The Bob Jones University community is already raising money for the annual Bible Conference offering, with the goal of paying for a new bus that will offer free ultrasounds for the Carolina Pregnancy Center and the surrounding Greenville-Spartanburg area.
The University hopes to raise $150,000 through its Bible Conference offering. A campaign called “Find your Fifty,” encouraging each student at the University to find a way to raise or give $50 themselves, is the rallying cry for this offering.
The idea to purchase a bus from Save the Storks for the Carolina Pregnancy Center began when Paul Isaacs, president of Save the Storks and a 1993 graduate of the University, shared details about his ministry in a chapel early in the spring semester of 2019.
Shortly after this, President Pettit announced that the 2020 offering would go toward a Save the Storks bus for the Greenville-Spartanburg area.
Isaacs said Save the Storks exists to reimagine the pro-life cause without protests, picket signs and politics. “The loving, compassionate posture of Save the Storks is something that really resonated with the people here at Bob Jones University,” Isaacs said. “[We both] really want to reach people with love and compassion, with grace and with truth.”
According to Isaacs, Save the Storks’ goal is helping people reach abortion-vulnerable women with Jesus’ love and compassion. To do this, Save the Storks uses buses and vans that offer free ultrasounds at various locations, including outside abortion clinics.
Not only will the Save the Storks bus offer free ultrasounds, but it can also connect mothers with other organizations that will offer resources such as diapers, baby formula, prenatal vitamins and prenatal care. “We’re going to reach women with love and compassion and action,” Isaacs said.
Save the Storks also offers women information about alternate choices to abortion, such as adoption or parenting. Isaacs illustrated the group’s mission through a story about a Save the Storks bus in New Mexico. The bus’ team offered a free ultrasound to a couple outside of a Planned Parenthood clinic.
After hearing their child’s heartbeat, the couple, in tears, decided against an abortion. After continued conversation, the team from Save the Storks led both to a saving knowledge of Jesus.
Isaacs said that students can get involved with Save the Storks in multiple ways. In addition to donating to the Bible Conference fundraiser, Isaacs said students can find a 30-day Bible reading plan on the YouVersion Bible app called “Reimagining Pro-Life: 30 Days with Save the Storks.” The plan includes short Bible passages and devotionals.
Additionally, Isaacs suggests fasting and prayer about how to be involved with the issue of abortion, recognizing that not everyone is called to volunteer directly with Save the Storks.
Isaacs said humans inherently value life and, with advances in technology, it can no longer be denied that an unborn child is alive. He also said if we value life, we must speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.
“Abortion is not a left or right issue,” Isaacs said. “It’s not a liberal or conservative issue. It’s not a Republican or Democrat issue. It’s a human rights issue.” Isaacs discovered Save the Storks through a Facebook article and connected with the founder.
While he originally planned on just donating or helping the group in another way, Isaacs approached them again nine months later and asked why they hadn’t approached him to join their team. After they responded that they couldn’t financially afford him, Isaacs suggested he could raise his own support.
Paul Isaacs has been the president of Save the Storks since April 2014.
