Dear Friend of Life:
In just 5 days …we offer you an opportunity that could change your life and the lives of many in your community!
The question we invite you to ask is… are you the one the Lord is calling to start a program that will effectively reach out to abortion-bound women and men, transform hearts and help save lives?
Do you need help — once you get trained — to sustain that presence on the sidewalk in your local community?
Sidewalk Advocates for Life might just be the answer to your prayers!
Our mission is… To train, equip, and support local communities across the United States and the world in “sidewalk advocacy”: to be the hands and feet of Christ, offering loving, life-affirming alternatives to all present at the abortion center, thereby eliminating demand and ending abortion.
Applications to bring Sidewalk Advocacy to your local community will be openNovember 1-30!
More info at our website, here: www.sidewalkadvocates.org
We teach you everything you need to know about what to say to abortion-minded women, friends & family that come with her, post-abortive women, abortion workers… and so much more!
We make it easy for you, giving your community a small package that includes a DVD training + workbooks, an Online Program HQ (with flyer templates, bulletin announcements, etc.), and other great tools that you need to set-up and sustain your program!
Here’s a sample of the spirit of our program (plus some short videos that you’ll find in the training)…
Our Promotional Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Lizanne’s Story: https://vimeo.com/85324470
Testimony of a Former Planned Parenthood Worker: https://vimeo.com/85642948
Questions about the program? Feel free to email us at info@sidewalkadvocates.org with any questions you may have!
Again, if you need sidewalk counseling training and on-going support to sustain your program …we would LOVE to be a blessing to you and help you save as many lives as possible through God’s grace! It is our prayer that no abortion facility in America and beyond goes without peaceful, loving, well-trained sidewalk counselors.
Friends, thank you for supporting us in this work to save lives, transform hearts and end abortion through the grace of God!
One of the biggest questions we get is the use of signage on the sidewalk while sidewalk counseling.
In short, in our efforts to be as approachable to a woman-in-crisis as possible, we recommend peaceful slogans such as…
“Pray to End Abortion”
“Women/Mothers Regret Abortion”
“Men/Fathers Regret Abortion”
“Choose Life — Let Us Help! (Phone #)”
“Pregnant? Need Help? Call (Phone #)”
“Free Pregnancy Test & Sonogram — Ask for Details!”
The more woman-oriented your message is, the more effective you will be in reaching what should be your intended audience at the abortion facility.
We recommend that you make the sidewalk in front of the abortion facility a safe place where women can be loved into a different decision — a place where she feels safe to share her story.
If the woman perceives that the sidewalk is full of angry protesters, there’s a good chance she will shut down and avoid coming over to start the conversation. Therefore, encourage your prayer volunteers and fellow Sidewalk Advocates (or sidewalk counselors) to put away any angry signage and replace those messages with pregnancy help signs or peaceful signs that still tell the truth about abortion, but seek to reach her heart. The environment is surely half the battle!
After that, commit yourself to not only holding the sign, but praying that the message reaches hearts and minds!
WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL (OCTOBER 26 – NOVEMBER 1, 2014): “AN EXAMPLE IN EVERY SITUATION”
by Lauren Muzyka, Executive Director, Sidewalk Advocates for Life
Verse(s): “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children.” — Eph 5:1
Reflection: Sometimes, it’s so hard to retain our composure on the sidewalk.
The angry client who yells your head off …the boyfriend who is dragging his girlfriend into the abortion facility …the parents who demand that their tearful teenage daughter “go inside” …the mother of the young, pregnant girl who rips up your literature before you even have a chance to offer help.
Yes, I’ve seen all these scenarios …and many more! It’s hard to stay civil when people are either not civil towards you or the young mother-in-crisis. It’s times like these that you have to remember who you are and whose you are.
No matter what, we represent Jesus Christ and his life-saving love. That means we need to constantly watch how we handle difficult situations. This doesn’t mean that we won’t say difficult things at the right time …but it doesn’t do any good to lose our temper and yell, banter or sarcastically respond back. It’s at those times that I am called to take a deep breath, say a quick prayer, and respond back using my heart andmy head.
Faith Challenge: In difficult moments at the abortion facility, how do you respond? Sarcastically? Yelling? Make sure to stay calm, say a prayer and calmly respond back, watching your demeanor and tone. Be unafraid to be honest (and your anger might, indeed, be righteous), but make sure that the person feels safe responding back to you. Ask the Holy Spirit to be your guide.