In an Oct. 23 Instagram post, NFL player Benjamin Watson said he knows from experience the power and encouragement seeing inside the womb offers.
That’s why the veteran tight end with the New Orleans Saints and his wife, Kirsten, are helping mothers, fathers and unborn babies by placing ultrasound machines at health service providers around the country, most recently at a Baptist Community Health Services (BCHS) center in New Orleans.
In his post Watson said the machines “will allow expecting mothers and fathers in New Orleans to see the precious life God has given them, reminding them of its dignity, beauty and value.” He closed the post with: “Psalm 139.”
The Watsons are working with the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) through the Psalm 139 Project.
Earlier this year the Watsons largely funded an ultrasound machine for the Severna Park Pregnancy Clinic outside Baltimore, where he played for the NFL’s Ravens the previous season.
They made the donation — which resulted in the machine being installed in June — through the Evangelicals for Life (EFL) partnership of the ERLC and Focus on the Family.
Public service award
Watson received EFL’s Pro-life Public Service Award and spoke at the third annual conference, held in Washington in January.
“Benjamin Watson continues to demonstrate leadership both on and off the field,” said Dan Darling, ERLC’s vice president for communications, after the New Orleans ultrasound machine placement was announced. “His courageous advocacy for the sanctity of human life is inspiring.”
In Psalm 139, David testified to God’s sovereign care for him when he was an unborn child. He wrote in verse 13, “You knit me together in my mother’s womb.”
The latest ultrasound machine donated by Watson has been placed at BCHS’s Andrew P. Sanchez Center in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans.
BCHS provides health care through four centers in underserved areas of the city.
The churches that are part of the New Orleans Baptist Association (NOBA) — along with the help of Southern Baptists’ North American Mission Board — launched BCHS.
‘Kingdom opportunities’
“The Watsons’ gift of an ultrasound machine to our medical mission will allow our SBC missionary-doctors to show new mothers their babies while those babies are still growing in the womb,” said Shawn Powers, BCHS’ chief executive officer and a NOBA missionary.
“Through those sacred encounters our team at BCHS will have Kingdom opportunities to connect thousands of women to our local churches for their ongoing spiritual support and growth. The Watsons’ gift will save physical lives — but lives eternally as well.”
BCHS staff members have had more than 14,000 prayers and spiritual conversations with patients since the beginning of its ministry in 2014, Powers said.
The Watsons are serious about meeting needs, both spiritual and physical.
They started the One More Foundation in 2008 to spread “the love and hope of Christ to one more soul by meeting real needs, promoting education and providing enrichment opportunities through charitable initiatives and partnerships.” (BP)
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