AN OPEN LETTER FROM OUR PASTOR: 

I'm reaching out before the 2024 LBC Annual Meeting to ask you to pray for and to support a resolution that we hope will be brought to the Messengers in Shreveport this November. The title of the resolution is "The Abolition of Self-Managed Abortion in Louisiana," and as the title states, the focus of the resolution is to provide a unified voice from Louisiana Baptists on the need to abolish the growing epidemic of self-managed abortions in our state.

You are probably aware, but if not, I want to make sure you do know that after Roe vs. Wade was overturned and Louisiana "banned" abortion, it is now easier than ever to get an abortion in the state. The data suggests that there are more abortions in our state now than ever before (https://faa.life/sma). This problem is due to the fact that it is still legal for a woman to murder her preborn child, even under the current abortion ban, and it's also easier than ever for a woman to order and to have the abortion pill delivered to her home in Louisiana. If you haven't watched the docuseries "Abortion Free," it's well worth the investment of time to watch these 6 videos in order to get a clear picture of the reality of abortion in states that are "abortion free" in the U.S. (https://www.youtube.com/@AbolitionistFAA/playlists). I shared this docuseries with our church, and it's been a blessing to see the Lord stir our hearts to pray and to speak up for equal protection for preborn children.

I've attached a copy of the resolution that's been sent to the Resolutions Committee, and I hope that you will take the time to prayerfully read the resolution and hopefully support this resolution and share it with your church. Brian Gunter will speak to the resolution, and our prayer is that some Louisiana pastors will stand by him and with him in a show of support for the resolution.

I've also attached a prayer guide that our church is using to pray for the upcoming 2024 LBC Annual Meeting and to ask the Lord to bless this effort to speak as a unified voice in our state for equal protection of preborn life. I hope you will consider using and sharing this guide to pray for the effort to see this resolution -- calling for the abolition of self-managed abortion -- move forward this year at the LBC.

Will you consider joining Brian and me on November 12th in Shreveport to stand up for and encourage Louisiana Baptists to call for the abolition of self-managed abortions in our state? If so, I'd love to hear from you, and we'd love to have you come and join us on the floor of the Annual Meeting to stand together in support of this important statement that stands on God's truth about the equal value and the responsibility to protect preborn life.

If you have any questions or need any additional information from me, please just let me know. Praying that the Lord will bless you and use you to share his grace and peace in Christ in all you do and say this week.

In Christ,

Joel Williams

Senior Pastor

FBC St. Francisville