How Churches Can Become Places of Belonging, & Compassion for Women Navigating Unplanned Pregnancies
I meet pregnant women everywhere.
At coffee shops. Airports. Conferences. Grocery stores. On social media.
I have a habit of asking questions because I genuinely want to know their story. Are they married or single? Is this their first baby? Was the pregnancy planned or unexpected? How are they doing? Many people will open up with their stories when you ask questions with a smile!
Many times, by the end of the conversation, I’ll say something like, “You should come to my church sometime,” or, “We have a support group for women with unexpected pregnancies. I think you’d love it.”
And often, I get the same look … confusion or even almost suspicion. As if they’re trying to figure out why I would invite them.
Some immediately begin explaining themselves. Others seem shocked that a church would even want them there. You can almost see the assumptions running through their minds.
They think church is where people go after they get their lives together. They think they’ll be judged. They think they’ll be reminded of everything they’ve done wrong. They think they need to become a different person before they walk through the doors.
And honestly, that’s heartbreaking.
Because Jesus is exactly who they need in that moment.
What if the Church became one of the first places a woman thought to run when she found herself facing an unexpected pregnancy?
What if, instead of wondering whether she would be welcomed, she already knew she would be?
What if churches across America became known for being the safest place to bring your fears, your questions, your uncertainty, and your story?
What if we became known more for what we’re for?
We’re for women. We’re for babies. We’re for fathers. We’re for families. We’re for redemption. We’re for second chances.
Most of all, we’re for love.
Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, many believed abortion rates would dramatically decline. Yet abortion rates have actually risen. And the abortion rate is the same inside the church as it is outside. Women are still facing unexpected pregnancies every day, and many are making decisions while feeling scared, isolated, and alone.
The Church has an incredible opportunity in front of us.
There are more than 300,000 churches across America. Think about the impact that kind of network could have. We have people. We have communities. We have resources. We have open seats around dinner tables, in small groups, and in church pews every Sunday.
Imagine if every pregnancy center in America had local churches ready to welcome their clients into an authentic community. Or imagine if every woman knew there was a church nearby where she could find friendship, practical support, mentorship, encouragement, and hope.
At Embrace Grace, we’ve watched this happen in churches all over the nation. Women who expected rejection found belonging. Women who felt alone found family. Women who were overwhelmed discovered they were stronger than they thought because people walked alongside them.
Love has a way of changing what feels possible.
When a church throws a baby shower, sends encouraging texts, provides childcare, becomes a mentor, or simply saves a seat, it sends a powerful message: You matter. You belong here. You do not have to walk through this alone.
We can help make abortion unthinkable!
Partner with your local pregnancy center. Open your doors to their clients. Start a support group at your church. Become a mentor. Build relationships.
There are young moms and dads in your community right now who are looking for hope.
Amy Ford is the founder and president of Embrace Grace, a nonprofit that equips churches to support women and families facing unexpected pregnancies. Inspired by her own unplanned pregnancy story, Amy founded Embrace Grace to help churches become places of belonging, hope, and practical support. She is the author of Help Her Be Brave: Discover Your Place in the Pro-Life Movement and several other books. A sought-after speaker, Amy has addressed audiences nationwide on faith, leadership, and pro-love outreach. Through her work, she has seen firsthand how churches and communities can transform lives when they choose compassion, connection, and Christ-centered support.
