By Amy Lewis 

On Aug. 18, South Luverne Baptist Church officially received designation as a “House of Refuge,” a safe haven for parents facing unplanned or unexpected pregnancies. The commitment came during the church’s regular Sunday morning service and was followed by an informational night with a representative from Love Life, a pro-life organization, who traveled from Birmingham to support the event.

“Married or unmarried, we want to give them resources and support so they know that an abortion isn’t their only option,” said pastor Justin Jacobs, emphasizing the church’s commitment to offering compassionate alternatives to those in need.

The House of Refuge program is part of a nationwide network spearheaded by Love Life, an organization dedicated to supporting individuals facing unplanned pregnancies and those dealing with the aftermath of abortion. 

Shaylene Burlage, the House of Refuge Outreach Director for Love Life, played a key role in onboarding South Luverne Baptist Church into the network.

“I reach out to new pastors and ask them to partner with us as a House of Refuge, stating that they’re a safe place for men and women facing unplanned pregnancy and those suffering the trauma of abortion,” Burlage explained during the event. “Once they’re on board as a House of Refuge, we ask them to read a House of Refuge statement twice a year. The pastor read that statement this morning, stating that this church is a safe place.”  

The church’s commitment does not end with its House of Refuge designation. It also involves developing a Life Team, a group of trained church members who can offer support in areas such as mentoring, post-abortion recovery and even fostering and adoption. 

According to Jennifer Geralds, Love Life’s Director of Development, the process of establishing a Life Team can vary. 

“After we have our House of Refuge churches on board and they have a representative, I begin to work with that representative to flesh out a Life Team,” said Geralds. “Sometimes that’s easy for churches and sometimes it’s more difficult finding members who are willing to go through the free training that we provide for mentors, foster care and adoption and post-abortion recovery.”

The House of Refuge program extends far beyond Alabama, with Love Life coordinating similar efforts across the United States. 

“We are part of a network across the nation,” Burlage said. “Love Life is in 23 different cities across the nation, from California to Washington, Colorado, New York, Florida, Alabama, New Mexico and cities in between. So we have 368 Houses of Refuge churches across the nation. We’re really wanting to let the church be the church, connect these men and women into the church where they’re welcome.”

Despite the church’s efforts to extend a welcoming hand, Burlage noted that a recent study revealed fewer than 1% of individuals facing an unplanned pregnancy seek help from churches, often due to fear of condemnation or shame.

“Love Life recognizes that need and that we’ve got to get churches ahead of the game and equipped where they’re speaking a message of grace so that people know this is a safe place that they can turn to,” Burlage added.