Board meetings can easily become dominated by budgets, procedures and policy decisions. None of these are wrong and these decisions are often vital to the future of the ministry. We set these aside at our peril. Yet at the same time, we've got to remember two key reasons why we are a part of this ministry.

We offer abortion-vulnerable women and men life-giving options, advancing the culture of life
Our ministry seeks to walk with those facing unplanned pregnancies, giving them hope in a difficult time. As a result, lives are saved. Whether we offer ultrasound, medical care, peer-counseling, parenting classes, adoption assistance, material helps or anything else, all that we do advances a culture of life.

Because of our ministry, those once considering abortion choose life. And as they choose life, something else happens. Every time life is chosen, an abortion clinic loses a customer. And every time that clinic loses a sale, we are one step closer to the closing of that facility. Twenty-five years ago there were more than 2000 abortion clinics in America. Today, according to the latest estimates — that number is under 750.

Pregnancy care ministries are having an incredible impact that is just beginning to be felt. The abortion rate has dropped from 1.5 million to under 1.3 million per year in recent years — and it is still dropping. As we enter each board meeting, we can be mindful that our decisions — and those of other centers around the country — could literally shut down America's abortion industry. One client at a time, we are advancing the culture of life in America.

We are advancing the kingdom of God
Our ministry takes ground from the enemy daily. Each time a Bible is given away, the hope of Christ is shared, or when a woman chooses life for her child, the enemy takes a hit. Few — if any — ministries face the spiritual battles of a pregnancy care ministry. The reason of course is that few ministries combine evangelism with saving actual lives. This creates a powerful spiritual one-two punch, resulting in raging spiritual warfare.

This kingdom advancement means that our ministry is — in truth — on the cusp of changing a generation. As lives are touched by the power of the Gospel, a generation struggling with the age-old question "What is truth?" finds the answer in the person of Jesus Christ.

Two questions to keep in mind
Because we advance the kingdom of God, it only stands to reason that the enemy will take shots at our board, both corporately and individually. One of the enemy's attacks is to try to distract boards away from a big picture vision—attempting to bog us down in minutiae decisions.

For this reason, we've got to keep the vision in front of us. Our board meetings might become more effective if we placed a card at the seat of every board member, asking us two questions:
1. Will this decision result in saving lives?
2. Will this decision advance the kingdom of God?

As we look at budgets, as we consider new staff positions and new programs, keeping these questions in mind allows us to focus on the big picture. Because directly or indirectly, each decision we make should move us toward one of those two results. When we keep our focus on these two areas, our decision-making is clearer, our vision increases — and the ministry continues to march forward, building the kingdom of God.

Reprinted by permission from Boards of Excellence, a LifeTrends publication. If you'd like to know more about the resources provided by LifeTrends that can be used to encourage your volunteers, educate your Board and reach your supporters, or if you're looking for a great speaker for your next banquet, contact Kirk Walden at kirk.walden@comcast.net.