Mara was living a “very reckless life” when she found herself pregnant and terrified. She went to the only place she thought could help her: Planned Parenthood. There were no friendly faces offering hope or signs advertising help outside the facility. She never even saw her baby’s ultrasound. Looking back, Mara reflected:
I so wish that there would have been someone on that sidewalk … smiling at me and saying, ‘You don’t have to do this. We can help you.’ …
I needed, at that time, the love of Christ shown through someone who would sacrifice to help me – their time, their resources. And it doesn’t take much. …
I just needed someone to point me in the right direction to get me to stop and pause and think about what I was going to do and the consequences of that decision, because it wrecked me for so many years.
Mara has since found redemption through Christ, but she doesn’t want any other woman to experience the pain she did, to live with the scar she still carries. So she stands on the sidewalk now, trained and equipped with the resources to help other women make a better choice.
And Mara’s team in Grand Rapids is doing just that, having helped 154 abortion-bound moms choose life! For the team leader, Melissa, these miraculous moments didn’t end on the sidewalk. About three years ago, Melissa began her 
journey with a pregnant mom, Kiara. Already caring for three other children, one with special needs, Kiara was encouraged to abort by everyone in her life. The baby’s father took her to the abortion facility, and while there, she felt the pull of the Holy Spirit to talk to the Sidewalk Advocate outside (even though an abortion worker advised against it). Kiara debated, walking back and forth multiple times, before she finally approached Melissa. Remembering the encounter, Kiara shared: “It was just like a ray of sunshine talking to her,” as Melissa prayed with her and offered encouragement and assistance.
Not only did Kiara choose life for her baby boy that day, but she also forged a friendship with Melissa, who helped her find the support she needed despite the “resource desert” where she lived. “Aunt” Melissa was blessed to be there at the birth of Kingdom and to wish him a Happy 2nd Birthday this past spring! (Did you miss the amazing beginning of the “Kingdom” story? Check it out part 1 and 2 here.)
With your support, we can help more moms like Kiara experience the joy of motherhood. We know from those we serve that without a loving presence outside every abortion and abortion-referral facility, more women will be wounded by abortion, like Mara. You can make a live-saving gift today at sidewalkadvocates.org/donate.
Your sacrificial generosity is the difference between these two stories – making sure we can stand in the gap between joy and sorrow, between life and death. Plus, your gift through August 8 will go even further thanks to a matching gift, doubling every donation up to $260,000.*