Last Saturday in El Centro, CA, just across the border from Mexico, over 100 people came to pray at the local Planned Parenthood. Two churches that recently adopted a week showed up together, standing for life in one of the most strategic places on the map.
El Centro is not only serving the Imperial Valley. It has also become the abortion destination for many women from Mexicali, Mexico. While some Mexican women are hesitant to seek abortions in their own country, they cross the border to El Centro, where abortion access is easier and more discreet.
That is why the Church must rise up here.
So far, of the seven churches our SoCal team has connected with, five have already said yes to adopting a week to focus on the issue of life. And while the extreme summer heat may pause prayer walks for a season, the groundwork is being laid.
Love Life has already hosted bilingual Sunday launches and prayer walks in both English and Spanish. There is clear hunger from the local Church, especially among the growing Hispanic congregations of Imperial County. Christ Community Church, the largest in the region, has campuses in Calexico and Brawley. Its lead pastor, Walter Colace, is helping us explore next steps for a broader launch, including House of Refuge Church training, boot camps, and sidewalk team development.
Behind the scenes, a faithful group of believers continues to meet weekly on Zoom to pray for moms at risk and to raise up Christian leaders in the public square. Their prayers are being answered. In recent years, Christians have been elected to city councils, school boards, and even the county board of supervisors.
The Church in El Centro is waking up. There is unity. There is hunger. And there is a growing desire to do more for life.
As momentum continues to build, we are prayerfully considering the possibility of officially launching El Centro as a Love Life mission field in the future. The need is great. The Church is responding. And the door appears to be opening.
Will you pray for what God is doing in El Centro?
Pray for the Church to rise. Pray for more pastors to say yes. Pray for women to choose life. And pray for the abortion to come to an end in El Centro.