The evening before the Oregon Christian Home Educators Association Network’s (OCEAN) state convention began, the Vision Forum team was meeting over a meal to discuss the up-and-coming ministry opportunity and our prayer goals for the weekend. I shared with the staff that God has been kind to send me a very special and beloved form of encouragement at almost every home school conference at which I speak.

For almost three years now, I have had someone come up at almost every one of these conferences, open a wallet, show me a picture of a child, and say: “If it were not for the message of children as a blessing which I heard from your ministry, this child would not be here today. Thank you.” The very next day, this Christian father came up to our table and opened his wallet to reveal a picture and said very much the same thing. We saw it as a wonderful answer to prayer.

Honestly, if the ministry of Vision Forum did nothing else but to encourage Christians to see the beauty and blessing of children, and if such encouragement resulted in the rejection by moms and dads of Margaret Sanger’s hateful conception control philosophy in favor of a biblical vision of fruitfulness, I would die a happy man. How sad to think that some who profess the name of Christ would prefer a humanistic vision of temporary economic convenience over a precious eternal soul that will live forever. May the Lord give all of us a greater love for Him and for His precious gift of fruitfulness.

Let the critics whine and cry. Let them wail and nash their teeth. Let them call mothers names and boast in their barrenness and freedom to pervert the womb. Such philosopher-kings, libertines, and pundits already have their reward.

The fact is, we rejoice every time a Christian family brings a child into the world for the glory of God. Children are a blessing and the fruit of the womb is His reward. Thank God for every child. Dear Lord, please send more babies to the saints of your Church.