Chris Rix: Filipino former Conference asks, quarterback ‘Who moved my pulpit?’ talks faith, ministry Page 6 Page 5 JANUARY 14, 2017 • News Journal of North Carolina Baptists • VOLUME 183 NO. 1 • BRnow.org Sanctity of Life Sustaining the courage to care sounds, abortion education and life skills “the Lord starting putting the right peo- Your Choice filed a rezoning appli- By SETH BROWN | BR Content Editor training for men and women. ple in the right place at the right time.” cation in early 2016 that made its way hen Tonya Baker Nelson’s The organization has deep roots in the unhindered through standard procedure, Sunday School class de- Christian faith, which Nelson credits as Ending late-term bureaucracy including reviews in neighborhood meet- cided to do a community the sustaining core of their work. Crisis Hand of Hope outgrew two properties ings, the Citizen’s Advisory Council and project, something inside pregnancy ministry is emotionally taxing. in Fuquay-Varina within a few years of the Raleigh Planning Commission. compelledW her to take a bold step. Build- That, coupled with an uphill legal battle, their 2005 launch, eventually settling in a The planning commission approved ing another handicap ramp just wasn’t has tested her mettle over the past year, midcentury colonial-style residence near the request by a 10-0 vote, clearly stating enough. Before she had time to hesitate, but she’s as ambitious as ever. the center of town. that reclassifying the one-acre property an idea was born: “We could open a preg- “I will run to face [Goliath] because Nelson opened a second location on from residential to mixed-use office nancy center.” I know God is not on my side, I’m on the southwest side of Raleigh in 2012, space fell within established guidelines. That was more than a decade ago, and God’s side,” Nelson said. called Your Choice Pregnancy Clinic, Nearly all of the nearby properties on the she’s been marching forward ever since. Nelson didn’t hesitate to admit her which became the focus of a controversial street had already been rezoned in similar Today, Nelson serves as the CEO of Your fears, however, especially as she reflects legal battle after purchasing property in fashion. Choice Pregnancy Clinic in Raleigh, N.C., on the early days. She had no experience late 2015 next to A Preferred Women’s The city council must review rezoning and Hand of Hope Pregnancy Resource operating a not-for-profit organization. Health Center, a clinic which specializes requests, so the application came up for Center in nearby Fuquay-Varina, which “I am in so far over my head,” Nelson in abortion procedures. consideration in a meeting June 21. The offer pregnancy and sexually transmitted thought. Initial plans to move into the new abortion provider next to the property infection testing, informational ultra- But right from the beginning, she said, facility developed normally. See Life page 12 2 Opinion JANUARY 14, 2017 • BIBLICAL RECORDER • News Journal of North Carolina Baptists Defund Planned Parenthood now an. 22 is Sanctity of Human Life “Ryan said cutting off federal funds to less of their energies forcing the rest hood executive that one vendor, Stem- Sunday. The day gives pause for the organization will be included in of us to pay for it and more of their Express, appeared to make a 2,800 per- Jall Americans to reflect on more a ‘reconciliation’ bill that also repeals resources to pay for it themselves. cent profit on a baby’s brain harvested than 50 million lives lost and countless the core of ObamaCare. The reconcilia- Many states have already removed from a Planned Parenthood clinic.” others damaged by the national license tion process prevents Democrats from Planned Parenthood from their bud- The sixth statement is “Planned to conveniently destroy human life at launching a filibuster against the mea- gets. It’s time for our debt-ridden Parenthood affiliate clinics ‘routinely’ will. sure, meaning Republicans federal government to defund PPFA. violated privacy regulations imposed From the more positive won’t need 60 votes to win The Biblical Recorder reported in 2012 by the Health Insurance Portability and perspective, followers of on defunding.” that in the previous year, eight states Accountability Act of 1996, seeking to Jesus Christ use the day to “Planned Parenthood passed legislation that diverted a com- ease the process of harvesting body honor the gift of life because legislation will be in our rec- bined $61.7 million in family-planning parts and other fetal tissue.” it is the unique creation of onciliation bill,” Ryan said, funds from PPFA to state or county More Americans are pro-life than God. We cannot be weak in without providing any more agencies for health screenings and at any time since the passage of Roe v. the issue of life. Loyalty to details, The Hill reported. other services that don’t include abor- Wade. They are demanding action at the scripture does not allow for It’s about time! Planned tion. Soon after that, the Obama admin- federal level on the matter. neutrality on the subject. Parenthood is a private istration bypassed the law in Tennessee Much helpful information on pro-life Our convictions must be organization that should to directly fund Planned Parenthood issues is posted on the Ethics and Re- K. ALLAN BLUME expressed. Our voices must never have been funded by Greater Memphis. ligious Liberty Commission’s (ERLC) Editor be heard. taxpayers. Although they In 2012 North Carolina, Arizona, website. Since the Supreme Court’s deny it, the facts show they Iowa, Ohio, Oklahoma and New Hamp- I encourage every Southern Baptist grievous Roe v. Wade decision on Jan. are a major abortion provider and shire defunded PPFA according to the to read the resourceful article by Travis 22, 1973, two presidents of the United money-making machine. They must be Susan B. Anthony List (SBA), which has Wussow and ERLC president Russell States who were members of a South- defunded now. assisted all the states in the move to Moore titled, “6 pro-life priorities for ern Baptist church did not stand on Bill O’Reilly, whose evening show defund the abortion seller. the president and Congress in 2017.” pro-life principles. on the Fox News network boasts the A story on the popular pro-life Live The writers said, “We work for Some Baptists in the Congress joined highest cable ratings in prime time, Action News website said, “Defunding protections, in law, for the unborn, them. I find that embarrassing and said on a recent program, “People who Planned Parenthood is about taking because we believe every person is unconscionable. don’t believe in abortion, who believe money from a scandal ridden organi- created in the image of God and has The shortage of biblical preaching on it is the taking of a human life, are zation which does not deserve to be dignity and worth. So we are encour- the value of life in the past five decades then forced to participate in abortion, a monopolizer of funds for legitimate aging our elected officials to highlight is perhaps more troubling than the because that money goes to Planned health services, especially when those these six pro-life priorities ... .” positions of political leaders. Too many Parenthood, which performs, or makes health services have decreased over the Number four on the list reads, preachers have been more concerned possible, about 350,000 each year. So years, and there are Federally Qualified “Eliminate all funding for Planned Par- about offending church members and it’s more of a ‘look, abortion is legal in Health Centers outnumbering Planned enthood from the federal budget.” less interested in following the call to the USA, but I don’t want to pay for it, Parenthood locations 20 to 1 which Wussow and Moore add, “... we bold, prophetic proclamation of truth. and I shouldn’t be forced to pay for it.’ provide more comprehensive care and will work with Congress to use the It is commendable that in the 33 That’s the beef.” are more deserving of federal funds.” next available budget measure to de- years since the court’s Roe v. Wade deci- Well, that’s part of the problem, Mr. The Daily Signal website posted fund Planned Parenthood. sion, preaching on the sanctity of life O’Reilly. The greatest issue is that it’s a story on Jan. 4 titled, “6 Alarming “We were supportive of the defund has increased in evangelical pulpits. simply wrong! It violates every stan- Findings in House Panel’s Planned effort that was vetoed by President And I believe most of that preaching is dard of human decency, dignity and Parenthood Probe.” The report exposes Obama, and we will continue to work growing in the balance of truth, grace civility. It is immoral. the raw immoral code of conduct that to support this effort in the coming and compassionate action. O’Reilly offered a simple solution. is common in the abortion industry. It Congress.” The impact of truth has now reached He suggested that private donations is very disturbing. As you and your church family honor the halls of Congress. House Speaker could fund PPFA saying, “if all the The first finding reads, “Several God’s gift of life, pray for your pas- Paul Ryan announced Jan. 5 that true believers … who believe in abor- Planned Parenthood affiliates made a tor and other church leaders to stand defunding the Planned Parenthood tion want Planned Parenthood around, profit from the transfer of aborted body together and strong on the sanctity of Federation of America (PPFA) will certainly those donations will make it parts and other fetal tissue, in violation life for the glory of God.