{"id":269075,"date":"2022-05-30T09:42:04","date_gmt":"2022-05-30T14:42:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=269075"},"modified":"2022-05-28T22:43:50","modified_gmt":"2022-05-29T03:43:50","slug":"pastors-daughter-unplanned-pregnancy-ministers-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/pastors-daughter-unplanned-pregnancy-ministers-today\/","title":{"rendered":"Pastor\u2019s daughter chose life in an unplanned pregnancy, and ministers to others today"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

Sandy Smith was active as a youth leader along with her boyfriend, Jay, at the church where her father served as senior pastor and Jay\u2019s father was a deacon. She had just graduated high school and was excited to attend college in the fall. Her future was filled with promise \u2013 but then, she found out she was pregnant.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Smith told Live Action News, \u201cI was shocked and terrified when I found out I was pregnant. Jay and I both loved God but obviously we did not establish boundaries in our relationship. We were embarrassed and ashamed. The pregnancy changed everything for us including our friendships, our future, our dreams \u2013 everything.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Smith briefly thought about abortion but then she remembered at a previous church service where women shared their heart-rendering testimonies about their abortions, sobbing in anguish for a decision they deeply regretted \u2013 even decades later.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAfter hearing these emotional stories of how abortion forever wounded these women, I knew I could never have an abortion and live with such soul crushing remorse,\u201d Smith said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Smith confided in her parents about her pregnancy, telling her father she wanted to place her child for adoption. But Smith\u2019s father was adamant that she alone should be responsible for caring for her baby. He was also concerned the young couple did not rush into marriage because of the pregnancy, though Smith\u2019s boyfriend later did ask her father for permission to marry, and he consented.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adjusting to new challenges<\/b><\/p>\n

Newly married, the couple moved into an apartment on campus and tried to adjust to married life as college students.\u00a0<\/span>Smith said, \u201cWe both had to work a lot to barely make ends meet and it was exhausting. We saw each other a lot less after we were married then we did when dating. But we were very much in love and soon began to see a new future unfolding before us we had never envisioned.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

When their daughter was born, it was a special time for both families, united in the joy and love that a new life brings.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe delighted in Talia, and I loved her more than I ever thought possible,\u201d Smith said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fulfillment found in serving in ministry and sharing testimony<\/b><\/p>\n

Two years after their daughter was born, the Smiths began serving in their church\u2019s ministry wanting to demonstrate the grace God has shown them by helping others. The Smiths were grateful for the support of their church community throughout their journey.<\/span><\/p>\n

Smith said, \u201cLooking back, I\u2019m so thankful that I was raised to understand and know that life is precious and is a gift from God, even an unplanned life. When I was 18, I had no concept of the joy and fulfillment that parenting would bring. I now realize that being a mom was exactly what I was designed to do. It is alarming to think our story could have had a different outcome.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Realizing that other women, like her, often feel helpless and afraid when in dark moments, Smith felt compelled to share her testimony. She knew it wouldn\u2019t be easy to share but felt it important for others to hear about God\u2019s forgiveness and mercy. Smith recalls a poignant moment when she and her husband first talked about their experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

Smith told Live Action News, \u201cA pregnant teenage girl and her boyfriend were at the service that day. They were really scared and at a crossroads about what they should do. We talked with the young couple and we prayed for them at the altar. Today, they are married with two children and are doing well. This demonstrates the power of God and the Christian community.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Church leaders need to speak out about abortion<\/b><\/p>\n

But Smith realizes that there are many church leaders who are reluctant to discuss abortion for fear of turning away congregants and donors who may feel uncomfortable with the topic. Yet many women considering abortion are sitting in church pews every week. Smith believes a great place to start is to promote the sanctity of life in the church culture and establish support groups for post-abortive women as well as for women who are single and pregnant.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Smith said, \u201cChurches should never let Satan muzzle their voices and intimidate them into silence. Church leaders should never be afraid to talk about abortion because Christians need to understand what the Bible says about life. People today are hungry to hear that life is precious and created by and for God. Now more than ever, church leaders need to exert boldness during this troubling time in our country.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

READ:\u00a0\u2018God grew courage where there was none\u2019: My story of unplanned pregnancy and adoption<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

American culture should promote life<\/b><\/p>\n

Equally troubling, says Smith, is a culture that shamelessly promotes disposable of a vulnerable human being because the time \u201cisn\u2019t right\u201d for a woman to become a mother \u2013 whether she\u2019s unemployed, unmarried, or wants to further her career.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the biggest and worst lie in our world today \u2013 that a choice to terminate a pregnancy equals empowerment,\u201d Smith said. \u201cAbortion is never the right choice for a woman, no matter the circumstances. The truth is women regret abortion more than they regret giving life to their babies. Jay and I have discovered that in standing for life, we\u2019ve received the blessing and favor of God.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, the Smiths pastor Cedar Park Church in Bothell, Washington \u2014\u00a0the same church Smith\u2019s father pastored years ago. Notably, the Smiths partnered with Alliance Defending Freedom against the state legislator and governor\u2019s mandate forcing religious entities to fund abortion costs for employees. The Smiths are committed to upholding life and spreading the gospel, even under challenging circumstances.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLike\u201d Live Action News on Facebook<\/a>\u00a0for more pro-life news and commentary!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sandy Smith was active as a youth leader along with her boyfriend, Jay, at the church where her father served as senior pastor and Jay\u2019s father was a deacon. She had just graduated high school and was excited to attend college in the fall. Her future was filled with promise \u2013 but then, she found […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":798,"featured_media":269076,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false},"categories":[9455],"tags":[2155,1279,8116,298,326],"yoast_head":"\nPastor\u2019s daughter chose life in an unplanned pregnancy, and ministers to others today<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\""After hearing emotional stories of how abortion forever wounded women, I knew I could never have an abortion and live with such soul crushing remorse."\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/pastors-daughter-unplanned-pregnancy-ministers-today\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta 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