The Light and Life Ministry
The Light & Life Ministry seeks to:
- Equip members of First Pres with knowledge and resources so we can live out and defend our commitment to the sanctity of human life that is in our Essential Tenets of Faith.
- Provide life-affirming Christ-centered resources to women who are faced with bearing children in difficult situations.
- Increase awareness by shedding light on the devastating effects of child loss before birth due to abortion, and provide confidential and biblical healing resources to both women and men.
- Share the transforming message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that those wounded by abortion can be healed and set free to live the abundant life God created them for.
For more information, contact Stephanie Johnson at fpclightandlife@gmail.com or 864.907.1516.
How We Got Started
Our church, First Presbyterian Church of Greenville, SC is truly blessed that our Senior Pastor, Rev. Dr. Richard Gibbons, is decidedly pro-life and is not afraid to preach on the subject of abortion. One such Sunday, the Holy Spirit used his message on abortion to convict and empower me to share my testimony with him after the service. From there God opened doors. I have now shared my abortion testimony with our church multiple times, as well as before a crowd of 1500 people at the annual fundraising banquet of Piedmont Women’s Center (a local crisis pregnancy center).
After this “mountaintop” experience, I prayed, “Where are you calling me now, God?” It soon became evident that God and the Holy Spirit were at work. When Lisa Van Riper—church member, elder, and President of SC Citizens for Life—asked me to help start a pro-life ministry at our church, her call was that confirmation where to serve. As we shared our idea with other church members, the Holy Spirit moved them to support us and join our efforts.
About Us
The mission of The Light & Life Ministry is to speak truth, change hearts, and save lives.
Our goal is to equip our Covenant Partners with the knowledge of sanctity of life and opportunities to uphold our Sanctity of Life ECO Essential Tenets of Faith: “We recognize and honor the image of God in every human being from conception to natural death.”
The Light & Life Ministry educates and encourages our covenant partners to be gospel-driven champions for life:
Raising awareness and shedding light on the devastating effects of abortion.
Providing resources for restorative care and healing for women and men who have
experienced child loss due to abortion or miscarriage.
Equipping Christians to make a persuasive case for life from a biblical perspective.
Educating our congregation on the sanctity of life legal issues and protections.
Being an outreach ministry in and to our community.
Some of our activities over the years...
A few things our ministry has done at church throughout the years:
Taught in Sunday morning adult Life Groups.
Spoken from the pulpit annually on Sanctity of Life Sunday for our Moment for Missions.
Held fundraisers on Mother's Day for our local pregnancy care center.
Participated regularly in educational conferences where we advise other Presbyterian churches on how to start their own Life Team ministries.
Invited local pro-life ministries to have an exhibit table when we have events, such as recently on Sanctity of Life Sunday.
PPL's Executive Director is delighted to report that our exhibit at ECO "Metanoia" 2024, as shared with Stephanie's Light and Life Ministry team, drew many eager visitors. ECO pastors, ministry leaders, and laypeople represented several states and countries such as the UK, Ukraine, and Brazil. The interest areas that seemed to unify all were the topics of Life Teams, end-of-life issues, or suicide. In fact, we encouraged one Breakout Session speaker by our infographics on suicide which she was highlighting as her topic that very day.
God faithfully provided for specific needs in other ways, as well, even opening the door for upcoming conversation with a PCA pastor at Greenville Second Presbyterian Church. Thank you First Presbyterian Church of Greenville for hosting ECO 2024 with Southern hospitality!
Learn about the basics of pro-life ministry leadership.
PPL helps Presbyterian and Reformed churches create sanctity of life ministry teams to help pastors and congregations champion life.
Learn about the basics of pro-life ministry leadership.
Provides free online courses and e-books to equip and train people interested in becoming “Pro Abundant Life.”
Dr. Robert E. Jackson recently met his interviewee, Amy R. Murray, author of Hope For a Better Life, which is her own miraculous true story. Adopted at birth, Mrs. Murray describes how at the age of 43 she discovered her birth mother and the shocking information surrounding her conception - the result of rape. Amy’s book, Hope For a Better Life, is based on her miraculous adoption story. It is available in Books & Gifts@First.
LTI equips Christians to make a persuasive case for life from a biblical perspective.
An internationally coordinated 40-day campaign that aims to end abortion locally through prayer and fasting, community outreach, and a peaceful all-day vigil in front of abortion businesses.
Viable is a one-act play about a woman who suffered from decades of post-abortion sorrow, shame, and self-condemnation until she encountered the merciful love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ—in a most unexpected and unusual way!
SUPPORT AFTER ABORTION – SupportAfterAbortion.comHealing, help, and recovery for abortion regret and grief
FORGIVEN & SET FREE a Bible study for women; Healing a Father’s Heart a Bible study for men – both by Linda Cochrane, available at
ChristianBook.comFacilitating Biblical Healing Leaders Guide – for use with Forgiven and Set Free books
Do you believe we are all made in the image of God and that every life, no matter how small, has dignity, value and is sacred to God? Scriptures tell us God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Genesis 1:27If this resonates with you, please take a few minutes to view videos from the 2019 Speak Up for Life Conference (click on the links below). Guest speaker, Scott Klusendorf, president of the Life Training Institute, answered the key question “What is the unborn?” and made a persuasive case for life that will inspire, encourage and equip you to “Speak Up for Life!”
Lisa Van Riper, President of South Carolina Citizens for Life
Scott Klusendorf: President of Life Training Institute
Scott Klusendorf (Part 2)
Scott Klusendorf (Part 3)
Scott Klusendorf (Part 4)
Robert E. Jackson, M.D., Jackson Family Ministries
Stephanie Johnson: Lay Leader of Light & Life Ministry
Scott Klusendorf (Part 5) Grace Greater Than Our Sin
Scott Klusendorf Conclusion
Stephanie Johnson
Meridith Rodey
Megan Hall
Lisa VanRiper
Amy Murray