by Felix Flanders, IVRF ’25-’26 Intern

It was a motley crew of students, healthcare workers, moms, grandmas, pastors, people of faith and the non-religious, all gathered together dressed for the cold, holding signs, and sipping cocoa. IVRF members joined with friends from Triangle DSA and other community members to get out there and say something!

The goal was simple, to make the nearby unregulated pregnancy center more visible to community members, to speak out against their deceptive practices, and their receiving of state funding. Noteworthy–we very were aimed at community members passing by and DID NOT want to harass individuals entering the center (actually choosing to come on a day they were closed).

The aim of unregulated pregnancy centers (aka, crisis pregnancy centers, pregnancy support centers, or anti-abortion centers) is to catch pregnant people seeking abortions and to stop them from getting one, through a combination of misinformation and manipulation.

As people of faith who care about the complex decision to have or not have a child, who trust in the decision-making of a pregnant person, who want to address the roots of poverty (which are very much connected to family planning) and who trust in an understanding and loving God, well dang, it just felt good to be out there

People shared personal stories, talked about their faith backgrounds, ways to respond to the state of our hurting country, and actually managed to enjoy ourselves, and get refilled on some sincere fellowship, if you can imagine it.

Click here to see a video of retired Rev. Ruth Gibson, answering the question

“How does your faith support your belief in reproductive freedom?”

Keep an eye on our calendar and join us next time!