Due to unavoidable circumstances, two of our new sidewalk outreach team members were ministering at the sidewalk of an abortion center without an experienced person with them. They had been trained and had always been accompanied by our seasoned team members prior to this time. They were clearly anointed for the work, and we felt confident they would be fine.
Nonetheless, our goal is always to have our new counselors serving with experienced counselors. They knew they would be serving on their own that afternoon and were fully on board. I have rarely met such enthusiastic and dedicated new team members. What a delight to see their passion every time they come to the sidewalk. They jump out of the car and immediately begin trying to interact with the abortion-determined women. They are on fire for God and know the mission is critical.
On this day, we left them with our instructions and prayers. I did not worry because I had trained them, and I knew they were ready. However, when their time on the sidewalk ended, I was in our office as they returned the sidewalk equipment. I was eager to hear their report!
“How did it go!!???” I asked.
“GREAT!!!!”they said. “There was a save!”
Mitch, the wife of Tom, was beaming as she returned our sidewalk supplies to the proper place. “A Hispanic couple pulled into the abortion center, but they stopped for us. They took our literature. We told them we had help for them. We told them their baby was precious to God. We told them they did not have to kill their baby. They told us they had an appointment, but thanked us. They sat in their car, looking at the literature. Then not 2 or 3 minutes later, they drove out!!! They stopped for us again and thanked us! They told us they changed their mind! They have our name and number so we can help them.”
I hugged Mitch and asked how it felt.
“I cannot believe it!!! I am soooo happy!”she said.
When we give the gift of our presence, miracles happen. God uses us to accomplish impossible things. The Hispanic couple had travelled all the way from Georgia to kill their child. Their minds were almost instantly changed because Mitch and Tom were willing to show up on the sidewalk of an abortion center and proclaim truth in love.
The present of our presence is often all it takes to transform a culture from death to life.
If you would like to give towards the mission of Love Life to help us provide a Christian presence to offer the hope of the gospel and the help of the Church at more abortion centers across the nation, please visit lovelife.org/givepresence.
