Does Your Local United Way Support Planned Parenthood?
When I was an engineer, my company actively supported the efforts of our local United Way. All employees, especially members of management, were strongly encouraged to participate in the program by designating a certain amount each month to go to efforts of the United Way. At the time, I was a bit peeved by the tactics.
As a Christian, I felt the obligation to bring my tithes and offerings into the storehouse of the Church. But, as management, I felt the need to participate. After evaluating the charities supported by the United Way in my area at the time, I was encouraged to see that no monies were going to causes that caused me significant consternation.
However, that is not the case with our local United Way here in Peoria. While United Way helps many needed charities, our local chapter also gives to Planned Parenthood.
Planned Parenthood in Illinois used to be regionalized; each area provided specific services to a particular community. However, that has changed. Now, all the Planned Parenthood organizations in Illinois are under one conglomerate.
In the past, this local chapter made the claim that they were independent and only provided educational and women's health services. They did not directly perform abortions. But, now that the agency is a statewide organization, even our local office is participating in the activities of Planned Parenthood statewide, which includes the operation of large abortion clinics in Aurora, Champaign, and Chicago.
Last week, Reverend Mark Henninger and I hand delivered a letter officially requesting that the United Way stop funding the anti-family efforts of Planned Parenthood. This letter was signed by ministers and ministry leaders from around the Peoria area.
You can read a story on this effort from our local paper, the Peoria Journal Star.
We are now waiting for a response from the United Way.
Please pray that the Lord will turn the heart of our local United Way to end their support of Planned Parenthood. I also encourage you to check with your local United Way to see if they support Planned Parenthood. Each United Way is independent. Some do support Planned Parenthood, while some support Christian alternatives. Lord willing, we will see more charitable giving offered to organizations that support the cause of life.
If your local United Way supports Planned Parenthood, I encourage you to take a similar approach. See if you can get your pastor to take up the challenge of drafting a letter and getting other ministers to endorse it. I will provide a copy of our letter to any pastor who asks. Christians should not be silent in the fight for the unborn.
And, I encourage you to end your support of any organization that gives monies to the cause of darkness. Should a Christian support any organization or any candidate who endorses this modern-day holocaust?
Rev. James McDonald is the teaching elder of Providence Church in Peoria. Father to ten blessings, in his spare time, he enjoys playing tickle monster with his youngest children. He and his wife Stacy are both nationally known writers and conference speakers. You can reach Rev. McDonald at 309-387-2600.
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