A Ministry Update from Our Executive Director

My name is Steve Stephenson, and I’m the Executive Director of Life Forward, and if you’re like us, you’re still rejoicing over the Supreme Court decision from last week. Of course, many of us have been praying for years, if not decades, for this result, and it’s so sweet to see the Lord answer these prayers during this season and this time. But what does this mean for ministry to women in our community?

Ohio has passed a heartbeat law that went into effect on June 24th. What this means is that if any heartbeat is detectable via ultrasound, a person cannot have a legal abortion in the state of Ohio, either by a surgical procedure or a chemically induced method. Generally, we estimate the time a heartbeat can be detected to be around six weeks of gestation, although it’s possible to detect a heartbeat sooner in the pregnancy.

To help women in our community, we are prepared to answer questions about their pregnancy and to help women understand what this law may mean for them. Just as in the pandemic, we’re expecting an influx of women who need our help. We’re prepared with our ultrasound machine and pregnancy tests, but also the love and compassion women are craving and needing. We’re ready with one-to-one mentoring relationships, with parenting classes, and emotional support. We’ve increased our material support budget for items like car seats, strollers, diapers, formula, and baby clothing by 40%. We’re also adding two staff positions to help us with what we expect to be a higher volume of need.

Many of you have been concerned about our safety and want to know how you can help. We so appreciate all the calls and emails we have received! So far, all is well and quiet here at Life Forward, and our building is in great shape, with flowers blooming outside. We are grateful our Lord has put us in this place where we can minister to women with unplanned pregnancies.

Please join us in praying for women who are early on in their pregnancies. We know that women will be looking to make the decision about an abortion much more quickly, possibly at the 4-6 week mark, and we’re praying that our outreach efforts will help us to get a conversation with them and prayerfully impact them with the Life-Affirming message of the Gospel.

Thank you again for your support of Life Forward. And again, if you’d like to make a celebratory gift to Life Forward in view of this victory, we’d be glad to invest your gift into the life of a woman who needs resources and who needs hope.

Thank you for your partnership in the Gospel! God Bless You!