Each year, Southern Baptist churches and various Christian denominations celebrate Sanctity of Human Life Sunday (SHLS), an annual Sunday emphasis to recognize the importance of protecting unborn human life in an abortion-on-demand culture.
Just in time for the 2016 SHLS, which is set for Jan. 17, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Committee (ERLC) of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma (BGCO) introduced and promoted new online materials for pastors and churches.
Called The “Pastors’ Preaching/Resource E-Kit for Sanctity of Human Life Sunday,” the guide is available to view or download at www.bgco.org/shls, and features sermon notes, statistics, videos, article links and other key information related to the pro-life movement.
BGCO Executive Director-Treasurer Anthony L. Jordan said, “As a Southern Baptist, I believe the Bible teaches that all life is sacred and all people, including the unborn, are created in the image of God. For many years, I have stood beside numerous pastors across this state speaking out for the lives of unborn boys and girls. As one pastor pointed out to me recently, though, many of our young people are new to the pro-life struggle and may not have heard a biblical exposition or sermon series on this key subject.”
In a letter to Oklahoma Baptists, Jordan encouraged “every pastor in this state to speak on the issue of life on Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, Jan. 17.”
As part of the resource, Jordan and the ERLC recruited “several pastors in our state to share their hearts on this issue and take part in this Sanctity of Human Life emphasis.” The pastors and sermon topics featured in the SHLS materials are:
•Nick Garland, pastor of Broken Arrow, First, “What’s wrong with abortion?”
•Brent Prentice, pastor of Stillwater, Eagle Heights, “Be on mission for the unborn”
•Michael Taylor, pastor of Alva, First, “The voice of the unborn”
•Rick Frie, pastor of Jenks, First, “For the love of life”
•James Biesiadecki, pastor of Bartlesville, First, “Every life matters to God”
In addition to sermon notes, the resource highlights numerous videos that could be used on SHLS or other Sundays.
“I believe God can use the voices of pastors to equip and challenge their congregations to pray for the unborn and take a stand for life,” said Jordan. “Together, we can build a culture of life in Oklahoma.”
For more information, or to download the free Resource E-Kit, visit www.bgco.org/shls.
