“Sanctity of Human Life Sunday” Set for January 17, 2016

Church of God USA Missions, as part of its 3G Outreach Initiative (Great Commitment—Prayer, Great Commandment—Care, Great Commission—Share) has included Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, January 17, 2016, as an opportunity for local churches to pray for an end to abortion on demand, and to pray for the women who fall victim to the painful consequences and after-effects of abortion.

On January 13, 1984, President Ronald Reagan issued a proclamation designating January 22 as the first National Sanctity of Human Life Day. (January 22, 1973, was the day the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion-on-demand in all 50 states.) Churches and pro-life organizations around the United States use the day to celebrate God’s gift of life, commemorate the many lives lost to abortion, and commit themselves to protecting human life at every stage.

Churches can also show care by reaching out in love to those who are affected, by honoring and praising adoption as an alternative to abortion, and by giving and/or volunteering at local or regional clinics and shelters that exist to minister alternatives to those women considering this tragic alternative to giving life. The share aspect of the 3G Initiative is fulfilled by sharing the infinite love and saving grace of Jesus Christ with women trapped in what may seem to be the hopelessness of an unplanned pregnancy, or who are suffering guilt and pain in its aftermath.

Local churches can receive support materials for their emphases from their local crisis pregnancy centers or from resources such as Life Matters Worldwide (https://www.lifemattersww.org/Events/SanctityofHumanLifeSunday.aspx) or National Right to Life (http://www.nrlc.org/). An extended list of suggested activities for Sanctity of Human Life Sunday is downloadable from a ministry called Heartlink at http://www.heartlink.org/directors/abortion/a000000315.cfm.

Mrs. Lorna Gosnell, International Coordinator for the Church of God Women’s Discipleship Ministries Office is also involved in the promotion of Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. USA Missions Executive Administrator James E. Cossey emphasized, “USA Missions is in no way in competition with the Women’s Discipleship Office in this emphasis; rather we are proudly in partnership with them and with all others who believe that life begins at conception and is to be regarded as both sacred and precious.” Women’s Discipleship information is available at www.womenofpowercog.org.

Print This Post Print This Post