No matter how well or little you know someone, their position on abortion might surprise you. Don’t start with, “Why are you pro-choice or pro-life?” Let them speak for themselves.

The label someone uses (“pro-life” or “pro-choice”) matters far less than what they actually think about preborn babies and abortion.

If someone says, “I’m pro-life,” don’t just say, “That’s great!” Instead, press further. Ask: “So, do you think abortion is wrong in every situation?”

Even if you’re navigating properly, it won’t help if you get to the right destination but leave the other person behind. After making a point, ask for feedback: “Do you agree? What do you think?”

It’s important to know how to start conversations. And, we have to know when and how to end them, too.

If you’re going in circles, find a way to summarize the conversation. For example, you might say, “I’ve really enjoyed connecting with you, even though we do not see eye to eye on the best way to respond to abortion. Even if we serve differently, let’s commit to honoring God and defending preborn babies while also supporting each other in our various strategies.”