On Thursday 11 September, dozens of church leaders gathered in London and Belfast to pray about one of the most pressing and complex issues of our day: abortion. The gatherings were part of the work of the Churches and Pregnancy Crisis Roundtable (CPCR) (the Steering Group of which is chaired by Both Lives UK lead, Dawn McAvoy.) Meeting twice a year in London, with a satellite event in Belfast, the CPCR events have expanded to become a space for church leaders and service providers to share practical ideas and resources, equipping leaders to respond with compassion to those impacted by pregnancy crisis and abortion. 
During the gathering, we prayed into four key areas: the wider situation across society and government; young people grappling with this complex issue amidst the noise of social media; those in our churches who have been personally impacted by abortion; and church leaders, as they seek to engage with this issue with sensitivity, wisdom and pastoral care.
As we gathered to listen, learn and pray, I was reminded why it is vital to bring this issue before God. Abortion is not simply a political talking point, nor is it only a matter for public policy. It is profoundly human, deeply personal, and unavoidably spiritual.
Here are three reasons why prayer must be the starting point and remain at the centre of our response to this issue:
- God cares about both lives in pregnancy:
Advocacy in this area is not an abstract exercise in moral philosophy or political rhetoric. For us, it flows from a conviction rooted in Scripture: that every human life (pre and post birth) carries God-given dignity and inherent worth.
We see this most profoundly in God’s own unborn story; when the Son of God entered humanity as a microscopic embryo in Mary’s womb. God chose to be revealed not in worldly strength, but in the hidden, vulnerable, dependent life of an unborn baby.
This truth reshapes how we see both mother and child, pre and post birth. In a culture that so often frames pregnancy crisis as a clash of competing rights, we have a better story to tell: one that holds both lives together in love, compassion and dignity. Prayer reminds us of this truth and roots us in it.
"In a culture that so often frames pregnancy crisis as a clash of competing rights, we have a better story to tell: one that holds both lives together in love, compassion and dignity."
2. Prayer opens the door to discussion and understanding
Abortion raises complex questions about women’s rights, bodily autonomy, care for the vulnerable, freedom and equality, justice and compassion. For many, it is so much more than a debate; it’s a deeply personal and painful part of their own story.
In such a sensitive space, prayer is a gift. Prayer softens hearts and fosters empathy. It slows us down and helps us to listen – both to God and to one another. It reminds us that every woman and unborn baby is a fellow image-bearer of God.
During our time together in Belfast, stories were shared of women and men who had been impacted by abortion, stories of churches walking alongside families in crisis, stories of forgiveness and healing found in Christ. These stories, offered in the context of prayer, became a spark for connection. They reminded us that compassion must accompany conviction, and that faith must be followed by action.
3. Prayer reminds us that there is hope
The statistics around abortion can feel overwhelming – the Office for Health Improvement & Disparities reported that in 2022, there were 252,122 abortions in England and Wales, the highest since records began. The politics often seem polarised and entrenched. While the cultural current seems to capture so many people in its twisted promises of a distorted version of ​‘progress’ for women, prayer anchors us in hope. It lifts our eyes from what seems impossible in human terms and fixes them on God’s limitless power and mercy. Prayer reminds us that change is possible – not because we are persuasive or powerful, but because God is sovereign, and that His purposes for life, love and healing will prevail.
"Prayer reminds us that change is possible – not because we are persuasive or powerful, but because God is sovereign, and that His purposes for life, love and healing will prevail."
A call to the church
The call to prayer about this issue is not limited to those who attend CPCR events; it belongs to the whole church. We are all called to pray for women and men facing pregnancy crisis. For families, for counsellors, doctors, midwives and nurses, for politicians and policymakers. For the church, that we would be known as people who tell a better story for men, women and families at every age and stage.
Since the early 1990s, thousands of Christians across the UK have come together on 27 October to pray for life. The National Day of Prayer for Life takes place on 27 October each year to mark the date the 1967 Abortion Act was passed in the UK.
We are honoured to now carry this legacy forward by hosting the National Day of Prayer for Life, inviting the church once again to stand together in truth, compassion and hope. This is a call to Christians across denominations to unite in humble, heartfelt prayer.
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