Dear Friend of Life:
The stories keep rolling in from our locations all over the world …and it’s amazing what God is doing on the sidewalk!
We’re getting reports of everything from lives saved to vital, life-affirming alternatives being shared in a variety of situations — chastity, post-abortive healing, pro-life healthcare and many others — on the sidewalk!
We’re excited to report that we’ve witnessed to 34 children saved by God’s grace thus far! And that doesn’t include 22 clients who left the abortion facility to “think about it” — we continue to pray for these “hopefuls!”
Here’s one other beautiful example of what’s taking place on the sidewalk…
One of our locations in the Midwest sidewalk counsels in front of a Planned Parenthood abortion-referral facility. The Co-Program Director reports that he was able to speak with all 18 clients who came to the facility for various things this past Saturday during his shift on the sidewalk, and about half of them had a poignant reaction to the info that he shared about how Planned Parenthood harms women and children.
Now, those clients will think twice about returning to Planned Parenthood …and they received info about where they could go to fill their healthcare need with more life-affirming options. There’s no way to quantify this incredible, person-to-person ministry …AWESOME!
IF YOU’RE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT GOD IS DOING ON THE SIDEWALK …THEN WE INVITE YOU TO SAVE-THE-DATE! Yes, He might just be calling you to bring a Sidewalk Advocates for Life Sidewalk Advocacy program to your local community this Summer! Applications are open from May 1-15! More details at www.sidewalkadvocates.org …or email us with any questions you may have at info@sidewalkadvocates.org!
We’re now beginning Week 4 of this beautiful journey, and we humbly invite you to continue to join us in prayer for all sidewalk counselors everywhere and all of the clients they come in contact with. Meanwhile, we’d love to take a moment to introduce you to our Program Director in Milwaukee, WI — nationally-known sidewalk counselor, Dan Miller! After that, we invite you to pray along with our weekly devotional!
Let us press on toward the goal! To God be the Glory!
Dan Miller stands at 6′ 7” and weighs almost 1/8 of a ton! But after you get a chance to talk to him, you realize that the intimidating demeanor might as well be all for show — on the inside, he’s just a big teddy bear!
Dan is out praying and sidewalk counseling at one of the local abortion facilities in Milwaukee at least a few times a week …and he does it because he loves babies and loves their mothers! His big heart shines through his big demeanor in a really big way!
It’s not hard to see why his personal ministry — coupled with the prayer support of many in his community over the past few years — has seen over 500 children saved since the very end of 2010. He also counts 291 babies saved during the last eight 40 Days for Life campaigns in Milwaukee — an effort he also leads — as well as 17 children saved at another abortion facility in town. Those numbers also don’t include a suicidal, post-abortive woman who was saved because of the ministry on the sidewalk. WOW!
God is moving in Milwaukee …and it has a big part to do with Dan’s YES to God!
And yet, we were incredibly blessed when Dan chose to get on board with Sidewalk Advocates for Life!
Why, might you ask? Well, here’s what he had to say to friends and supporters recently…
“Many of you have been wondering out loud how we do it. Certainly, prayer is the catalyst. Fasting is also a huge component. However, if we did not have trained sidewalk counselors – some of the stories you heard over these last 40 days may not have been possible. …With the help of Pro-Life Wisconsin, we’ve been putting on sidewalk counseling training seminars for years. As we have traveled throughout the state, I found there was a price to be paid — even though the classes were offered for free. TIME! The one difficulty with a live presentation is distance. I knew there had to be a better way, but never had the time to produce something that could potentially replace my bright and shining face. …I met Lauren Muzyka at the March for Life in D.C. while she was still doing work for the international success story, 40 Days for Life. Prior to 40 Days for Life, Lauren was a (full-time) sidewalk counselor with the Dallas Diocese! (She) is now a 100% pro-life, licensed attorney – a great combination! …As seasons changed, she longed to get back into sidewalk counseling – but in a MUCH BIGGER WAY. She asked God what He wanted her to do – and the answer was Sidewalk Advocates for Life: a comprehensive sidewalk counseling training program. It is designed to be a plug and play DVD seminar – but you can work it with a moderator as well. For this reason, I am very proud to announce my affiliation with Sidewalk Advocates for Life! For (a small price each) quarter, you will have access to the wealth of knowledge and training materials that they have put together. The DVD was professionally produced – and it shows. There is no way I could have put something like this together! I can’t wait to bring it to you! …If you are looking to have a sidewalk training seminar at your church or organization, put us to work – FOR LIFE!”
THANK YOU, DAN!
WEEK 4 DEVOTIONAL: LOST & FOUND
by Lauren Muzyka, Executive Director, Sidewalk Advocates for Life
(Originally featured at www.liferunners.org)
Verse(s): “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” – Luke 15:4, 7
Reflection: In the pro-life movement, it is so tempting to detest the other side. The abortionist. The abortion center counselor who convinces the woman-in-crisis that abortion is her only option. The abortion center receptionist or office manager. The vehement pro-choice protester with a callous disregard for life in the womb. Yes, even the woman who ultimately chooses abortion.
But the Lord tells us in scripture that, “Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.” (Matthew 18:14).
Yes, God wills and wants ALL of his children to come back to Him with contrite hearts.
One only need to read the stories of former Planned Parenthood abortion or abortion-referral workers such as Abby Johnson, Ramona Trevino, Sue Thayer, Jewels Green or Catherine Adair to see the Lord’s mighty hand at work in the redemption of all who have been involved in the industry in a direct or indirect way whatsoever.
We must remember that all of us have fallen short of the Glory of God (cf. Romans 3:23) — not one of us has clean hands — and God has gone in search of us, too, continuously bringing us back to Himself in order to save us.
Let us take the victory that God has had in our lives and be sure to be His hands and feet in praying and reaching out to those in the abortion industry, knowing that He wills for them to be saved, too.
Call to Action: This week, reflect on how closely you have walked with God, recently. Is there anything you need to ask forgiveness for? Remember that reaching out to others begins with examining yourself. Then, pray for all those in the abortion industry, that they may come to Christ and know His saving love.
If you pray and sidewalk counsel at an abortion facility, be sure that you get familiar with Former Planned Parenthood Director Abby Johnson’s new abortion worker ministry, And Then There Were None (ATTWN). The ministry has seen over 100 workers leave the business since its inception a couple years ago! See www.abortionworker.com for details. Consider handing out information about ATTWN to abortion workers and lovingly offering them the opportunity to get help and find another job: http://www.attwn.org/for-sidewalk-counselors/.