Dear Friend of Life:
Ask any sidewalk counselor …we get scared sometimes.
What do I say?
How should I say it?
What if I say the wrong thing?
What if they yell at me?
I was reminded of those common fears that sometimes hit even the most experienced of sidewalk counselors when I headed out to two Planned Parenthood facilities in Missouri this past week. First, I went to meet with and support our new location in Columbia, then I made my way to St. Louis to learn more from one of our Program Advisors, the Coalition for Life-St. Louis.
The very first client I came in contact with in Columbia made an obscene gesture (or told me I was # 1, ha!). The third client began yelling at me — even though I calmly emphasized that I was there to help with free, alternative resources. But soon after, clients going into Planned Parenthood began accepting my literature and offer of help, allowing me to be there for them.
In St. Louis, I was able to witness to so many individuals through that iron fence…
- a woman who was struggling with an STD so much that she had trouble walking
- a girl who was bringing her sister in for an abortion
- a woman who brought her single friend in for birth control
- a man whose girlfriend was in the recovery room after her abortion
- a couple who was going in to inquire about abortion
…and a handful more.
In each case — by the grace of God — I was able to peacefully offer them a life-affirming alternative.
- For the woman dealing with the STD, I gave her the free services of the Pregnancy Center that did STD testing.
- For the woman seeking birth control, I was able to share the gift of chastity and info on where to go for their annual check-up besides Planned Parenthood.
- For the young man who was now a post-abortive father, I was able to speak with him for a good 10-15 minutes about hope and healing, as well as chastity and walking with the Lord.
- And for those going in for abortion, I was able to offer them the incredible help at the Mobile Pregnancy Center that would give them a free pregnancy test, free sonogram and another way that wouldn’t bring them a lifetime of regret.
And I began to see God working in every situation.
- The woman taking her friend in for birth control shared that she knew the Lord and would pass along the message to her friend.
- The young man thanked me for spending that time with him and shook my hand through the fence.
- The woman dealing with the STD gave me her name so I could pray for her.
- And the couple going in to inquire about abortion left Planned Parenthood and chose the Pregnancy Resource Center instead!
PRAISE GOD!
Yes, there were obviously those tough moments. And who wants to go to an abortion center? However, I saw such amazing moments of hope and transformation with the offer of help out on the sidewalk that I knew there wasn’t anywhere else I was suppose to be!
I’m glad I hung in there …or I might’ve missed the most beautiful moments!
We know that “with God, all things are possible” (cf: Matthew 19:26), and that’s how we proceed in Sidewalk Advocates for Life. It’s not really us offering help and hope to those going into the abortion or abortion-referral facility — it’s God working through us. And that helps us persevere in difficult moments!
What about YOU? Do you struggle with fear when thinking of heading out to the sidewalk?
Obviously, we’ve been there. And our job is to make your ministry easier. We’d love to give you support …can we help you?
Applications to bring Sidewalk Advocates for Life to your local community are open until May 15!
IF YOU’RE READY, APPLY HERE
QUESTIONS? Feel free to email us at info@sidewalkadvocates.org!
Know that we are praying for YOU!
As we head into Week 7 of our current program, let’s meet up with one of our amazing locations on the East Coast …and continue to pray with a devotional written by Program Advisor and SAFL-Milwaukee, WI Program Director, Dan Miller!
Wendy coordinates the Sidewalk Advocacy program through Sidewalk Advocates for Life in Newburgh, NY! Thanks to God’s grace and her YES to Him, they’ve already witnessed to a life saved and hearts transformed in front of the Planned Parenthood abortion facility!
We asked Wendy why she decided to get involved with Sidewalk Advocates for Life, and here is what she said…
“Before SAFL, we had our regular faithful who came out to the sidewalk to pray, whether they had gone just a few times or for some many years. Many of them wanted to be able to reach out to the women, men and workers at Planned Parenthood. These are people who have such beautiful and loving hearts for those at the abortion clinic, yet without any training were apprehensive to approach them for fear of not knowing what to say.”
“After the SAFL training, we were given the confidence to reach out in a loving manner, each in our own individual way depending on our journey that brought us to the sidewalk.”
“One of the aspects that makes this training program so amazing is the input of the many program advisors from across the country who have spent countless hours out on the sidewalks in prayer. They have dealt with so many specific situations, and it is through the Holy Spirit that they have been given the guidance and wisdom on how to effectively reach out to those in crisis in a loving manner.”
“At our training we also had members of our local pregnancy resource center sit in. They said it was a great refresher from the training that they had received at the center! Through this time spent together with the PRC members we have become a solid team who support each other in our mission to help the women-in-crisis.”
THANK YOU, WENDY!
WEEK 7 DEVOTIONAL: FEAR AND COURAGE
by Dan Miller, SAFL Program Advisor & SAFL-Milwaukee, WI Program Director
Verse(s): “But he said to them, ‘It is I. Do not be afraid.’” — John 6:20
Reflection: Fear and courage. “Do not be afraid” is Jesus’ response to anyone who is in fear – EVERY TIME!
The word afraid appears in the Bible 152 times – and fear appears 613 times! Fear is a human emotion that can paralyze us – if we let it. Generally, there are two responses to fear – defend or flee. Christ shows us how to overcome fear with faith.
If one has faith, you can pray for the gift of courage – also known as fortitude. Fortitude is the moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. It strengthens the resolve to resist temptations and to overcome obstacles in the moral life. The virtue of fortitude enables one to conquer fear — even fear of death — and to face trials and persecutions. It disposes one even to renounce and sacrifice his life in defense of a just cause.
Anyone who is – or may be thinking about becoming a sidewalk counselor — will have to face their fears.
No one is exempt from fear – not even me. I’m 6’7” and weigh in at about an eighth of a ton – but I had plenty of fears before I became a sidewalk counselor. I had many temptations and obstacles to overcome initially and along the way.
“No, Lord – not me! I’m not cut out for this!”
“No, Lord – it’s too cold out!”
“No, Lord – my knee hurts today!”
“No, Lord – I rolled my car – haven’t I given enough?”
“No, Lord – now me AND my wife are out of work!”
But if you but have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will move mountains (cf: Matthew 17:20).
Abortion – at times – seems like a mountain that will not move. It is huge and vast. Moving the mountain of abortion may seem like being given the task of scrubbing the floors of the Taj Mahal – with a toothbrush.
What Jesus didn’t tell our team at the start of our pro-life work was that we would move that mountains – but He gave us a spoon! Our sidewalk counselors were able to move that mountain a loving spoonful at a time! All of it was done with prayer and a firm faith in Christ — and sidewalk counseling is that spoon!
Faith Challenge: Let your excuses – your no’s – turn into a YES to God!
Take that mustard seed and water it! Go find your spoon and get digging!
Go now in pairs to all ends of the earth – and preach the Gospel of Life at these unholy places! Be courageous, knowing Christ is with you!
You may be the only Bible they ever read! You may be the only church they ever attend!
Go NOW! Lives and souls are hanging in the balance – TODAY!
Tomorrow hasn’t arrived – and yesterday is gone!
Go – TODAY!