Why is adoption the better option?
(Photo courtesy of Bethany Christian Services)

USA (MNN) — Can you imagine never being born? It’s impossible: we can’t imagine not existing because we must exist to imagine. It is wonderful and it is strange to realize that God chose to create you. Yet, every year there are thousands of created lives that never get to contemplate the wonder of their existence.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2010 there were 765,651 legal induced abortions in the United States. Those were the reported abortions only.

For Bethany Christian Services, the month of January is very significant to their ministry. They recognize it as National Sanctity of Human Life month. This day has been recognized off and on by various presidents since Ronald Reagan in 1984. The specific day falls on the third Sunday each January. This year it falls on the 19th.

Abortion has now been legal for nearly 41 years, the anniversary of Roe v. Wade falling on the 22nd this month.

We spoke with Bill Blacquiere of Bethany to get an insider’s view of why this Sunday is so important. He says, “It stands out because it gives the opportunity to tell the other side of the abortion story.”

He explains that as time goes on, people overlook some realities of abortion. His concern is that the public becomes increasingly removed from the moral significance and responsibility of abortion with each year that goes by: “After 41 years of legalized abortions, many citizens and younger people just see abortion as a legal service that’s available.”

Bethany works extra hard during this time to promote life and to educate the public that there are choices in difficult situations. “By having a sanctity of life month, it focuses on the protection and needs of unborn children, and allows organizations like Bethany and pregnancy centers to be able to state the services that they provide to expecting parents who are faced with an unplanned pregnancy.”

As easier and less involved ways to participate in abortion are made available, people who might not have favored abortion previously are opting for the “morning after pill” and similar post-encounter “birth control.”

This is dangerous. Minors find these practices much more accessible. And the issue doesn’t stop in the secular arena. Christians are threatened by the lies of abortion just like anyone else.

And what are some of these lies, or better put, overlooked aspects of abortion?

Blacquiere elaborates: “Just recently I was reading an article that studies done in other countries are warning people who do get an abortion that there are after effects and there [is] emotional trauma, and there are even mental health issues that can be associated with abortion and terminating pregnancy.”

Blacquiere says there is going to be a feeling of loss whether the expecting woman chooses abortion or adoption. “With terminating it by abortion,” he says, “you have no opportunity to really get over that loss. But when you see your child develop and have a relationship and can explain to the child that you made this decision out of love, it helps resolve the loss that you feel.”

Many mothers would agree that there is a bonding time between child and mother during the pregnancy, and that to purposefully end that life doesn’t make any sense.

Abortion, according to Blacquiere, goes against the foundation of the inner workings of a human. He says, “I also believe it’s in our–if you will–DNA and in our nature that we always want to protect life, so when we go against that, it does cause trauma for us.”

Christians cannot ignore the evidence that abortion is wrong.  The psalmist recognized this in the Bible: “For You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well” (Psalm 139:13-14, ESV).

Blacquiere stands firm in his position, “God has stated from the very beginning that life is in the blood and that life is precious; even the early laws [talked] about if you take a life, a life must be forfeited. So God has always promoted life.”

Blacquiere also provides some reasons that everyone should consider adoption with Bethany: First, “I believe [the fact] that you would choose life would be very rewarding for you and obviously for the child whose life would not be terminated. Second, there are many adoptive families who are very interested in adopting your child and providing a loving home for the child. Third, we offer open adoption, and that means that the expectant parent can meet and pick or choose the adoptive couple–and in [the majority] of these cases, they have an ongoing relationship with that adoptive couple, and they can see their child grow and develop into a mature adult.”

Blacquiere reflects on a repeated success story that he has been fortunate to witness. “It’s just really interesting for me to hear from adoptive families who say, ‘You know, our son or daughter is graduating from high school this year, and their birth mother is going to be there and participate with them.'”

Though neither option is easy, Blacquiere maintains that the best option is to have an ongoing relationship with the child who has been adopted by a family better equipped to care for them.

He says that there have been many successful progress stories in past years regarding reduction of abortions. However, Blacquiere asks that you would join with your brothers and sisters in Christ in prayer for the total elimination of abortion. Ask for God to change the hearts of government officials, that federal judges would consider the rights of the unborn. Pray for parents who have unplanned pregnancies to make wise and loving choices.

If you would like a bulletin insert for your church about this event, click here. You can learn about adoption choices here, and support Bethany with this link.

She didn’t know what else she could do. By her thirties, she already had four children and couldn’t handle bringing another one into the family.

She sat on the couch with her 11-year-old son. The baby could come any day. Then an advertisement appeared on the television and captured her attention.

“I’m pregnant, but I’m not in a position to care for this child,” the young woman in the advertisement said. “I want him to have a better future, to be with a family who will love him and give him the things that I can’t. I’ve learned that through adoption, I can choose the family who will raise him, and I can receive help through the rest of my pregnancy. Adoption just seems like the best option for him and for me.”

The Bethany Christian Services logo flashed. Her son looked up at her and said, “Mom, you really should call Bethany.”

The month of January is Sanctity of Human Life Month. Bethany recently came out with the first-ever national TV ad to highlight adoption as an alternative to abortion. The young Floridian woman’s story is just one of the many responses Bethany received after testing the ad back in November and early December.

Over 2.5 million unplanned pregnancies occur in the U.S. each year. Less than 1% of women with unplanned pregnancies choose adoption.

Marc Andreas, Bethany’s VP of Client Marketing, says, “Most women–or men for that matter–don’t know how adoption works today. It works very differently than it did a generation ago. A lot of women and men will ask questions about [if] they get to be involved in the child’s life, and today the answer is Yes.”

95% of adoptions today are open adoptions. This means the birth family gets to choose the family who will raise their child. They get to keep contact through things like pictures, letters, and e-mails. In many cases, they can even meet and see the child.

“Almost like a new definition of an extended family,” says Andreas. “It’s a beautiful picture of how adoption can help those with an unplanned pregnancy. They can move on with their life, while providing a great family that wants to raise this new child.”

Bethany, the nation’s largest adoption agency, teamed with Heroic Media last year for the concept of a national pro-adoption ad. Their timing couldn’t be more critical. Andreas says, “In January here, it is the 40th anniversary of the passing of Roe vs. Wade making legalized abortion in the United States. We at Bethany are proud to provide an alternative to abortion through our pregnancy counseling services."

And at the heart of Bethany is the hope of the Gospel. "Bethany Christian Services is a 100% faith-based organization," says Andreas. "Our values are what drive what we do. Our mission statement is one where we share the love and compassion of Jesus Christ in our service. We share the Gospel through our acts of service in caring for a mom no matter the situation she is in."

Pray for the direction of the nation concerning abortion to be stopped. Pray for adoption to be promoted to mothers as a beautiful alternative to abortion.

Watch the commercial or get bulletin inserts for your church to promote adoption with Bethany.