On June 24, the U.S. Supreme Court released its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The decision upholds a Mississippi law that bans elective abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy and also overturns Roe v. Wade, the 1973 high court decision that made abortion legal in all 50 states.

We are thankful for today’s ruling that protects preborn lives. Preborn children, like all humans, are made in the image of God and are worthy of our care. That conviction has roots deep in the Christian tradition, and it extends far beyond the latest political or judicial skirmish.

The end of Roe marks a new beginning in our prayers and advocacy for vulnerable and voiceless children. In the days ahead, we must continue to pray and demonstrate the love of Christ. Here are six ways we can do that.

1. Pray for churches to extend compassion and care to mothers and fathers in crisis who are facing difficult circumstances. Many of them will choose life if they have the support of a faith family.
2. Pray for ministries like the Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina, who provide adoption and foster care services as alternatives to abortion. Pray for staff and volunteers of frontline ministries, like pregnancy resource centers and sidewalk advocacy groups.
3. Pray that N.C. legislators will craft or strengthen laws to protect unborn lives. The decision to overturn Roe means each state must decide its own position. Our elected representatives could have an unprecedented opportunity to stand for life.
4. Adopt or foster (or support those who do.) The need to care for mothers and families in crisis will now be greater than ever before. In the fall of 2021, N.C. Baptists partnered with the Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina to launch the “Every Child” initiative, whose goal is for every child in the foster care system to have a loving, safe home. Learn more about how your church can launch its own ministry by visiting every-child.org/for-churches.
5. Volunteer to serve. Many of our local pregnancy centers or sidewalk prayer ministries across the state need Christians to help serve their communities. The local church must be the hands and feet of Jesus, helping women and parents in crisis. They need our love today more than ever before.
6. Give to support life-saving initiatives. Pregnancy care centers and similar frontline ministries could see an influx of clients since Roe v. Wade has been overturned. N.C. Baptists want to ensure they have the resources needed to serve their communities. Because of your generosity, two ultrasound machines have been purchased to serve and equip pregnancy care centers in under-resourced areas. Many more are needed. Give today at ncbaptist.org/give.