Dear Friend of Life,
If you’ve ever spent any time on the sidewalk in front of an abortion facility, you know that it can be TOUGH! Some days, you don’t see much happen …then, all of a sudden, when the blessings rain, they pour!
Today, I want to give you THREE REASONS to not lose hope!
First, meet baby Jasmin…
From our Program Director, Laura, in Louisville, KY…
“I met a mom on the sidewalk in December 2015 …I was praying, and as she headed towards the abortion facility, I approached her and said, ‘Do you need a pregnancy test? I can help you.’
She kept saying, ‘Abortion.’
She didn’t speak English, and I asked her if she had other children. I explained I have 7 kids. I tried to walk to the pregnancy center next door, but the doors were locked. As I talked with this mom, the ladies came out of the center and said, ‘Let me walk you down to our other pregnancy help center.’
After talking with this mom through the interpreter at the pregnancy center for 3 hours — and later, through Jude of SAFL-Albuquerque, NM — the mother realized that several of the Sidewalk Advocates would help her through her pregnancy. When she saw the ultrasound, she said YES to giving LIFE to her baby.
Nate (co-Program Director for SAFL-Louisville, KY) started a GO FUND ME account which helped pay part of her rent and electricity bill; he helped her get tires for her car, too. As she was deciding if she was going to parent or place her child in a loving home through adoption, Lauren (the Executive Director of SAFL), helped me through the process.
We had a baby shower for mom …Terri, one of our Sidewalk Advocates, even watched her son when she went into labor for 3 days so she could give birth to her new daughter. This mother is so thankful and we have become friends in Christ!”
The blessings continue to flow! This next picture of baby J.J. was sent to us by Gary, our Program Director in Vestal, NY; he received the following story from his Sidewalk Advocate, Lori…
“I will never forget that day! My family and a few friends were praying at the abortion facility. We hadn’t seen much success that day in talking to those going in for abortions, but as always, we were there to pray. Then, a car pulled up right in front of the door.
When ‘T’ got out of the car, she looked at us and then started arguing with the driver. Suddenly, they drove straight to the sidewalk where we were praying. She said she knew when she saw us she could not abort her baby. It was a beautiful encounter of encouraging her in her decision, letting her know about her options and the help available, and that we wanted to personally be there for her. It ended with exchanges of phone numbers and lots of hugs!
This was followed by taking her to the local pregnancy center where she saw the ultrasound of her child. We have visited this sweet mother many times and seen her growing closer to the Lord! In January 2016, her darling baby boy was born. He is a joy to their whole family. What a miracle! A life saved by God’s amazing grace!”
Mom gave us permission to share this picture of her precious son, J.J., in hopes that other lives could be saved.
Reason #3 is baby Allie Marie. From our Program Directors in Pensacola, FL, Ernie and Mary Beth…
“Baby Allie’s mother came to choose life because we took the time to go to the abortion facility. We made ourselves available to her. It was the loving approach that convinced Allie’s mother to choose life.
Previously, as mom was trying to figure out what she wanted to do, she had been met by a protester in front of the abortion facility in her home state who treated her negatively and did not offer to help her. In Pensacola, she met our family. We gave her hope. She told us she saw something different — she could see that we genuinely cared for her, even to the point of taking her to a local OB/GYN office for an ultrasound to daily follow ups to ensure she had the help she needed to finding all the resources she needed in her state.
She saw in us an advocate, a family committed to her; she saw love. This, I believe, is what encouraged baby Allie’s mother to choose life.
Be available; ask questions; listen; provide a solution; remain committed; LOVE.”
This is why we do what we do. Many times, our Sidewalk Advocates have no idea what impact they had that day on the sidewalk. However, when we look upon the sweet face of these children — created in the image and likeness of God Almighty — our hearts are full.
In just 23 short months of ministry, there have been over 1,160 lives — just like Jasmin, J.J. and Allie — who have been spared from abortion through this work. To God be the Glory — great things He is doing!
I want to encourage you: even if you aren’t seeing these results personally right now, know that the Lord is faithful. He is blessing your efforts — and one day, you will reap the harvest. When you look at these precious pictures, understand that your sacrifice is worth it — even if you don’t see the fruit right away. The world is now forever changed because they are in it. The world is forever changed when you and I say YES to God!
Your prayers, presence and persistence help make moments like this possible. If you would like to be a part of revolutionizing the sidewalk in front of your abortion facility with great love, drop us a line atinfo@sidewalkadvocates.org, and we’ll help you get a location started in your backyard!
How can you make a LIFE-SAVING difference TODAY?
We are the only organization that is working earnestly to cover all abortion facilities in the U.S. with peaceful sidewalk counselors every hour of business. We provide comprehensive sidewalk advocacy training, tools and full-time staff support for our locations each and every day, helping Sidewalk Advocates to be most equipped for any situation they may encounter.
Financially, we are stretched to the max, and we are in critical need of your help to ensure this work is able to continue and meet women-in-crisis with love and compassion when they need it most.
We have been challenged with the task of raising $40,000 by 5:00 p.m. CST on Friday, April 1, 2016, in order to keep this great work afloat. Right now, we are $31,039 short — and the deadline is only three days from now!!
GO HERE TO HELP: sidewalkadvocates.org/
We are praying that each and every person who reads this will make the most generous sacrifice possible so that even more lives might be saved!
As a token of our thanks — whenever you send in a sacrificial gift of support for any amount by April 1 at 5:00 pm CST — we’ll send you a “Vote Pro-Life” bumper sticker!
Friend, thank you again for partnering with us in this work. God has already so richly blessed these efforts, and we are so excited to see what more He will accomplish when His people say “YES!” as we move forward!
In Christ, for Life,
Lauren Muzyka
Executive Director
Sidewalk Advocates for Life
lauren@sidewalkadvocates.org
sidewalkadvocates.org
BI-WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL (March 22 – April 4, 2016): “Suffering for God’s Glory”
by Jenna Scott, Program Administrator, Sidewalk Advocates for Life
Verses: “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” — 1 Peter 4:12-13 (NIV)
Reflection: Sidewalk Advocacy is tough. We are out on the front lines helping people when they are at a crossroads that most never through they would be facing. We are trying to be the answer to prayers for help as well as the Lord’s hands and feet. But as we help those who need our help and prayers, we often get sideswiped with our own personal battles that make it harder for us to feel like we have the time or energy to be part of God’s glorious plan. But take heed: we have been told that the painful trials and circumstances in our lives allow us to participate in the sufferings of Christ which will lead to God’s glory being revealed. That is not to say we don’t need to take care of ourselves when ministering to others, but rather that those days that you need prayer yourself brings us closer to Christ — and it might even end up as part of the story that ends with us rejoicing because another person said “Yes!” to life.
Let us pray: Dear Lord, help us see that everything in our life can be for your glory if we offer it to you. Our struggles and our fears can be used for your miracles when we give them over to you. Help us remember that even in our darkest hour, you are the light that can not only show us the way, but show others the way. Thank you for turning our sorrows into joy — and help us do the same for others for your glory.
