For a Reason

A few days ago I got on the wrong train to go to work and had to switch trains more times than usual. Frustrating. But while I was on the train I saw a lady looking at the pamphlets in my hands (I was one my way to stand outside Dr. Emily's - the abortion center in the South Bronx). She asked if she could have one and I gave her one in Spanish. We had to get off the train a few seconds later so I didn't have much of an opportunity to talk to her but you never know the difference it could make. So long story short - I guess God definitely had a reason for me getting on the wrong train.

Pro-life "work" is not a 40 hour per week job but a life style - a worldview. The way you vote, live, lifestyle decisions etc. are all influenced by it. You can't "clock out" from being pro-life.

Education starts with Conversation

A few days ago Gabrielle and I got to talk to a young woman about the pro-life movement and what we thought about abortion and contraception. She was in her 20s studying for her PhD and asked us what we were doing in the DC area. We explained a bit about the pro-life movement and what abortion procedures were, their side effects, and what our goal was by standing outside an abortion center.

She seemed interested to hear what we had to say. After explaining all this to her for a few minutes she told us that even though she didn't agree with us she thought what we were doing was good.

She asked what the pro-abortion people have said that really bothers us. Of all I've heard them say two specific attacks bother me. First of all - they say we (the pro-life movement) are ok with killing an abortionist but want to save babies. Obviously they are referring to Scott Roeder - the man who professed to be "pro-life" who killed George Tiller.

First of all, I do NOT support the killing of George Tiller. That is not the response of someone who is truly for life. I do not stand behind Scott Roeder - nor do I think he is pro-life.

Secondly - they say that we don't care for women. Excuse me, but I deeply care for women. I have seen that abortions seriously damage women. I work for pregnancy centers that provide resources for women. We care for the whole woman - her emotional, physical, spiritual health. As I have mentioned before - abortion is not a quick fix - women are not healed by abortion.

I really appreciated the conversation we had with this young woman. We were able to hold a conversation about abortion and it's effect on society without personal attacks or insults.

*I don't know if you can see it in the picture - it's more of our sidewalk chalk - it says "Abortion exploits women."

Silent No More

Tonight was the last evening rally outside the Germantown abortion center. Over three hundred people came to sing, pray, and listen to several speakers. One of them was a woman named Kelly Stauffer who shared her experience getting an abortion at 14 from George Tiller in Kansas.

Some of the most effective testimonies are those from women who have been through an abortion and regret it. They expose a lie that the pro-abortion side puts out - that abortion helps women.

No. Women DO regret their abortion. Kelly Stauffer said this. The women we work with in our pregnancy centers say this. Silent No More - an organization of women who have had abortions and speak up about them - they say this.

One of the big signs the pro-abortion people have is "Trust Women." This seems rather deceptive to me because we trust women too. Don't imply we don't. This issue is not about trust. It's about right and wrong. It's about life and death.

If you're interested in hearing Kelly Stauffer's testimony go to this LINK.

Peace, Prayer and Pro-Life Sidewalk Chalk

Summer of Mercy. Day 6.

Gabrielle and I (Sarah) are here in Germantown, MD participating in the Summer of Mercy 2.0. In previous blog posts we’ve explained a little of what that’s about. Our routine recently has been gathering in front of the abortion clinic three times a day to pray, sing, and stand as a peaceful public witness.

I am so glad to be here - this week has been a good reminder that God is the one in control. He is the one who works in the hearts of men and women. God is the one responsible for changing hearts - not us.

Kneeling down on the dry, August grass besides dozens of Christians of varying faith traditions and churches is unifying. Standing outside in hot, humid weather we cry out to God for the lives of pre-born children. With a deep sense of sinfulness we realize that we need Christ just as much as women who get abortions, abortion center workers, abortionists. We don’t hate them. We love them. We daily pray for their change of heart.

There are a group of pro-abortion advocates down the sidewalk from us. Sometimes we walk past them praying, we offer them water, we don’t insult them. But they aren’t always that considerate to us. Actually, the picture on the top of this post is of one of them pouring water on the pro-life sidewalk chalking that we were doing. (We wrote pro-life messages in chalk all around the building’s sidewalk). The words were “You can’t wash away the TRUTH.” Ironic. They keep trying but all they can clean up is chalk.

I don’t hate pro-choice advocates. I truly do believe that some of them sincerely think they’re helping women. I just feel sorry that they have bought into all these lies. They seem very sad and angry all the time. While they curse, ignore us, video-tape us, write down complaints, we have kids, songs, laughter, community.

Vitality.

And that’s what the pro-life community is about.

The Start of Healing

Abortion is never a healing process. It's not something you can stuff in the back of your head and forget about. You may be able to "get away with it" for a few years but it's a ticking time bomb. Some day it will hit. Maybe not today, not tomorrow, maybe not even ten years down the road but it will hit.

I talked to a girl the other day who came in wanting to parent. I started talking to her about women's health and started to show her a short non-graphic film on abortion procedures and risks. She asked me to pause it right after the film started. I stopped and asked what was the matter. She started to explain how she knew about abortion because she had one before. She started crying and told me the whole story.

She kept telling me that she was over it but her crying and expression said the exact opposite. We gave her information about free post-abortion counseling. I really hope she tries it - if a woman has had an abortion she needs to talk about it. She needs to cry and let the emotions out.

That is the start of healing.

*Rachel's Vineyard is a great resource for post-abortive counseling and healing.

The Summer of Mercy

The Summer of Mercy kick off was tonight. This starts a week long peaceful and prayerful gathering of pro-lifers from all over the nation.

The Summer of Mercy 2.0 is the "updated" version of the very first summer of mercy that happened in 1990 in Wichita, Kansas. Thousands of men and women from around the country came to Wichita and prayed for the end to abortion.

Specifically, this week, we will be praying in front of the abortion clinic Leroy Carhart works for. As a few of the speakers stated tonight we don't hate Leroy Carhart - we care for him. We're not just concerned for the lives of the unborn but for the lives of the born as well.

I'm looking forward to participating in this event. Even if you won't be attending the Summer of Mercy please be praying with us this week. For the end to abortion. For the end to injustice. For Leroy Carhart. For the men and women who are brave enough to stand up for what is right.

In which the Author is upset

Lies.

That's all I could think after I read an article written by a woman who was adamantly pro-abortion. Why did this upset me? The article was written against an upcoming pro-life event going on in Germantown, MD (very close to where I live.) The event is called Summer of Mercy 2.0. It is a peaceful, prayerful rally in which people from around the nation are coming and pleading for justice. We are standing up for what is right in the worst holocaust this country has seen.

The lady who wrote this article accused us (us being pro-lifers in general) of not caring for women. She wrote that the only reason we are "pro-life" is because we are religious fanatics who believe that the biblical mandate is that women should have babies - and lots of them.

Where is this coming from? The Bible does not require women to have tons and tons of babies. That's not the point - and the verses this woman quoted were thrown completely out of context.

I am pro-life. I love women. I deeply care about them. I care about their health. I care about their situation. My heart breaks for many them. These aren't easy situations. I have talked to women who have been raped. Who have been abused. Who are suicidal. Who have had multiple abortions. Who are left on the street. Kicked out of their house.

I care.

I also know that abortion is not a healing process. I have met many, many women who believe that abortion will "fix" their lives, that the pregnancy was a mistake and that an abortion can make things go back to the way they were. But abortion is not a quick fix. It's a decision that deeply affects a woman's physical and emotional health for the rest of her life.

I'm not saying this just because I'm a Christian. I'm saying this because I've seen it. I've heard many women tell me their abortion experiences.

I've seen her sob heartbrokenly.

I've seen her doubled over in pain leaving the abortion clinic.

I care.

And I won't stop.

Out of the mouths of babes

A few days ago I was counseling in the North Bronx. A woman walked in with her five year old son. I was a little startled to see that she brought him - mainly because she was contemplating an abortion. The little boy sat quietly on her lap while we talked about abortion procedures and her alternatives. We showed the lady a fetal model of what her baby looks like at her specific stage of pregnancy. The little boy loved the little babies - he like touching them and asking lots of questions.

A few minutes later we showed the lady a simple non-graphic film that explains the two most common abortion procedures and the risks associated with them. The little boy was in the room the entire time. During the first explanation of the abortion procedure:

"Mommy, what are they doing to the baby?"

"They're taking the baby out."

"Why?"

"They're killing (yes, the woman used this word) the baby because the mommy isn't ready right now."

"Why...."

"Shhhhh."

The little boy looks at the little fetal models on the desk next to us.

"Mommy, are they going to kill those babies too?"

"Shhhh."

Apparently the little boy had told his mom that she was pregnant about a month before she knew. He calls the baby "my baby".

This little boy will be the one who talks his mother out of aborting his little sibling.

Breaking News

Yesterday the judge granted preliminary injunction. The abortion law will not go into effect tomorrow - Praise the Lord! This law would have required our pregnancy centers to disclose the list of services that we do not provide (abortions, emergency contraceptives) and make these dislosures verbally as well as on all advertisements.

The judge declared this to be unconstitutional - it "violates the constitutionally protected rights to freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and association, freedom of the press, and due process of law, guaranteed to the plaintiffs by the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, as well as the New York Constitution." (LifeNews.com "Judge Halts New York City Law Attacking Pregnancy Centers)

The battle is not over yet but the Lord is doing great things in NYC.

Articles:
www.lifenews.com/2011/07/13/judge-halts-new-york-city-law-attacking-pregnancy-centers/
www.lifesitenews.com/news/breaking-district-judge-halts-new-york-city-pregnancy-center-gag-law
www.jillstanek.com/2011/07/breaking-judge-enjoins-nyc-rule-attacking-pregnancy-care-centers/

STDs? At least I look hot.

Where'd all the good people go?

I've been changing channels

I don't see them on the TV shows

Where'd all the good people go?

We got heaps and heaps of what we sow

They got this and that

With a rattle a tat

Testing one, two

Now what you gonna do?

Bad news, misused, give me some truth

You got too much to lose

Whose side are we on today, anyway?

OK, whatever you say.

Wrong and resolute but in the mood to obey

Station to station desensitizing the nation

Going, going, gone.

~Good People by Jack Johnson

On Sunday the pastor at the church I’m attending talked about cultural acceptance. He preached on how Sarah (Genesis 16) being barren was cause for cultural ostracism. If a woman had a husband and children then she was culturally accepted. He warned us that before we jumped all over this for not being “politically correct” or being gender biased that we should consider what OUR culture considers to be acceptable. Achievement, career and sexual appeal are our cultural acceptance norms. From the young age of kindergarten children are pushed to excel and achieve, to get into the best schools, the best internships, the best careers and look hot doing it.

Not only are achievement, career and sexual appeal “encouraged” but they are broadcast in our magazines, TV, radio, and clothing styles. I especially see this in the young women who come into the pregnancy centers. They are so wrapped up in achieving a career and being successful that they would rather abort than change their plans to make room for their child. I am not saying that being successful, having a career or looking nice are bad. These are good things. I am glad that young women want to succeed but they are distorting the good.

Who is teaching these young women that a child “ruins your life”? That they can’t succeed with children. How is this a good view of women? I have seen women who make it work. Yes, maybe it’s hard but it’s not impossible. Life throws curve-balls all the time. No one has complete control over their life. Death happens. Accidents happen. Unexpected good things happen. Who are you to say that a child will ruin a woman’s life? That’s an extremely presumptuous statement.

This value of achievement in career over life is self-destructive. Secular culture says we can have it all: success, career, sexual appeal and no commitment. Post-modernity preaches a religion of non-commitment and relativism. Actions don’t have consequences. Nothing needs to be logically thought out. If you don’t want it get rid of it.

Who has post-abortion syndrome in Hollywood? What girl gets STDs after a one night stand in a “no-strings-attached” sort of movie? Where is reality? Hollywood teaches us that it will all work out. That our actions don’t have bad consequences. We’re taught to follow our hearts!

For example: typical Hollywood movie.

Scenario A.

Boy meets girl. Instant attraction. Jump into bed. No commitment. Agreement to have sex whenever they want. Boy falls for girl. Girl doesn’t reciprocate. Estrangement ensues. Girl in a sudden bout of enlightenment falls in love. Reunion. Happy ending.

Scenario B.

Boy meets girl. Instant attraction. Jump into bed. Girl gets pregnant because she forgot her depo appointment shot and doesn’t know that if she goes without it the birth control will not be effective. Girl is scared because she’s unmarried and in an entry level job. Boy doesn’t want a kid - just sex. Girl wants to stay with boy because they had SEX and he’s her baby daddy. Boy pressures abortion and shirks responsibility. Girl gets abortion to stay with boy. They break up one month later.

Haven’t seen scenario B in the movie theaters lately. Let me know if you do - I’ll buy the popcorn.

The Peanut Gallery

At Dr. Emily’s abortion clinic I often see the same people from the neighborhood walk back and forth going to work and such. Many times they stop and talk to me about what goes on in the clinic. They do abortions there? They kill babies in there? Those escorts are helping them abort their babies!? I hear this so often. The people who live in the area don’t like that there is an abortion clinic in the South Bronx. Sometimes the best part of my day is when a random stranger comes up to me and says Thank you for standing up for what is right. Abortion is wrong. These women shouldn’t be in here.

One time when I was talking to a woman who was heading into the clinic to get an abortion I heard a voice yell out from across the street towards the woman “Don’t do it!” That makes my day.

Instant Gratification

This week at Dr. Emily’s abortion clinic I was standing in the front when a Cadillac Escalade pulled up on the sidewalk in front of the clinic. As usual, when the woman came out I talked to her - trying to give her information and options, begging her not to kill the little life inside of her. She mainly ignored me and went inside the building when one of the “escorts” at Dr. Emily’s started yelling at me - “Do you hear what he’s saying? Do you hear what he’s saying?” I turned around and the man (the woman’s husband) was calling out to me from the car. And this is basically how it went:

Husband: “Stop harassing my wife, stop harassing my wife. Women have choices you know.”

Me: “Sir, I absolutely agree - I am giving your wife choices.”

Husband: “No, No. But abortion is our only option.”

Me: “Wait - you said women have choices but abortion is your only option? This doesn’t make sense.”

Husband: “But when it comes down to it at the end of the day I just don’t want to have another kid.” (motions to two kids in the backseat) “I just don’t want another one. And I’m not going to give the kid up for adoption because I might as well keep it myself. I can afford to - I’m well off.”

Me: “You just said you can afford to have a kid and you don’t want to give it up for adoption - just not wanting it is not a good reason to kill a baby.”

Husband: “I don’t want another kid. Stop harassing my wife or I’ll sue you and your whole organization.” (rolls up window).

You know that feeling when there’s so much you want to say back but really it wouldn’t be a good idea to just start yelling at a person in a closed car. Well yes, that was how I felt. But this is something I see/hear every day.

Many women (and men) know that it IS a child. That it IS living and has a heartbeat. But they don’t care. Usually they tell me, “I know it’s wrong and it’s a sin but God will understand - He’ll forgive me.” They just don’t want it. To them a quick fix is all they’re thinking about. In a culture of “I want it now” - abortion has become an easy solution - instant gratification.

Sadly - they don’t realize the long term consequences of such decisions. Abortion is a decision that will haunt them for the rest of their life. Was it really that easy?

The Unknown Lawyers

These past few days have been ones of experience and growth for me. Recently I’ve been in the South Bronx EMC pregnancy center with Liz - the director and sidewalk counseling at Dr. Emily’s with Jowell and Roseanna. These people have given me a real glance at what pro-life work really looks like.

I’ve read books on pro-life work, logical arguments, and statistics and even though they have taught me a lot and enriched my knowledge, these arguments, statistics and logic often don’t “work” on the average person we see coming in to the pregnancy centers.

This is now a culture of relativism. Our mantra is that there are no absolutes. (Except that one - get the irony?). This battle is not just a battle of whether the baby is human or not, but whether life is intrinsically valuable or not. We are taught that a whale’s life and prevention of extinction is more valuable than a baby’s. (Have you seen the pro-life signs “Pretend I’m a tree and save me?”) This is a culture of self. Everything now revolves around the individual.

All these people who work in pregnancy centers, counseling women to turn away from abortion and choose other alternatives are the unsung lawyers. Many times I have watched directors and other interns sitting with women, day in and day out they dedicate themselves to being a voice for the unborn.

I am all for legislation to stop abortion from happening. Even though I am full of hope that some day in the future a law like that will be passed, it’s not something that I see happening in an instant. I think that politics play a tremendously important role in the pro-life movement. Abortion clinics need to be accountable for what’s happening in their clinics. There must be a check. But right now - the reality is - abortion is legal.

The most eloquent lawyers are the brave men and women who sit in the tiny offices in NYC making passionate pleas on behalf of the unborn children growing in the women who come to see us. Every day a life and death decision is made. We passionately argue for life. And we won’t stop.

*Photo courtesy of Live Action

Complications

All morning at Dr. Emily’s abortion clinic I talk to women going in to the abortion clinic; but in the afternoon I see them leave after the abortion is completed. As I stand outside watching them drive or walk off, I often look into their eyes. Sometimes they look sad or in pain, but most of the time they look ashamed and rarely make eye contact with me. If I can talk to them while they wait for a ride, then I will. I want to know if the woman is ok, needs an ambulance, help or just someone to talk to. Many times the woman will walk quickly past saying “You’re too late, I already did it.” But just because a woman has an abortion doesn’t mean that I give up on her and stop caring for her. There are so many complications (physical, psychological, spiritual) that come from abortion. If she needs healing, counseling, advice - anything - I sincerely want to help her find it.

A few days ago I approached one woman who had just come out of the clinic. She stood by the edge of the parking lot smoking a cigarette. I asked her if she was ok, if she had the abortion and how she was feeling. She said she was ok, had the abortion and that she preferred that to being sick all the time (from being pregnant). She said she had several abortions previously. I asked if she had any complications from any of them - and if she knew what the complications were for abortion. She looked at me as her ride drove up and answered me (and I paraphrase) - “I know what they are. I got cervical cancer as a result.”

As she rode off my heart went out to her. I feel deeply sorry for all the pain she’s gone through. All the abortions. Cervical cancer. Her life is drastically changed because of it. What I don't understand is how cervical cancer is better or easier than pregnancy symptoms? A life threatening condition preferred to a baby?

I don’t write this judging her or condemning her. I am broken, just like she is. But there is hope. There is healing. There is a God who loves us.

Boyfriend's Choice. Parent's Choice. Not Women's Choice.

In the few days I’ve started working with EMC, I’ve had a lot of learning experiences. I’ve talked to many women who come into our centers and have been able to observe the trained directors and staff at several of the EMC pregnancy centers. One big issue that has stuck out to me recently is how many abortions are not as a result of “women’s choice.” Rarely women are 100% abortion minded. Many women I’ve seen and talked to are undecided. When asked why they are undecided it’s usually because “my boyfriend wants an abortion” “my mom wants me to get an abortion” “my sister and my friends want me to get an abortion.”

Many women do not make the abortion decision based on what they want. I’ve heard several women tell me (and other staff) that their boyfriend will break up with them if they do not get an abortion. This is manipulation with a child’s life on the line.

Peer pressure. I know everyone has heard the “talk” about peer pressure. Don’t let your friends or acquaintances pressure you into drinking or taking drugs just because it’s “cool” at the time or because they’ll drop you as a friend if you don’t. Why are women pressured to abort? When did keeping your baby become something your boyfriend will break up with you over? When did killing your baby become something you’ll be accepted for doing?

Between testimonies I’ve heard and women I’ve talked to, parents are a huge reason they abort. Their parents usually think that the unexpected pregnancy will be something that their child’s life will be ruined over. Having children does change your life, but it does not strip you of ambitions and talents. How did getting into a good college make killing your baby rationalized?

What saddens me is seeing this culture of death day after day. Now, a relationship with a man who wants you to abort your baby is worth more than keeping your child. Now, killing your baby is worth getting into college and getting a good job. Now, death is valued over life.

The one in which you meet the new girl.

Hi! I’m Sarah. The newest of the intern group thus far. So, a little about me. I am from Gaithersburg, MD (which is not far from DC). I love chocolate, have a thing for ancient historians, and know a dead language. I use sarcasm rather abundantly but am learning when to reign it in.

As far as formal education is concerned, I have been home-schooled for most of my life. Throughout high school I mainly took classes outside the home, and had a rather untraditional senior year. I went to “Summit Semester” an organization created by Summit Ministries which takes 30 students out into the gorgeous mountains of Colorado and teaches them how to think. (Not WHAT to think. HOW to think.) We were taught by several amazing professors from all over the country. There’s really nothing quite like pondering some of the greatest questions and ideas on top of a Colorado Mountain. This coming fall I am planning on going to The King’s College NYC to study Politics, Philosophy and Economics.

What in the world do I want to do with a degree like that? Good Question. Let’s start at the very beginning. I am a Christian. And as a Christian I think it can be so easy to stick to your “denominational group”. No offense to denominations (as I do ‘categorize’ myself as Reformed Presbyterian) but there tends to be more conflict between doctrinal differences and not enough unity in being a strong leading force in our culture. This is the beauty of the pro-life movement. Protestants, Catholics, Jews, and Atheists are just some of the religious groups all working together in pro-life organizations.

I am passionate about reforming culture. I think that Christians tend to stick to their little “sub-culture” of Christianity with their “Christian music”, “Christian friends”, “Christian bumper stickers” and “Christian game nights” etc. I want to speak to them - to wake them up to what is really going on in the world. We shouldn’t be hiding from culture but out there reforming it. We need Christians in every area of culture - Christian teachers, lawyers, trapeze artists, politicians, dancers, doctors, musicians, hot air balloon makers - you name it!

As you might be able to tell I get quite passionate about this. Anyway, I am so excited to be in NYC this summer working in the pregnancy centers, and “practicing what I preach” so to speak. So, nice to meet you, and enjoy watching me learn a lot this summer!

P.S. After looking at this picture you might get the impression that I'm gorgeous, serious, and intellectual. (oh. and humble) In which case you would be 100% correct. But I actually do like to smile and laugh. Just so you know.