Dear Friend of Life:
Are you called to become a Sidewalk Advocate and offer loving alternatives to those entering your local abortion facility?
I know what you might be thinking…
I’m not good with words.
I’m a man …I can’t connect with a woman.
I’m too young. (Or…I’m too old.)
I’m an introvert, I can’t start a conversation.
I just don’t have the time.
Someone else can do it better than me.
I get it.
It can seem intimidating to try to reach out to a woman who thinks that doing away with her child is the only answer. You might think that you’re just not a good match for this kind of ministry …and besides, what if you ‘mess it up,’ right?
Truth be known — even when I head out to the abortion facility, I still get little butterflies in my stomach …and I’m teaching others!
But I think that what we have to remember is this: there is no perfect sidewalk counselor! God will use your unique gifts, talents, background, education and station in life to reach hearts and minds. I have seen all different personalities, ages and walks of life be successful in changing hearts and minds at the abortion center.
And if we realize it’s important, we’ll make the time.
We must understand that we have the greatest weapon available to us on the sidewalk: the love of God! I have seen the most hardened cases melt when peacefully presented with a loving alternative and offer of unconditional help …no matter who the sidewalk counselor is.
And no matter what, I keep these words from Mother Teresa with me: God has not called me to be successful, but faithful.
Either way, we’ll give you the training and support that you need to be successful!
So, what are you waiting for? Won’t you at least check it out? Find a program near you by going here: https://sidewalkadvocates.org/locations/
Feel free to contact your local Program Director and find out when the next training will be. (Note that there is no obligation to become a Sidewalk Advocate after a training …but we hope you’ll seriously consider it!)
And, of course, be guaranteed of our prayers as you step out in faith!
As we head into Week 11 of our current program, let’s go back to South Carolina and say hi to one of our Sidewalk Advocates …and continue to pray together with this week’s devotional, written by Program Advisor, Julia Pritchett!
Once in awhile you meet someone whose love for God radiates through their whole being!
That’s Sharon in a nutshell — a kind, warm-hearted, thoughtful daughter of God who simply wants to serve Him by loving others.
Thanks in great part to her help on the sidewalk, the Sidewalk Advocates in Columbia have already witnessed to lives saved and many hearts touched by their ministry.
Sharon recently shared with us how much the Sidewalk Advocates for Life Sidewalk Advocacy program — sponsored locally by the Diocese of Charleston — has blessed their outreach so far…
She stated that a group of five individuals — an “army of angels,” as she called it — randomly showed up to the abortion facility recently while she was sidewalk counseling and praying. In short, they wanted to help! Sharon said that because she had just attended a training with Sidewalk Advocates for Life, she was able to share many tips and strategies with them for reaching the hearts of the women and men going in. After her sharing, she said that they were so blessed and excited by their new-found knowledge that they pledged to help the ministry any way that they could!
This is just one story of how their dedication and excitement is spreading to other like-minded supporters. We cannot wait to see all that God will do through their constant YES to Him every day on the sidewalk!
THANK YOU, SHARON!
WEEK 11 DEVOTIONAL: A Winning Strategy
by Julia Pritchett, Sidewalk Counselor & SAFL Program Advisor
Verse(s): “For by strategy war is waged, and victory depends on many counselors.” — Proverbs 24:6
Reflection: A friend recently called me up to tell me about an interesting experience she had while driving past a courthouse. She described the way people were holding signs outside the courthouse promoting the candidate they wanted others to vote for. She said they were smiling, waving, and showing happiness. Then, she said, “What if people outside of abortion facilities were that happy?”
Wow! What a wake-up call this is for most of us. From personal experience, I can attest to how much more of an impact joy has than sorrow. Yes, it is easy to be overcome by sorrow for what is happening at abortion facilities. We can be somber out of respect for the gravity of the situation. However, radiating joy is what will attract abortion-vulnerable people to us. This is our strategy for winning the war!
Abortion is often a desperate act. It is usually surrounded by negative emotions and tears. That is why our strategy needs to be the direct opposite: joy, love, peace, and hope.
As the verse also denotes, it takes many counselors to claim victory. It will take all of us being joyful and loving to win this war.
Call to Action: Make an effort to smile at each person you see walking into an abortion facility the next time you sidewalk help. Say a kind word to abortion facility workers when they come into work. Wave at passing traffic. Muster energy to enthusiastically greet other helpers who show up to help with you or who show up to relieve you for the day; we need each other. Be a joyful, welcoming presence!