The global landscape of the pro-life movement is frequently misunderstood as a primarily domestic political issue. However, a biblical and strategic analysis reveals a much broader reality: the United States accounts for only 3% of the abortions that occur in our world each year, leaving 97% of the crisis before the church as a primary world missions challenge. It is with this global perspective that we recently returned from an extensive mission to India and Kenya, seeking to rescue the most vulnerable where abortion is most concentrated. This journey provided profound new insights into the cultural hurdles, the theological revelations, and the transformative power of the Gospel as it confronts the shedding of innocent blood in some of the most remote regions of the planet.
The Cognitive Gap: When Does Life Begin?
One of the most startling discoveries of this recent mission was the fundamental disconnect regarding the beginning of human life. While the orthodox Christian view, accepted through the centuries, maintains that life begins at conception, this is not a universal starting point on the mission field. In session after session across India, when asked when human life begins, the near-unanimous response from local participants was “at birth”.
This belief was not localized to a single region. In Kenya, the responses were even more varied, with some suggesting life begins after three months, seven months, or not until the moment of birth. To move these leaders from a starting point of birth to the realization that the unborn is a human being from the moment of conception represents a significant theological leap. Witnessing the “scales falling off” of eyes as participants reconciled their faith with the scientific and biblical reality of life in the womb was a centerpiece of the trip’s impact.
The Architecture of Transformation: The Four Questions
The primary tool used to bridge this cognitive and ethical gap is the “Four Questions” training. Although the curriculum appears simple on paper—drawing digestible truths directly from the Bible—its impact on the field is consistently powerful. The training is designed to take participants on an emotional and theological journey, moving them through a “peeling of the onion” that leads to deep confession and action.
The first question establishes the concrete, biblical foundation for the equal value of every human life. We emphasize that from God’s perspective, there is no hierarchy of value based on physical capability or societal contribution. In a world that often views a person as “less valuable” if they are disabled or unable to work—a sentiment echoed by many in our training sessions—the biblical truth that we are all equally valuable to God resonates deeply.
A poignant example of this occurred in the village of Baswar, where a disabled woman, whose hands were missing digits or malformed, heard for the first time that she was as valuable as anyone else. Having been told her whole life that she was of lesser worth, the revelation of her equal standing before God led to a profound moment of healing and repentance.
Beyond Action: The Sin of Inaction
While many understand that the intentional destruction of life is wrong, the “Four Questions” training uncovers a more insidious issue: the sin of inaction. In teaching about the shedding of innocent blood, we focus on the reality that God finds it equally atrocious when His people keep their mouths shut and pretend that the slaughter of the innocent is “someone else’s problem”.
Many Christians default to silence because they do not know what to say in a crisis or consider it a private matter that does not affect them. The training moves the issue from a distant social problem to a personal, communal responsibility. This leads to mass repentance, not only from those who have participated in abortion but from those who have stood by and done nothing while others were attacked.
In India, we witnessed women weeping and confessing their silence, acknowledging that they had known of others seeking abortions and chose to remain inactive. This transformation from passive observers to equipped rescuers is a primary goal of our mission.
The Kindness of Repentance
A recurring theme throughout the trip was the role of God’s kindness in leading people to repentance, as described in Romans 2:4. The response of the local leaders was not driven by shame or a legalistic need to “get better,” but by a genuine encounter with the character of God.
In one session, a woman who had not even planned to attend walked in simply because she saw something happening. She sat through the teaching and ended up at the front of the room, weeping in a language we did not understand, repenting of an abortion she had carried as a secret burden of guilt for years. It was the kindness of God, expressed through the teaching of the value of life, that drew her into a place of freedom and restoration.
Navigating the Mission Field: Noise and Adversity
The physical environment of the mission in India provides its own set of challenges that test the resolve of both the trainers and the trainees. India is a place of continual motion, often described as if “someone kicked over an anthill”. The streets are a sensory overload of noise, horns, Hindi music, and the Muslim call to prayer. Yet, as Proverbs 1:21 suggests, “at the head of the noisy streets, wisdom cries out”.
It was astounding to witness people draw away from the intense hustle and bustle of the city to attend these conferences. In the lower Himalayas, near the border of Nepal, the conditions were even more severe. Despite the high altitude—where Mount Everest is visible on a clear day—and the lack of indoor heating, participants sat for hours bundled in shawls, blankets, and thick coats just to hear the Word of God. Their willingness to endure these conditions highlights a deep hunger for the truth regarding the sanctity of life.
Strategic Partnerships: The Disciple-Making Model
The sustainability of the work in India rests on a relational foundation and a disciple-making model. We follow the mandate of 2 Timothy 2:2, entrusting what we have heard to reliable men who will, in turn, equip others.
Our local leader, Amit, is a “bang-up” example of this model. Having previously served as a bishop for over 350 churches while earning only $5 an hour, Amit possesses a spirit of contentment and deep ministerial experience. He does not merely organize conferences; he trains other pastors to organize and lead them in his absence. This creates four generations of discipleship: from us to Amit, from Amit to the pastors he trains, and from those pastors to their congregations.
Building these deep relationships is as important as the training itself. Whether sitting for hours on a train platform sharing life stories or visiting the families of those we have helped, these bonds are the true engine of the ministry. We were particularly moved by Amit’s wife, Sutapa, and their care for a blind mother whom they helped years ago. The child, now three or four years old, is a living testimony to the pride and joy found in choosing life.
Conclusion: A Global Call to Rescue
The insights gained from this trip to India confirm that the mission is far from over. From the noisy streets of Kolkata to the freezing heights of Darjeeling, the need for a biblical worldview on life is urgent. We are not merely sharing knowledge; we are witnessing a move of God that peels back layers of cultural confusion and personal guilt to reveal the heart of the Father.
We invite the global church to join us in this mission by staying informed through live updates and prayer requests from the field. The task of rescuing the most vulnerable where abortion is most concentrated is a communal responsibility that requires us to move past our inaction. As we continue to serve in the 97% of the world where the crisis is most severe, we do so with the assurance that God’s kindness is indeed leading the nations to repentance.
This article is adapted from the episode transcript.