April 13th marked the beginning of a new area for LIFE in Florida with Governor DeSantis’s signing of the Heartbeat Protection Act.
While we celebrate this victory for life, we also know there is work yet to be done. We still pray for the day when abortion will become not just totally illegal but also unthinkable, requiring heart-change and cultural change.
With abortion becoming a more limited option, more women and families will need support throughout their pregnancies and beyond. With that in mind, we wanted to share a vision with you on what all this means for FCWS moving forward. We are grateful to God for His guidance as we prepare for this new season hard. In fact, He had already laid the decision to expand hours of operation on the hearts of our board members even before the 6-233k ban was being considered. Additionally, we increased our investment in client marketing, we are going to need to be more strategic than ever in reaching her first before she makes a decision. The ban simply reinforces these decisions as we know we will need this growth to meet the growing needs in our community.
About the 6-Week Abortion Ban:
Like any bill, there are plenty of nuances to the 6-week abortion ban. Here are the key takeaways you should know:
1. Despite the name of the original bill – the Heartbeat Bill – the abortion ban begins at 6-weeks, not when a heartbeat is detected.
2. It provides exceptions for rape and incest up to 15 weeks as well as exceptions for when the mothers life is at risk.
3. Drugs used in medication-induced abortions could be dispensed only in person or by a physician (not by mail-order)
4. It devotes state resources to help expectant families in need.
5. It is on hold from going into effect until the state Supreme Court hears the current challenge against the 15-week ban.
6. Approximately 43% of abortions occur before 6-weeks gestation according to recent studies, so this is far from a total abortion ban, though it ranks among the most restrictive in the nation.
What We’re Doing Moving Forward:
This 6-week abortion ban is a game-changer for our community and, therefore, for the ministry of FCWS. We understand that the 6-week abortion ban means more families in our community will need our services than ever before. With the option of abortion going away for many expectant mothers, there will be more women in our community desperate for resources throughout their pregnancy and beyond.
With this in mind, our plan to address the growing needs in our community includes:
- Expanding our hours of operation, staff and volunteers at all our centers to support the increasing number of clients we are seeing.
- Increasing our client marketing investment to reach her before she decides.
- Increased material resources and support for mothers from the time they get a positive pregnancy test to birth and beyond. (See graphic)
Ultimately, we desire for our clients what Jesus desired for all of us: “that they might have life, AND that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Together, we pray that our support empowers women not only to choose life for their babies but also to walk in the abundant life God has given for them.
These goals are estimated to increase our budget $102,000 annually as a conservative figure. Will you prayerfully consider how you can continue to walk with us in this new era for LIFE? We are in need of additional volunteers at all our locations (especially Northside, Kernan and Clay) to serve during our expanded hours. This is an opportunity to truly be the hands and feet of Jesus, we believe together God has called us for such a time as this.