SANCTITY AFFIRMING WORTH AND DIGNITY OF LIFE Marilyn’s Story: An Abortion Averted ALSO INSIDE: JANUARY 2021 New COVID Vaccines Raise Hopes JANUARY 2O21 THE COURIER EDITOR & PRESIDENT | James Rudy Gray VOL. 153, NO. 1 Published once a month by The Baptist Courier MANAGING EDITOR | Todd Deaton GRAPHIC DESIGNER | Candace Rathbone BUSINESS MANAGER | Chris Holliday BOOK PUBLISHING | Butch Blume (ISSN: O7446985 , PUB: 42260) EDITORIAL ASSISTANT | Denise Huffman EDITOR EMERITUS | Don Kirkland 100 Manly Street, Greenville, SC 29601. Periodicals CIRCULATION MANAGER | Carolyn Rainey postage paid at Greenville, SC and other locations. BOARD OF TRUSTEES | Tim Clark (chair), Russell Barton, Debbie Bass, David Blizzard, POSTMASTER: Nadine Chasteen, Wes Church, Steve Crowe, Eddie Fulmer, Davey Hiott, Dee McCraw, Send address changes to The Baptist Courier, Delano McMinn, Sandy Satterwhite, Emerson Shipe, Bryant Sims, Celeste Toole 100 Manly Street, Greenville, SC 29601. 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All By the end of our conversation, she was convinced services are free, including ultrasound, counseling, help for that she could not go through with an abortion, but she fathers, maternity clothes, baby clothes, diapers, and more. didn’t know how her boyfriend would feel — and she was For the past 30 years, CPC has followed its theme of being honest enough to tell me that even though she did not think “committed to the truth” and providing hope to women in a she could go through with it, his opinion would definitely crisis pregnancy. Their objective is not just to help clients, but influence her final decision. to share the gospel of Christ with people. “We want people It was at this point that I asked her if she thought Roger to leave here with more life than when they came here,” said would come in and talk. She didn’t know, but she would ask. Alexia Newman, director. Then I asked if I could pray with her. This is when she really The following account is written by Newman. began to sob. Even though it was emotional for both of us, it was also very comforting. I think she released it all to the Lord at that point, and I felt good about things as she drove away. MARILYN WAS 19 WHEN SHE CAME TO THE Early the next morning, Marilyn called, and she and her Carolina Pregnancy Center. She was such a beautiful girl, so boyfriend wanted to come in as soon as possible. Of course, well spoken. Seemingly confident. She was just beginning her we told them to come on. second semester of college and was looking forward to a fun Roger was really determined to convince Marilyn that summer, working as a lifeguard at a camp. We had an instant abortion was the best decision for them. And he was good. I connection. could see the conflict going on in Marilyn. I knew that unless The conversation became less upbeat as we began to the Holy Spirit intervened, this baby would be lost. talk about the possibility of an unplanned pregnancy. She As I began to talk to Roger, I asked him about his quickly told me that even though she was a Christian, if spiritual life. He was quick to tell me about when he became her test was positive, she and her boyfriend had already a Christian, but with his head hung down, he told me how discussed it and for them abortion would be the best option. he had abandoned his faith for his own way. It was just the She was quick to tell me that she really didn’t believe she was opening for which I had prayed. I had a perfect set up to talk pregnant, but that she was just nervous because this was her about the forgiveness and restoration of the Lord. It was first sexual experience. clear that neither one of them understood the concept of When I came back into the room with the positive test, grace. All they knew were rules and legalism. Marilyn fell apart. She broke down, and anyone in our office It was such a beautiful sight when the lights came on for could hear her sobs. For the next few minutes, I became both of them, after an hour of conversation. The Holy Spirit the comforter while she cried. I just kept telling her that she penetrated their hearts, and they were broken by their sin. But would be okay. She would not have to walk this alone. they were also relieved. The things they feared — telling their When she got it together, we began to talk about why families, and Marilyn telling her church family — seemed easier she felt like abortion was the only option. She told me about to handle. There was so much they did not understand, but the plans she had for her future. At this point in her life, those they somehow were convinced that they could trust the Lord. plans did not include a baby. The discussion then moved to her Fast forward to 10 years later, and while it was a very boyfriend. He also had plans that did not include a baby at difficult journey in the beginning, they are married and this time. So we talked about these obstacles and how they have one other child. They are very involved in their church could be overcome. We also talked about fetal development and praising the Lord for this unplanned pregnancy that and the scientific fact that her baby already had a heartbeat ultimately brought them back to Him. n www.baptistcourier.com • 3 ABORTION PROVIDERS BUCKLING UNDER COVID-19 ECONOMIC STRAINS BY DIANA CHANDLER INDEPENDENT ABORTION CLINICS THAT combine to provide nearly 60 percent of abortions in the U.S. are struggling to remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report from an abortion advocacy group. The development should be celebrated, according to a Southern Baptist ethicist. But Elizabeth Graham, vice president of operations and life initiatives for the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, encouraged Christians to continue to advocate for life even if abortion clinics close. “Every time a life is rescued from abortion is cause for celebration by Christians. But that shouldn’t be limited to those of us who are pro-life. Instead, it should be for everyone,” Graham said. “To do that, though, we must continue to foster a culture of life that protects the preborn and cares for the vulnerable in every situation. “If we accomplish that, there won’t be a need for a single abortion facility, because each of us will finally see the inherent value and dignity of every individual human life made in the image of God.” The Abortion Care Network, an abortion advocacy independent clinics closed just this year during the added group, did not report the actual number of abortions financial constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to performed in independent clinics in any specific year, only the report, nearly 340 independent clinics remained in the a percentage. But the Guttmacher Institute reported that U.S. as of November, compared to 510 in 2015 when the group about 862,320 abortions were performed in clinics of all began tracking the data. More than 40 independent clinics kinds offering abortions in the U.S. in 2017, the latest year of have closed in the past two years. available statistics. Planned Parenthood clinics perform 37 “The pandemic has hit us hard financially,” the report percent of abortions in the U.S., hospitals perform 3 percent quoted Mercedes Sanchez, a director of Cedar River Clinics and private physicians’ offices perform 1 percent, according in Washington state, as saying. “Our huge concern was to the group. risk mitigation, so we made efforts to limit the number of people in the clinic and cut our appointments so we could stagger and distance patients. Like many clinics, the majority of our revenue comes from patient services, so cutting our Planned Parenthood and schedule affected our financial health greatly. It feels like we are figuring out what the future holds on a month-to-month basis, and this is going to impact us financially for a long time. its affiliates performed Our future isn’t certain.” Planned Parenthood and its affiliates performed 345,672 345,672 abortions in 2O18. abortions in 2018, according to Planned Parenthood’s 2019 annual report. More than 600 Planned Parenthood and affiliated health clinics operate in the U.S., Planned “The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic Parenthood said in its report, but did not say how many of crisis have put a truly unprecedented strain on independent the clinics offer abortions. abortion clinics in the U.S.,” the Abortion Care Network Independent abortion clinics still operate in at least 37 report said. “Although independent abortion care providers states and Washington, D.C., the ACN said. States without represent about 25 percent of the facilities offering abortion ACN-member clinics are Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, care, they provide 58 percent of all abortion procedures Missouri, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, nationwide.” South Dakota, Utah, Vermont and Wyoming.