Why We Pray
Sometimes when we pray on the sidewalk, we become discouraged when there are few “saves” during a campaign. We can wonder why we’re even there.
As Nikki has said, in our hearts we know that there are babies saved that we do not know of. There have been instances over the years where women have approached the pray-ers in front of PP and said that, months or years before, when they came for their appointment at PP, they saw us praying on the sidewalk and decided not to keep their appointment. And they never made another appointment. Sometimes when they said this, their child who was saved, was with them.
Think of the hundreds of “Local Resources” cards that are handed out during the campaigns, cards that are given to people we’ll never meet, saving lives that we’ll never know about.
When we do save the life of one unborn child, think of a 100 years from now and all the descendants of that child that will be born because that child lived. By saving that one life, many others are born- their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, to the end of time.
“For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? When did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?’ And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’” (Matthew 25: 35-40)
Even if we are unable to save the little life inside the mother, we stand there, praying for the little one’s soul and her journey to Heaven. That is important- to be there praying for them at the end of their lives.
When I was confirmed at age 14, the priest called us “Soldiers for Christ”. I didn’t really understand that phrase those many years ago. Now, I believe that all who pray and offer help in front of PP are truly “Soldiers for Christ”, being His hands and feet, offering help to save the most vulnerable of lives.
Please join us in this “army”, and help us do battle against the evil of abortion.
-Chris
Read on for today’s Shift Reports
Susan & Greg: 7:30-9:00
This morning, the dreary drizzle greeted us as we drove downtown for our early morning Friday shift. When I arrived, my normal partner, Susan, was joined by Marilyn and Nadine. Thank you ladies!
When we finished setting up the fetal model display, the normal parade of workers began filing in one-by-one with their blank stares and invisible blinders. Susan and I, as usual, called out Abortionworker.com – we can help you change jobs! I continue to hope that one day, a worker will wake up and remember those words.
Early on, not long after 8:00, a mother and daughter walked in together. They fooled us a bit, as they weren’t your typical-looking couple, and they gave off none of the normal signals. We didn’t think they were going in, and suddenly they veered through the double doors. Unfortunately, we did not get anything in their hands, nor even had a chance to say something to them.
I did have a very nice conversation with a tall, well-dressed, woman by the name of Bree, who stood for a while with her two adorable daughters. The younger one, about the age of 5, told me she was happy because she got to to go on lots of field trips, like going to McDonalds! So cute! For a short moment, we stood there and talked and I explained why we stand in front of the building. Bree did take our handout and a couple of the black and yellow cards. She also has a son at home, so she certainly was a committed mother. After that, Kim and Kathy showed up, arriving a half an hour early, so I could make my 9:00 meeting with the dentist.
Michael, Mark, and Maggie: 9-11
On Friday, we had several wonderful pro life warriors who persevered through the steady cold rain and peacefully prayed throughout their shift. It is always good and often inspirational to meet different volunteers and hear their own testimonies as to how God’s grace has worked in their lives. This is one of my most ardent prayers–that God will send us people on the sidewalk with whom we can share these stories of grace and hope. An example: One young woman passed us by and sort of yelled that we needed to go home because it’s a “woman’s right to choose,” etc. One of the sidewalk advocates began a conversation. I came over just to see if I could help. She said to me that we all look intimidating to people standing there by Planned Parenthood. We explained that we all have made mistakes and do not come down to condemn anyone. We can’t stop anyone from having an abortion. We come here with compassion hoping to inform people that there are several wonderful organizations that offer help to women, and many much better options than Planned Parenthood. She took a flyer. She softened up a bit, and said, “Ok, I see what you are saying.” She smiled and offered me a french fry.
We were able to successfully offer at least two or three couples who came out with brown paper bags to take the literature on abortion pill reversal. Pete, Elsie and others ministered to a young couple that was walking around in the rain as they had a 24-hour bus delay before they could go home to Vermont. They stood inside the “yellow” line and shivered. Both said they had traumatic childhoods and parents who were drug addicts. Thankfully, they didn’t go into the clinic. We listened to their pain, gave them some food and prayed with them. This is one of the infrequent but beautiful opportunities down at the sidewalk to be able to minister love and encouragement to hurting people.
I have a story from Thursday and Friday. On Thursday, a young thin man briskly walked two very skinny young women into the clinic. They were hostile and (no surprise) kept turning around when they were inside to give us the finger. The young man soon came out and yelled aggressively at us. He went over to our baby display table and kicked it over, mumbling that he was really mad and wanted to “mess some stuff up.” Our security guard walked right over to the clinic door and opened it. He told the young man to pick the stuff back up. The man came out and did, cursing at us and saying among other things our husbands don’t love us, our churches are full of perverts, and our baby table is disturbing to young children and people shouldn’t have to look at it. He was very emotional. You could see the pain behind the raging. As he kept yelling, our security guard calmly told him to keep moving which he did. Eileen, a trained counselor and said that likely that the young man has been involved in an abortion and his anger comes from pain, especially at seeing the realistic depictions of unborn little growing babies on the table. We must keep in mind that people are triggered by the unvarnished visible evidence on the baby table, that abortion is not “health care” to remove a clump of lifeless cells, but the killing of a helpless human being. It made me feel great pity for the angry young man and we agreed to pray for his soul. Planned Parenthood “solutions” damage souls and after the abortion, many will be haunted by the painful memory and guilt of this decision to end a life for the rest of their lives. This is why it is a powerful witness to be down there and endure bad weather and nasty screaming people, because God can use us to help rescue at least some from making that terrible decision and also to offer hope to those who’ve had abortions that they can find healing through places like Rachel’s Vineyard.
On Friday, another young man walked aggressively past us and screamed profanities. He walked close to Pete, and it looked like he wanted to hit him. Thankfully, he did leave. All the advocates and prayer warriors remained calm and quiet. The security guard said he has seen him before and is one of the “regulars,” people who intentionally walk by to scream profanities or toss our signs in the garbage. It is beautiful to see the love and dedication of the volunteers and advocates. They are gentle and kind. When they are cursed at, they bless. Walt stood quietly in the street for a couple of hours with the “Adoption is the loving choice” poster. His serene witness I am sure was seen by many pedestrians and people in cars. You can’t “unsee” that sign! It is a seed planted in the consciences of many. We need to peacefully keep doing our part, no matter how people receive it, and trust God for the results. He is the miracle worker!
Elsie & Maggie: 11-1
We all missed Katie, who is sick right now. Please rest and get well soon, dear Shift Manager, because the sidewalk isn’t the same (and the babies are less safe) without you! But the dreary street outside the death mill was blessed this morning with cheerful, kind-hearted Pete; sweet, ever-faithful Maggie (a beautiful mother of seven beloved children!); gentle, quiet Barbara (who manages to persevere in BOTH praying the Rosary AND offering help to PP’s victims going in and out of those dreadful doors!); a steadfast gentleman-prayer warrior who held a sign promoting loving adoption while he silently prayed; and Eileen, a lovely lady who has been defending mothers and babies since 1982, in various parts of the country.
The death mill was terribly busy this morning, and we don’t know whether there were any rays of hope. But there were passers-by who eagerly accepted our literature — perhaps knowing mothers in need with whom they wanted to share it.
The best news was offered by Barbara, who reported that Women’s Choice Network has recently saved another mother and baby through Abortion Pill Reversal (APR). Praise the dear Lord!!! And who knows — maybe one of us played a small but key role in this — by displaying an ABORTION PILL REVERSAL.COM sign or handing her a leaflet or card with this information??? We don’t know how this wonderful mother found out about WCN and APR, but we do know that our prayers were answered!!
Please keep offering literature to victims EXITING PP, as well as to those entering.
Donna & Elaine: 1-3
Thanks to our faithful friends at St. Matthew’s Parish; Bob, Carol, Frank & Theresa, for your commitment to stand for life. Thank you to faithful Maggie for staying almost another hour after being on the sidewalk for 4 hours already! It wasn’t as cold as it has been but it was rainy. Bob, Carol, Frank and Theresa said the rosary. Information was given to all who would take it. The Lord’s Prayer was said with a familiar man who passes by often . The prayer for everyone going by us or going in and out of PP was that they would have an encounter with Jesus and come to know Him as Lord and Savior and that they would find healing and forgiveness only in Him. May the abortion supporters/workers realize that abortion is NOT healthcare. Healthcare is saving and preserving lives not ending them. If you tell a lie long enough, often enough, and spend enough money on it, eventually people will begin to believe it is true.
God please change our culture from a culture of death to a culture of life. In Jesus name we pray. Amen
Pat: 3-5
in the rain, Pat, Donna, and Elsie prayed for and offered help to PP clients and passersby today.
Thanks to Donna for staying a third hour to be with Pat for the first hour of his shift, and to Elsie, who came back after having done her 2-hour shift earlier today to stand with Pat so he wouldn’t be alone for the last hour of his shift. And Pat spent a lot of time praying on his knees.
Thank you Donna and Elsie for being with Pat today.
Val & Mike