Statement on Human Life Issues

Humans are unique among the creatures of the earth. It is only humans who are described in Scripture as made “in the image of God” (Gen 1:26-27). For this reason, God places a high value on human life (Gen 9:6). We are instructed not only to value human life, but also to treat one another well because of God’s image in man (James 3:8-9). We believe that Scripture teaches that human life begins at conception (Psa 139:13-16) and continues through the last breath. We believe that life is sacred in all stages of human existence. 

But the image of God in man is not the only reason Christians should support compassion and oppose oppression. Of all people, Christians know the grace of God toward the unlovely. So it is Christians, of all people, who ought to be most concerned about the value of marginalized and vulnerable people—the unborn, the orphans and widows, the elderly, the underprivileged, the prisoners, women in crisis pregnancies, the immigrants and refugees, the disabled. All must be treated with respect and support. 

Although all these issues are important to us as Christians, one area of great concern in the near term is the rights of the unborn. The image of God in man means that Christians should be at the forefront of protecting the most vulnerable in our society, the unborn, who cannot speak for or defend themselves. Of all the stakeholders in the abortion debate – women, unborn children, fathers, other family members, society – the unborn have the most to lose. The struggle over abortion rights affects not just the rights and welfare of the unborn but their very life.

Patterson Park Church members are encouraged to support the vulnerable not just in word but in action.  Listed below are ministries of service that members can support through funding and participation.

We support women in crisis pregnancies and their unborn children through our support of the Hope Rising Pregnancy Center, both financially and through service by congregational volunteers. Hope Rising provides support for women in crisis pregnancies in the form of free pregnancy testing and ultrasounds, along with practical resources as well as physical, emotional, and spiritual support to empower women and men to choose life.

We support care for immigrants and refugees through support of the Samaritan’s Purse relief agency and through our support of the International Friendship , Inc, which ministers to international students.

We support care for orphans through our support of LifeSong, which helps families start an Adoption Fund. This helps families at PPC overcome the financial barrier to adoption and gives them adoption resources before, during, and after bringing their child home.

We support care for the aged and infirm in our congregation through our support of our deacons and deaconesses, who visit, write encouraging notecards, and provide tangible support in the form of meals, financial support, and physical labor.

We support care for widows through our single sisters ministry, which provides opportunities for single women – singles, widows, divorcees – to gather for encouragement and support. 

We support the disabled through our Special Connections ministry to children and adult with special needs, along with their families.

We support the incarcerated through our jail ministry.

We support the poor families in distress in our involvement with CarePortal, supplying groceries, furniture, funds, and other supplies for families in danger of losing their children to foster care.

Issued 10/2023 by the Patterson Park Church Elders