Life
How Oklahoma Baptists are working together to fight abortion & protect the unborn
Established and Supported Pregnancy Resource Ministries
Supported Successful Life-Affirming Legislation
Oklahoma Baptists played a key role in achieving the passage of over 20 pro-life laws that have helped save lives. These laws including a ban on Partial-Birth Abortions; a Parental Notification Law; Ultrasound Requirement Bill; and the Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act.
Approved Pro-life, Anti-Abortion Resolutions
Messengers to the Oklahoma Baptists’ Annual Meeting have repeatedly spoken against legalized abortion. Since 2007, Messengers have approved 12 resolutions opposing abortion and speaking up for the unborn.
Played a Leading Role in Leading Events
Now in its 30th year, the annual Rose Day Pro-Life Rally has featured speakers including Lila Rose, pro-life activist and President of Live Action; Abby Johnson, pro-life spokeswoman and former Planned Parenthood center director; and others. This event has united Oklahoma Baptists with others in the faith community through prayer and activism, all to protect unborn life.
Expanded the Annual Sanctity of Human Life Sunday Emphasis
Since it was established in 1984, churches across the United States have observed Sanctity of Human Life Sunday each January. In the past five years, Oklahoma Baptists have offered videos, bulletin inserts, sermon outlines and other resources to help accelerate the impact of this annual tradition.
Published Articles, Editorials & Information
Published Articles, Editorials & Information. In the Baptist Messenger, the flagship publication of Oklahoma Baptists, more than 100 articles have been printed in recent years on the subject of protecting children from abortion.
Get involved
Psalm 139:15-16 NIV
Sanctity of Human Life Sunday Resources
In addition to legislative efforts, we will mobilize churches to help build an overall culture of life in the state, informed by Scripture and powered by the Gospel. With God’s help, we can and will see an end to abortion in Oklahoma, as well as America. Oklahoma Baptists must step up to the challenge.
“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…”
Psalm 139:13-14b NIV
Dear Pastor,
Educating families on the value of life has never been more critical than it is today. Abortion in Oklahoma rose 12% in 2018 compared to 2017. This 12% increase led to a total of 5,014 children – more than all the children in the Ponca City school district – who were robbed of the opportunity to take their first breaths.
Many of the nation’s headlines this past year have revolved around abortion. From New York legalizing abortion through birth, to more conservative states enacting restrictive legislation, both sides have been vocal and active. These confl icting messages have caused many to question what they believe about life and why. The good news is together, we can seize this moment to speak out for the unborn. As ministers of the Gospel, we have a responsibility and a timely opportunity to affi rm the truth of human life.
Sixty percent of women having abortions proclaim to be Christians. Many people, including Christians, tragically believe what the world teaches – it’s a blob of tissue, not a baby, so abortion is okay. What do your church members know and believe about life? Are they equipped to educate their children, from a young age, on the intrinsic value of life? Are your youth equipped to provide truthful and compassionate support to a friend with a pregnancy crisis? We encourage you to make Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, January 19, a priority. By preaching on the issue, together we can dispel the lies and teach the truth of the precious value of life. Please utilize the resources we have assembled for that special day at www.OklahomaBaptists.org or www.obhc.org/sanctity.
We also strongly encourage you to take part in the Rose Day Pro-Life Rally at the Oklahoma State Capitol on Wednesday, February 5. This annual event presents an opportunity to plead with our lawmakers to enact life-affi rming legislation. You and your church members can come to the Capitol at 9:30 a.m., with red roses as a symbol for life, and deliver a life-affi rming message to lawmakers. At 11:30 a.m., in the House Chamber, an indoor rally takes place, in which we will hear from Abby Johnson and others. For more, visit www.roseday.life.
Thank you for participating in the 2020 Sanctity of Human Life Sunday and Rose Day. Until that day when Christ returns and makes all things new (Rev. 21:4), we must take every opportunity to counteract a culture of death with the life-giving message of Jesus Christ.
Sincerely in Christ,
Dr. Hance Dilbeck
Executive Director-Treasurer
Oklahoma Baptists
Greg McNeece
President
Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children
Rose Day
Each year, hundreds gather at the Capitol at the beginning of the new legislative session to promote and support the lives of unborn babies by meeting with their state senators and representatives and presenting them red roses, which represent the sanctity of the unborn.