The term, “wanted,” is often associated with the FBI’s most wanted list or an old western photography studio in Pigeon Forge. This term, though, means much more than that. When we see our society through a Biblical worldview, we are forced to come to grips with our own value and the value of others. Are we ultimately wanted or not?
This question can be answered very simply…yes! We are a wanted people. Wanted by whom? Wanted by God. We are a valuable people. Who places that value on us? God does. These truths, to believers, seem like common knowledge. These truths for many of us are second nature, but for the majority of our patients at HOPE, these truths are a fantasy.
This is why we open our doors every day. We desperately long for all, but especially the wounded in our community that find themselves in crisis, to know they are wanted, valued, and loved.
We want the unknown of being wanted for our patients to become the known. We desire for them to come to the realization that they are wanted by a God that loves them – a God that designed and made them for a particular purpose.
Oftentimes, some wish to pigeon hole pregnancy centers and many pro-lifers into being simply pro-baby. Many act as if pro-lifers are incapable of being pro-woman, man, family, and baby all at the same time. This is a mistake and is flat wrong. We are pro-life at every stage. This starts at conception, and certainly continues outside of the womb when babies become adults and adults become parents.
We operate as individuals and as an organization that understands every member of this community is an image bearer created with a purpose. This means they are wanted and valued. We operate daily within a Biblical worldview that says we are to love and serve the “wanted.” This translates to every human being that finds their way to HOPE.
This is why we provided 45 STI tests, 62 pregnancy tests, and 41 ultrasounds in the month of July. We don’t do this for the money. We don’t do this for fame. We do this because we are wanted. We didn’t have to jump through hoops or perform an incantation.
We are image bearers that have been given the gift of life. That truth—and we believe this is a truth—drives our everyday. Our vision is no longer clouded, which means we are allowed to love unashamedly and serve without hesitation.
Patients at HOPE will walk away knowing they are wanted and valued. This is who we are because of Whose we are. Show someone that truth today. Let the person in your mirror know that they are wanted and loved, and let that truth drive you to let a neighbor, coworker, spouse, or child know they are wanted as well. This little bit of truth can go a long way in removing the blinders off us all.
posted by Andrew Wood, Executive Director of Hope Resource Center
