January: A Time to Focus on the Value of All Human Life

This Sunday is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, January 22.

In January, Focus on the Family will have downloadable resources to help raise awareness of the precious value of life, including a video, sermon helps, bulletin inserts, and a 75-page Sanctity of Human Life Guide - all free at BeAVoice.net.

The video that will be available for you to download and show to your congregation will liken the pro-life world view to a new set of glasses that helps us see the world with greater clarity and understanding, defining how we see and respond to those around us.

Often, because the anniversary of Roe vs.Wade occurs in January, when we talk about the sanctity of human life we tend to focus on the beginning stages of life. Of course, if life is not protected from the beginning, there is never any other stage of life to protect!

But we must not forget that Scripture clearly teaches that from the very first heartbeat to life?s final breath, all life has dignity and value that is God-breathed.

That's why when we talk about being ?pro-life,? we aren?t primarily talking about a political issue. It's a worldview . . . a life-view. It?s a way of looking at each human life that transcends culture, class, race, age and opinion. When we look at our fellow human beings as God does, we realize that we are all uniquely created in the image of God.

For this reason, this year Focus on the Family will feature 4 themes, one per quarter, to raise awareness of the sanctity of human life at all stages, as follows:

Q1: the child in the womb

Q2: those with special needs

Q3: the elderly

Q4: orphans

When we begin to see others as God sees them, we're moved to care deeply for those created in His image . . . we will live each day in a way that honors our Creator.

This is what it means to be pro-life. This is why we need to be a voice. Will you be a voice for life? BeAVoice.net.

Feburary: During the week of February 12-18th

Going OUT is IN again!

How do you motivate couples in your community and church to invest in their relationships and marriages? Challenge them to date again ... Challenge them to get out, and get closer.

Couples are pulled in so many directions, but the fun, simple act of dating each other strengthens relationships long term. Focus on the Family invites your church to be part of a nationwide movement to encourage couples?young and old, Christian or not?to put their relationship on the top of their priority list again.

Focus on the Family along with event hosts Dr. Greg & Erin Smalley, comedian Jeff Allen and artist Michael O'Brien are providing an event full of fun and laughter called the Date Night Challenge. This easy-to-host event gives you the opportunity to provide couples with a special evening out ... and a powerful challenge to discover how dating can strengthen their relationships. The webcast will be a pre-recorded resource?so you can host the event when it works best for you?available during National Marriage Week (Feb. 7-14, 2012).

How can you get involved?

• Have the couples in your community Get Out and Get Closer! Join the movement and be a part of the greater community of churches hosting a Date Night event.
  
• Register to host a Date Night Challenge event at your church today! Why host the Date Night Challenge?
  
• It's an inexpensive way to provide a quality event for the couples in your church?just $99 with the early bird special.
  
• It will be pre-recorded so you have the flexibility to work the event into your church schedule?during National Marriage Week (Feb. 7-14, 2012).
  

It's a way to reach out to your community?invite them to have a fun evening on you! - It's easy?provide daycare, make it a dinner or just host an evening of fun entertainment after couples go out on the town.

Pastor, you know more than anyone else this is a pretty tall order! It's even more daunting when one considers what this truly looks like in your life on a daily basis. Peering into your life a bit, we envision you praying, reading, reflecting, studying and considering how you can most effectively equip us to do works of service. While that's the essence of your calling in those verses, your job goes far beyond that.

Looking more closely, we see you bringing a message of hope and healing at a funeral and days later officiating a wedding for a young couple. When we're hospitalized, you visit us. When we're troubled, you encourage us. When we're lonely, you remind us of God's continual presence in our lives.

Often times, we forget the sacrifices you make for us. Even when those closest to you need your time and care, we want more from you. You counsel us. You pray for us. You shepherd us. You rejoice with us. You mourn with us.

When the weekend comes, we're ready for a break. We plan, play, relax and do a few things in the yard or around the house. We spend time watching our kids at a sporting event, or we enjoy hanging out with family and friends. You might do some of these things as well, but those are not the things that consume you. You're still preparing, still praying, still reflecting, and still anticipating what God's going to do in the hearts and lives of people when they gather for one to two hours. Whether you're preaching or teaching, leading or managing?or whatever you're called to do as a pastor, you seek to honor Him in the ways you steward your gift(s).

We know you're called. Otherwise, how could you believe for one second that you could do all these things? We also know you're human. You have weaknesses, and you don't pretend you don't. For that, we're grateful. We're also grateful for you. You are a pastor. You are our pastor. We love you, and we appreciate you. Thank you for surrendering your life to Him ... for our sake!

Dr. Greg Smalley on the impact of the Date Night Challenge. Watch now >