BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP) — Andy and Jennifer Whisenant felt they were on holy ground. The Nashville, Tenn., couple was meeting their intended adoptive daughter, Maya, in the hospital neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) where she had lived almost since birth.

Andy told their adoption story in Nashville June 22 as Lifeline Children’s Services, which advocated for Maya throughout the adoption process, was on the 15th leg of a road trip to visit in 19 days all 19 states where Lifeline is licensed.

Maya’s room was reminiscent of something from “Grey’s Anatomy,” the couple said, describing a corner room with alarms, monitors and IV poles.

“We walked into what should have been mass chaos, but the only way I can describe it is that peace that surpasses understanding,” Andy said of the meeting. “Because on the walls were cards of Scripture verses talking about God’s goodness and protection and healing. We walked onto holy ground in that NICU not because of anything we did, but because of how the Lifeline team had prayed for and prepared that space for Maya.”

The Whisenants, now a family of four with 2-year-old Maya and 8-year-old biological son Grayson, agreed to dozens of adoptions that fell through before Lifeline successfully matched them with their daughter, they told Baptist Press.

Herbie Newell, Lifeline’s executive director and president, said the road trip has afforded wonderful opportunities to hear stories from families, individuals, churches, pregnancy resource centers and the like that have partnered with Lifeline in its multifaceted, faith-based work.

“It’s breathing life into partnership within the pro-life community,” Newell said of the tour. “We really do want to see both the mom and the child flourish. We want to care for orphans and vulnerable children in their distress. And that doesn’t just mean adoption. That means foster care. That means helping restore them to their biological families if it’s appropriate. That means caring for kids that are aging out of foster care. That means caring for kids that are in vulnerable places.”

Caring for mothers and women is also paramount to Lifeline’s work.

“I believe if we’re really pro-life, then it first means we’re pro-woman. We want to contend for the lives of women,” Newell said. “We want to help them understand that life is a gift, that motherhood is a gift. And we don’t want them to think that pro-life (means we’re) only interested in the baby. We’re interested in mom and baby. And we want to help her make the very best choice that she possibly can.”

At each stop on the 19-state tour, Newell and others visit a Christian-based pregnancy resource center that partners with Lifeline, connect with a church that supports the ministry and hold a reception to tell others of Lifeline’s care for families through adoption, global orphan care, long-term educational and mental health care for families, family reunification in concert with local churches, and support of expectant mothers facing unplanned pregnancies. Everylife baby products is donating a palette of diapers to each pregnancy resource center on the tour, Lifeline said.

Newell, joined by Ford Reasons, Lifeline’s manager of executive initiatives, and Rob Ingram, senior marketing and communications director, flew from Alabama to the first stops on the tour in Washington state, Wyoming and South Dakota.

From Sioux Falls, S.D., the team has driven to a different state daily since June 10, connecting with supporters and others in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan, before returning to Alabama.

“We’ve been surprised at every stop — of what the Lord is doing, of the opportunities that are there, what He’s bringing forth,” Newell said. “Every day has been different, but it’s been amazing to hear from families, to hear from churches, to see what they’re doing.”

Among several Southern Baptist churches partnering with or supporting Lifeline are Brentwood Baptist Church in Brentwood, Tenn.; the Summit Church in greater Raleigh, N.C.; North Trenholm Baptist Church, Columbia, S.C., where Newell preached the 2026 Father’s Day sermon during Lifeline’s stop there; Fielder Church in greater Arlington, Texas, among other congregations.

“There have been a lot of SBC (Southern Baptist Convention) churches,” Newell said, referencing Lifeline’s presence in the 2026 SBC annual meeting exhibit hall. “At the SBC, we did a 19-in-19 scavenger hunt looking for pastors from all 19 states, and they signed the board so that we could find a pastor from all of those states.”

The 19-state tour culminates today (Friday, June 26) in Birmingham, Ala., where Lifeline operates its headquarters. June 26 is Lifeline’s Giving Day, an opportunity for churches, individuals and organizations to support Lifeline financially. A donor has agreed to equally match donations, pledging a total of $350,000, Newell said.

“Even if we don’t raise a single dollar, which the Lord has allowed us to raise some money, but even if it were not a single dollar,” Newell said, “it would be worth it just because it has built excitement among our team. It’s been encouraging to hear these stories.”

(EDITOR’S NOTE — Diana Chandler is Baptist Press’ senior writer.)