Many Americans have observed a profound cultural shift since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade with the Dobbs decision in June 2022, deepening divisions between pro-life and pro-choice states.
In pro-choice states like Illinois—which had already enacted multiple protective laws for abortion access—leaders pledged to expand those protections further. They have kept that promise.
Gary Hollingsworth
Pro-life advocates, however, emphasize a different response. “Where darkness advances, the light of Christ must shine brighter. Where confusion and fear drive desperate decisions, the Church must be present with compassion, truth, and tangible help,” wrote Gary Hollingsworth, interim president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), in a Baptist Press column. “And where life hangs in the balance, the people of God must act.”
Late last year, the ERLC launched “Across State Lines,” a special emphasis of its Psalm 139 Project. The initiative partners Baptist state conventions in pro-life states with those in pro-choice states to deliver gospel hope and ultrasound technology to pregnant women in areas with widespread abortion access and minimal protections for life. By funding ultrasound placements with a missional focus, it equips pregnancy resource centers to offer women a window into the womb, often influencing choices toward life.
In states like Illinois, the post-Dobbs landscape has fueled “abortion tourism,” with out-of-state women traveling for procedures banned in their home states. Some states actively welcome these travelers. Hollingsworth noted this has led to sharp increases in abortions performed annually.
Scott Foshie
Scott Foshie, IBSA Executive Director Elect and current ERLC Board Chair, aims to apply the initiative in Illinois. “In February, I’m going to be reaching out to fellow state executives to see if there will be a partner who will provide support through the ERLC,” he told the Illinois Baptist.
While pro-life needs exist statewide, Foshie plans to begin in the Carbondale area, where he sees the greatest urgency. “I will be convening a summit of southern Illinois Baptist leaders and BCHFS (Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services) leaders to consider how God might be calling us to make a difference for life,” he said.
A December 7, 2025, New York Times article described Carbondale—a city of about 21,000 and home to Southern Illinois University—as central to a “seismic shift in abortion access.” With three abortion facilities, it has become a Midwest hub, surrounded by states with bans. Proponents have positioned Illinois as an “oasis” for providers. Last year, the three centers performed nearly 11,000 abortions, most for out-of-state patients.
“Illinois Baptists cannot turn a blind eye to our state becoming an abortion destination,” Foshie said. “The weapons God has given us to end this tragedy are prayer, his love, and the unchanging Gospel that can transform lives.”
On December 23, 2025, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services announced a $4 million Medicaid investment in family planning services to offset federal defunding of Planned Parenthood. “Since Roe fell, Illinois has stepped up to meet the growing need for reproductive health care across the Midwest,” said Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton. “As the federal government targets critical services, the need for Planned Parenthood has only grown. Our administration remains committed to safeguarding access to care and ensuring we protect reproductive freedom and women’s health.”
When the spring session of the Illinois General Assembly began Tuesday, January 13, a new bill, House Bill 4282, had already been introduced by Rep. Amy Rep. Briel (76th Ottawa), that would create the Women’s Reproductive Health Care Fund by amending the Health Care Right of Conscience Act. The bill would make it mandatory for a health care provider to transfer the patient or provide written information about other providers who may offer a refused service—such as abortion—despite any conscience-based objections. The penalty for not doing so would be $5,000.
Initiatives like Across State Lines represent a proactive, compassionate response from the Christian community amid these developments—shining light where many see only deepening shadows.
January is Sanctity of Human Life Month. Sunday, January 16, 2006, is Sanctity of Life Sunday in the Southern Baptist Convention.