Unplanned Grace: A Compassionate Conversation on Life and Choice

by Brittany Smith, Natasha Smith, Lauren Green McAfee (Foreword)

When a women receives an unexpected positive pregnancy test, abortion often seems like the best or only option for a fulfilling future.  Unplanned Grace beautifully challenges that myth, equipping readers to support abortion-vulnerable women with love that values life in every way. Writing for the nonprofit organization Save the Storks, Natasha and Brittany draw on personal interviews, inspiring stories, and eye-opening facts to help readers How economics, relationships, and health affect a woman's pregnancy decisionThe value of having empathy for women facing unplanned pregnanciesThe enormous potential churches have to support women in crisis Writing not just from a "pro-birth" perspective but from a "pro-abundant life" prospective, Unplanned Grace is an ideal resource for churches and individuals who want to make a difference in the pro-life movement.  

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2021

Reviews

[Jon Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I'm prolife, I often avoid this topic because (1) so much of its complexities feel so beyond me and (2) many discussions on this topic seem to go nowhere and do nothing but cause division. But since a trusted friend recommended it to me I thought I'd give it a try. I started it yesterday and finished it this evening.

I think this is one of the clearest and most compelling pro-choice/pro-life visions I've encountered. The compassionate tone helps gently navigate and guide the reader through the various complexities and challenges that overwhelm potential mothers. There is so much here I've never known or thought about, including the amount of support and assistance potentially available, which I feel breathes fresh hope into my understanding of this topic. Overall, this book really paints a vision of Pro-choice/Pro-life compassion that makes sense and makes a legitimate difference.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unplanned Grace is a beautiful book, written by women whose hearts are full of the love and grace of Jesus. I've struggled in the past with how to approach abortion and people who have had or champion abortions, because all I know on the topic is that abortion kills innocent human life, which while being a very important aspect of things (probably the most important part) it left me unsure of how I felt about women who've had abortions and how I ought to speak to them, how to actually defend those innocent babies and how I could truly help both mama and baby before and after birth.
This book answered every question and gave me so much extra information! A quick summary of the main points of the book:
Pregnancy resource centers, the types and why they're important; why a woman facing an unplanned pregnancy may feel she has to get an abortion, why she doesn't have to, and the many resources that may be available to her; as well how the Church can and should get involved in the pro-life movement by supporting the men, women and children in their community.
This book is so chalk-full of resources for men and women who are abortion vulnerable, recovering from an abortion, for Churches who want to get involved, and for individuals who want to learn even more about how they can help.
Definitely an awesome book to have on your shelf and refer to for resources and information! Can't recommend it enough and I am so grateful to my friend Katie for purchasing it for me!

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book - compassion is right in the subtitle, and that’s precisely what this book communicates. With data and truth, it walks the reader through the many difficult, very real, very complex challenges mothers experiencing unplanned pregnancy deal with. I for instance had always assumed most abortions occurred with women who had careers, etc that they worried a pregnancy would ruin. But 78% of abortions occur in low income women. Definitely eye opening and encouraged me to look at the role that women and churches should play in supporting both women experiencing unexpected pregnancy and the resource centers that support them. Really good stuff in this book.

[Ashlyn]

✨📚Ashlyn’s Book Club 📚✨

I would recommend this short but highly practical nonfiction book to anyone who:

•is inspired by true stories.
•is searching for non-partisan viewpoints regarding abortion.
•wants further insight into the nuances of the abortion debate (ex: the chapter on rape was especially hard to listen to, yet deeply compassionate).
•has a heart to help those facing unplanned pregnancy but doesn’t know where to start.

Yet another wonderful resource from my favorites at Save the Storks!

(Audiobook available on hoopla through my local library ❤️)

[Nathan DiBagno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. This will help the church know how to help and extend grace to women who are co side ring abortion or who had an abortion. Convicting yet also encouraging to see how the church can make a difference and truly help expecting mothers (and fathers) in need.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Terry Huey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good resource tool. Provides multiple perspectives and real life stories.

[Alexandra Suppose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great insight on what PRCs do, how they work, and why the church needs to be more compassionate around unplanned pregnancies and abortion.