West Side Baptist Church in Jacksonville hosted the dedication and open house of the new Hope Family Services Sav-A-Life location adjacent to the church Jan. 14.
“There’s nothing cheap about a human life,” said David Haynes, pastor of West Side Baptist, during his sermon. “Every life is precious.”
Haynes preached from Deuteronomy 30:15–20.
Using the common phrase “from the womb to the tomb” to explain how life is important from conception all the way to the end of life, Haynes declared the main problem is not abortion. “The main sin is that we’ve turned our hearts from God.”
‘One life saved is a victory’
While the new Hope Family Services location has already been open several months, more renovations were in the works and the leaders wanted to wait for the grand opening.
In early 2023, the church bought the building, which was built in 1900 and was previously a grocery store. They named it Hope, not knowing the relationship with Hope Family Services would be the end result.
The renovated building is near the Jacksonville State University campus and has counseling offices as well as space for supplies, classes and sonograms.
Haynes pleaded with the congregation to “open their mouths” (Prov. 31:8–9) to plead for not just the lives of babies, but also the elderly and the poor. “One life saved is a victory,” he said.
Guard rails
Haynes shared eight practical ways he believes will help save lives:
- Practice moral purity before marriage and encourage others to do so.
- Don’t use any hormonal changing pills or any abortion measures.
- Get involved in a ministry to help protect the unborn.
- Buy a Sav-A-Life tag.
- Pray for, support and help frontline workers.
- Volunteer to serve at Hope Family Services (or a similar clinic) one day a week.
- If you know anyone who is contemplating an abortion, talk with them and see if they will allow you to refer them for help.
- Return to God with your whole heart.
“We need to show courage to stop murder in our own homes,” Haynes said. “We want to love the baby, the mother and the father. I’m sick and tired of the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff. We need to put up a guard rail.”
‘God will bless you’
Kevin O’Neil, chairman of Hope Family Service’s board, expressed gratitude to church members.
“All of you in this church, you’re not sitting in the bleachers cheering us on anymore,” O’Neil said. “You are directly responsible. I know God will bless you greatly for this.”
As Haynes commissioned the board members and Hope workers, he quoted Psalm 118:24 — “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
He said the verse before it also describes the story of how this location of Hope Family Services came about: “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.”
Roger Willmore, director of missions for Calhoun County Baptist Association, offered the opening prayer for the church’s Sunday morning service.
To read more about when Hope Family Services relocated near the JSU campus, click here.
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