Go Beyond

Kampala, Uganda

The belief that human life is sacred is tightly woven into the theological fabric of the Christian worldview. As Christ-followers, we believe that all human life is of equal worth and immeasurable value, from conception to the grave, because we are made in the image of God. Wherever human life is regarded as anything less than sacred, the fabric begins to unravel and, ultimately, no one is safe inside or outside the womb.

I have written much over the years about the danger of being a girl in India. At its core, the problem in India is fueled by a worldview that lacks any regard for the sanctity of human life. A worldview that believes that people are not created equal and that some are better than others because of their caste creates the perfect storm for the abuse of human beings that are poorer, weaker, or just happen to be female.

ISIS is another case in point. Wherever Muslims are radicalized we can expect to see the death toll rise — in the most barbaric of ways. We are collectively outraged every time we hear of another beheading or suicide bombing that takes the lives of innocent people. And we are frightened. We are frightened because these beheadings and killings are a chilling example of what life would be like under a worldview that does not hold life as sacred.

Yesterday, my team and I traveled from Kampala to the Buikwe District on the northern shores of Lake Victoria to meet with church leaders. We spent the entire day addressing the sanctity of human life, talking about biblical sexuality, fetal development, sexually transmitted infections, and the violent ways in which abortion ends a life in the womb. Our teaching sessions and discussion was sobering for the people of this district with an unusually high number of teen pregnancies.

I was especially impressed by the determination of those in attendance to champion the rights of the preborn and to treat all people with respect and dignity. One young lady we met works with teen girls who are pregnant. She counsels them to carry their babies to term while at the same time helping these young girls to stay on track with their education. “I love what I’m doing with my life,” she said. And then she added, “I’m not forced to do it. I want to do it.” Her passion lit up the room.

Chris Atkins, one of my new interns, started the day off with a lesson on what the Bible teaches about the sanctity of human life and what God expects of His followers in this arena. Tara Hall taught on biblical sexuality and Mary Whittington covered fetal development and the ugliness of abortion.

We added two new elements to our sanctity of human life training. First, I asked Naomi Rosato, my other new intern, to incorporate an art project that would challenge participants to distill what they had learned into a piece of art they could display in their homes or churches. This was a hit with those in attendance. Participants stood in a long line to tell the others about their respective pieces of art.

Second, we concluded the day with a commissioning service, asking those who were willing to take a pledge to stand as champions for life to come forward. As they stood in line, we pinned a pair of bronze baby feet to their shirts. These little feet are the exact size of a ten-week old baby in the womb. This was a meaningful time for all of us. This simple gesture helped everyone to feel the weight of responsibility to speak on behalf of those who have no voice and to uphold the sanctity of human life.

At the end of the day nobody wanted to leave. We hung around and had numerous meaningful conversations, answered lots of questions, and prayed with several people. The best part of it all is that the fifty-plus folks in attendance have joined the ranks of those who champion the sanctity of human life. They understand now that unless we embrace a worldview that regards all people as created in the image of God and therefore worthy of respect, then no one will be safe.

Kampala, Uganda

One of my favorite songs by Big Daddy Weave, a contemporary Christian band, is entitled “My Story.” The lyrics speak to or, better yet, speak for any person who has known despair and found hope in Jesus Christ.

The song begins simply enough — “If I told you my story you would hear Hope that wouldn’t let go. And if I told you my story you would hear Love that never gave up.” Just those lyrics alone speak volumes.

We all have a story. Our lives are, in fact, a collection of stories — personal narratives that define and give context to our lives, that give listeners clues about our existence, frustrations, hopes, and aspirations.

I believe that if you really want to get to know people well then you must listen to their stories. Stories are, after all, the keys that unlock insight. They bring clarity and understanding that would otherwise remain inaccessible to us and without which we would understand others less.

Today was a day of listening to stories. Our team visited The Comforter’s Center, the first pregnancy help center in all of Uganda. Since we helped launch this good work ten years ago with our friends at Life International, more than a thousand babies have been saved from abortion. We met several of those babies and their grateful moms today.

Words can’t describe the feeling of sitting with young mothers holding babies they intended to abort and listening to their personal stories. There are lots of common elements in their stories, like having sex with boys who whispered lies of love and the rejection that followed. And common threads like the shock of an unplanned pregnancy and what to do about it.

One thread that runs through each story is that of a journey that led each of these frightened young girls to the steps of The Comforter’s Center — a place where they found unconditional love and kindness. And the one place where they were told the truth about the precious life they carried in their wombs.

Each of the young ladies talked about why they chose life for the child in their womb. And they expressed their gratitude for the counsel that led them to do so. They held their babies and introduced them to us. And they thanked us for supporting the work of the center.

We are now a part of their stories and they are a part of ours as a body of believers who chose to stand for life and champion the rights of the preborn. Had we chosen to do otherwise, every single baby we met today would never have been born nor felt the warm embrace of their mothers.

In the words of Big Daddy Weave: “If I told you my story you would hear victory over the enemy. And if I told you my story you would hear freedom that was won for me. And if I told you my story you would hear Life overcome the grave.”

Kampala, Uganda

The people of Kingsland serve some of the most vulnerable people on the planet.

Over the years we have ventured to the squatter camps of the Rohingya in South Asia, cared for children in the slums of Kolkata, restored hope to young girls rescued from the brothels of West Bengal, met the needs of unaccompanied Eritrean minors in the displacement camps of northern Ethiopia, wept with Syrian and Iraqi refugees in the Middle East, and much more.

There is, however, one group whose vulnerability far surpass that of any other people at risk on the globe — the child in the womb.

When I arrived at Kingsland eleven years ago, Pastor Alex Kennedy impressed upon me his passion for the sanctity of human life. So, when I approached him about adopting the preborn, the world’s largest hidden and most vulnerable people group, he immediately embraced the idea and affirmed his support.

That decision set us on a course to venture to the global mission field created by abortion. We formed a strategic partnership with Kurt Dillinger, President of Life International, and his staff to take the message of life to the nations. The first center to result from our partnership was The Comforter’s Center in Kampala, Uganda.

The Comforter’s Center is a Christ-centered ministry that is committed to the promotion and preservation of life. Jesus taught that the devil is committed to a destructive agenda — one that extends to the womb. As champions for life, we are determined to rescue those in danger and in dangerous places, including the womb.

From the beginning, The Comforter’s Center embraced the mandate to be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves (Proverbs 1:8). The preborn in danger of being aborted cannot cry out in their own defense. They cannot say, “Please let me live.” They remain hidden, silent, vulnerable and in need of a champion who will speak on their behalf.

Those who find themselves in danger can take steps to seek safety — to flee to a more secure place. However, if a child in the womb is in danger, that child cannot flee to a safer womb. There are no options but to remain at risk, hence the need for a champion.

The Comforter’s Center has faithfully stood as a champion for life in Uganda, fighting the giants that threaten life in the womb. This life-giving center has earned a reputation as a guiding star, orienting young girls and women toward life.

Ten years later, the success stories are too numerous to tell — stories about women who came to the center and chose life. I never tire of seeing the photos of mothers holding babies they intended to abort. All this because of a decision to take responsibility for the most hidden and vulnerable people group in the world.

Pastor Alex always wanted us to be known as the church that stood for life rather than as the church that was against abortion. We have remained true to that mandate. And we will continue to stand for life. We are fortunate to have a new senior pastor who also cares about the plight of the most vulnerable and the sanctity of human life.

I am grateful for Pastor Alex Kennedy, Pastor Ryan Rush, the people of Kingsland, and Kurt Dillinger and our friends at Life International. Heaven alone will reveal the full impact of our partnership and our continued determination to be champions for the sanctity of human life.

I am also happy to be back in Kampala this week. Our team will serve our friends at The Comforter’s Center, teach church leaders about the sanctity of human life, and challenge these leaders to support a new pregnancy help center in Uganda. Thanks for your prayers.