A Special Purpose

I’m so excited to finally be able to share this story with you! It’s a story of love, life, and loss. It’s a story of God’s redemption and healing. It’s a story I’ll remember for the rest of my life.

It was July 27^th, a typical Monday morning, which means I was at the abortion mill. One of our team members was gone that morning, leaving me as the counselor to go on the RV with any woman who wanted an ultrasound. I had the training to do that back in May, but had never had the opportunity to go on with anyone yet. I was nervous, but praying hard that someone would come for an ultrasound, and near the end of the morning, someone did!

She and her boyfriend came on and shared their story with the nurse and me. It was a story we hear often; she already had four children (all four from the same father, but a different man than her current boyfriend), was in school, and just didn’t know how in the world she was going to be able to have a baby right now. Besides, she shared that there were some relationship problems between her family and her boyfriend’s family and that her boyfriend had been physically abusive toward her.

We spent a while talking, addressing the issues that came up and giving help, support, and answers where we could. After a while we took the boyfriend outside to one of the men on our team so that they could give him some counsel from a man and so that we could talk with the woman alone with the hope that she would be a little more open without him there. She was, and we were able to have a good conversation. She shared with us that she had been close to God a number of years ago, but that some bad influences in her life and led her down a wrong path and she had been making some bad decisions. She then told us that she wanted to rededicate her life to following God right then and there, and she did.

Before they left that morning we gave her some maternity clothes and made a plan about how to follow up on her other needs. Among other things, we were going to get a 3D ultrasound to determine her baby’s gender so that we could plan a baby shower since it had been 5 years since her last baby and she didn’t have anything.

God had other plans. One week later as we were still discussing scheduling for the ultrasound, she texted me: she had miscarried. She sent a photo of her perfectly formed, 19 week old son. I was stunned. I cried. In a way, he felt like my baby. I had been able to see his life literally snatched from death only a week before, and now he was gone. Of course, I knew that he was in a much better place and would never have to face the trials of this earth, and I rejoiced in that. I also rejoiced that he had been able to be loved and treasured by his mama before he died, instead of dying a painful death at his own mama’s hands through abortion.

As I was thinking of the sadness that I felt at this loss and texting with the mama, I thought of something that we often tell women at the abortion mill: that God has created their child for a special purpose. That includes this little boy, even though he never lived outside his mama’s womb. I think that some of the purpose of his life was what God wanted to do in his mama's heart, and in mine. I know I haven’t been the same after this experience, and his mama hasn’t either. His short life accomplished so much for God and when his purpose was fulfilled, God took him home.

I have been able to keep in touch with this mama, and we were able to go out to lunch together shortly after her miscarriage. It was a good time to connect and share. She recently asked to go out with me again, so we plan to do that. She really wants to follow God and do what is right, but she has very little encouragement from her friends. I’m so thankful for the opportunity I have had to show her some love and support during a difficult time in her life. Please continue to pray for this mama as she cares for her other children, continues her schooling, and seeks to do what is right. And please pray for me (and our whole team) that we could continue to reach out and touch lives for Jesus!

Giving for Life

I have a post in progress about the exciting things that God has been doing through the pro-life ministry that I'm involved in. There have been a few women who have changed their mind about abortion in the past few months whose decisions I have had the privilege of witnessing! I look forward to sharing their stories with you.

This post is different from the content that I usually share here, but a financial need has arisen with one of the women who chose to let her baby live recently, and I would ask you to prayerfully consider whether you can donate a gift towards this need. Due to confidentially, I cannot share more details in this post. If you feel led to contribute, please leave a comment with your email address (I will not post any comment with an email address in it on this post) and I will send you an email with some details of the story/need and give instructions on how to donate online. Every gift of any amount will be greatly appreciated!

Thank you for your consideration of this need and may God bless you in your giving . . . for LIFE!

I Serve An Amazing God!

Today was an amazing day out at the abortion mill. Not because I like it out there. In fact, I hate it. I wouldn’t go if I didn’t feel compelled to. And not because we saw an extraordinary response, either. There was one woman, all smiles, who left and said that she had changed her mind. We were able to give her a gift bag and phone numbers in case she needed more help. That was exciting and encouraging, but there were still so many hard hearts.

Instead, it was amazing because I saw and felt God’s hand so many times. On the way down, my sister and I prayed and she read Colossians chapter three out loud. That was a blessing. I arrived feeling so much more prepared than I have other weeks. I felt a nearness to God, a quiet, trusting faith and peace in my heart this morning even amidst the utter sinfulness and depravity that was being displayed around me. That is why I said that today was amazing—because I serve a God that never ceases to amaze me!

And before I close, I wanted to share this quote that a friend of mine posted on Facebook recently. It sounds a lot like what I told the women at the mill this morning as I spoke on the microphone: “Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it. Right is right even if no one is doing it.” ~Saint Augustine of Hippo

So true. Few are those who find it. But for those who do, they will find that God is truly amazing.

The Laborers Are Few

Since we’re too far away from home to go to the abortion mill that we usually go to, we looked up the closest mill to where we currently are. We found out that they do abortions on Wednesdays and Fridays, so we went last Wednesday morning. I learned so much from being out that day.

We talked to one young lady, “A”, for a while. She took all of the information we had and let us pray for her, but eventually went inside. We then talked to her mother who said she didn’t want her daughter to do it. However, despite the tears in her eyes, she didn’t make much effort to do anything about it. “A” came out again later and we were able to share more with her. She listened, hesitated, started crying, but went back inside. She was obviously under conviction and had even told us that she knew she shouldn’t do it. As far as we know, though, she did.

Late in the morning, a woman pulled up, got out of her car, and almost ran inside. She looked like she had come straight from her job at a hair salon as she still had her apron on with her tools in the pockets. She came out a few minutes later yelling something that I couldn’t understand at first. When I began to make out her words, I realized that her pregnant daughter was inside and her grandchild was being murdered. This grandma was furious that she didn’t get to have a say in whether or not her grandchild would live. She was mad that such a thing was “legal” and even told us that we should blow the building up. My heart went out to this woman. It was too late for her to do anything, and she was grieving the loss of her precious grandchild whom she already loved and cared about.

The morning was full of interactions and conversations, but I will mention just one more. As we were getting ready to leave and had already walked a block away from the mill, a car pulled up beside us. I immediately recognized the couple inside as one that had come into the mill, so I approached the car. They asked for some of the information that we had, so I gave it to them and asked the woman if she had an abortion. She said no, so I asked if she was pregnant. She smiled and said yes. I then asked if they were going to keep their baby. The woman’s smile grew bigger and the man replied, “we think so”. I encouraged them that that was the right thing to do and God would bless that decision, and then they left. What an encouraging way to end the day! Thank you, Lord! Please join me in praying that this couple’s uncertainty would be replaced by a resolve to do what is right no matter what.

On reflecting on our day, we were saddened by the lack of people in front of the mill offering practical and spiritual help. In the words of my father: “. . . we were left with the serious question of whether there were any Christians within an hour's drive in any direction, which is the distance we drove to go to this clinic and be a witness just one time. The only two people there for a while were two Catholics. They told us the Muslims across the street have been actively involved. These were the only "evangelicals" that [this city] has to offer. "Evangelical" has to do with evangelist, evangelize, which means to tell people the good news, but the sad news is that no one will ever hear the good news that Christ came to bring from either the Catholics or the Muslims, yet they are the only ones out there with a message, with handouts, with help . . . there was a tremendous opportunity present, but not a single born again person to answer the call. Why? Where are they? Where are you?”

This made me tremendously thankful for the pro-life and gospel focused ministry that we are a part of in our area. The labors, prayers, and support of the brothers and sisters that are a part of that group are an inspiration to me! May the Lord raise up laborers in every place where precious children are killed to be a voice for the innocent and a witness for Christ to those who are spiritually dead.

Monday, April 13 - Abortion Mill Update

I haven’t been in a “writing mood” recently, which is strange because I usually have more things to write than I have time for! Days like today out at the abortion mill make me want to write, though; somehow it helps me unwind and process the morning.

One of our Monday team regulars was gone this morning so it felt like a very small crowd on the sidewalks. My sister and I arrived first and I began speaking on the microphone. There was a testimony from Tuesday last week at this same abortion mill that a woman who was in a back room preparing for her abortion came out and chose life because of what she had heard being shared over the microphone. I’m very thankful that we have this tool to reach those inside the building that wouldn’t be able to hear our voices otherwise!

I had checked the weather last night in preparation for this morning and it wasn’t calling for rain in the morning, so we didn’t bother to pack our umbrellas. We have found that no matter what the weatherman says, though, it almost always rains on Monday morning. And guess what? It did! (Note to self: always bring umbrellas.) We were thankful for a dear brother who arrived soon after us to lend his support, encouragement, help and—he also brought umbrellas!!

Two women turned away from death after seeing their child on the free ultrasound provided by the pregnancy resource center’s mobile RV that comes out. We’re so thankful for that tool, as well; God has blessed us with such wonderful resources in this battle for life and souls!

Sadly, not all of those who get the ultrasound chose life. My sister talked to one young woman who had an ultrasound and is seven weeks along. She said that she didn’t feel ready to be a parent, but my sister explained that she already is a mother and nothing—not even abortion—will ever change that. If she has an abortion she will just be the mother of a dead child. She admitted that it felt “awkward” to be going in to an abortion clinic. It should! That was her conscience, the law of God written on her heart, but she ignored it.

 There seemed to be a lot of hard hearts this morning. Of course, there always are, but some mornings we see it more than others. One woman took the resource booklet that the man in the car had taken from me and threw it back out the window. Later she was laughing and dancing in the parking lot. She might laugh now, but the Bible says that those who laugh now will weep later. My heart breaks for her.

Another woman that I talked to said that she had previously had an abortion and had gone through a lot of pain and mental anguish after that. When I asked her if she wanted to go through that again, she said that she just needed to do it. I told her that we were there to show her a different way if she would let us help her. Then I asked her if she knew or cared what God thought about what she was going to do and she said she didn’t care. It really just came down to a hard heart. God can’t help those who don’t want to be helped.

March 2, 2015 - Abortion Mill Update

Faith. Yesterday a brother at our church shared a message about faith that really encouraged me. (Messages about faith always seem to do that to me!) So, since we had just heard about it and it seemed relevant to our mission, faith is one of the things that my sister and I got to talking about on our drive to the abortion mill this morning. Maybe I’ll share some of those thoughts in a later post. My sister and I always have such good conversations on the way down, and having each other on the drive home gives us a chance to unload from the morning and learn from each other’s experiences. I’m SO thankful to have a sister to share the long drive with!

Due to a recent schedule change within the pro-life group that we minister with, we’ll be going out to the abortion mill every Monday for now. Somehow it seems that I get to bed later on Sundays than other days of the week, which was certainly true of this week! I was thankful that even though I got to bed very late, I actually felt well rested when my alarm woke me up this morning.

For the past month or so, Mondays have been very busy at this particular abortion mill. This morning we again saw the new normal of a dozen or so post-abortion checkups and 35-40 abortions. We didn’t have the typical rain that we’ve had on Mondays, though, and the nicer weather allowed us to have more interactions.

One young man, “R”, came down to the sidewalk and took some information from us. He seemed receptive and said that if it were up to him, he wouldn’t be there. We encouraged him to go inside and do what he could. Later after another pro-life man arrived, “R” talked to him for a while. Although the young man was encouraged to do what he was admitting he knew was right, we never saw him and the young woman he brought come out.

Every space in the mill parking lot was full at one point, so one young lady parked along the street behind our car. She was very nicely dressed so we wondered if she was there for a job interview, but that didn’t seem to be the case. As she was walking in we tried to give her some information. She said that she already had an abortion, so we tried to give her a post-abortive booklet. Later, she came out to put her purse in the car but wouldn’t make eye contact, talk, or take anything. On her last trip out to her car to leave, she finally stopped to talk to us. After some comments about premarital relationships and abortion, she told us, “My god taught me a lesson and I’m a different person now, but not because of anything that you said. I think it’s so rude and disrespectful of you to be out here saying these things to these girls.”

Late in the morning, a grandmother and her daughter and granddaughter (the granddaughter was about one year old) arrived. The daughter was the one scheduled for an abortion. The grandmother came down and took some literature and talked for a few minutes. She told us that she had told her daughter that it was okay to have the abortion now so that she could get her life fixed up and then she could have more children later when she was ready. She then became very argumentative and started yelling, which she carried on for quite a while and got the bouncer and a few others on the porch to join her in mocking.

Three women that we know of had ultrasounds today but still went through with their abortions. It is so crushing and sad to watch them come off of the ultrasound unit and drive into the mill. I was on the verge of tears several times this morning, but I think that’s a good thing. We were not able to witness any women change their minds today, but we sought to be faithful and trust God for the outcome.

We did have one bright spot this morning, and that was when a woman who had previously chosen life for her baby stopped by to tell us that she is having a girl! She was so happy and her excitement was contagious! All of the sorrow and discouragement of the morning was so completely worth it for that moment of joy!

Monday, February 23 - Abortion Mill Update

As my sister and I were driving to the abortion mill this morning, the hymn that came to me during my first time out to an abortion mill came to me again (it is the hymn at the beginning of this post). It prompted a discussion between my sister and me about spiritual warfare. I think that most of us are used to the spiritual battle that rages within us as the enemy tries to tempt and defeat us in our personal lives. We can tend to get used to that battle and sometimes forget the reality and seriousness of it. Somehow the intense spiritual warfare that we face at the abortion mill never seems to become almost “normal” like that, but we can still become somewhat desensitized to it. Recently there have been some circumstances within the pro-life group that we are involved with that have reminded me again about this battle–for the truth and for the right, as the hymn says. Please continue to pray for us and all of those who are ministering in various ways wherever the Lord has called them!

I felt very honored to be able to go and serve the Lord this morning by standing up for innocent babies scheduled to be murdered and by offering help and hope to desperate women. It’s never easy, but like I told the women at the mill this morning, the right thing is almost never the easy thing, but it is always the way of blessing. I have never regretted even one moment of standing out in pouring rain, freezing cold, or blistering sun. It is worth every single moment!

This was a very busy morning at the abortion mill with over 50 women coming in. A dozen or so were post-abortion check-ups, but 35-40 were there for abortions. We were only able to have a handful of interactions, but we pray that seeds were planted that will bear fruit.

One conversation is particularly on my mind. A young man came down to the sidewalk to talk to us and was asking about the two-day abortion procedures (for second trimester abortions). He was particularly interested in finding out how far along a woman is when they do those abortions. We gave him some information and urged him to bring her out to talk with us, but he just wanted to ask us some questions and never went in to get her. We told him that they didn’t have to come back for the second day; they could get the laminaria (seaweed rods used to dilate the cervix) taken out. Praying that they will do this!

I was able to give one of our booklets to a woman who was pulling out. She said she had brought a friend to have an abortion. I asked her to please at least bring the booklet inside to her friend. She said that she would bring it in, and then went on to say, “Well, it’s not her first child.” “It doesn’t matter what number child it is,” I said, “each one is a person and just as precious.” “Well, I agree with you, and I tried to talk her out of it, but it’s up to her and she made the decision that she wants.” I continued to urge her to at least bring the booklet in, and she nodded, smiled, and said that she would. Then she pulled out and drove down the road. I’ll admit, that type of interaction makes me angry. I’ve tried to figure out before whether or not this anger is “righteous anger”, but the fact that there is someone who could do something about what is going on but just smiles, nods politely, and drives off is more than frustrating to me.

I got to exercise my “public speaking muscles” on the microphone more today than usual, due to one of the women who is usually out with us being out of town. The more I speak on the microphone the more I feel God giving me the words to say and the less nervous I become. It is truly beautiful to feel the power of God and to sense His Spirit giving utterance!

There was one woman who changed her mind today that we know of, and we are so thankful for that! What is the value of just ONE eternal soul?

Monday, February 9 - Abortion Mill Update

            We really saw God at work out at the abortion mill on Monday! Despite unexpected rain (that seems to have become the norm for Mondays, whether or not the weatherman predicts it), we were able to witness FOUR women choose the way of blessing in not going through with their abortions! We were able to give a blessing bag to one of the mamas who talked to us. She was 14 weeks along and admitted that she was scared, but happy. She thanked us for being there to help her make the right choice—one that she will never regret.

Sadly, although two others got free ultrasounds (on the mobile ultrasound RV that comes out from the Pregnancy Resource Center nearby), they went through with their abortions anyway. Sometimes I wonder how a mama can kill her child after seeing his or her little hands and beating heart. That makes me very sad, but what is more sad is how hard and cold the mama’s heart must be to do that and what eternal punishment awaits her if she does not repent.

As car after car pulled over and went on the mobile ultrasound RV, we on the sidewalks looked at each other in astonishment. Throughout the morning there ended up being a total of seven women who went on. We have never seen that many get ultrasounds in one morning! It was very obvious to us that it was nothing we had done in our own strength—God was answering our prayers. They may have been prayed with a mustard seed of faith, but God heard and answered! (I’m going to cry just writing about it now!) God is so good!

Tuesday, February 3 - Abortion Mill Update

I thought of calling this post “O Ye of Little Faith”. Last night as my sister and I were gathering things in preparation for this morning at the abortion mill, I grabbed one of the two blessing bags that we have (blessing bags are bags that have been filled with items for both mama and baby that we give to mamas who choose life). My sister, seeing the other bag, asked me if I wanted to get that one, too. I hesitated a moment, then turned back and picked it up. “I guess it is a lack of faith that made me only get one,” I told my sister, “since there really would be no other reason for me to not take both of them.”

My thought had been something like this: We only need one of these bags; I haven’t seen two mamas choose life at this particular clinic in one morning before. I thought I was doing the best thing. And according to my logical human reasoning, it was. After all, why carry two bags all the way out to the car, drive them all the way to the mill and back again, and carry them both back inside at the end of the day? It is true that I haven’t seen two mamas choose life in one morning at this clinic before, but by me not bringing both bags I was, in essence, telling God that things couldn’t be different this time. I was limiting Him by my lack of faith.

Despite my less-than-a-mustard-seed of faith, we did see God work this morning. Maybe not in the ways that we had expected, but He was still at work! Like me not feeling so great on the drive down and wondering if I would have to stay in the car, but finding that I felt just fine after standing outside for just a few minutes. Or like bringing along another pro-lifer who knew a bit more Spanish than I did to speak with a woman who didn’t understand much English. Or like allowing our literature to get into the hands of five different women. Yes, God is good!

Three of the aforementioned women who took literature just reached out and took it from me as they drove in the driveway. They didn’t even stop when I asked them a question, which hasn’t happened to me before that I can remember. Thankfully, though, we were able to talk with the other two. One of them was the woman who didn’t speak much English. She seemed to indicate that she wasn’t even pregnant, although we don’t know for sure since it was hard to communicate. At least she left before the abortionist got there!

The other vehicle that stopped to take some literature was a young couple. When I asked if they were there for an abortion, they said that they had come for a test to find out if she was pregnant. They said that they thought abortion was wrong and quickly agreed to go talk to the RN on the mobile ultrasound RV that was out with us. Another pro-lifer went on the RV with them and we left soon after, so I still don’t know the outcome of that situation. I am thankful that we kept someone from going in to the abortion mill, though, even if it wasn’t originally for an abortion.

We had brief conversations with two other women in the parking lot. One was a woman who told us that “it doesn’t even have arms and legs” in response to a plea on our part not to kill her baby. We tried to share the truth about the development of a baby in the womb with her, but it was like talking to a stone wall. The other was a woman who said that she had been raped and already had an abortion. She ignored my request that she come over and talk to us because God still had hope and help for her.

The two blessing bags traveled all the way to the abortion mill and back again this morning and are sitting back where I got them from last night. Does that mean it was a waste? I would dare to say that faith and availability are never a waste. And more importantly than that, I think this experience did something else: it watered my mustard seed.

Monday, October 20 - Abortion Mill Update

            Yesterday my father and sister were able to minister at the abortion mill. I didn’t go along for several reasons, but they all boiled down to the fact that we are in a spiritual battle (every day, but being involved in a ministry like this really brings it out) and the enemy of our souls will do whatever he can to destroy us. Although I was looking forward to going and standing for life and truth alongside my father, sister, and other fellow laborers, I needed a time of refreshing and am so thankful to have been able to take the morning at home and receive the renewal that I needed from the Lord.

            Thus saying, I don’t have any first-hand updates from yesterday. I did receive the wonderful news that there were three saves, though! Thanking God for those lives spared!

            On the sad side, the abortionist yesterday was one who had not been coming for several months due to some charges against him (not specifically related to the abortion mill or his involvement there). Those charges have been dropped and he is back at the mill. Please join us in prayer for him that this situation will help to open his eyes before it’s too late.

October 6 and 13 - Abortion Mill Update

As much as I enjoy blogging, the weeks seem to fill up and slip away without me getting many opportunities to post. So, now I have two weeks of mill updates to do in one post, and if I don’t hurry, I’ll have another one to add in just a couple more days.

October 6: One interaction that still stands out in my mind was with a grandmother who, along with other family members, had come to support her granddaughter in the murder of her grandchild. After getting her granddaughter all set inside, this grandmother came back out and began yelling over and over, “God forgives!” “God forgives!” “God forgives!” We told her that yes, God does forgive all who come to Him in true brokenness and repentance. But we also explained to her that God does not forgive someone in the midst of willful disobedience. You cannot walk into sin and come out the other side claiming God’s forgiveness. God’s forgiveness is not a pass. It is not a license to disobey Him. The grandmother didn’t listen; instead she kept repeating, “God forgives!” “God forgives!” Yes . . . so much of the time a lie is 99% truth!

October 13: This week was so encouraging after the discouragement of so many hard hearts last week and no *visible* fruit. Another lady that we minister with wrote this about this week: “Four saves that we know of! My favorite was the last one, a young man had been out in front for an hour or more listening to all the preaching, and pleading words from [another sidewalk counselor] as well. They left and told us they didn't do it, raised their hands in high fives, and were honking their horn and waving to us, thumbs up as they drove away. Relief and joy!” Thank you to all of you who were praying for us and these dear mothers, fathers, and their children! You may never know how much your prayers mean to us!

Tuesday, September 30 - Abortion Mill Update

My father and I went to the abortion mill yesterday (my sister who usually comes with us was in Vermont helping my grandparents). I’m trying to write an update about our morning now, but the only thing I can think about is how I saw the abortionist. It was about half an hour after he arrived that I noticed him out behind the building. He had scrubs on and a plastic face shield. He stood out there for a few moments before going back inside. I wondered as I watched him, was he thinking of the baby that he had just ripped from its mother’s womb? I have to stop now. This is making me so sick. I don’t think I’ll ever forget what I saw yesterday.

Monday, September 22 - Abortion Mill Update

There were already at least ten women at the abortion mill when we arrived this morning. By the time we left, over thirty had come. It was a full morning and there were many cold hearts. We were thankful that there was no “security” person today, which allowed us more freedom to interact with those coming and going. Thank you to all of you who have been praying – this was certainly an answer to prayer!

Early on in the day, my father and sister stopped a vehicle pulling out. It was a father and mother who had brought their thirteen year old daughter for an abortion. They said they had already talked about it and were not open to changing their minds because she was too young and still in school. Our hearts broke to see such a young, tender girl being hurt this way. I thought of my own thirteen year old sister and couldn’t imagine her being in a situation like that.

We talked to one young man who said that what was happening there was the will of God. He tried to use what happened to Job’s children as justification, but we pointed out that it was Satan that killed Job’s children. He came back a bit later and he and his friend sat in the car looking at the information that we had given him. They left before the abortionist came but did not stop or say anything to us on their way out. He had lied to us a few times during our conversation about why he was there and who he was there with, so we are not exactly sure what their situation was.

            One mother who brought her daughter said that they had driven three and a half hours just to get an ultrasound. We told her about the free ultrasound available right down the road on the RV and told her to bring her daughter out there. She became very upset and said that she had two daughters and was “not a baby killer”. She claimed that she was a Seventh Day Adventist and was looking forward to having a grandchild. We told her that if she really loved her daughter and grandchild she would go inside and bring them out. She stopped answering when another man out on the sidewalks with us confronted her with what seemed to be so obvious from the way she was responding to us: they really were there for an abortion. She eventually began a conversation with someone else in the parking lot which she continued on and off until we left.

            One young lady who had brought another woman was on her phone in the parking lot, so we asked her to come over and take what we had in to her friend. She did come over and take it and listened to us for a few minutes. She said that she would take the booklet inside but instead she took it over to her car and looked through it herself. She never did bring it inside.

            One thing that I was reminded of today is how thankful I am for my parents and the home I have been raised in where God’s standards are upheld. Because of this, I have been spared the devastation that has come to the lives of these women that we see coming to the abortion mills. I encourage each one of you, my readers, to thank God for your parents and homes, as well!

Tuesday, September 16 - Abortion Mill Update

As I ponder new life in the womb, I think of a dear family friend who is hanging between life and death today. This mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at the end of last year. Several months later she discovered that she was expecting. She is now in advanced stages of cancer and their baby boy was delivered at about 28 weeks by emergency C-section this afternoon. We do not know how much longer she will live, but without a miracle from God (which we are hoping and praying for) it won’t be long. Many in her situation would have so quickly been willing to kill her child so that her own life could be spared. What a beautiful example of love and sacrifice this mother and her family is! Although it is a very sad time and many tears have been shed, we rest in knowing that our dear friend loves the Lord and her family, including her newest little one.

This past Tuesday was our first day out to this particular clinic on our new schedule. It had been a while since I had been to this clinic and the strategy for engaging those who enter is a bit different from the other clinic that we have been going to. It will take a little bit of getting used to and learning the most effective ways to minister.

Although even one car in the parking lot is too many, we thank the Lord that there were only about 12 there on Tuesday as there have often been more in recent weeks. Most people ignored our offers of help and support and words of warning, but we did witness one situation that we are praying was what we think it was! A vehicle with a Georgia license plate pulled in with two women in it. One got out and went inside and the other pulled up to leave. One of the other ladies out there with us stopped her and told her that we have a free ultrasound and asked her to go back inside and get her friend out. She looked like she was going to, but then she pulled away. Just a little bit later, we saw the woman she had dropped off on her phone out in the parking lot. We called out to her, but she did not respond. The driver came back and picked her up. On their way out we tried to ask them if they had changed their minds and chosen not to have the abortion. We also told them that we would be glad to help them with anything they needed, but they just drove away. That type of situation is usually a “save”, but we don’t know for sure. God does, though, and we pray that He was able to use us to make a difference in those women’s lives!

Another interaction that I had was not with a mother, but rather with a salesman. I stopped him as he was pulling in and asked what he was there for. He said that he was a salesman. I noticed that his shirt said something about air -- he must do air conditioning work or something like that. I told him what abortion does and what God says about that. He said that he agreed with me. So then I explained that if he did any work for them, he would be getting paid with money that came from killing babies. He said he understood. So I told him that even if he wasn’t the one killing the babies he would be just as guilty if he received money from them. He then told me that he had gone to Bible College and had been in church since before he was born. I explained that going to church and agreeing with me did nothing for him if he didn’t do what was right. He listened very quietly while I told him that what he did was very serious before God and the eternity of his soul was at stake in this decision. “Oh, I scarred that up long ago,” he replied in a careless tone. “As long as you are still alive it’s not too late. God is still giving you time! You can turn around right now and God can give you a new heart.” He just shrugged his shoulders. I told him that this was not just about his job; this was not just a light matter and that he needed to think about it. He said he would and then drove in.

Another pro-lifer out there with us spoke to him on the way out and he told her that he agreed with our position, but that what we were doing was ineffective. When she asked him what he was doing about it, he didn’t have anything to say. She told him about the 380+ babies that have been saved in that city alone through this ministry. It didn’t seem to change his mind at all. We’ve heard this before -- people who think that what we are doing is ineffective, but when asked or challenged they don’t have anything to say. This is a good reminder for us. Instead of going around condemning those who are trying to do something, do something yourself! We need to be people of action!

May God give us each the wisdom to labor for him in the sphere that he has given us whether that is in our homes, in our workplace, in front of the abortion clinic, or in some other ministry he has called us to. He said “GO”, and that is a word of action!