Orthodox Christians For Life

A Life Affirming Ministry of St. Nicholas Church

A new ministry has been established at St. Nicholas Church! It is called “Orthodox Christians For Life” or “OCLife” for short, under the leadership of our very own Nancy Brown. This pro-life ministry is being established to serve our own church community as well as our community at large which includes Springdale, Fayetteville, Bentonville, Rogers, and all of Northwest Arkansas!

St. Nicholas Church OCLife Ministry Leadership
Ministry Leader – Nancy Brown
Ministry C0-Leader – Michael Baclig
Ministry Co-Leader – Elizabeth Baclig

Orthodox Christians For Life is a non-profit organization dedicated to equipping the Orthodox Christian community to strengthen its commitment to the sacredness of human life from conception to death, illuminating the Church’s teaching on life issues through education and engagement.

We recently ran a very successful donation campaign for a local charitable organization called Compassion House. Compassion House has been operating in Northwest Arkansas for 30 years, serving pregnant teens. They have given many of these young women, through their residency, opportunities to change their crisis pregnancy into a blessing that affirms their life and gives them what is needed to move forward. Updates on St. Nicholas Church’s ongoing ministry will be forthcoming as well as letting interested parishioners know of more hands-on volunteer opportunities.

If you would like to donate to our OCLife Parish Ministry, you may write a check with “OC For Life” in the memo line, or donate via PayPal by clicking the donate button below or by clicking HERE. Thanks in advance for your support of this important ministry!

Life Affirming Ministry Prayer by Nancy Brown

In the name of Father Who created us in love, the Son Who, lived, died and rose for us in love, and the Holy Spirit Who gives us each life in every moment out of love,We thank You, O God, for Your ever present and continuous mercy, grace, and blessing towards us and that You have blessed us with this call to serve life.

We know, O Lord, that the prophecy about St. John the Baptist was “He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers to the children.” We also know, O Lord, that there is great weeping and sadness in heaven and on earth each time the gift of life that is given to a mother, father, family, and their baby is aborted, that all in heaven mourn and all life on earth weeps knowingly or unknowingly over this grievous injury. We also know, O Lord, that You sent Your Son to earth to bring healing of our souls and bodies and healing of all the ways we have turned away from the life You constantly give.

Lord, we pray for this Life Affirming Ministry at St Nicholas Church. May this Ministry be an instrument of Your healing love and grace. We pray, O Lord, that You will bring into this Ministry those who struggle with what they are experiencing as a crisis pregnancy, those who struggle with the aftermath of abortion or other sexual trauma, those young people who struggle with living in this world where sexuality itself can be such a source of confusion, pain, trauma, and overwhelm, and for those who would serve in this ministry that with tender, trusting, and loving hearts we may be instruments of Your love and healing for the sake of all.

Lord, we bow before Your grace and mercy and Your indescribable love. We ask the intercessions of the Theotokos, our Guardian Angels, and all the Saints to help us live in Your Life. Amen.

OCLife Meeting at St. Nicholas Church on November 20, 2021

From left to right: Nancy Brown, Elizabeth Baclig, and Michael Baclig signing on as an official OCLife Parish Chapter

Compassion House CEO Jennifer Samuel accepting items donated from our parish

The flyer below was created by Nancy Brown when our ministry team just started to form at St. Nicholas Church

Additional Resources

Visit the Orthodox Christians For Life Website at https://oclife.org

Listen to an interview with OCLife President and Executive Director Emily Wilkinson by clicking HERE or by clicking on the description below.

Watch an interview with Emily Wilkinson by our very own Michael Baclig by clicking on the video below.