Love Life’s mission is to unite and mobilize the church to create a culture of love and life that will result in an end to the abortion and orphan crisis. To reach that goal, we help to develop a network of churches nationwide called House of Refuge churches. Their objective is to prevent abortions from occurring in their congregations, provide abortion recovery and healing, and protect the unborn in their community.
We know that if local churches communicate the biblical truth about killing the innocent, offer love and help to women in unplanned pregnancies, and have clear plans in place, babies and families are saved.
Two Simple Steps
Churches are encouraged to read the House of Refuge Statement twice a year from the pulpit, as well as state it publicly on their website. Secondly, they are to select a church representative who well be trained and equipped by Love Life to help the church be a House of Refuge.
The Statement
In the House of Refuge statement, the church will state first what they believe about the unborn child in an unplanned pregnancy. They reiterate the truth of that child being a blessing, and like all humans, bearing God’s image. They promise not to shame, abandon, or gossip about the mother. They promise to do everything in their power to help the mother, no matter what she faces. They offer baby showers and resources. They also offer healing, help and hope to women with abortion in their past.
Main Areas of Training and Help
There are four major areas the House of Refuge will be trained to provide tangible help. Those are: sidewalk outreach, mentorship, foster and adoption, and abortion recovery.
- Sidewalk outreach are volunteers who stand on the sidewalks of abortion centers, offering hope and help to abortion-minded women. Love Life trains these volunteers in how to most effectively reach the women in a Gospel-focused manner. We provide ongoing training, guidelines and materials to help launch sidewalk outreach teams.
- Mentors are the people who will take over when a woman chooses life. The mentor is trained through regular national trainings, but also through a church representative who will oversee and organize the mentor program. Mentors are the ones familiar with local resources who will walk alongside the women throughout their pregnancy and beyond. We recommend a one-year minimum commitment.
- Foster Care and Adoption are two vital programs that take over when the biological family is temporarily or permanently unable to care for the baby. Love Life, in conjunction with the church, provides training and resources in how to become a foster parent, or how to help the mother navigate the adoption process.
- Abortion recovery programs are critical since it is estimated that one in four women have been involved in some way in an abortion. This is true in the Christian community as well as with unbelievers! Our national Abortion Recovery Director helps the church develop and find abortion recovery programs in their area, or launch such programs in their church.
The Goal
The desire in instituting a network of House of Refuge churches throughout the nation is for women in unplanned pregnancies to run to the church instead of the abortion center. Too many women report that the church has been silent, or worse, condemning when they went to them for help. Too many churches do not believe they should be present on the sidewalks of abortion centers, insisting it is a political issue they would rather not touch. Too many churches do not know where to begin in addressing the issues surrounding abortion and unplanned pregnancies. They do not know how to best help the women who find themselves in such difficult circumstances.
Love Life has found the House of Refuge model to be a successful and powerful way of reaching these women. Not only do the women receive the help and discipleship they need, but also the spiritual healing and hope that ultimately will transform them and our culture.
“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling.” Selah (Psalms 46:1-3).
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