METRO ATLANTA, Ga. -- Last weekend an Atlanta pastor made a promise that stunned his congregation and most of the people who heard it.
In a speech that discussed abortion, the President, and the sanctity of life, the most provocative statement from Pastor Vic Pentz of Peachtree Presbyterian Church came towards sermon's end:
"I make a promise to you now and I don't want you to keep this a secret," the pastor pronounced, "the Peachtree Presbyterian Church will care for any newborn baby you bring to this church.
"We will be the family to find a home for that child, and there's no limit on this. You can tell your friends, you can tell your family, you can tell the whole world ..."
Reflected Pentz a week later, "I seem to have touched a nerve by saying that to the congregation."
It's a speech he repeated this past Sunday, and it can be found on the church's web site under the sermon title, "Ethics of Life".
Pentz says the church will partner with Bethany Christian Services, which promotes itself as "the nation's largest adoption agency" and will handle the "how" of making this happen.
But Pentz didn't mention any of this in his sermon, saying he preferred it to stand out as a "stark, dramatic statement" amidst an already-controversial speech to his congregation.
11Alive's Matt Pearl spoke with Peggy Baird, the director of adoption services for the non-profit Families First service agency. Baird watched Pentz' sermon and said that, while she admired the sentiment, he didn't delve into the legal and psychological complications that go into giving up a child for adoption.
"You can't do all of that in one sermon," Baird said, "but I think if he's going to pursue this with his congregation, he's got to do ongoing education."
Pentz says he's planning to do just that, bringing in a speaker from Bethany Christian Services to talk to the congregation this August.
The sermon
Think about that one for a while. Most of the people reading this blog are pro-life, as I am. I've spent most of my adult life in the pursuit of defending the defenseless. This is taking it to a whole new level. It's not just tsk-tsking at the evil of the abortion industry -- it's saving a child's life.
How many of us are willing to take the next step and actually adopt a child into our homes that would otherwise have been murdered? I don't know that I am, at least not yet... but I should be.
That's living your faith.
The last orders we received were to go into all the world and make disciples of all men. This is doing exactly that. I'm proud as can be that it's a Presbyterian church leading the way, especially with our reputation as the 'frozen chosen.'
And that's life, From My Position.
In a speech that discussed abortion, the President, and the sanctity of life, the most provocative statement from Pastor Vic Pentz of Peachtree Presbyterian Church came towards sermon's end:
"I make a promise to you now and I don't want you to keep this a secret," the pastor pronounced, "the Peachtree Presbyterian Church will care for any newborn baby you bring to this church.
"We will be the family to find a home for that child, and there's no limit on this. You can tell your friends, you can tell your family, you can tell the whole world ..."
Reflected Pentz a week later, "I seem to have touched a nerve by saying that to the congregation."
It's a speech he repeated this past Sunday, and it can be found on the church's web site under the sermon title, "Ethics of Life".
Pentz says the church will partner with Bethany Christian Services, which promotes itself as "the nation's largest adoption agency" and will handle the "how" of making this happen.
But Pentz didn't mention any of this in his sermon, saying he preferred it to stand out as a "stark, dramatic statement" amidst an already-controversial speech to his congregation.
11Alive's Matt Pearl spoke with Peggy Baird, the director of adoption services for the non-profit Families First service agency. Baird watched Pentz' sermon and said that, while she admired the sentiment, he didn't delve into the legal and psychological complications that go into giving up a child for adoption.
"You can't do all of that in one sermon," Baird said, "but I think if he's going to pursue this with his congregation, he's got to do ongoing education."
Pentz says he's planning to do just that, bringing in a speaker from Bethany Christian Services to talk to the congregation this August.
The sermon
Think about that one for a while. Most of the people reading this blog are pro-life, as I am. I've spent most of my adult life in the pursuit of defending the defenseless. This is taking it to a whole new level. It's not just tsk-tsking at the evil of the abortion industry -- it's saving a child's life.
How many of us are willing to take the next step and actually adopt a child into our homes that would otherwise have been murdered? I don't know that I am, at least not yet... but I should be.
That's living your faith.
The last orders we received were to go into all the world and make disciples of all men. This is doing exactly that. I'm proud as can be that it's a Presbyterian church leading the way, especially with our reputation as the 'frozen chosen.'
And that's life, From My Position.
The minute I read this, I thought of you and our discussions on the prolife debate.
ReplyDeleteYep. I think the tide is definitely turning in the debate, to the point that Christians are slowly beginning to take our responsibilities seriously.
ReplyDelete