It’s hard to believe, but I am approaching my 1-year anniversary as the Executive Director of Living Alternatives. I began serving in July 2021 during the height of the COVID pandemic, at a time when the country was in full retreat from business as usual: people working from home; large family gatherings canceled; performing arts and sports venues closed; travel and shopping radically changed.
In the meantime, Living Alternatives was making major changes in our facilities, leadership, and scope of the ministry.
During the COVID pandemic, we opened our AXIA center, held our annual banquet, launched our new mobile unit, reopened our maternity home, and added more than 20 new staff and volunteers.
The needs of women facing unplanned pregnancies didn’t slow down because of the pandemic. Thankfully the staff and board of Living Alternatives didn’t retreat with the rest of the world. In fact, they moved forward. I’m so proud to work with a team that doesn’t shrink back when things get hard.
For those of us who have been standing for the lives of women with unplanned pregnancies and the babies they carry, we are heading into an unprecedented season. Texas state just passed the Heartbeat Bill which outlaws abortions once the baby’s heartbeat is detectable. Also, the Supreme Court just granted a review of Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. This is the first case in decades to pose a major threat to Roe vs. Wade.
Living Alternatives has been engaged in the consequences of legalized abortion since 1982.
I think it’s safe to say we have wondered at times whether or not Roe vs. Wade would ever be overturned, and yet here we are. The question is: if it is overturned, are we ready for the reality of abortion being illegal again? Will the pro-life community of faith rise to address the issues that first led to abortion becoming legal?
- How we support women facing unplanned pregnancies.
- The need to recommit to God’s standard for sexuality, preventing the possibility of pregnancy and abortion.
- The lack of fathers taking responsibility for their children from conception to adulthood.
We at Living Alternatives are soberly preparing to build a community where abortion is no longer necessary. It’s not enough to simply end legalized abortion without addressing the issues which created it.
I recently heard it said, “A fruitful ministry requires vision.”
15 years ago I visited Southern China where I was given a tour of a new housing project which, for the first time, didn’t include hardwiring for home phone lines. They knew the future was going to be wireless.
Let’s prepare for a future without abortion. The rest of our country will need guidance and inspiration about how to move forward in such a world. I believe East Texas is perfectly equipped to show the world how communities are standing in the gap for women facing unplanned pregnancies.
We are ready. Full steam ahead.
STEVE ROQUEMORE
Exectutive Director