When a youth pastor recently asked me, “How can high school students get involved in the pro-life movement?” it stopped me in my tracks. It’s the kind of question that signals hope, because when pastors start helping students live out truth beyond the church walls, real cultural change begins.
When it comes to building a culture that cherishes life, one of the most strategic investments the Church can make is equipping young people. The next generation doesn’t just need to believe that life is sacred; they need to know why and courageously speak up for it. Youth pastors, this is your moment to lead that charge to make a generational difference.
In a culture filled with confusion about truth, identity, and morality, students are hungry for clarity. They’re ready to be challenged with purpose, not merely entertained. The pro-life movement gives them that opportunity: to defend the defenseless, to act with compassion, to speak truth in love, and connect the dots with the saving message of the gospel.
Here are 6 things youth pastors and parents can encourage and foster in their teens.
1. Pray for Wisdom, Discernment, and Courage
God promises, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault” (James 1:5). Encourage students to pray regularly for the courage to speak truth in love, the discernment to answer hard questions, and the humility to listen well. Their influence among peers often happens one honest, compassionate conversation at a time.
Apologetics training prepares the mind, but prayer strengthens the heart and reminds us that it is ultimately a Spiritual battle. The conversations teens will have with their peers about abortion will not always be easy, but they can be life-changing.
2. Prepare: Build a Foundation of Truth
With prayer in place, preparation is the essential next step. Students need a firm grounding in biblical worldview and apologetics, especially on the questions about life and the unborn. Our education system teaches very little science or biology when it comes to early fetal human development, so don’t underestimate the value of basic biology lessons. Encourage them to learn how to defend life with both reason and compassion.
One of the best resources out there is the “Baby Olivia” film created by LiveAction, a national pro-life organization. From a single-celled human to a baby with a beating heart, brainwaves, fingers, and toes, Olivia shows the remarkable beauty of a unique life within the womb.
The Baby Olivia project provides a medically accurate, animated glimpse of human life from the moment of fertilization. The story details her growth as she progresses from one developmental stage to the next, in preparation for her continued life outside of the womb.
Another great resource is Scott Klusendorf’s The Case For Life on YouTube, which offers clear, practical videos to help teens understand how to make the case for life. His Life Training Institute trains Christians and pro-life advocates to persuasively defend their views in the marketplace of ideas by clearly presenting the pro-life position in live events and through the full use of modern media.
Additionally, PA Family Institute’s City on the Hill youth leadership program provides hands-on experiences, top-notch national speakers, and hands-on practice in communications that shape young believers into becoming stronger at articulating their faith and becoming better defenders of truth.
Paul exhorted Timothy, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). The next generation needs that same confidence to stand firm in a culture that has lost its moral compass.
3. Serve Locally: Volunteer at Pregnancy Centers
Volunteering at local pregnancy centers gives students the chance to live out their pro-life convictions and grow in their compassion for those experiencing tough economic situations. Whether they are sorting baby clothes, organizing donations, or helping with outreach, teens learn that defending life is not just about policy; it’s about caring about real people.
In Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Pregnancy Wellness Collaborative (PPWC) statewide network is leading the fight with 87 centers operating at 161 locations across 78% of Pennsylvania counties. These centers provide critical, often lifesaving services such as early pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, prenatal education, STI treatment, postpartum support, and referrals to community and medical resources, most at no cost to the women and families they serve. If you don’t know where to start, reach out to them.
These ministries embody what it means to love both mother and child, showing compassion in action. Experiencing that firsthand shapes hearts far more deeply than any classroom lesson or online debate.
4. Lead: Start a Pro-Life Group
Encourage your students to take leadership seriously. They can start a pro-life group at their high school or prepare to do so in college. Organizations like Students for Life and Turning Point USA have excellent resources to help them connect with other like-minded students, host events, and make an impact on their campuses.
Leadership in this space teaches responsibility, teamwork, and perseverance. It’s an opportunity to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13—16) in one of the most important mission fields of our time—the classroom.
5. Show Up: Attend the Pennsylvania March for Life
There’s nothing like standing shoulder to shoulder with thousands of others who believe every life is worth protecting. Encourage your teen and youth group to attend the Pennsylvania March for Life.
When lawmakers and the media see a generation of young people publicly declaring their commitment to life, it sends a clear and powerful message: the future is pro-life. It reminds elected officials who they represent and shows the world that truth and compassion still have a voice.
6. Proclaim: Share the Gospel Clearly
The pro-life movement is ultimately an extension of the gospel message. Every person—born or unborn—has immeasurable worth because each is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27).
That’s why learning how to share the gospel clearly is foundational to transforming our culture for life. When teens can articulate the good news of salvation with clarity and compassion, they’re not merely debating policy; they’re helping hearts and minds encounter the Author of Life Himself.
Check out Dare2Share.org, an incredible ministry equipping teens to share their faith boldly. Its founder, Greg Stier, has an inspiring pro-life story that will encourage your students to make evangelism part of their activism.
A Call to Youth Leaders
Youth pastors play a vital role in shaping how this generation thinks and lives out truth. You can help them see that standing for life isn’t just a cause; it’s a calling rooted in the gospel itself.
The next generation has conviction, creativity, and courage. What they need is guidance and encouragement. When you invest in their preparation, prayer, service, leadership, and witness, you’re not just training activists; you’re forming disciples who will carry God’s truth and the saving message of the gospel into every sphere of culture.
Now is the time to equip them. When truth takes root in young hearts, it changes everything—families, communities, and a nation.
