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TRAINER GUIDE
COMPASSION HOPE AND HELP
FOR PREGNANCY DECISION COACHINGSAMPLE
A TRAINING CURRICULUM
Visit Care Net online at care-net.org
Compassion, Hope, and Help: A Training Curriculum for Pregnancy Decision Coaching Cover design by Rachel Parker, Care Net, copyright ©2025 by Care Net
Designed by Rachel Parker
General Editor: Toneia Mayes, VP Center Services & Client Care, Care Net
Copyright © 2025 Care Net, formerly the Christian Action Council Education and Ministry Fund, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, resold, or redistributed by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or recording, without the prior written consent of Care Net. 44180 Riverside Parkway, Suite 200 Lansdowne, VA 20176
(703) 554- 8734 Office (703) 554- 8735 Fax info@care net.org
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Best practice advice provided in this curriculum is intended solely for educational purposes. The presenters and authors are not engaged in rendering legal, financial, or counseling advice or service. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.®Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc.
Hi and welcome to Compassion, Hope, and Help!
The journey you are embarking on is designed to equip you to be a Pregnancy Decision Coach at your pregnancy center, church, or essentially any place God gives you an opportunity!
In this role, you will serve women and men facing pregnancy decisions. Keep in mind that many of them believe choosing abortion is the best answer to their pregnancy decisions and will need your thoughtful and kind Christ-like response at every turn.
At the outset, you will learn that a Pregnancy Decision Coach is given a God-orchestrated opportunity to attend to a client’s physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual well-being. I am grateful you share in the true heart of our work which is the life-giving conversation that requires we always share truth in love. These opportunities are the moments where we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us as the weight of abortion education and the stresses and pressures felt are gently unpacked in conversation.
Within each interaction and conversation, prayers are softly whispered, and best of all ultimately lives and hearts are forever changed as these are divine opportunities for eternal transformation available only through the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Thank you for making the commitment to serve Him so well in this role! My prayer for you is that by offering compassion, hope, and help, others will be transformed by the Gospel and empowered to choose life for their unborn children and abundant life for their families.
In Christ alone, Erin Forsythe Senior Vice President of Strategic Programs
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Curriculum Overview SAMPLE
Before you get started with the Compassion, Hope, & Help training, there are a few things about the curriculum that will be important for you to consider:
§ The focus of the curriculum is to train participants (Trainees) to serve as Pregnancy Decision Coaches at your pregnancy center. A Pregnancy Decision Coach is a pregnancy center worker who meets with women and men who are making pregnancy decisions, specifically those people who are considering abortion.
§ Recognizing that the pregnant woman is the ultimate decision maker in a pregnancy decision, much of this curriculum refers to “the woman,” “she,” or “her.” However, in most cases the concepts presented here are also applicable to serving men. Additionally, Chapter 5 focuses specifically on the Father of the Baby. The curriculum throughout this resource is applicable to both male and female Pregnancy Decision Coaches.
§ While the curriculum uses the terms Pregnancy Decision Coach or coach exclusively, each center has discretion to use alternative titles for those that serve at the center. For example, “Mentor,” “Patient Consultant,” or “Client Advocate” are titles which could be used to describe someone who provides pregnancy decision coaching at your center.
§ The curriculum is laser-focused on the skills needed to help those most at-risk for experiencing abortion make wise and informed decisions regarding their pregnancy and their future. While many of the skills taught apply to serving clients beyond the pregnancy decision, the curriculum is not a comprehensive training tool for all aspects of pregnancy center operations.
§ The curriculum acknowledges that all human life begins at conception and is worthy of protection.
§ The curriculum recognizes the incredible influence of men in the decision-making process and the important roles of fathers and husbands.
§ The curriculum presents marriage as a life-affirming option but understands that not all clients are in a place to be responsible parents or spouses. Nonetheless, marriage is presented as a worthy, healthy, and God-honoring goal for families.
§ The curriculum recognizes the transformative power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the importance of sharing the salvation message with
clients of pregnancy centers. Beyond general guidelines, the curriculum does not include evangelism training. It is recommended that your center provides broader spiritual care training as a supplement to this curriculum.
§ Regarding abortion education, the curriculum recognizes: 1) graphic depictions of abortion should be avoided when exploring abortion with clients, 2) no client should ever be pressured or coerced to view abortion education materials, and 3) abortion education should always be based on accurate, current, and medically-sourced information that has been approved by a physician prior to use by the center.
§ The curriculum relies heavily on sourced materials and includes citations when appropriate.
§ The curriculum recognizes the autonomy of each pregnancy center and respects that each center has policies and procedures in place in regards to pregnancy center operations. Therefore, whenever applicable, the material will refer to the center’s leadership and policies.
§ The curriculum is not a comprehensive onboarding tool for Pregnancy Decision Coaches. Care Net recommends that Trainees complete the center’s application process followed by an “on-the-job” orientation period to include further role playing opportunities with appropriate observation, feedback, and supervision before the Trainee is permitted to see clients.
FOR THE TRAINER
Trainer Guide
The Trainer Guide is your roadmap to the amazing training experience ahead of you. It is a companion piece to the Trainee Handbook that each of your Trainees will use during this course. For your convenience, the Trainee Handbook is embedded into the Trainer Guide allowing you, the Trainer, to refer to the Trainee Handbook while preparing for the training, as well as while presenting.
Both the Trainer Guide and the Trainee Handbook are broken into 13 chapters. Each chapter contains multiple sections and each section focuses on one aspect of the overall chapter topic.
Each of the 13 chapters in the Trainer Guide contains:
§ Chapter Title
§ Chapter Description: An overview of that particular chapter
§ Chapter Preparation: A list of steps to ready yourself for presenting the material to your Trainees, including the handouts that will need to be copied beforehand.
§ Estimated Time: An estimated time to present the entire chapter to your Trainees.
Each Section within a Chapter contains:
§ Section Number and Title
§ Section Goal: The overall objective of the section
§ Trainer Tools: A list of materials you will need during this section, including slides, handouts, and video links found at the QR code/link below. Some sections will suggest the use of a flip chart. A whiteboard or chalkboard are great alternatives.
§ Estimated Time: An estimate as to the length of time it will take to present the section to your Trainees. Trainers can adjust times to meet the needs of Trainees while maintaining the integrity and importance of all the material. Some material may be assigned as homework. The time depends on many factors, such as the number of Trainees in the training, how much sharing they do, and your preferences in facilitating the activities and discussions.
§ Legend: Located at the top of each section, this legend provides an at-a-glance reminder of the Section Goal, Trainer Tools, and Estimated Time to present this section.
§ Trainer Procedures: A step-by-step list of instructions on how to present the section material and achieve the section goal.
Procedures include activities and discussions that draw out the main points of the material. Discussion questions allow Trainees to express their thoughts, and also give you, the Trainer, an opportunity to correct inaccuracies.
If you are a new Trainer, you can use these procedures as a script. As you become a more seasoned, the procedures will serve as guidelines to which you may choose to add your own presentation style. Be sure to use the note sections to write down insights you glean as you teach and ideas that you might use in future trainings.
Trainer Handouts, Slides, and Video Links
The QR code/link below gives you access to all the handouts and slides you will need, as well as links to videos to be shown as indicated in the curriculum.
As you prepare for the training, be sure to have the proper equipment secured for showing slides and videos. It is recommended that you test the technology before each training session to ensure all systems are working. There is nothing more distracting for a Trainer than encountering glitches during a presentation!
HANDOUTS, SLIDES, AND VIDEOS: https://life.care-net.org/chh-tools/
FOR THE TRAINEE
Trainee Handbook

The Trainee Handbook contains 13 Chapters that mirror your Trainer Guide. As noted earlier, the content from the Trainee Handbook is embedded in your Trainer Guide. It will be important that each Trainee have their own copy of the Trainee Handbook. It will also be important that the Trainees have their Trainee Handbook with them throughout the training. Ample space has been provided for Trainees to answer discussion questions and take notes.
The Trainer Guide and individual Trainee Handbooks can be purchased at CareSource: store. care-net.org
Three-ring binders (with clear sleeve for cover) for the Trainer Guide and Trainee Handbooks can be purchased separately.
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Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1: FOUNDATIONS
1.0 Welcome & Introductions
1.1 The History of Abortion in America
1.2 Protecting All Human Life: The Biblical Foundation
1.3 Conflicting Worldviews
1.4 A Compassionate Response
1.5 The Spiritual Consequences of Abortion
1.6 Biblical Values
1.7 Blind Spots
CHAPTER 2: QUALIFICATIONS & COMMITMENTS
2.1 Your Title as You Serve
2.2 The Foundational Qualification
2.3 Essential Traits of a Pregnancy Decision Coach
2.4 The Thinking Self v. The Feeling Self
2.5 Client-Focused Ministry
2.6 Goals v. Desires
2.7 Personal Commitments
2.8 Qualification Concerns
CHAPTER 3: LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPIRITUAL CONVERSATIONS
3.1 The Importance of the Gospel
3.2 Your Role in Sharing the Gospel
3.3 Let’s Talk Evangelism
3.4 Tips for Sharing Spiritual Truths
3.5 Connecting the Client to the Church
CHAPTER 4: THE PREGNANT CLIENT
4.1 Our Primary Focus
4.2 Ministry Mindset
4.3 Your Perspective/Her Reality
4.4 Her Feelings
4.5 Influences and Pressures
4.6 Millennials, Generation Z, and Generation Alpha
4.7 LGBTQ+ Community
4.8 Serving the LGBTQ+ Client
CHAPTER 5: THE FATHER OF THE BABY
5.1 Why The Father of the Baby is So Important
5.2 Welcoming Him Into the Decision
5.3 Meeting His Vulnerabilities
5.4 Building Up Couples Together and Modeling God’s Vision for Family
CHAPTER 6: COACHING THE CLIENT IN CRISIS
6.1 What is a Crisis?
6.2 The Opportunity in a Crisis
6.3 The Steps of Crisis Intervention
6.4 Adverse Situations
6.5 Child Abuse and Neglect
6.6 Intimate Partner Violence
6.7 Suicide
6.8 Sexual Assault and Rape
6.9 Human Trafficking
6.10 Managing Crisis
6.11 Compassion Fatigue
6.12 When a Client Chooses Abortion
CHAPTER 7: EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
7.1 Connection
7.2 Communication Basics
7.3 Active Listening
7.4 Interpretive Listening
7.5 Good Questions
7.6 Constructive Feedback
7.7 “Care-Frontation”
CHAPTER 8: PREGNANCY EDUCATION
8.1 Guidelines for Sharing Medical Information
8.2 Female Reproduction & The Menstrual Cycle
8.3 Fertilization and Implantation
8.4 Pregnancy Tests
8.5 Signs and Symptoms of Pregnancy
8.6 Fetal Development
CHAPTER 9 : ABORTION EDUCATION
9.1 Introduction to Abortion Education
9.2 The Facts on Medical Abortion
9.3 First Trimester Surgical Abortion
9.4 Second Trimester Surgical Abortion
9.5 Late-Term Abortion
9.6 Immediate Physical Risks and Potential Complications of Abortion
9.7 Long-Term Risks Associated with Abortion
9.8 Abortion and Breast Health
9.9 Abortion and Future Pregnancies
9.10 Reasons Women Choose Abortion
9.11 Spiritual Impact of Abortion
9.12 Compassionately Presenting Medical Content
9.13 Abortion Review
CHAPTER 10: LIFE-AFFIRMING ALTERNATIVES
10.1 Overview
10.2 The Three Alternatives
CHAPTER 11: COACHING THE AT-RISK CLIENT
11.1 Defining “At-Risk”
11.2 A Commitment to Care and Competence
11.3 Permission-Based Care
11.4 Serving as a First Responder
11.5 Why Women Choose Abortion
11.6 Decision Making
11.7 Coaching Essentials
11.8 Coaching Boundaries
11.9 Coaching a Client with an Abortion Story
11.10 Coaching an At-Risk Client Over the Phone
11.11 Let God Be God
11.12 Role Play Scenarios
11.13 A Look at the Initial Client Appointment
CHAPTER 12: EMPOWERING THE NEGATIVE TEST CLIENT
12.1 Speaking the Truth in Love
12.2 Practical Questions/Tips
12.3 Starting Over 12.4 Confrontation
CHAPTER 13: GET READY TO SERVE
13.1 Concerns Addressed
13.2 Boundaries: The Good Samaritan
13.3 Love and Serve Others
13.4 The Application Process
13.5 Called, Loved, and Kept
ENDNOTES
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Foundations 1 Chapter
DEAR TRAINER, Welcome to the start of this exciting journey! By now, you should have read through all the introductory material to familiarize yourself with the curriculum and map out your training course. But I know you might still be apprehensive as you step in front of your training group for the first time. Perhaps you are feeling the weight of the task ahead. Instead of being burdened, be encouraged; you don’t need to feel like you have to present yourself as “the” expert in this chapter, especially as you present the legal history of abortion in America. Instead, let your humility shine, and rely on God, the author of life and truth, for He will equip you and direct your path!
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
Estimated Time to Complete Chapter 1: 3 hours 15 minutes
CHAPTER DESCRIPTION
The opening session begins with a welcome from the Trainer and introductions of the Trainees. During the time spent on this chapter, the Trainees will learn:
1. The history of Care Net
2. The history of abortion in the United States
3. The scriptural basis for protecting all human life
4. Conflicting worldviews about life
5. The spiritual consequences of abortion
6. A compassionate response to abortion
7. The Biblical values that inform our pregnancy center work
8. How to recognize and avoid common “blind spots” that could hinder our ministry work
CHAPTER PREPARATION
1. Section 1.0: Welcome & Introductions
a. Purchase or make nametags.
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b. Prepare equipment for use with the Presentation Slides to accompany this training.
c. Decide on an approach to inform the Trainees about the history of your pregnancy center.
d. Consider having the most-senior member of your staff (e.g., Executive Director or Board Chair), board member, founder, or long-serving volunteer share the history.
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e. Acquire or make enough copies of a print material (e.g., brochure) on your pregnancy center so that every Trainee has one.
f. Create and make copies of your training schedule.
g. Make copies of Handout 1.0a About Care Net.
h. Write your name, the name of your co-trainer (if you have one), and your and your co-trainer’s contact information on a piece of flipchart paper.
2. Section 1.2: Protecting All Human Life
a. If possible, ask Trainees to bring a Bible, or provide a Bible for each of the 3 discussion groups. (Many will have a Bible on their phones.)
3. Section 1.6: Biblical Values
a. Make copies of Handout 1.6: Biblical Values.
4. Section 1.7: Blind Spots
a. Divide a piece of flipchart paper into 2 columns. Label one column GOOD and the other BAD. You can also use 2 pieces of paper with each containing one of the headings.
SECTION 1.0 WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS
Section Goal
To welcome the Trainees to the training and begin the process of forming a close and supportive group for the remainder of the training sessions.
Trainer Tools
Slides: YES
Handout: YES
Estimated Time: 45 MINS
Flipcharts, markers, nametags, snacks, and beverages
TRAINER PROCEDERES
1. As the Trainees enter the room, welcome and greet them with your name.
2. Invite the Trainees to make a name tag and help themselves to snacks and beverages.
3. When ready, ask the Trainees to be seated. Welcome them and introduce yourself again, and, if you have one, your co-trainer.
4. Point out the contact information you wrote on the flipchart in preparation for this session.
5. Encourage the Trainees to contact you should something unexpected arise that will affect their ability to attend any portion of the training ahead. Inform the Trainees of the training schedule, the location of bathrooms, and other logistics important for them to know.
6. Give the Trainees a brief summary of your background, how you got started in pregnancy center ministry, and any other information that might be encouraging.
7. Next, ask the Trainees to introduce themselves.
8. Allow approximately 1-2 minutes for each Trainee to share. Adjust time according to the size of your group and the overall time you have allotted this section. Keep in mind that this time will be valuable to the training as a good icebreaker, connector, and team builder.
a. You may ask each Trainee to share specific details. For example, marital status, age of children, etc.
b. You may also ask them to share a “fun fact.” For example, their favorite childhood toy or something unique about themselves that will help the group remember them.
c. Also have them share briefly their primary motivation for attending this training.
9. Next, explain that the training covers a wide variety of topics, including the history of abortion in America, God’s perspective on the life of the unborn, and how to compassionately reach and serve women and men considering abortion.
10. Ask Trainees to open their Trainee Handbook and go over the Table of Contents together, briefly letting them know what each chapter will cover.
11. Next, give each Trainee a copy of the training schedule handout you prepared in advance.
12. Tell the Trainees that you will cover a lot of material together, and they might get to the place where they are feeling overwhelmed. But encourage them with knowing there will be time to practice what they learn before actually meeting with a person considering abortion.
13. At this point, you can give the Trainees a brief overview and history of your pregnancy center using the approach you decided upon before the start of this training.
14. Distribute printed material(s) to each Trainee on the history, programs, services, etc. of your pregnancy center. It is also important to include the center’s mission, vision, and, if available, the center’s Core Values document. A board member or staff person may make this presentation.
15. At this point, it would be appropriate to share briefly about the history of Care Net.
16. Share Handout 1.0a About Care Net.
17. Read aloud both Care Net’s vision and mission.
18. Emphasize that Care Net’s vision and mission focus on people who are considering abortion as a solution to their unplanned or unwanted pregnancy.
19. Tell them that Care Net believes that the Gospel is an integral part of the solution and that we will discuss the importance of sharing the Gospel in Chapter 3.
20. Tell the Trainees that, if they are interested in learning more about the work of Care Net, they can visit the Care Net website at care-net.org, where they can also subscribe to Care Net’s blogs.
21. End this section by thanking the Trainees for sharing and for their willingness to consider serving at the pregnancy center.
22. Tell the Trainees that the training ahead is only the start of their journey.
23. Encourage them to pray often throughout the upcoming training as to their role at the center. Encourage them to trust God.
24. Before moving on to the next section, show Slides 1.0a Isaiah 61:1-3 (2 slides) and ask for a volunteer to read the verse on the screen.
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”
Isaiah 61:1-3
25. Tell the Trainees:
a. This Scripture is a prophecy of the coming of Jesus; it also tells us of the ministry we are to have.
b. The clients we encounter may be brokenhearted, captive to sin, or mourning over their losses.
c. We are called to be ministers of reconciliation.
d. As we go through this training, you are encouraged to open yourself to the teaching of the Holy Spirit.
e. If you allow Him, He will teach you, heal you, and equip you.
f. Be yourself, be open to the Lord’s leading, and enjoy learning the tools provided in this training to equip yourself for the journey!
26. As you end this section, spend some time praying for the Trainees and the road ahead.
NOTES:
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Section Goal
To help the Trainees gain knowledge about the history and legalization of abortion in the United States.
TRAINER PROCEDURES
1. Tell the Trainees:
Trainer Tools
Slides: YES
Handout: NO
Estimated Time: 30 MINS
a. You will spend some time during this chapter understanding God’s heart about abortion. But beforehand, you want to provide an overview of how abortion came to be legal in the United States.
2. Tell Trainees that you will only give an overview and not spend a lot of time on the history of abortion and its laws. Strongly encourage them to read the section in their Trainee Handbook.
3. Show Slide 1.1a: Influences Contributing to Abortion and review with the Trainees the following influences that contributed to the eventual legality of abortion in America:
a. The sexual revolution of the 1960s
b. The popularity of the population-control mindset
c. The Pill hitting the market in 1961
d. “Elites” endorsing abortion (e.g., American Medical Association)
e. 13-14 states making it legal in some circumstances (1967-1970)
f. Change in the balance of Justices on the Supreme Court
4. Show Slide 1.1b: Norma’s Case and review the following about Norma McCorvey:
a. In 1970, Norma was a young, unmarried mother from Dallas, TX.
b. She already had 2 children and did not want a 3rd.
c. She wanted an abortion.
d. Norma sought the advice of 2 attorneys:
i. Sarah Weddington and Linda Coffee
ii. Weddington & Coffee hoped to strike down Texas’ abortion law, which permitted abortion only to save the life of the mother.
iii. Weddington & Coffee convinced Norma to falsely claim that her pregnancy was a result of a gang rape to gain sympathy and also to prove their point that Texas’ abortion law was harmful to women.
e. Norma McCorvey eventually became “Jane Roe” of the infamous Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision.
5. Show Slide 1.1c: Roe v. Wade and review the following: In January 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 for Jane Roe with the following results:
i. Women have a fundamental right to privacy under the 14th Amendment, including decisions related to abortion.
ii. The unborn child is not a person.
6. Show Slide 1.1d: McCorvey & Weddington.
a. Ask the Trainees to carefully study the picture and make observations on what they see in it.
b. Caution the Trainees to not place judgment on either individual but, rather, focus on the differences in the 2 people, such as the professional dress of Weddington, Norma’s downcast eyes, Weddington’s eyes looking straight at the camera with apparent confidence, and Norma’s sign, which she seems to barely be holding.
c. Make the point that the laws that made abortion legal were more than just laws on paper; they dramatically affected the women they were designed to help. These are the women who come into our centers. These women come from all points of life, from all backgrounds. Some are strong, some are weak; some are wounded, some are not; some are sure, many are unsure.
7. Tell the Trainees that years after Roe v. Wade, more conservative justices were appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, giving hope to pro-life people that Roe v. Wade might be overturned. Then, in 2022, that hope became a reality with the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case.
8. Tell them that 2 important Supreme Court cases tested this hope prior to the overturning of Roe.
9. Show Slides 1.1e More Cases (2 slides).
10. Review the following:
a. Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992):
i. The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to uphold Roe v. Wade.
ii. It also reaffirmed state rights to protect the health of the woman/mother and an unborn child.
iii. As a result, approximately 300 pro-life laws have been introduced at the state level (2011-2014).
b. Gonzales v. Carhart (2007):
i. The Supreme Court upheld a federal ban on partial-birth abortion.
ii. It also reaffirmed that states have a legitimate interest in protecting unborn life and the health of a woman.
iii. However, it did not reverse Roe v. Wade based on “reliance interest,” claiming that women had come to rely on abortion to maintain their place in society.
c. Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022):
i. The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to overturn Roe V. Wade.
ii. The Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution does not protect the right to abortion.
iii. This decision returned the power to the states to regulate abortion and eliminated federal standards on abortion access.
11. Lastly, tell the Trainees:
a. The remainder of the training will focus not on abortion laws or rights but on the heart of a ministry that strives each day to share truth and light with the clients it serves.
b. As Pregnancy Decision Coaches, they will have the opportunity to do just that no matter what happens in government.
TRAINEE HANDBOOK
1.1
The History of Abortion in America
During most of our nation’s history, abortion was prohibited as the wrongful taking of innocent life. As the number of abortions increased with the growth of large cities in the mid-1800s, state legislatures began passing bans and other restrictions on abortion. By the end of the 19th century, nearly every state had laws prohibiting abortion.1,2
As recently as a century ago, many early feminist groups, medical associations, and media outlets stood against the practice of abortion. In the late 1800s, mainstream newspapers like the New York Times waged campaigns to expose the horrors of abortion.3 Early feminists, such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, condemned abortion as a social evil that victimized women. The professional medical community actively lobbied for the strong anti-abortion legislation of the 1800s.
Fast forward to the middle of the 20th century, when several national developments contributed to legalized abortion.4 The sexual revolution of the 1960s had a significant impact on American society and on the Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court. Several of the Justices were personally affected by the sexual revolution—with instances of unwed pregnancies or abortion in their family or personal experience, including Justices Blackmun, Powell, and Marshall.5
The sexual revolution also fed the drive for “population control,” which was a major political issue of the late 1960s. Population control was exemplified in President Nixon’s address to the nation in July 1969 and in his creation of a presidential commission on Population and the American Future. This commission released a report endorsing abortion for population control in March 1972, just as the Justices were drafting their opinions. The Justices endorsed a right to contraception in 1965 and expanded that right in 1972. Some of the Justices saw abortion as a logical next step and a reasonable solution to the “population crisis.”
Other national developments that contributed to legalized abortion included “The Pill” (oral hormonal contraception), which came on the market in 1961, and the endorsement of abortion rights by various elites in American society (including the media, the American Law Institute, the American Medical Association, and state legalization between 1967 and 1970). By 1972, several Justices thought that they were leading a cultural wave and that their decision was supported by public opinion.
At the state level, abortion rights also began to gain a foothold in the late 1960s. Until 1967, almost all states prohibited abortion except to save the life of the mother. States first began to openly legalize abortion through legislation in 1967. Between 1967 and 1970, some 13 or 14 states legalized abortion in certain circumstances,
though none defined access to abortion as broadly as the Supreme Court did in its eventual decision.
The Supreme Court’s decision in Griswold v. Connecticut in 1965 created a right to contraception. Abortion-rights advocates saw Griswold as the judicial means by which to argue for a constitutional right to abortion. After 1968, cases to strike down the abortion laws were filed in more than 20 states; Roe v. Wade (Texas) and Doe v. Bolton (Georgia) were two that eventually got to the Supreme Court. However, the Justices did not initially decide to hear those two cases in 1971 to address the abortion issue, per se. Instead, they decided to hear them to address a rather mundane procedural issue.
Then, in September 1971, a crisis erupted in the Supreme Court when two justices, Hugo Black and John Harlan, abruptly retired because of ill health. That change reduced the number of Justices to seven, flipped the balance of the Court, and empowered a temporary majority of four Justices who supported abortion rights. Then the Court decided to use the two cases to focus on whether abortion was a constitutional right or not, thus affecting abortion laws across the country.
Norma’s Case 6
In 1970, while living in Dallas, Texas, a young, unmarried mother named Norma McCorvey found herself pregnant. She already had two children who she had surrendered to the care of others. She did not want a third child. She wanted an abortion.7
Norma was referred to two young attorneys named Sarah Weddington and Linda Coffee. Norma eventually became “Jane Roe” in the infamous case of Roe v. Wade
Although a few states had legalized abortion, most still imposed restrictions on it. Texas law permitted abortion only in cases when it was necessary to save the life of the mother. When Norma arrived at their office, Weddington and Coffee were already working on a case to have the Texas abortion law declared unconstitutional.8 Weddington and Coffee knew that a Supreme Court decision to strike down Texas’ abortion ban would open the door to striking down similar laws in all other states.

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To succeed in striking down Texas’ abortion law, Weddington and Coffee needed a client they could claim was harmed by the law. In a sworn affidavit, Norma falsely claimed that her pregnancy had resulted from a gang rape.9 This claim was vital to the case because Texas, like most other states, did not allow abortions when pregnancies resulted from rape. Norma also claimed that she had unsuccessfully sought the help of several physicians to perform an abortion when she had, in fact, gone only to one clinic that was closed at the time of her visit.10 Nevertheless, the fabrication placed Norma’s case in an extreme context, thus making it more likely to invoke sympathy for her situation.
In January 1973, the United States Supreme Court issued its 7-2 ruling in favor of Jane Roe Norma McCorvey, thus declaring Texas’ law unconstitutional. The court ruled that a woman had a fundamental and constitutionally protected right to privacy under the due process clause of the 14th Amendment, which extended to decisions related to abortion. The ruling affected state laws banning abortion in over 40 states and legalized abortion in the U.S.11
This decision included two basic rulings:
Norma McCorvey with attorney Sarah Weddington March 23, 1997
1. A woman’s constitutional right to privacy includes the right to determine the outcome of her pregnancy.
2. An unborn child is not a “person” within the meaning of the Constitution.
The Casey Case
In 1992, the Supreme Court ruled 5 to 4 in Planned Parenthood v. Casey to uphold Roe. This decision was a great disappointment for the pro-life movement. With the appointment of new and more conservative Supreme Court Justices in the 1980s and early 1990s, many people in the pro-life movement hoped that there would be enough votes in the Court to reverse Roe. Instead, the Court in Casey cited the need to follow established precedents and upheld its earlier decision.
Justice Sandra Day O’Connor offered the following rationale for continuing to uphold Roe:
“[F]or two decades of economic and social developments, people have organized intimate relationships and made choices that define their views of themselves and their places in society, in reliance on the availability of abortion in the event that contraception should fail. The ability of women to participate equally in the economic and social life of the nation has been facilitated by the ability to control their reproductive lives.”12
Nonetheless, Casey opened a small window of opportunity by affirming a state’s legitimate interest to protect the health of women and unborn life so long as the law in question does not impose an “undue burden” on a woman’s right to seek an abortion. As a result, the pro-life movement implemented a strategic plan, originating with groups like Americans United for Life, to place restrictions on abortion through state-based legislation. This strategy saw success with some 300 pro-life laws enacted across the United States from 2011 through 2014.
The Gonzales v. Carhart Case
In 2007, in Gonzales v. Carhart, the U.S. Supreme Court gave the pro-life movement a victory when it upheld the federal ban on partial-birth abortion. The Court found that the State has a legitimate interest in protecting unborn life as well as the health of a woman. The Court did not, however, reverse Roe because of a concern expressed by Justice Anthony Kennedy that women have come to rely on abortion as an alternative to failed contraception, a legal principle called the “reliance interest.” The “reliance interest” is a legal doctrine that the Supreme Court wrote prohibiting the Supreme Court from reversing Roe v. Wade because women had come to rely on abortion to maintain their place in society.
Although many circumstances have led to the development of legalized abortion in our nation, the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision in 1973 was the watershed decision that drastically changed our nation. As a result of the Roe v. Wade decision, the United States went from a nation that prohibited abortion as the wrongful taking of innocent life to a nation where a woman can get an abortion through all nine months of pregnancy for any reason. This has resulted in over one million abortions performed each year. As Christians, we pray for an end to legalized abortion, but we recognize that currently, and in the foreseeable future, abortion is the law of our land. Nevertheless, we must always remember that, as followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to understand the sanctity of every human life—born and unborn—and to know that every one of those lives is worthy of protection.
The Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization Case
On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court issued its landmark ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization13, overruling Roe v. Wade, Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey, and nearly fifty years of federal constitutional travesty that manufactured a woman’s right to abort her unborn child. Justice Alito summarized: “We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled. The Constitution makes no reference to abortion, and no such right is implicitly protected by any constitutional provision . . . It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives.” 14
The Court wrote, “Roe was egregiously wrong from the start. Its reasoning was exceptionally weak, and the decision has had damaging consequences. And far from bringing about a national settlement of the abortion issue, Roe and Casey have enflamed debate and deepened division.” 15
Abortion policy now depends upon the laws of each state. 16
NOTES:
SAMPLE
SECTION 1.2 PROTECTING ALL HUMAN LIFE: THE BIBLIC AL FOUNDATION
Section Goal
To help the Trainees better understand the scriptural foundation for the sanctity of human life and why every human life, including the unborn, is worthy of protection.
TRAINER PROCEDURES
Trainer Tools
Slides: YES
Handout: NO
Estimated Time: 45 MINS
Flipcharts and markers
1. Tell the Trainees that this section will help them to better understand the scriptural foundation for the protection of all human life, including the unborn.
2. Show Slide 1.2a: What the Bible Says About Life.
3. Explain that Scripture is clear on the sanctity of life—including pre-born life.
4. Tell Trainees that scriptures on this slide are just some of the many that help us understand God’s perspective on life.
5. Tell Trainees it is important that we look to God’s Word for guidance and understanding the scriptural foundation for the protection of all human life—including the pre-born.
6. Encourage Trainees by reading God’s promise found in Psalm 119:105: “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”
7. Tell Trainees that, with God’s guidance, we can truly understand His perspective on life.
8. Divide the Trainees into 3 groups.
9. Assign 2 of the Scripture groupings on Slide 1.2a: What the Bible Says About Life to each group (these are in the Trainee Handbook).
• Psalm 139:13-16
• Psalm 51:5
• Job 10:8-12
SAMPLE
• Genesis 25:23; Jeremiah 1:4-5; Isaiah 49:1-2,5; and Galatians 1:15
• Matthew 1:18-20; Luke 1:24-56
• Genesis 16:7-13
10. Ask the groups to read and discuss the scriptures that they are assigned and decide what the Bible reveals about the sanctity of life in general but, specifically, about unborn life and how those scriptures should guide us in protecting all human life.
11. Tell Trainees to also include in their discussion the summaries in the Trainee Handbook on their assigned scriptures.
12. Ask Trainees to develop a group “Summary Statement” of their scriptures that clarifies how these scriptures should “guide our feet and light our path” in regard to our role in protecting unborn life.
13. Ask Trainees to appoint a spokesperson from their group to present their Summary Statement to the overall group.
14. Allow 15 minutes for the groups to discuss these scriptures and prepare their Summary Statement.
15. Allow another 15 minutes for the presentation of the 3 Summary Statements to the Trainees.
16. End this section with prayer, thanking God for His Word to “guide our feet and light our path” and asking Him to show us how we can faithfully serve Him by serving others and protecting all human life, including the unborn.
TRAINEE HANDBOOK
1.2 Protecting All Human Life: The Biblical Foundation
The Bible is clear not only on the sanctity of life in general, but also on unborn human life. Consider the following scriptures as you focus on the Biblical foundation of life and our role in protecting it.
GROUP 1
Psalm 139:13-16
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
David acknowledges that God “knit” him together in his mother’s womb and that, as a result, he is “fearfully and wonderfully made.” God is our creator and gives each person life.
Psalm 51:5
Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
David repents of his sin of adultery with Bathsheba and acknowledges his participation in sin from his conception. He states that, as an unborn child, or “fetus,” he stood before God as a sinner because of the sinful nature Adam had passed down.
Job 10:8-12
“Your hands shaped me and made me. Will you now turn and destroy me? Remember that you molded me like clay. Will you now turn me to dust again? Did you not pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese, clothe me with skin and flesh and knit me together with bones and sinews? You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit.
Like David, Job speaks of God being intimately involved in his life from the time he was conceived.
Genesis 25:23
SAMPLE
The Lord said to her,“Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”
Jeremiah 1:4-5
The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Isaiah 49:1-2, 5
Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the Lord called me; from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name. He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver. And now the Lord says—he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord and my God has been my strength.
Galatians 1:15-16
But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being.
God deals with human beings as creatures made in His image, and He determines His plan for them before they are formed in the womb.
Matthew 1:18-20
This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
Luke 1:39-45
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
The first celebration of the coming of the Messiah was initiated by John, an unborn child. In the New Testament, God’s concern for humankind intensifies to the point of identification. In the incarnation of Jesus Christ, God becomes man. His incarnation begins with His conception. When Mary, who has just become pregnant with Jesus, comes to see Elizabeth, who is six months pregnant with John the Baptist, Elizabeth acknowledges that Mary is the mother of her Lord (Jesus). John leaps for joy in her womb. His joy is the result of being filled with the Holy Spirit before birth (see Luke 1:15), which is a supernatural event. But the fact that John could experience an emotion such as joy is not a miracle from the standpoint of prenatal development.
Genesis 16: 7 - 13
The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. And he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered. Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.” The angel of the Lord also said to her:“You are now pregnant and you will give birth to a son. You shall name him Ishmael,for the Lord has heard of your misery. He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.” She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”
SAMPLE
Hagar experiences a difficult pregnancy. An angel of the Lord helps and comforts her. Despite the sinful circumstances surrounding her son’s conception, Hagar learns she is seen by God, and her son will play a significant role in human history.
It is exciting to be reminded of God’s plan for humanity. From Genesis to Revelation He clearly shows us that we are made in His image, He loves and values each of us, and even before we were conceived He has a purpose for our life.
SECTION 1.3 CONFLICTING WORLDVIEWS
Section Goal
To help the Trainees be aware of 2 conflicting ethics, or worldviews, that are at the core of the debate on the value of human life. The first one is called the “Sanctity of Human Life” ethic; the second is the “Quality of Life” ethic.
TRAINER PROCEDURES
Trainer Tools
Slides: YES
Handout: NO
Estimated Time: 10 MINS
Flipcharts and markers
1. Write SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE ETHIC on the left side of a flipchart, leaving room to write QUALITY OF LIFE ETHIC on the right side.
2. Tell the Trainees that there are two conflicting ethics, or worldviews.
3. Tell them the first ethic “Sanctity of Human Life” ethic, or worldview, says that all human life has absolute value based on the fact that God created man in His own image.
4. Tell Trainees there is another popular ethic we will also discuss.
5. Ask the following question: Does anyone know the name of the other ethic and what it says about human life?
6. Depending on the Trainees’ responses, share or reinforce that the other ethic is called the “Quality of Human Life” Ethic.
7. Write QUALITY OF HUMAN LIFE ETHIC on the right side of the same page of the flipchart.
8. Show Slide 1.3a: Sanctity of Life v. Quality of Life and direct the Trainees to the Sanctity v. Quality chart in their handbooks.
9. Briefly go over the differences listed on the chart.
10. Tell the Trainees that the Quality of Life Ethic says that human life has relative value based on the quality of life a person might have, such as one negatively affected by the presence of a birth defect, the potential to develop a genetically linked disease, or the risk of living in poverty.
11. Tell Trainees it can also be based on the perceived effect of a child’s birth on the parents, such as hindering the mother’s career or education (e.g., she has to drop out of school to care for the child).
12. Tell Trainees it can also be based on what society determines is important, such as cultures that emphasize a preference for one sex over the other.
SAMPLE
13. Wrap up this section by emphasizing the following points:
a. It is possible that most of the people you will serve within the pregnancy center will have the “Quality of Life” Ethic perspective and be focused on the pregnancy’s perceived effect on the mother, father, child, or all.
b. The key word here is “perceived.”
c. The fact is that a parent cannot predict what’s in store for the child or the impact of the birth on the parents. Unfortunately, a parent often focuses on poor outcomes rather than good ones.
d. As you begin to serve clients, it is important that you approach your work from the perspective of the “Sanctity of Life” Ethic, specifically communicating to them that they have absolute value because they are created in God’s image and He loves them.
e. Also from the perspective of the “Sanctity of Life” Ethic, communicate to them that, because their child also is created in God’s image, that child has absolute value, too.
TRAINEE HANDBOOK
1.3 Conflicting Worldviews
There are two conflicting ethics, or worldviews, that are at the core of the debate on the value of human life. The first one is called the “Sanctity of Human Life” Ethic, which was discussed in the earlier section. This ethic says that all human life has absolute value based on the fact that God created man in His own image.

SAMPLE
The other ethic is called the “Quality of Human Life” Ethic. This ethic purports that human life has relative value. The relative value can be based on the quality of life a person might have, such as one negatively affected by the presence of a birth defect, the potential to develop a genetically linked disease, or the risk of living in poverty. It can also be based on the perceived effect of a child’s birth on the parents, such as hindering the mother’s career or education (e.g., she has to drop out of school to care for the child). It can also be based on what society determines is important, such as cultures that emphasize a preference for one sex over the other.
Many women and men considering abortion will be focused on the pregnancy’s perceived effect on the mother, father, child, or all. The key word is “perceived.” While a woman or man can’t predict what’s in store for their child or the impact of the birth of their lives, they often focus on potential poor outcomes rather than good ones. That said, as you begin to serve clients, it will help you to approach your work from the perspective of the “Sanctity of Human Life” Ethic, specifically communicating to clients their absolute value based on the fact that they are created in God’s image, as well as the unborn child’s absolute value.
SECTION 1.4 A COMPASSIONATE RESPONSE
Section Goal
To help the Trainees learn why the pregnancy center and their work is so important to providing clients with accurate, fact-based information on abortion and alternatives to abortion. Specifically, that their work in the center must come from a motivation of love and an attitude of Christlike service.
TRAINER PROCEDURES
Trainer Tools
Slides: YES
Handout: NO
Estimated Time: 15 MINS
1. Give the Trainees about 5 minutes to read silently Section 1.4 in their Trainee Handbook.
2. Next tell the Trainees:
a. The pregnancy center confronts the “Quality of Life” worldview that makes the tragedy of abortion so prevalent.
b. The center focuses on the “Sanctity of Life” worldview and exists to meet the needs of women and men as they make difficult decisions regarding the outcome of their pregnancies.
c. These needs may be physical, emotional, and/or spiritual. Often, separation from Christ is the root of their needs.
d. As Trainees encounter people, it is important for them to see those they serve through the eyes of Christ.
3. Show Slide 1.4a: A Christlike Response, and share the following ways a Christian can confront the tragedy of abortion:
a. Compassion: Showing the love of Jesus Christ
b. Hope: Sharing the Gospel
c. Care: Focusing on the needs of the people we serve
4. Next, show Slide 1.4b: Reasons to Serve and ask for 3 volunteers to read the Scriptures. Point them to their Handbook where the verses are printed.
5. Tell the Trainees:
SAMPLE
a. As Christians, we are vessels that God uses to make Himself known to those who are hurt and are in need of Him.
b. As we surrender ourselves to be used by God, He will use us to minister to others; this mindset is at the very heart of this ministry and training
6. To wrap up this section, ask the Trainees if they have comments or questions about presenting help with compassion and hope.
7. Give the Trainees a few moments to allow for silent reflection as you share Slide 1.4c: Serving our Savior.
1.4 A Compassionate Response
More than five decades have passed since Roe v. Wade was decided. Today, in the United States, we observe the following consequences: each year, about one million abortions are performed. Even after the overturning of Roe, it was estimated over one million abortions were provided by clinicians in states without total bans. This number doesn’t take into account the counts of self-managed abortions.17
How, as Christians, should we confront this tragedy of abortion? As Jesus carried out His public ministry, He focused on the needs of hurting people. It is notable that even though the Jewish people faced great hardships under the Roman occupation, Jesus never exerted political influence to usher in the Kingdom of God. From the Gospel accounts, it appears that Jesus never lobbied for political reform, nor did He endorse rival candidates to the corrupt Roman occupiers. Instead, He consistently ministered on a one-to-one basis to the needs of broken people. This compassionate love has changed countless hearts and minds over the ages.
This does not mean that political solutions are inappropriate in confronting abortion. Scripture clearly teaches that God desires men and women to rule with just laws that protect the innocent. Therefore, Christians must continue to pray and act to change the morally bankrupt laws that leave our unborn children without protection.
Until abortion becomes illegal and unthinkable, a great injustice will continue to be perpetrated upon our society. But a pregnancy center ministry transcends these political solutions. The pregnancy center ministry is rooted in the compassion and love of Jesus Christ. It is not about changing laws, nor is it even ultimately about saving babies.
Compassion, Hope, & Help training addresses the needs of individual women and men. It is about sharing the Gospel and empowering people to make positive, life-affirming choices. When hurting women and men encounter Jesus Christ in the midst of their crises, their lives are forever changed.
The scriptural foundation for the sanctity of human life and the sharing of the Gospel is the foundation of the pregnancy-center ministry. The pregnancy center exists to meet the needs of women and men—and often the people who are significant in their lives—as they make pregnancy decisions. These needs may be physical, emotional, and/or spiritual. Often, separation from Christ is the root of their needs. As you encounter these people, it is important for you to see them through the eyes of Christ. To see them in this way, you must first have a relationship with Jesus. Take a moment to reflect on your own relationship with Christ, giving thanks for the gift of eternal life through Him.
As Christians, we are vessels that God uses to make Himself known to those who hurt and are in need of Him. When we surrender ourselves to be used by God, He will use us to minister to others. This mindset is at the very heart of this ministry and training.
The work we do in the pregnancy center must come from a motivation of love, accompanied by an attitude of Christlike service. Serving clients with compassion and hope is the best way to demonstrate this attitude.
There are three biblical reasons that will help you assess your commitment to the pregnancy center.
The first reason is we are called to “Love our Neighbor.”
Matthew 22:36-40 Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
When Jesus was asked about the two greatest commandments, his response probably shocked his questioners. He didn’t say “obey Moses’ law” or even “pay your taxes.” Although Jesus did keep the law and taught his followers to pay tribute to Caesar, his focus was elsewhere. “Love God first,” he said, “and also love your neighbor as yourself.”
Serving at a pregnancy center is a tangible and practical way to love your neighbor. In communities, neighbors make pregnancy decisions, often with little or no outside guidance, practical support, or accurate information about the risks of their choices.
The second biblical reason is to practice “True Religion.”
James 1:27
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Oftentimes, when people think of religion, they think of a set of morals. When they think of a religious person, it is often of someone who has it all together in life (or at least pretends to) and judges others.
God’s idea of true or perfect religion, however, is ministering to people who are isolated and distressed, speaking up for the voiceless, and honoring God with our choices in life. Interestingly, James specifically addresses “orphans and widows in their distress.” In today’s culture, orphans can be described as children without fathers and widows as women without husbands. Pregnancy center workers are called to serve both.
The third biblical reason is that we are “Created to do good.”
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
If we are called to serve in the pregnancy center, we can be sure that this service is among the good works that God wants us to do. God equips those He calls, and as we serve, we gain encouragement, faith, and strength for future service.
Working at a pregnancy center is one of many ways Christians live out their purpose. We can “do good” to all kinds of people through the center: those who share our faith in Jesus and those who do not; those who make a positive pregnancy decision and those who have had abortions. When we serve people who are lonely, homeless, desperate, afraid, and forgotten, we serve our Lord, Jesus Christ.
SAMPLE
Section Goal
To introduce Trainees to the spiritual realities that face women and men who choose abortion.
TRAINER PROCEDURES
Trainer Tools
Slides: YES
Handout: NO
Estimated Time: 5 MINS
1. Show Slide 1.5a: Abortion’s Spiritual Impact.
2. Tell the Trainees:
a. Research supports the understanding that an abortion decision can negatively affect all areas of the life of a person’s life—including their relationship with God.
b. Sometimes, people have a negative spiritual experience immediately after an abortion because they feel guilt, shame, or other emotions that remind them they violated their own faith. This negative impact can happen immediately or years later.
3. Tell Trainees it is important to remember that there is healing and forgiveness with God, and a Pregnancy Decision Coach can help people in that healing process.
TRAINEE HANDBOOK
1.5 The Spiritual Consequences of Abortion
Research supports the notion that an abortion decision can negatively affect many areas of a woman’s, and even a man’s, life. In future sessions, you will learn a great deal about the physical, emotional, and even relational consequences of an abortion choice. While not studied as widely, it makes sense that abortion would also have an impact on a person’s relationship with God, especially if that person recognizes and embraces their spiritual self and their relationship with a Creator.
Sometimes people are affected spiritually immediately after an abortion, when guilt, shame, or other emotions or feelings remind them that they have violated their own faith, beliefs, or values. It can also affect them years later, perhaps after they have had a spiritual awakening or transformation and come to recognize God’s sovereignty and the high value He places on all life, including the unborn. There are also others who may experience guilt and shame, or other negative spiritual consequences because they participated in someone else’s decision to abort.
Regardless of the situation, there is good news! People who have already experienced abortion in some manner can receive God’s healing and forgiveness. They should always be reminded that abortion is not an unforgivable sin. In fact, the Bible reminds us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
If a person is interested in healing from a past abortion, most Care Net affiliate centers offer post-abortion recovery programs.
For people who have not experienced abortion but are considering it as an option, education should include a discussion surrounding the potential consequences. Some people may want to talk about abortion on a spiritual level, while others will not. There is a spiritual side to abortion that should be considered, nonetheless.
Pregnancy Decision Coaches are given an incredible opportunity to help women and men explore how their spiritual beliefs can inform their pregnancy decisions. (More on talking to people about the consequences of abortion will be presented in Chapter 9: Abortion Education.)
NOTES:
SAMPLE
Section Goal
To help Trainees learn about the biblical values they will need to draw upon in order to be as effective as possible in helping women and men facing difficult pregnancy decisions.
TRAINER PROCEDURES
Trainer Tools
Slides: YES
Handout: YES
Estimated Time: 30 MINS
1. Tell the Trainees that, next up, we will discuss the biblical values needed to be as effective as possible in helping women and men facing a pregnancy decision.
2. Ask the Trainees the following question: What does the word “values” mean to you?
3. Depending on the Trainees’ responses, share or reinforce the following definition:
To value something means that you believe it is important or has worth.
4. Tell the Trainees that, as Christians, we talk about biblical values communicated through the Bible. These are different from personal values that might have no connection to the Bible. Ask the Trainees the following question:
What’s an example of a personal value?
5. Depending on Trainees’ responses, you might need to provide 1 or 2 examples of personal values (e.g., an individual might place value on respect for authority or on the opinions of others).
6. Tell the Trainees that Biblical values are also different from cultural values. Ask the Trainees the following question: What’s an example of a cultural value?
7. Depending on Trainees’ responses, you might need to provide 1 or 2 examples of cultural values (e.g., a culture that places a high value on an individual’s youth, looks, or wealth instead of personal integrity).
8. Show Slide 1.6a: Values.
9. Tell the Trainees that everyone has personal and cultural values, but to be effective Pregnancy Center Coaches, they must rely on biblical values that transcend personal and cultural values. (Before moving on, consider asking the Trainees whether or not they agree with this point.)
10. Distribute the copies of Handout 1.6a: Biblical Values.
SAMPLE
11. Tell the Trainees that this exercise isn’t a test. It’s a way for them to learn about these essential values and to consider if there are certain values they need to work to develop.
12. Tell Trainees to answer “from the gut” and not to spend too much time reflecting on each value before they answer. Give the Trainees about five minutes to complete the handout.
13. Next, ask the following questions: (Ensure you allow enough time for responses between each question, and emphasize that there are no right or wrong answers.)
Did the inclusion of any one or more of the values surprise you and, if so, why?
Which of the values do you need to work on the most?
Which of the values might be the most difficult for you to display if you encounter a particularly challenging person facing a pregnancy decision?
TRAINEE HANDBOOK
1.6 Biblical Values
What does the word “values” mean to you?
As Christians, we talk about biblical values communicated through the Bible. These are different from personal values that might have no connection to the Bible.
What are examples of personal values?
Biblical values are also different from cultural values. Everyone has personal and cultural values, but to be an effective Pregnancy Center Coach, you must rely on biblical values that transcend personal and cultural values.
What are examples of cultural values?
Here are some great examples of scriptures containing biblical values:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:12-14)
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable.” (1 Corinthians 12:7, 12, 21-22)
Ask God to help you grow deeper in all these values as you begin your pregnancy center ministry work. Did the inclusion of any one or more of the values surprise you and, if so, why?
Which of the values do you need to work on the most?
Which of the values might be the most difficult for you to display if you encounter a particularly challenging person facing a pregnancy decision?
NOTES:
SECTION 1.7 BLIND SPOTS
Section Goal
To help the Trainees identify some common “blind spots” that people serving in ministry might have. Trainees will be told a blind spot is simply an obstruction to full vision. In terms of ministry work, a blind spot can cause you to not fully see God’s plans or His intentions.
TRAINER PROCEDURES
1. Tell the Trainees:
Trainer Tools
Slides: YES
Handout: NO
Estimated Time: 15 MINS
Flipcharts and markers
a. In terms of ministry work, a blind spot can cause one to not fully see God’s plans or His intentions. It is simply an obstruction to full vision.
b. Serving at the pregnancy center, they can easily have blind spots that could hinder ministry.
c. We will discuss some of the most common blind spots in ministry work.
2. Tell the Trainees:
a. People work or volunteer for many causes and organizations for many different reasons.
b. Yet how our desires interact with our actions is deeply important.
c. Effective service at a pregnancy center happens in the “sweet spot” (as opposed to a blind spot) where our actions are rightly motivated.
3. Remind the Trainees:
a. Why we do something matters as much as what we do.
b. It is important to remember that a right action, undertaken for a wrong reason, is still wrong and could easily be a blind spot.
c. Similarly, a wrong action, done for a right reason, is equally wrong and could also be a blind spot.
4. Show Slide 1.7a: Common Blind Spots and reinforce common ministry blind spots.
a. Trying to find your identity in ministry.
SAMPLE
b. Looking for approval and validation from other people, including clients.
c. Trying to own or control the direction of the ministry.
5. Now that they know how important their motivations are for serving clients, ask the Trainees the following question: (Write their answers on the flipchart as a numbered list.)
What are some other blind spots people working at a pregnancy center could have?
6. Now ask the Trainees the following question: Why is it important to reveal our own blind spots in ministry?
7. Depending on the Trainees’ responses, share or reinforce that the answer goes back to what they just learned regarding the right motivation for serving clients.
8. Next, tell the Trainees:
a. As they work at the pregnancy center, either as a volunteer or paid staff, it is important to approach ministry as an act of service.
b. A person can easily turn working at the center from an act of service that honors God and is helpful to others to an act of self-service that draws attention to a person’s own performance.
c. Doing so keeps such a person from truly loving others.
9. Ask the Trainees for some good reasons and bad reasons for serving. Use the flipchart paper you prepared before this chapter to place their responses in the GOOD or BAD column. Be willing to challenge Trainees on their responses.
If the Trainees struggle to come up with responses, share some examples. A bad reason could be: “I know the truth about abortion: it kills innocent babies, and I’m going to make sure everybody I meet understands this!” A good reason could be: “I had an abortion and want to help others make life-affirming decisions” or “To encourage and help people make an informed pregnancy decision.”
10. (Optional) Ask the Trainees to think about a time when a bad reason prevented them from serving effectively. Tell them to take a moment and consider if that bad reason will affect their service at the center. Tell them you’d be happy to talk with them at the end of today’s session, or they can simply pray to have the bad reason removed and to focus on the good reason(s) they have for serving.
11. Remind Trainees that, as followers of Jesus Christ, they should know that even their best actions are never completely righteous.
12. To reinforce this point, read aloud Romans 3:10. “As it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one.”
13. Tell Trainees to be encouraged because we also know that God’s redemptive power is strong enough to bring good out of even the worst choices.
14. Tell the Trainees that, as we bring Chapter 1 to a close, you are excited to hear their perspective on anything they learned during these sections.
15. Allow time for the Trainees to process what they have learned by engaging in open discussion.
16. Be sure to encourage anyone who might be feeling discouraged or overwhelmed. Remind Trainees to trust that if God called them to this ministry, He will equip them for the road ahead.
1.7 Blind Spots
A blind spot is simply an obstruction to full vision. In terms of ministry work, a blind spot can cause you to not fully see God’s plans or His intentions, which will interfere with or hinder ministry service.
People work or volunteer their time for many causes and organizations and for many different reasons. Yet what motivates a person to serve is deeply important. Effective service at a pregnancy center happens in the “sweet spot” (as opposed to a blind spot) where our actions are rightly motivated.
In other words, why we do something matters as much as what we do. It is important to remember that a right action, undertaken for a wrong reason, could easily be a blind spot. Similarly, a wrong action, done for a right reason, is equally wrong and could also be a blind spot.
Some common ministry blind spots are:
1. Trying to find your identity in ministry.
2. Looking for approval and validation from other people, including clients.
3. Trying to own or control the direction of the ministry.
What are some other blind spots people working at a pregnancy center could have?
A person can easily turn working at the center from an act of service that honors God and is helpful to others to an act of self-service that draws attention to a person’s own performance.
As followers of Jesus Christ, we know that even our best actions are never completely righteous. We also know that God’s redemptive power is strong enough to bring good out of even the worst choices. These truths are encouraging when we consider how imperfect our actions and motivations can be.
A bad reason for serving might be: “I know the truth about abortion: it kills innocent babies, and I’m going to make sure everybody I meet understands this!”
A good reason could be: “I had an abortion and want to help others make life-affirming decisions” or “To encourage and help people make an informed pregnancy decision.”
FOR FURTHER READING
Defenders of the Unborn: The Pro-life Movement Before Roe V. Wade, Daniel K. Williams
Abuse of Discretion: The Inside Story of Roe V. Wade, Clarke D. Forsythe