Much has changed in the landscape of abortion access in the United States over the past couple of years. 

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade nearly two years ago was a significant victory in the pro-life movement, but the fight to protect preborn lives and care for vulnerable mothers has continued at both the state and federal levels.

We saw the struggle play out firsthand right here in North Carolina last fall when lawmakers enacted a 12-week abortion ban amid a series of political and legal challenges.

While we are grateful for any measures that strengthen protections for unborn children, we continue to long for and work toward the day when abortion is not only unthinkable, but also illegal. 

That’s the stated goal of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), which is one of our national ministry partners that we as N.C. Baptists work together with on pro-life efforts that save preborn lives.

Since 2022, N.C. Baptists have worked with the ERLC’s Psalm 139 Project to place life-saving ultrasound equipment in six different pregnancy resource centers across our state, and we have more placements planned in the future. These efforts are made possible thanks to the generosity of N.C. Baptists.

As I traveled to be a part of dedication events for many of these ultrasound machines, I’ve had the privilege to meet many of the directors, staff members and volunteers at these centers. These individuals have shared story after story with me about how abortion-vulnerable women chose life after seeing images of their preborn children on the screens and printouts generated by these machines.

Many of the volunteers at the centers come from our very own N.C. Baptist churches. Some are medical professionals who volunteer their time and expertise to minister directly to families facing unplanned pregnancies and are not sure where to turn. Others serve by collecting and sorting items that can bless a new mother and their child like diapers, bottles and clothes.

Through the ministries of these pregnancy resource centers and the staff that serve in them, families are not only choosing life, but many are also meeting Jesus and receiving the eternal life that only He offers. When we serve and support these centers, our church members have the opportunity to carry out the Great Commandment and the Great Commission in our communities by serving women and families at their point of need.

When the ERLC presented N.C. Baptists with an inaugural Psalm 139 Partner for Life Award during our annual meeting in November, I was struck by how important partnerships at the local, state and national levels are in advocating for the preborn and caring for vulnerable mothers and their families.

As N.C. Baptists, we stand on the infallible, unchanging, all-sufficient Word of God that tells us that every human being possesses dignity and worth because they are made in the image of God. We believe in the sanctity of human life from the womb to the tomb, and we are on mission together to pray, advocate and work toward a day when abortion is not only unnecessary and unthinkable, but it is also illegal. 

And it will take all of us working on mission together to see that day arrive.