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Our
Mission and Vision
Click to see:
The purpose of Baptists for
Life of Central Ohio is to promote the biblical view that human life is
sacred at every stage of
development, and to influence the church and society so that they
embrace God's truth that
every human life is
worthy of respect and protection. To this end we:
- Establish biblical caring ministries to women
with crisis pregnancies
- Teach biblical values regarding morality and
medical ethics
- Promote positive, biblical attitudes toward the
unborn, handicapped, elderly, and terminally ill
- Challenge Christians in Central Ohio to
personal and direct involvement in the pro-life movement
- Oppose, through biblical and legal means, the
practices of abortion, infanticide and euthanasia
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- National Baptists For Life began in 1984.
- Some of individuals in central Ohio
participated in Right To Life rallies and worked with other pro-life
groups
- The issues were so important that they
determined that more was needed close to home
- May 1988:
pastors and people from three churches in Columbus met with Mark
Blocher who led us in forming a steering committee to investigate
organizing an affiliate in central Ohio. Bill Abernathy, Jr. was
elected chairman.
- October 1988:
the full steering committee met for the first time
- Officers were elected
- Two surveys were authorized and begun
immediately:
First, a survey of GARBC churches in the Columbus area to determine how
active the people were in the pro-life movement, and how interested
they would be in having a Baptist For Life affiliate organized.
- 513 people from 12 churches
responded
- 5.6% were involved in some type of
pro-life activity
- 79.4 % were interested in a BFL
affiliate in central Ohio
Second, a survey of pro-life groups in the area to determine the
presence of any group which could effectively reach the people of
Baptist churches
- There were several active pro-life
groups in Columbus and Pregnancy Distress Centers are close
enough to our doctrinal position that our folks can work with them as
counselors.
- There was no group close enough to
baptistic doctrinal position to effectively reach the people of our
churches
- November 1988: the
results of the surveys were reported, and the Steering Committee voted
to form an affiliate, beginning the process right away.
- Plans were made to promote the Sanctity
of Human Life Sunday emphasis in the central Ohio area (this has been
done each year since)
- February 1989:
the constitution was ratified, a newsletter was planned, and a Rally
with Mark Blocher was scheduled for April 8, 1989
- March 1989:
BFLCO was incorporated as a non-profit corporation in the state of Ohio
- May 1989:
BFLCO was granted affiliate status with the National Baptists For Life
- October 1989:
BFLCO was granted tax exempt status
- Accomplishments include
- Participated in the Columbus Life Chain
and several other Pro-Life Rallies
- Helped an out-of-state church start a
Maternity Resource Center
- Helped a group in Portsmouth, Ohio
begin a crisis pregnancy health center
- Promoted Sanctity of Human Life Sunday
- Published a quarterly newsletter "Lines For Life"
- Publishing bulletin inserts
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- Over one hundred members
- Two maternity resource centers
- Four regular supporting churches, plus
gifts each year from several others
- A
Quarterly Newsletter
- A field representative
- A
Resource Library
- Quarterly bulletin inserts available to
churches
- Sponsor an annual activity for teens
combining fun and food with a clear message on the Sanctity of Life
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- Continuing to emphasize Sanctity of Human
Life Sunday
- Shepherding homes
- Promoting Pro-Life Direct Action Committees
in several churches
- Sheltering Church Network
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