The landscape of the pro-life movement has been shaped by tireless efforts spanning half a century, culminating in significant legal shifts and a deep commitment to defending the sanctity of human life. A commemorative book, titled “Legacy of Life,” was released by the Florida Family Policy Council to honor 50 of the greatest pro-life leaders of the last 50 years, specifically marking the one-year anniversary of the overturning of *Roe v. Wade*. This landmark Supreme Court decision, handed down in 1973, had established a constitutional protection for abortion, essentially invalidating serious state-level restrictions for 49 and a half years. Its overturning in June 2022, through the *Dobbs v. Jackson* case, sent the decision on abortion legality back to the states, representing a massive victory for pro-life people. The “Legacy of Life” book serves as a tribute to those individuals, Christian and non-Christian alike, who banded together over five decades, working patiently, prayerfully, and faithfully to see this moral justice overturned.
Among the household names listed in this esteemed group, such as Pope John Paul II, Alveda King, President Ronald Reagan, Mother Teresa, and James Dobson, is John Ensor, President and Founder of PassionLife Ministries. His inclusion is recognized not only as a unique and deeply significant honor for his life’s work and devotion to the pro-life cause but also as an appropriate recognition for the many strategic initiatives he has spearheaded in the United States and in the farthest parts of the world where abortion is most concentrated.
The recognition came as a surprise to John Ensor, who felt he was not a household name with a national platform. His work began primarily in the local sphere of pregnancy centers before expanding overseas, where maintaining a low profile was important. He was given a heads-up prior to the book’s release to provide biographical information after being selected. What particularly pleased him about this recognition was being honored for his strategic thinking contribution to the pro-life movement, which was something he always aimed for but didn’t expect others to recognize. He wanted to think strategically about the most effective approaches.
His journey into the pro-life movement began unexpectedly. As a pastor in the inner city of Boston, he was initially ignorant about the human experience of abortion, which was not part of his personal story. His only prior awareness came from an ethics class in seminary, where the subject seemed academic and non-real. A pivotal moment occurred when he realized that about 30% of his small congregation in the inner city had firsthand experience with abortion. This revelation was so impactful it was described as “the day God lanced a boil,” bringing to light grim, painful stories accompanied by tears and lamentation. It served as a profound wake-up call. For many in his church, and including himself as a leader who had said nothing, it was a day of repentance. This experience led him to the pro-life movement, like many others, “through the gate of repentance,” which he describes as real, healthy, good, and leading to significant positive changes.
This background in the inner city shaped his approach, ensuring that his communication of the gospel was practical and connected with people’s human experience rather than being academic. He aimed to make the gospel plain and accessible, putting it “on the low shelf for people to access”. He wanted people to recognize their journey: a time of not caring about Christ, growing conviction, feeling lost, finding Christ, experiencing gradual transformation, and ultimately radical change, such as a former thief now working hard to give to the needy. This grounded, practical approach to transformation aligns with his strategic orientation recognized in the “Legacy of Life” book.
A significant part of his contribution to the movement has been through his writing. Having authored numerous books, many of which have been highly influential in the pregnancy help movement both within and beyond the United States, his work has provided crucial guidance over the last 50 years.
His first book, “The Great Work of the Gospel,” was a direct response to witnessing many people in his church weeping and lamenting over past abortions. The book’s purpose was to bring the powerful, redemptive work of the gospel back to his people, focusing on the experience of a cleansed conscience and understanding how God provides forgiveness. It aimed to show how God transforms individuals and how that transformation impacts their everyday lives. While broader than abortion, its backdrop was seeing people find forgiveness and freedom from the impact of abortion. Notably, the opportunity to write this book came about because John Piper had read his articles, talked to his publisher, and recommended him, with Piper also writing the foreword. The book was in print for 20 years and is now available as a PDF on their website, and it is described as a “profound” and “epic” work, a personal favorite of the interviewer. It exemplifies his ability to present the gospel strategically and practically.
Following his first book, he wrote “Answering the Call,” which he considers the outworking of the gospel applied specifically to the sanctity of human life. This book emerged after their church started a pregnancy center in Boston, driven by a desire to help other pastors find their footing and address abortion as a biblical moral crisis rather than just a political or social issue. It was intended as a short guide for leaders like pastors, elders, deacons, and those leading small groups or Sunday school classes, teaching them how to think biblically, historically, and practically about leading on the subject of abortion. The book was picked up by Focus on the Family due to their commitment to pregnancy centers and is currently available in a second edition with a different publisher.
He also wrote “Doing Things Right in Matters of the Heart,” inspired by a deep burden regarding the state of relationships between men and women. He felt that men, influenced by factors like feminism, transgenderism, and pornography, struggled with their identity and confidence, particularly in initiating relationships, leading to frustration for women. This book aimed to help high school and college-age students regain their footing and confidence, affirming the beauty and special meaning of being a woman and a man in God’s eyes. The book received positive feedback for offering a male perspective on these topics, and he has received letters from people who found it helpful before getting married.
Another significant work is “Stand for Life,” co-written with Scott Klusendorf, who is also recognized in the “Legacy of Life” book and described as the nation’s greatest pro-life apologetics teacher. This book adapts the content of “Answering the Call,” making it accessible for teenagers and college students. It serves as an introduction to the pro-life movement, providing historical context, biblical foundations, and apologetics, enabling the next generation to “grab the baton and run with it”. While written for students, its basics are applicable to anyone interested in pro-life apologetics.
He also penned “Innocent Blood,” which took a different approach to the subject of abortion. Recognizing that many people might avoid books explicitly titled “abortion,” he chose to start with theology. The book explores what the Bible teaches about the shedding of innocent blood and how this concept applies throughout the Old Testament, New Testament, history, and today. It begins with biblical language because the word “abortion” isn’t in the Bible, but the issue is addressed through the idea of shedding innocent blood. This book is still available and is helpful for those hesitant about the topic of abortion but interested in biblical theology.
His most recent publication, written about five years ago, is “Pregnancy Crisis Intervention,” which functions as a textbook for the pregnancy help movement. It integrates scriptural teachings with principles from the professional field of critical incident stress management or crisis intervention management. The book is designed to help anyone working at a pregnancy help clinic quickly understand the crisis a woman or couple is experiencing, grasp the nature of human crisis in this context, and learn effective crisis intervention counseling steps. Its more academic nature is intended to make it suitable for use in colleges and universities.
Beyond writing, John Ensor’s work has been characterized by a strategic focus on going to the “hard places” – areas most saturated with abortion where others might not venture. This drive is motivated by biblical convictions. Proverbs 31 calls for speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves and defending the rights of the destitute. He interprets this as prioritizing those who cannot protect themselves, whether economically, legally, or politically, highlighting the unborn child as utterly defenseless and dependent. Another key scripture is Proverbs 24, which calls to rescue those being led away to slaughter, a direct command for Christians to courageously serve in places of greatest need. He believes it’s essential not just to preach these principles but to live them out, allowing people to “watch what you’re doing, not just hear what you’re saying”. This conviction has led him to difficult places around the world to help the church defend the innocent and establish pregnancy centers.
His work in “hard places” has included stints in inner-city Boston, Miami, and Los Angeles, where he noted an area with four abortion clinics within 100 yards, including two in the same building, prompting efforts to open a pregnancy center nearby. This strategic positioning, leading with scripture, led him to coin the phrase he’s used for 30 years: crossbearing for the childbearing. This phrase captures the call to take up the cross, enduring hardships in the name of Jesus to promote His kingdom, save souls, and rescue the innocent. He has led teams across America and in 38 or 39 countries globally.
Looking back on a lifetime of work, he identifies several soul-satisfying discoveries and accomplishments. One is the integration of addressing both physical and spiritual needs in ministry. He realized that crisis intervention, while dealing with physical crises, also touches a much greater crisis of faith, and that every abortion represents a crisis of faith. This discovery highlights the interconnectedness: rescuing the innocent while bringing good news to the guilty. He observed that increasing hope saves the baby, and deepening that hope helps the baby ultimately save the mother. This understanding that “abortion is a crisis of faith” is the biggest and most soul-satisfying realization from his 35 years of work. A second cherished insight is the enduring hope he finds in the church. Despite its weaknesses and flaws, he sees God honoring His people, discovering ordinary individuals doing heroic things worldwide. This has fostered a deep sense of hopefulness regarding the church.
His recognition in the “Legacy of Life” book among other prominent figures honors a lifetime dedicated to the pro-life cause. It acknowledges his significant contributions as a strategist, author, and relentless advocate for the voiceless in the hardest places, reflecting a profound commitment to the principles of the gospel applied to the sanctity of life.
This article is adapted from the episode transcript.