Dr. Larry Lewis was shocked when in 1979 he opened a St. Louis newspaper to see the full-page ad listing the religious denominations and groups who favored a “pro-choice” – a pro-abortion – position. He learned that the ad was also in other major newspapers throughout the country.
In that listing … “… right along with the Unitarians … ” was the Southern Baptist Convention, the nation’s largest protestant denomination!
This shock set him in motion. He discovered … and was further appalled … upon learning who was responsible.
Hear Dr. Lewis tell this dramatic story … in his own words:
Download
Elected as the SBC’s National President in 1979 in Houston, strong pro-life advocate Dr. Adrian Rogers (a current Bott Radio Network programmer … even though he is in Heaven), appointed Larry to be a member of the Resolutions Committee of the 1980 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in St. Louis.
Larry presented to the Resolutions Committee a well worded and strong pro-life statement, asking that it be summited to the Convention in session as a recommendation. The committee did so and asked him to present it and speak in its favor before the thousands of SBC “messengers” in St. Louis, perhaps 30,000 of them.
In his presentation, he explained the content of the full page pro-abortion ad and held it up high before the messengers (delegates). After an hour or so of heated debate, the Convention adopted the pro-life position by about 80%!
While Convention resolutions are not binding on the nearly 40,000 SBC churches, the committed pro-life leadership of Dr. Larry Lewis has since seen the overwhelming majority attitude of Southern Baptist Churches to be solidly in support of saving every unborn baby possible.
Important related Scriptures …
“You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made … your eyes saw my unformed body…” (Psalm 139: 13, 14, 16)
“The word of the Lord went to Jeremiah saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations …’” (Jeremiah 1:5)
Five times God Himself uses the pronoun of personhood … “you” … while Jeremiah was yet in his mother’s womb.
Notes:
In this radio discussion, efforts are made to not “reopen the wounds” of women who have had abortions and have received forgiveness by accepting Jesus Christ … and his death and resurrection for them … as Lord and Savior. –
We cite Connie Eller as an example of one who had an abortion. She has been completely forgiven by Jesus Christ Himself when she called upon Him in faith. Connie is the founder and respected leader of “Blacks for Life,” working in Our Ladies Inn to save the unborn … and has several times been a featured guest on radio with me.
Dr. Lewis pays tribute and expresses appreciation to Catholics who role-modeled through their tenacious commitment to the Pro-life position of wanting to save the life of every unborn baby possible.
(More about his ministry career, titled “Dr. Larry Lewis: amazing record of humble, impacting service: honored by Missouri Baptists, others” can be found for anytime listening elsewhere on this website.)