Dear Friend of Life:
Even though we are always excited every time a life is saved at the abortion center, we continue to realize that there’s some ministry on the sidewalk that you just can’t begin to quantify with numbers.
For example, one of our Board members recently let us know that our “meet & greet” event in South Carolina a couple weeks ago had touched one community member in a profound way. She let him know that she has decided to retire early …and become a full-time Sidewalk Advocate! WOW!
Similarly, one of our Program Directors, Dan, called this past week to say that a friend of his had recently seen our Promotional Video, “Saving Generations,” and she was very moved. She said that the story in the video was not unlike her own — her unmarried great-grandmother had found herself pregnant in less than ideal circumstances, as well. Twice, in fact. The first time she had an illegal abortion; but the second time, her great-grandmother chose life. The little girl that her great-grandmother gave birth to was her grandmother.
After seeing the video, she was moved to head out to the sidewalk to share her story: after all, she literally wouldn’t be here if her great-grandmother had not chosen life!
“I need to go now,” she told him.
Dan informed her that he was personally was taking a little bit of a break from the sidewalk while other Sidewalk Advocates would cover the abortion facility: “However, I’d be happy to meet you out there in a few weeks,” he told her.
“No,” she said, “I have to go NOW.”
Seeing that this call weighed heavy on her heart, Dan set up her to be mentored by the other Sidewalk Advocates on the first possible abortion day this week. WOW!
God is moving His people in mighty ways — and we are so thrilled to see people getting out to the sidewalk to save lives and transform hearts by the power of His grace!
IS THE LORD MOVING YOU? Applications to bring Sidewalk Advocates for Life to your local community 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!
This week, let’s go to Beaumont, TX to say hello to Eileen and her newly-formed Sidewalk Advocates for Life team as they mark a new phase of pro-life witness …and we invite you to continue to pray with us through a devotional written by SAFL Program Advisor, Julia Pritchett!
Eileen Romano is one of the most well-known and beloved pro-life advocates in Southeast Texas. She and her team have spent countless hours praying and sidewalk counseling in front of the abortion facility in Beaumont, TX through the 40 Days for Life campaign and other activities.
Eileen signed up for Sidewalk Advocates for Life …and then, their abortion facility closed!
We at Sidewalk Advocates for Life chuckled a bit and thought, “well, guess our new tag-line is: sign up for Sidewalk Advocates for Life, and your abortion facility will close — you don’t even have to do anything!”
Of course, the closing had nothing to do with us and everything to do with God’s grace — the power of prayer and presence at the abortion facility along with the valiant pro-life lobbying efforts this past summer to pass the new Texas law that made it difficult for the facility to continue.
We asked Eileen what she planned to do next, and here’s what she said: recognizing that women would still leave her community to go to the next nearest abortion facility, they resolved to continue with our program and commute periodically to the new Planned Parenthood in Houston, TX (said to be the largest abortion facility in the Western Hemisphere).
At the community-wide closing celebration for the Beaumont facility, Eileen told us, “The training that we received through Sidewalk Advocates for Life is knowledge that will bless us whether we’re having a cup of coffee with a friend in an unplanned pregnancy or educating others about abortion or helping us grow our sidewalk ministry.” They are excited to put the additional knowledge into practice and continue their pro-life witness!
THANK YOU, EILEEN!
WEEK 5 DEVOTIONAL: A “WAY OUT” FROM ABORTION
by Julia Pritchett, SAFL Program Advisor
Verse(s): “No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it.” -1 Corinthians 10:12-13
Reflection: There are many trials we face when sidewalk helping. We may have difficulties standing for long periods of time, trouble tolerating extreme temperatures, or feel embarrassed.
Yet, these trials are quite human. God, our Creator, fashioned each of us. He knows everything: each hair on our head and our unique limitations. He will not try us beyond our strength. In fact, He will bless us in our weaknesses out there on the sidewalk.
In our trials we are often given “ways out.” Umbrellas, coats, a stranger bringing coffee to warm us up, kind words from a passerby. These help us bear our crosses in the name of LIFE.
We are called to be living signs of a “way out” from abortion. Pregnancy, for some, it is a great trial. Yet, God does not test us beyond our strength. We are there to remind each person considering abortion of this truth. We are called to help them bear their trials, to have a way out.
Call to Action: Donate your time, talents, and prayers to those experiencing pregnancy so that they have “a way out.” Send diapers to your local pregnancy center, pray for someone considering abortion and her child, babysit for a single mother free-of-charge.