“Celebration of Life with a Show of Hands” : Hands on Sanctity of Human Life Celebrations

The Celebration of Life Fairs are “sanctity of human life” events that provide a festival type environment that broadens the churches scope beyond discussions of abortion and euthanasia. We're focusing on what God is doing, rather than what the enemy is doing. We use this time to spotlight life-affirming organizations like Christian adoption agencies, hospice, long term health care, whole foods, chiropractics, embryo adoption, local parenting classes, vibrant aging, protection from abuse and neglect, adaptive technologies for persons with disabilities, demonstrations of work animals, grief support groups, substance abuse recovery programs, assisted living and lots more. We don't hedge around the truth of course. There is an entire table dedicated to presenting brochures filled with position statements and scriptural responses to hard life issues like abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research, suicide, genetic engineering, chimeras, cyborgs, and more.

God has taught me that we can be much more effective when we bring the peace that passes understanding into our conversations with people who have strong opinions about sanctity of life issues. We're not to share with others about sanctity of life issues with closed fists but with open hands that God fills with his peace and love.

The fair included an exhibit dealing with abortion issues, but down the aisle was a booth where volunteers fingerprinted children and brochures that teach them the many ways God creates each of to be unique one –of-a-kind individuals who are all created in His image. Workers help the children incorporate their fingerprints into artwork that makes these lessons totally non-threatening.

Another table offers information on setting up living wills, funeral arrangements and other end-of-life topics.

For 20 years, I've been asking people to think rationally and in non-polarizing ways about sanctity of human life issues. The Sanctity of Human Life Fair is a big step toward rational, non-polarizing approaches to these complex issues.

Some of the people I've talked to about the fair are a bit skeptical at first, but once they realize that this is something completely different, they are excited about the concept.

Pastor Andy Davis of First Baptist Church Belton says the event has been a good thing for his congregation. “We believe in the celebration of life and the sanctity of life. Some of the groups that participate in the fair is ministries that we support financially and others we don't, but they are all excellent ministries,” he said. “The fair has exposed our people to some of these ministries and we've have several people in the last year get involved with them. And that’s a good thing.”

I would like to see the fairs spread across the state. I've prepared a notebook of materials to help other churches organize their own fairs. For more information, call Miracle You Ministries at (254) 939-8420.