“In Labor” for the Gospel

“Perhaps I’ll have opportunities to share the gospel during my hospital stay,” I dreamed as I packed my hospital bag for my daughter Hosanna’s not-too-distant arrival. I prayed about it. I put songs with clear gospel lyrics on my birth playlist.

I would love to meet a woman who shared the gospel between contractions, but that wasn’t me. In fact, I had no idea what I was in for. Traumatized by the challenges of my labor (which, to my disappointment, ended in C-section), my focus changed to my circumstances, and I didn’t verbally share the gospel with hospital staff in the way I had hoped during our 3-day hospital stay.

As I prepared for the birth of my second daughter, I received a helpful tip. A friend of mine told me what she had done: she wrote a homemade gospel tract about her new son’s name and why she chose it. She shared copies with the hospital staff when they came to her room. I loved the idea.

We had chosen to name our daughter ‘Maranatha.’ As her due date drew near, I printed “name cards” with the meaning of her name, a cute pink baby graphic, some Scripture verses, and a gospel explanation. This personal tract was warmly received and was a good conversation-starter. I found it helpful for sharing Christ with those who were in and out of the room quickly without much time to chat.

Three weeks later, we were back in the hospital for another four-day stay as my baby fought viral meningitis. It was a scary trial in which the Lord grew our faith and reminded us of His faithful care. It also brought us into contact with another round of doctors and nurses, so my husband, Josiah, brought another set of name cards.

During that time, one young, interning nurse rocked my baby for a few hours in the middle of the night so I could get some sleep. She shared with me how she grew up Catholic but was interested in Christianity. I was able to share about the differences between Biblical Christianity and Catholicism (while my peaceful Christian playlist filled the room).

When baby Maranatha had finally recovered, I wrote a brief thank-you note to the nurses who had cared for us the past four days, mentioning something I appreciated about their care, and I gave each of them the baby’s name card. Even though I hadn’t been able to have spiritual conversations with each individual, I was thankful to have something to give that explained what I wanted them to know.

If you, like me, are a young mom caring for little ones, you may be limited in your access to people and wonder how you can share the gospel more. Let me remind you (and myself) that we have some unique opportunities right now! We can relate to other moms with young children and strike up conversations anywhere we go. We can reach Muslim women who are uncomfortable interacting with men. There is no other season of life where people stop you at the grocery store to comment on your cute kids.

When we consider the host of medical providers we interact with in preparing for and recovering from childbirth—doctors, nurses, midwives, doulas, chiropractors, receptionists—many of us encounter quite an array of people that we likely wouldn’t have met otherwise. How amazing would it be to see spiritual births as a result of the physical births of our children!

As mothers, our primary role is to disciple our children. However, let us remember that our little ones catch our desires; our priorities rub off on them! As they see Mom and Dad zealous to be a light in the darkness, their desire to shine for Christ will be ignited. I love hearing my three-year-old ask me with twinkling eye, “Mommy, can I pass out a gospel tract?”

One thing that has encouraged me personally in sharing my faith is to intentionally spend time with other believers who are focused on the Great Commission. Each August, my husband and I organize a 4-day camp called Testify where we encourage believers in sharing their faith. After training in the morning, we put what we have learned into practice together at the Iowa State Fair. The fellowship and mutual sharpening is always so special. See more information here.