Sinta Jimenez, host of The Pro-Life American, welcomes listeners back to Iowa, where Iowa campaign manager Austin Stubbs moderates a panel of Christian faith leaders on the opportunities between church and state in creating a culture of life. At SBA, she says, they support these efforts in church communities and at the state level.
On the panel are Gary Pilcher, lead pastor at Berean; John Dunwell, who serves in the Iowa House from District 38 in Newton as Assistant Majority Leader and pastors a church in Monroe; Todd, lead pastor at First Family Church in Ankeny; Jesse Newman, lead pastor at Eternity Church in Johnston; Adam Steen, a Berean board member, former Iowa gubernatorial candidate, now on the campaign trail for Zach Lane, the Republican nominee for governor; and Greg Baker, lead minister connected with the Family Leader in Des Moines. Jonathan Bartholomew is also introduced.
Asked why they are pro-life, the pastors point to Scripture, the image of God, life beginning at conception, common sense, and a born-again change of heart. Austin notes that abortions have gone up since Roe was overturned. The panel says the church's role is not only changing laws but changing hearts, equipping the saints, preaching the gospel, and building a culture of marriage, family, adoption, and foster care. One pastor says sixty percent of abortions are now through abortion drugs.
On when life begins, Adam says life begins at conception and contrasts that with Rob Sand, the Democrat nominee for governor, who said life begins at breath. Greg says God knew each person before the mother's womb, and speaks of over sixty million plans that never took form. Gary warns that if life does not begin until viability, the same principle can be used for euthanasia. John shares miscarriages, failed adoptions, and adopted embryos. Jesse points to Jeremiah, Isaiah, David, and the baby who leapt in the womb.
Austin says 10 states plus DC have no limits on abortion, and that the United States is one of only seven countries in the world, including communist China, where abortion can go all the way to birth. He says 70 percent of women agree they were coerced, or that the decision was against their values, wishes, and desires. The panel answers that healing starts with the gospel, that the church must step up rather than rely on government, and that ministry should include fathers and the whole family, not only mothers. Sinta closes by asking listeners what they think about creating a culture of life and supporting women in crisis and those recovering from abortion.
Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:35 Opening Prayer
1:40 Welcome from Austin
2:07 Meet the Panel
3:57 Why Are You Pro-Life?
8:06 After Roe: The Church's Role
19:51 When Does Life Begin?
33:31 Foreknowledge, Sex, and Marriage
36:16 No Limits in 10 States Plus DC
36:39 Healing After Abortion
41:50 The Church, Not the Government
44:55 Family Ministry, Not Only Moms
50:54 A Community, Not Just Programs
53:59 Closing