Issue No. 628 of Your Weekly Staff Meeting spotlights a new and powerful documentary film from Jason Pearson, “Spares: Second Chance Stories of Frozen Embryos.” Plus, click here to see book recommendations in all 20 management buckets (core competencies), and click here for more book reviews. Also, read my recent review of Uncommon Graces: Christlike Responses to a Hostile World. And...Happy Thanksgiving to our U.S. readers!
View the movie trailer for the new documentary, “Spares: Second Chance Stories of Frozen Embryos.”
Editor’s Note: I’m blessed to recommend a new documentary film in this issue, created and directed by our son, Jason. Here’s a “Son & Pearson” interview about the film. (For more “Son & Pearson” conversations, read the introductions to our two recent books on mistake-making and 100 must-read books.)
JOHN: Happy Thanksgiving, Jason! I’m so thankful for you and Melinda and our five grandchildren. And…WOW! This 20-minute documentary you created, “Spares,” is sobering, stunning, and poignant. I’ve viewed it four times already! It’s personal, isn’t it?
JASON: It is personal. About two percent of U.S. births are now from in vitro fertilization (IVF). That was the path that Melinda and I discerned—and God blessed us with five children. Yet—few people realize that in this age of advancing reproductive technology, thousands of American families face an unexpected moral quandary: what to do with their remaining frozen embryos after completing IVF.
JOHN: I had no idea. Your documentary, which just premiered last week in Washington, D.C., and is also featured on Real Clear Politics, is subtitled, “Second Chance Stories of Frozen Embryos.” Explain.
JASON: “Spares” spotlights four couples and their ethical dilemma of what to do with their frozen embryos. Today, over 1.6 million frozen embryos remain in storage across the United States. And many believe they are human lives.
JOHN: You had told me, a few years back, about this movement—that couples can “adopt” frozen embryos and be blessed when these yet unborn children become part of their families. The four couples you interviewed for your film—oh, my! These are complex issues. How do they navigate this challenging intersection of faith, ethics, and modern medicine?
JASON: Travis and Tara, one of the couples featured in the documentary, faced this decision after successfully having three children through IVF. They found themselves with 11 remaining embryos! They had three options: discard them, donate them to science, or pursue embryo adoption.
JOHN: Oh, my! You mean they could potentially have had 11 more children?
JASON: That’s unlikely, but "Spares" presents a unique solution gaining traction among pro-life families: embryo adoption, also known as "snowflake adoption." While still relatively rare, these adoptions have grown dramatically—by 420% over seven years, with a notable 29% surge in 2023 alone.
JOHN: So this movement is championing the idea of “snowflake adoption.” What a great name for it—the uniqueness of every snowflake and the uniqueness of every child. It reminds me of Psalm 139:
you formed me in my mother’s womb.
I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!
Body and soul, I am marvelously made!”
JASON: Exactly. When people view the film, they are so taken by these hopeful and loving parents, like Gabbi and her husband, on their decision to pursue embryo adoption. She tells us, "The more I researched it, the more I wanted to be a part of this new frontier of saving these little lives, these lives in these almost frozen orphanages, just waiting for a chance."
JOHN: “Frozen orphanages!” As you know, Jason, when writing my eNews, I’m always looking for a title for each issue. I almost titled this issue, “Frozen Orphanages!”
JASON: Trust me—there are so many poignant comments. The creative process in filmmaking takes many twists and turns—and it pushed me to pray more. Much more. This project was very emotional and very challenging—yet deeply rewarding. I felt like I was a steward of these very personal stories.
JOHN: You’ve worked on over 70 films, right? How did this one affect you?
JASON: Memorable storytelling, obviously, must have great stories. These amazing couples were so willing to share their stories. Here’s what Travis told us about their remaining embryos: "Every embryo mattered to me. I still feel like I'm the father of those embryos. I still feel like I'm responsible for those and make the best decisions I can."
JOHN: Wow. I’m urging people to view the film. But some, perhaps, might push back on the whole concept of IVF, right?
JASON: Many Christians, particularly those in the Southern Baptist and Catholic traditions, believe those 1.6 million frozen embryos are much more than just statistics—they represent human lives at their earliest stage of development.
JOHN: I believe that. But didn’t the Southern Baptist Convention highlight their concerns about IVF and the subsequent potential for embryo destruction—per a “resolution” at their June 2024 convention? (Note: That news report also said the SBC was in favor of “adopting frozen embryos to rescue those who may otherwise be destroyed.”)
JASON: Right. Their position reflects a growing awareness within Christian circles about the moral implications of reproductive technology. For example, the Catholic Church has long maintained that IVF raises serious ethical concerns, particularly regarding the creation and potential destruction of genetically-tested human embryos. In the film, Paige shares this:
"To even have this idea about eradicating a type of person because you don't view them as enough. Yeah. To me, is a form of evil. Or because it's inconvenient—where do you draw the line on that?"
JOHN: That’s a huge issue, right? The “potential destruction of human embryos.” If we believe in the sanctity of human life from conception on—then that consequently requires us to grapple with the complex reality of frozen embryos already in existence.
JASON: Some Catholic bioethicists argue that while the Church opposes IVF, the adoption of existing embryos could be seen as a life-affirming response to an already existing ethical dilemma. This perspective aligns with the Church's emphasis on the dignity of human life while acknowledging the complex realities families face.
JOHN: So…I see this documentary then, perhaps, as a crucial conversation starter for the Christian community. It challenges us to think deeply about how we can uphold the sanctity of human life while compassionately supporting families struggling with infertility. As more couples face decisions about remaining embryos, the need for ethical guidance and practical solutions becomes increasingly urgent.
JASON: Yes, and for anyone considering embryo adoption, the process involves careful screening and matching. Prospective adoptive parents create detailed profiles of their lives and values, similar to traditional adoption processes. The genetic parents then have the opportunity to choose a family whose values align with their own.
JOHN: That's amazing. Where can someone go for more information?
JASON: For more information about embryo adoption and to watch the full documentary (free), visit SparesDocumentary.com.
JOHN: Great website, Jason, as usual. The resources section is amazing, as well as the “10 Things to Know About Embryo Adoption in 2024.” This movement is so hopeful. While viewing “Spares,” I was struck with what Ali said—when someone first told her about embryo adoption. "I think at that moment, it was a new spark of light and a new spark of hope that we could carry a baby and bring a baby into this world."
And LOL. According to a Wall Street Journal article I read this past weekend, parents are not supposed to “humblebrag” about their brilliant offspring! But how could I not help you spread the word about this powerful movement?
JASON: Powerful is right. Thank you. We believe it is close to God’s heart.
Visit SparesDocumentary.com for more information about embryo adoption and to watch the full documentary (20 minutes). It’s free.
2) What’s your organization’s story? How do you communicate it so it touches hearts? Aristotle said, “The soul never thinks without a picture.” After watching this 20-minute documentary, what did you appreciate about the storytelling approach?
For your team meeting this week, inspire a team member to lead your “10 Minutes for Lifelong Learning” session by spotlighting Book #98 in Mastering 100 Must-Read Books.
The Discerning Life:
An Invitation to Notice God in Everything
by Stephen Macchia
Books #97 through #100 spotlight “the final four” books in this recommended volume of 100 must-read books. Steve Macchia asks, “But are we aware of his presence? He’s tapping on the shoulder of our hearts all the time: tap, tap, tap . . . tap, tap, tap.”
• Read my review.
• Order from Amazon.
• Listen to The Discerning Leader Podcast.
• Download the 100 Must-Read Books list (from John and Jason Pearson).
Steve Macchia writes, “Far too often, spiritual discernment has been pigeon-holed into the exclusive realm of decision-making, learning how to make good choices and know God’s will methodically and predictably. We want a simple system to follow: set up the room, put people in place, consider the right options, add a prayer, and then press the button of discernment.”
And this: “Without a prayer closet, we are destined to live an inch deep and a mile wide. For any number of reasons, we are highly allergic to spiritual depth.”
7 Songs to Go!
We hope you’re enjoying this blog series, Johnny Be Good, featuring the 45 songs in the book, Anatomy of a Song, by Marc Myers. Stay tuned for the final seven songs—in the next seven issues. What’s your favorite song, so far, in this series?
ChatGPT and the Future of AI
“Will I lose my job?” That’s just one of dozens of fascinating topics in this new book, ChatGPT and the Future of AI: The Deep Language Revolution, by Terrence J. Sejnowski. It’s humorous and humble. Read my review. And for more book reviews, visit the Pails in Comparison Blog.