{"id":48095,"date":"2024-10-15T08:00:58","date_gmt":"2024-10-15T12:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/flbaptist.org\/?p=48095"},"modified":"2025-11-04T16:22:16","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T21:22:16","slug":"mary-lou-hendry-a-profound-moment-for-the-church-in-voting-no-on-amendment-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/flbaptist.org\/mary-lou-hendry-a-profound-moment-for-the-church-in-voting-no-on-amendment-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Mary Lou Hendry: \u2018A profound moment for the church\u2019 in voting \u2018no\u2019 on Amendment 4"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editor\u2019s Note: The Florida Baptist Convention and One More Child are partnering to mobilize our faith community to vote \u201cno\u201d on Amendment 4, the Right to Abortion Initiative, which will be on the state ballot Nov. 5. For more information, visit onemorechild.org\/voteno.<\/em><\/p>\n

In this article, One More Child\u2019s Mary Lou Hendry shares her passion and calls all believers to vote \u201cno\u201d on Amendment 4 and together proclaim, \u201cLife is sacred, and every life has dignity and value from conception to natural death.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cA profound moment for the church.\u201d That\u2019s how Mary Lou Hendry describes the opportunity for Florida Baptists to cast their votes Nov. 5 to reject Amendment 4, the Right to Abortion Initiative.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe this is a profound moment for the church because God\u2019s kingdom is coming whether we join Him or not. I believe that abortion is not our issue; I believe the heart is. That\u2019s why we bring hope for life change. We care, and we know the church cares, and we want to partner together to proclaim this message,\u201d said Hendry, director of sanctity of human life for One More Child.<\/a><\/p>\n

Hendry expressed concern that Amendment 4 is worded in such a way to be intentionally misleading and confusing to \u00a0many voters who believe incorrectly that the amendment supports the sanctity of human life when, in fact, the exact opposite is true.<\/p>\n

\u201cAmendment 4 is deceptive and extreme,\u201d Hendry emphasized. \u201cWe need to rise up in love and in truth because we don\u2019t want anybody to be uninformed. We are in the days of deception; that\u2019s why the gospel is necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
\n

“We are pro-life for the whole life, from the unborn to the elderly. Life is sacred, and every life has dignity and value from conception to natural death.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n Mary Lou Hendry<\/strong>
\n director of sanctity of human life, One More Child.\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The amendment, she said, would take away all abortion restrictions that the state of Florida currently has in place and would allow abortions up to the moment of birth. The amendment also eliminates parental consent. Terms in the amendment, such as healthcare provider and viability, are not defined, leading to the possibility and probability that abortions would increase significantly in Florida if the amendment passes, she believes.<\/p>\n

In 2023 alone, before the six-week abortion ban took effect in Florida in May 2024, more than 84,000 abortions occurred in Florida, putting the Sunshine State at number three in the nation for abortions, a heartbreaking ranking for Hendry to accept. About 7,000 of those abortions came from women traveling to Florida from out of state because, at the time, many surrounding states had stricter abortion laws.<\/p>\n

Women seeking abortions in Florida in 2023 were asked to define the reason<\/a> for their decision, with \u201celective abortion\u201d being the top-cited reason by far. Such reasons are alarming to many Christians who believe that life begins at conception, Hendry said. Those reasons:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Elective abortion\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 59,901<\/p>\n

Social\/economic concerns \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 19,606<\/p>\n

Emotional\/psychological health of mother\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 2,325<\/p>\n

Physical health of mother, non-life-endangering\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 1,334<\/p>\n

Life-endangering physical condition\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 251<\/p>\n

Serious fetal genetic defect, deformity \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0374<\/p>\n

Fatal fetal abnormality\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 141<\/p>\n

Rape \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0107<\/p>\n

Incest \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a011<\/p>\n

Victim of human trafficking \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02<\/p>\n

Total\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 84,052<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pregnancy care centers provide love and support<\/strong><\/p>\n

One More Child and the Florida Baptist Convention<\/a> are pro-life partners, Hendry said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are pro-life for the whole life, from the unborn to the elderly. We are pro-life, not just for the unborn, but for all of life. Life is sacred, and every life has dignity and value from conception to natural death.\u201d<\/p>\n

She explained, \u201cThe Lord has strategically placed pregnancy care clinics and centers around the state of Florida. The relationship between churches and the pregnancy centers is so important and valuable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Prior to joining the staff of One More Child in 2008, Hendry directed a pregnancy care center in Citrus County for a decade. \u201cIt\u2019s a calling,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Women and men who enter these centers are \u201cnot judged, but informed,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Expectant mothers are offered free ultrasounds, which Hendry described as the \u201cPsalm 139 experience.\u201d Psalm 139 declares, \u201cFor you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother\u2019s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully are wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth\u201d (Psalm 139:13-15).<\/p>\n

Through an ultrasound, many expectant mothers, who were initially seeking an abortion, see the tiny child who is forming in the womb and instead choose life.<\/p>\n

Among numerous services, the pregnancy centers also offer free classes on parenting, relationships and other topics; pregnancy healthcare; baby care items and even abortion recovery care. \u201cGod heals the brokenhearted,\u201d Hendry said.<\/p>\n

Above all else, the pregnancy centers, she explained, \u201cbring women and men to an opportunity to come to Christ and be reconciled to Him. I believe the church is God\u2019s design for redemption and healing.\u201d<\/p>\n

The pregnancy centers, she said, are doing \u201cgreat work. We will keep doing that work, whatever happens with the amendment. The Lord holds the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018Rise up and proclaim hope of gospel\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

Still, she said, \u201cWe are in a pivotal time to have a voice, to rise up with that voice and proclaim the excellencies and the hope of the gospel of Christ\u201d and the clear conviction \u201cthat abortion is not the answer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many Florida Baptists believe that, as they enter their polling place to cast their Nov. 5 votes, they are entering a sacred place to affirm the sanctity of human life. Hendry agrees.<\/p>\n

Hendry urged, \u201cContinue to pray that there will be a great and mighty intervention from God for His glory and that Florida will be the tip of the spear in this amendment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Quoting Isaiah 60:1, \u201cArise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you,\u201d Hendry has one message for Florida Baptists, and it\u2019s a simple message.<\/p>\n

\u201cRise up and vote \u2018no\u2019 on Amendment 4.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cA profound moment for the church.\u201d That\u2019s how Mary Lou Hendry describes the opportunity for Florida Baptists to cast their votes Nov. 5 to reject Amendment 4, the Right to Abortion Initiative.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":108,"featured_media":48096,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[40,270,22,45,25],"tags":[877,878,879,842,840],"class_list":["post-48095","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-developing","category-florida-baptist-childrens-homes","category-providing","category-statewide","category-stories","tag-amendment-4","tag-florida-baptist-childrens-home","tag-mary-lou-hendry","tag-one-more-child","tag-vote-no-on-4"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/flbaptist.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48095","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/flbaptist.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/flbaptist.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flbaptist.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flbaptist.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48095"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/flbaptist.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48095\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":64659,"href":"https:\/\/flbaptist.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48095\/revisions\/64659"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flbaptist.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48096"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/flbaptist.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48095"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flbaptist.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48095"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flbaptist.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48095"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}