Love Life Detroit saw the most babies saved in a single day ever this past Saturday during the October Prayer Walk. The first couple left moments after entering the clinic, hand in hand, smiling in relief. That baby was saved as the prayer walkers were gathering for the prayer walk.
As Roy Roy Jr., Detroit Love Life City Director, began the prayer walk, a second miracle was developing. As always, Roy was optimistic that God was at work. He had followed God too long to lose heart even though his city had not seen many saved babies since they had begun in 2020. However, Roy said that if he had given up along the way because of not seeing tangible fruit, he would have thrown in the towel years ago.
“You gotta keep plowing, no matter what.”
Rachel, one of the sidewalk outreach (SWO) team members, was facing that discouragement of plowing and seeing the ground devoid of the harvest she longed to reap. She faithfully continued on the sidewalk, week after week, year after year. However, she was wondering if God was telling her to give up in this futile mission.
That fateful Saturday, a woman walked past Rachel into the abortion center, seemingly ignoring the pleas to save her baby. Rachel prayed silently, “Lord, this may be selfish, but if she changes her mind, then that will be a sign that I’m supposed to be out here.”
Fifteen minutes later, the woman came out of the clinic, and the first thing the SWO Director, Catrina, noticed was her smile. Unbeknownst to Catrina, the mom told Rachel, “I changed my mind. I’m keeping my baby!”
Roy was ecstatic when the team notified him. “It was especially wonderful that Rachel, who had just prayed that God would give her a sign she was supposed to be there, saw the second baby saved… the most we have ever seen in a single day.”
When that second saved baby was announced, the prayer group erupted in cheers and praise. Not just one rare saved baby, but TWO! Hallelujah!
The clinic escorts tried to speak to the mom as she walked out of the abortion center, but she looked straight ahead as she went to her car with a smile on her face. When asked by Catrina if she needed any help, she smiled again and told her, “No, I’m good.”
“I thought she had chosen life,” said Catrina. “She had such a beautiful smile. I didn’t find out until later that she had confirmed that choice to Rachel. I know it doesn’t always happen that way, but what a wonderful confirmation for a faithful servant.”
The Bible is replete with stories of faithful servants who loved and obeyed God with little assurance they were succeeding in the mission. Noah built the ark before he had ever seen rain in the desert. Jeremiah preached forty years with only a single convert. Jesus went to the cross, and the disciples watched in confused horror as the One they had been so sure was the promised Messiah suffered an excruciating and humiliating death.
The ark saved humanity from extinction, everything Jeremiah prophesied came to pass, and Jesus rose from the grave, conquering death and sin once and for all, proving He was God. Results may not be evident or immediate, but God will bring the increase in His perfect time.
“We have been crying to God for so long in Detroit,” Roy said. “And we are seeing so much real encouragement lately. We do not always get to see the fruit, but we keep walking by faith, listening to God saying trust in me.”
We praise God for the faithful volunteers and staff who continue to seek the welfare of their cities, mobilizing and uniting the Church, and creating a culture of Love and Life. Like Roy and his Detroit team, they are all trusting God to bring about His good purposes in His good time.
“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!”
Psalm 27:13–14