According to Americans United for Life's (AUL) rankings, Arkansas is the nation's most pro-life state for the fourth year in a row. Jerry Cox of the Family Council of Arkansas says that was not accomplished overnight.
"It took everybody working together to put Arkansas at the top," he tells AFN. "The legislature, the governor, those of us in the pro-life community that have proposed the good laws, that have worked for them for years -- we have been laying the foundation for this for years and even decades."
In 2023, though The Natural State already had protections for unborn babies in place, another nine laws were added to the books.
"The Bible says if you're not weary in well doing, that you will reap a good harvest eventually," Cox cites. "We're doing it right now here in Arkansas, and the lives of the unborn are being saved. That's what it's all about."
Christian organizations like Care Net, "a pro-abundant life ministry," are contributing to that.
Vincent DiCaro, a spokesman for the national chain that ministers to men and women who are facing pregnancy decisions, says help begins as soon as an individual comes through the door of any of of their 1,200 centers.
"Care Net-affiliated pregnancy centers are there to care for them, love them, and be the hands and feet of Jesus in communities around the country," DiCaro relays. "Through that approach, they've been able to serve so many people."
In fact, Care Net recently announced that 1,010,931 babies were saved through affiliated pregnancy centers from 2008-2022.
While providing the physical needs for women who may be considering abortion, DiCaro says the most important aspect of Care Net's work is introducing people to Jesus and His Church.
"What better opportunity to get folks connected into a local church than when you're serving them through a local pregnancy center that can then say, 'In order for you to keep on getting the assistance that you need for the long term for you and your family, here are some churches in our community that are partnering with us.' That's really what we're focused on," he says.
After Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Indiana round out the top five on AUL's "Life List." Vermont, which permits abortions up to birth, is ranked as the most pro-abortion state.
