This past weekend I had an opportunity to learn how to reach out to women in crisis pregnancies from some of the nation’s best by attending Basic Training with Sidewalk Advocates for Life.
I’ll be honest, some people who say they represent the pro-life movement let their understandable anger at the death of innocent children lead them down a dark path. They forget that we are called to hate the sin but love the sinner. In their misguided attempts to do something about the greatest tragedy of our day, they themselves often become ugly, and sometimes sadly, do more harm than good. For this reason, despite my pro-life position, I was reluctant to get involved with the work on the sidewalk out front of the abortion facility.
That all started to change when I met my good friend Andy, the local leader for Sidewalk Advocates for Life, here in Cleveland, Ohio. As I’ve gotten to know Andy, I’ve learned from him and his example that there is a gentle and compassionate approach to offering help to women who are afraid as they face a crisis pregnancy. Andy’s witness truly changed the way I thought of pro-life work and he opened my heart to hear the call to get involved.
You can imagine my excitement when he told me that Lauren Muzyka, the President and CEO of Sidewalk Advocates for Life, herself, was coming to Cleveland to lead a day-long Basic Training seminar!
I was blessed to attend the training last Saturday. There was so much to learn! It was an inspiring day, and it left me feeling hopeful even in these dark and troubling times we’re living in.
At the end of the Basic Training, I signed the pledge of integrity, and can now officially call myself a Sidewalk Advocate for Life!
The vision of Sidewalk Advocates for Life is that peaceful, prayerful, loving, and law-abiding sidewalk outreach be present outside of every abortion facility and beyond, redirecting all to life-affirming alternatives, thereby ending abortion. If this is something you feel called to explore or become involved in, I invite you to reach out. I’ll see you on the sidewalk!
By Jesse, Sidewalk Advocates for Life – Cleveland, OH
If you are interested in learning more about getting involved on the sidewalk, visit sidewalkadvocates.org/volunteer or reach out to a local leader in your area.