This month at Christmas time, Christians worldwide celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is the most joyous time of year and most joyous of occasions, as we worship “Immanuel, God with us” (Matt. 1:23)!
Next month, churches across this country will recognize birth in another way—through the annual Sanctity of Human Life Sunday.
In 1984—years after the Roe v. Wade decision had unleashed the life-taking toll of human abortion in America—President Ronald Reagan instituted Sanctity of Human Life Day. Around that time, pro-life Christians banded together to set apart one Sunday a year in which we would honor and recognize the sanctity of all human life—from womb to tomb.
In 2025, Sanctity of Human Life (SOHL) Sunday will be observed on Sun., Jan. 19. To help churches highlight the day, Oklahoma Baptists and Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children have teamed up to produce resources for pastors and churches. These resources help teach and reinforce a Biblical respect for life.
When you go to oklahomabaptists.org/erlc/life, you will find life-affirming sermon outlines, prayer points, a Sunday School lesson for teens/students, powerful videos and more.
In the newest SOHL Sunday video, you will hear the story of Mandi Parkhurst (whose story is also featured in this edition of the magazine). Mandi’s personal testimony demonstrates God’s grace, amid a culture that is pushing women toward abortion.
Thanks to ministries like Hope Pregnancy Centers, Christians are promoting life and offering help and hope to women. Mandi’s story is also proof that the Lord offers forgiveness and freedom to women who have made the tragic choice of abortion.
As one minister pointed out, the devil is “pro-choice” when women are contemplating abortion. Then, after they choose abortion, he comes along and makes them live in guilt and condemnation. Meanwhile, Jesus came to bring us “life and life abundantly.”
While abortion is now unlawful in Oklahoma, the rise in access to chemical abortion has created a scenario in which abortion is happening in our state at an alarming rate. Christians, therefore, must redouble our efforts to pray, to contend for the unborn and to provide help to abortion vulnerable women.
This is literally a life and death issue. Will you take time this upcoming Sanctity of Human Life Sunday to respect life? Will you speak up for the most vulnerable among us, the unborn?
As you celebrate Christmas this year, take time to reflect that at the heart of our faith is the realization that an “unexpected pregnancy” (from a human point of view) brought salvation into the world. That Jesus came in the womb for sinners like us.
Praise His Holy Name!
