Ministering to a Pregnant Single Woman
“Kay,
I had an opportunity today to witness to a young, pregnant, single woman that I
see several times a week at a local store near work,” my husband Chad told me
when he got home from work a few months ago. “Today instead of being behind the
counter she was stocking shelves. I walked over to visit with her after I’d
paid my bill and asked how she was doing.”
She
said softly, “I’d like to talk to you outside.”
When
we got outside she shared, “I wanted to tell you that I’m going to have a baby.”
My husband, knowing she was single asked, “How does your boyfriend feel about the
pregnancy?” She responded, “Well, we’ve been going together three years and
even though he doesn’t live in
She
continued, “The only other people I’ve told besides my boyfriend is my parents.
I was afraid they would be really upset. But they both cried when I told them.
It looks like they will support me.”
“I
don’t know why,” she continued, “but when I saw you walk in I wanted to tell
you about the baby. You’re such a nice man (My husband said she wanted to say
nice ‘old’ man, but she didn’t…) and you’re always so friendly. Most people
just walk in, pay for what they have purchased and walk out. They barely talk
to me. They certainly don’t see me as a person. But, you do.”
My
husband took the opportunity to ask about her faith. He learned she had church background.
He told me it was obvious that she believed that God existed and was very open
to learning more about Him. She asked him, “Are you a religious man?”
He
responded, “Well, I’d like to say I am, but I’m also a sinner that needs God’s
forgiveness every day.”
“How
can you be a religious man and sin every day? I don’t understand,” she responded.
After
my husband had shared this encounter with me we talked about ways we might
continue to work with her and help her. I suggested, “Why don’t we wrap up a
gift for the baby and a gift for her too. Then you can give them to her.”
During
the next few weeks my husband visited with her a few more times. On one of
those visits he learned her boyfriend was not interested in continuing their
relationship. She was upset about this, but still happy about the baby. Another
time he saw her she told him, “I had an ultra sound. It’s a boy!”
Recently
on a holiday weekend,
She
was really excited about the gifts and asked, “Why do you and your wife care
about me?” He continues to encourage her find a church near her home, read the Bible, and we both keep her in prayer.
Would you pray for her too?
Now
I want to ask my readers a question. If this young woman visits your church,
how will you welcome her? After my husband shared the story about his encounter
with this woman, he told me a little more about her. “Kay, she has three hair
colors—one is purple. She has tattoos on both wrists, and several pierced nose
rings. Although she has been a partier in the past, she told me that now that
she is pregnant she has stopped drinking and partying. She really wants to get
her life together.”
Have
you ever seen someone at your church and shied away from speaking to
that person and wondered, “Why are they at my church?” Churches
are places for us to worship the Lord and are for all people. I’m sure the
prostitute that Jesus befriended may not have looked like everyone else. The
rich, poor, middle class, black, white, and yes, even those who have three hair
colors and tattoos are welcome in God’s house. My encouragement is to be
friendly and welcoming to everyone who attends.
Remember
that one simple way to open up opportunities to share your faith and talk about
family issues is by being friendly with those you meet in your daily life. You
never know what doors the Lord will open and how He can use you!
When
situations like this one occur it would be helpful if churches had a list of
resources that you could share with those who need them. I assembled a list
that includes the names, websites, and telephone numbers of organizations and resources
that offer help to women with unplanned pregnancies. What you do can change
lives and save lives!
Let
me end with a story I heard from a woman when I was an exhibitor recently at a
national conference. She shared, “Our church put up a poster of how babies
develop in the womb and posted it in our church and in the community. A pregnant
woman saw it and called the numbers to ask for assistance. Because of that
poster and the help she was offered when she called, she decided not to move
forward with her plans to have an abortion. A child’s life was saved because this
church and their members put up a poster! Praise God for Christians that share
God’s love and the Word of Life.
In
the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word
was God. He was the source of life (John 1:1, 4). Salvation is found
in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by whom
we must be saved. (Acts
Kay
Meyer is the founder and president of Family Shield Ministries and host of
the Family Shield radio program. Her newest book is Witnessing—A Lifestyle (FSM 2008).
Family Shield is celebrating its 15th anniversary and will have its annual
fund raising dinner on Saturday, October 10th at
