless the moms in your church and those at your local pregnancy center.
OCTOBER: This is Pregnancy Loss Awareness Month. Consider asking your pastor to address grief and healing in one of his sermons and promote your post-abortion and miscarriage Bible studies. This may be a great time to have someone share their testimony of God’s healing from their past abortion.
NOVEMBER: Host a Friendsgiving Party for those you minister to. This can be as simple as offering turkey sandwiches and desserts. It truly is about the time of fellowship and building relationships.
DECEMBER: Put together Christmas stockings for moms and babies to give to your local pregnancy center. It is helpful to speak with the Executive Director to get a list of how many moms and babies they could use Christmas stockings for and what items might be beneficial to them.
There are so many ways you can bless those you serve and bring awareness in your church. Remember, you never know when someone in your church, or someone your church family knows, will struggle with an unplanned pregnancy. You want your team to be the first people they call to find truth, help and support. By consistently showing up to offer support and love, you will be known as the first responder to someone’s moment of crisis.
