Reaching Out To Those In Need

One of our EMC interns had a client by the name of Ebony who was in need of baby supplies.  She has six children and one on the way.  Since we have supplies specifically for donating to mothers in need we were able to help out.  I made the drive to New Jersey and dropped off what I could that would be useful to her and she was very thankful.  It looked like a happy home filled with lots of playful children.

Facing Your Fears

In an article by Life Site News titled, "I dreaded going to the abortion clinic to protest, but what happened next was incredible", by Shaun McDonnell, one man's testimony of overcoming his fears is made manifest and a new commitment to Life is born.  After making a commitment to pray in front of an abortion clinic, after being inspired by a pro life activist, Kelling Clinger, Shaun was finding it hard to follow through with it.  One day, after his bible study group session, since he was only one mile away from the abortion clinic, he felt God wanted him to go there and pray for the women.  Shaun was repelled by the idea of protesting at a clinic and every fiber in his body went against this.  However, Shaun overcame himself for the Lord and felt it was the right thing to do, and what the Lord wanted him to, to visit this abortion clinic.

When he got there he met a man by the name of John Barros, a pro life activist that spent a great deal of time trying to persuade women to keep their babies.  John was on fire and went to great lengths to get the pro life message to the women.  Shaun saw the dark reality of what is going on in our midst, the mass killing of unborn babies.  This reality made Shaun sick to his stomach and he was greatly distressed about what to do.  John was very outspoken and Shaun was very skeptical as to whether John's tactics were effective or helpful in the least. Shaun was convinced and amazed at the display of three women that day that changed their minds and chose life due to John's message.  Shaun was convinced that the Lord was at work in the brave souls that are reaching out to these desperate women.  Shaun's new message to the world is that we should commit to doing something for the pro life cause at least once in our lives, even if we don't feel like it.

Pro-Lifers encouraged to spread word about new film

In an article in Life Site News titled, "Pro-life movie 'Doonby' is big on heart, low on preaching", pro-lifers are encouraged to view and spread word to others to view this movie with a unique view on the culture of life.  The emphasis of the movie is that each individual life is beautiful in its own way.  The makers of the movie are reluctant to "preach" so much as to swayed its viewers to see the value of each human life.

Though it is a low-budget film, and some of the actors are said to "less-than-perfect" in their acting skills, the overall of the movie is profitable to the human person.  "Sam Doonby", acted by John Schneider, is a drifter who moves to a quiet town in Texas and quickly lands a job as a bar tender.  He moves his way into the lives and hearts of those he encounters throughout the movie.  It is different than most pro-life movies in the sense that the actual word "abortion" is not even mentioned until the final scenes of the movie.  However, the movie is said to still have a profound message concerning the dignity of human life from the "womb to the tomb".

Back to Make Things Right

In a special article in Life Site News titled, "Today, I returned to the abortion clinic where I aborted my babies 12 years ago", by Kelly Clinger, a story of repentance and spiritual awakening manifests itself in a girl out to save women from making the same costly decision she made in her early 20's.  Her attempt of sparing the women from depression, addiction, suicidal thoughts, and life-lasting regrets is most admirable and points to a profound truth that God is Love!

Kelly Clinger is a performer and was a backup singer for Brittany Spears.  She also had two abortions in her early 20's that changed her life forever.  While the "old" Kelly is gone forever she is thankful for the new creation she is in God.  She went back to the same abortion clinic she had her abortions done to help other women chose life.  Kelly is also grieved by the lack of response of the "religious" to the abortion problem in America alone.  Over 3,000 babies are aborted a day.

Rethinking Birth Control

In an article titled, "American Evangelicals beginning to rethink birth control, argues author of new book", by Patrick Baklinski, dependence on God and His providence concerning family size is discussed.  While opposition to birth control is seemed primarily as a "Catholic issue", evangelicals are starting to see the ramification of playing "pick and choose" when it comes to bringing new life into this world.

Seeing how all life is sacred and we are made in the image and likeness of God, it is quite bold to determine for ourselves who gets to live and who doesn't.  Dr. Allan Carlson wrote a new book titled, "Godly Seed: American Evangelicals Confront Birth Control, 1873-1973", and it has tough facts and questions on how the division of Christianity has left room for damaging beliefs to seep in.

Hanging on to Hope

I recently came across a story in LifeSiteNews about a mother and father who would not give up on their unborn child.  Early on in the pregnancy the mother received the horrible news that her baby would not have a chance of life outside of the womb.  The problem was due to a low amount of amniotic fluid.  This condition is known as "Potter's Syndrome" and it was due to the fact that the baby's kidneys did not develop properly.  In a normal pregnancy, the baby swallows the amniotic fluid, urinates it out, and keeps replenishing the supply.  When there isn't enough fluid, the baby's lungs also do not develop properly.


Through suggestions that it may be best to terminate the pregnancy from numerous doctors, the mother and father kept hanging on hope and prayer.  Their fundamental belief was that God is the only One with the power to create and He is also the only One with the power to declare when life ends, not us.


Trish, the mother, held out to the very end and birthed the child but unfortunately the child died shortly after.  Although incredibly grieved at the short amount of time spent with there child they were grateful to have not chose to end their baby's life.  


The parents admit themselves in the article that the baby had touched their lives.  This gives value to the unborn everywhere.  While our culture tells us that the unborn is an option or a blob of tissue we see here that clearly the baby has a power to do good even before the baby is actually born.  Since then they have had three more beautiful children.

Semper Fidelis

It is important to stay always faithful in this work because lives DO get saved. While working at Linda's on my last weekday of the summer with EMC I met a young lady who was 21 weeks pregnant. She had an appointment for a two day procedure at the abortion clinic on the sixth floor of 44 Court Street and stopped by our office on the 12th floor just one half hour prior.

She was crying as she explained that the father of the baby was getting back together with his wife and five children and did not want the young lady to have her baby. Linda then shared all of the complications that could occur and how it would do harm to her in the future through the guilt. Linda then discussed the services we provide as a crisis pregnancy center: that we could giver her a place to live, help her find a job, and support her during this stressful time of her life.

She thought for a second, but then began to panic and told us she had to go to her appointment. I asked her what her heart was saying. I told her to not listen to all the obstacles and what-ifs in her head and just to listen to what her heart was saying. Linda added that she knew the young lady didn't want to kill her baby and that NO mother wants to kill her baby.

The young lady then told us she wasn't going to do it but that she needed us to remember her. Linda and I were overjoyed by this and assured her we would keep in contact and help her every step of the way as much as possible. The young lady then left our office and went back home, still 21 weeks pregnant.

Linda and I then discussed the seriousness of abortion and what it does to the women. I remember hearing multiple counselors explain having to pick up the peices of post-abortive women. I then made the connection that when a woman tears the baby in her womb to peices in the act of abortion, she too would have to pick up the peices of her life: emotionally, physically, and spiritually. I believe that time heals all wounds, all battles take time to win, and that you must pray in order to win them. It is important to try to get this information to mothers BEFORE they have to pick up the peices of their life after an abortion.

This summer has been an amazing learning experience for me and the rest of the EMC interns and I thank all of you who supported us with donations. I also hope that you continue to support this organization throughout the year so that services are available to women who are in a crisis because of an unplanned pregnancy. We have to pick up the peices of this wounded culture. A society bruised and beaten by poor choices and lack of knowledge of the truth. EMC has brought the truth to many women and men of all ages. A crisis is an excellant time to evagelize and teach truth for as the old war saying goes, there are no athiests in foxholes.

This summer I have seen babies saved and babies aborted. I have seen people bear witness to the truth and people throw the truth to the wind. I have seen people discover the light and rejoice in it and I have also seen people deny the light and leave empty. This work is real and the stakes are high. I just want to thank God for his intercession in bringing reality to people in a time of emergency and I want to thank you, the donators, for helping this become possible.

May God's blessing be upon you and your loved ones during our pilgrimage in this life and in His mercy may He grant you a share in the Life to come.

Persevere, Keep Moving Forward

While at Dr. Emily's I saw a girl that I had counseled in the past walking towards the entrance of the abortion clinic. I stopped her and asked her why she was doing this after everything we've discussed. She replied by saying that she just had too.

She explained that the father of her baby won't get her baby back from the Dominican Republic (where she is from) unless she aborts the baby she is pregnant with now. I told her that we could find another way to get her baby back from the DR and that she didn't have to do this. She didn't listen. She went into the abortion clinic even after we talked to the Sisters of Life.

We must not be discouraged though. There are still women out there who do get "turned around" and decide to have their baby. Lives are being saved but until we get these abortion clinics shut down there will continue to be a national disaster on our hands.

Everyday Miracles

I tell my friends that in this job, you get used to seeing miracles happen. So often, a baby is saved not through our own actions, but through the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of these women. I saw this clearly last week with several of my turnarounds.

One of these girls I had originally seen a month ago. We had lost touch, and I had no clue what was going on with her. Then she showed up at another one of our offices a few days ago, thinking we were an abortion clinic. I had actually seen her name in the appointment book, and made sure I was there. For the second time in a month, she had stumbled into the truth. And such a powerful truth—while watching a video we routinely show the girls, she suddenly fainted and vomited. I was shocked, because I’d never seen anyone react to this video so strongly. All of us quickly gathered around to make sure she was okay. Even as she had to deal with these strong emotions, there were loving people supporting her. She later called me to tell me that she was going to keep her baby. God made sure that she was exposed to a truth she could not ignore.

I saw another such miracle last week outside of Dr. Emily’s. After giving a girl a sonogram and talking with her for awhile, she left without making a decision. Then out of the blue she called me back to thank me, saying that she was keeping the baby. She told me that the night before her appointment at the abortion clinic, God had told her in a dream not to kill her baby. Up until this dream, she hadn’t even believed in God. But between hearing His voice in the dream and running into me at the abortion clinic, she knew God was sending her a message.

It is for this reason that I always tell the girls that it is God who brings them to us. Just as He put the baby inside their womb for a specific reason, He brings them into contact with us for a reason. These everyday miracles are the work of God in the lives of these women.

The Importance of Hope and Perseverance in the Face of Suffering

One day at Lizz's office I counseled a girl who already had three abortions. She was pregnant for the fifth time and was anticipating a forth abortion. I continued taking her information and then proceeded to show her a DVD titled "Abortion Procedures".

After the video I began to ask her questions. I first asked how she felt after learning about all the risks. I also asked what she thought about the act of abortion. She responded in a broken way, confused by stress and fear, explaining that she just couldn't have the baby. She continued stating the reasons for having an abortion: she was financially unstable, her living conditions were less than ideal, her boyfriend didn't think it was the "right time" to have a baby, etc...

I then asked her why she thought she was in such a panic about this and why there were so many risks. She didn't have an answer so I told her why I thought there was so much that could go wrong. I told her that it was because having an abortion is unnatural. I asked her if she thought it was natural to have someone open you up and take the baby growing inside your womb out. She then began to cry.

I was sorry to see her suffer in the position she was in but glad to see that she was looking at the problem in the face and seeing what abortion truely is, possibley for the first time. I then asked her to reflect on her life since 16 years old, when she was first impregnated. I told her the reality of her life right now is that she has been going around having multiple sex partners, and when the natural occurence of becoming pregnant happens, she goes and has the babies killed in an effort to keep her life manageable.

I then continued to tell her that she could have this baby and that she can stop this vicious cycle. I told her that she should now stop having sex until she was stable enough to have a child. She agreed to come in for a sonogram but never showed. I will continue to try to get in touch with her and I asked that all who have read this will keep this woman, the father, and the baby in your prayers. I also ask for your prayers for forgiveness for the abortion clinic workers and that God may have mercy on them.

Washington Heights

Today was a special journey for some of the interns. We started to minister to women in a new area of New York, Washington Heights in northern Manhattan. At nine in the morning we went to the neighborhood with our equipment: camera, television, pamphlets, and pregnancy tests in our van. All the women where touched by terrible images that we show on the TV. Many of them didn't know anything about the abortion procedures that take the lives of about 1.5 million unborn children every year in the United States alone.

"You're doing a great labor showing this! The girls need more education about abortion," a woman told me while she was watching the video.

Many girls volunteered to help us distribute information about our pregnancy resource centers. We are very happy to start advertising in this new place. We believe that as we expand our ministry into new areas more women will be educated about the cruelty of the abortion, translating in more babies' lives saved. Even one life would make it worth the effort!

Not always a happy ending.

While working in front of Dr. Emily's, an abortion clinic, I persuaded a girl to come over to the sonogram van. I had high hopes that when she saw her baby in the ultrasound she would decide to have her baby. However, after a little more than an hour of conversation about what the right thing to do is and the best way possible to go about doing it she decided that she was not ready to have a baby.

She was finishing up college and wanted to look for a career and now just wasn't the right time to have a baby. She went back into the abortion clinic after we had exchanged phone numbers and we began to text each other.

She explained to me that she was thankful for people like us who care and appreciated our concern. She went on explaining how she knew what she was doing was wrong and that she knew she was going to suffer for it and that God didn't want her to do that. She still went in and got the abortion anyway. I told her we'd still be there for her if she needed to talk and am continuing to pray for her.

Just the Facts

One day while counseling, a woman came in very nervous. She couldn't even mention the word abortion without crying. We talked about her situation and then I showed her the procedure video on how an abortion is done and some of the risks that come along with it.

She couldn't believe what she was seeing. She was told by Planned Parenthood that it was not a human being inside of her but just a blood clot at that point in time. When she learned that the baby was formed already after 10 weeks she was beginning to see abortion as "despicable". Then I showed her a pamphlet that showed the baby's little feet at 10 weeks of formation in the womb and she gasped.

She left the office with smile saying that she could never picture doing that to her baby. Just a few days ago she told me through a text message that she was going to have her baby.

Divine Intervention

One day at the Brooklyn office, a young woman came in looking for the Women's Pavilion (a nearby abortion clinic). She had accidentally come up to the EMC Pregnancy Center on the 12th floor instead of the Women's Pavilion on the 6th floor. Brenda and I escorted her to one of the rooms in the office and began to discuss her situation.

She was pregnant and was no longer speaking to the father of the baby. She was looking around the room, nervous and confused. We told her to take a deep breath and that everything was going to be alright; that she had come to the right place for a reason and not just by mistake.

She absolutely did not want her mother to find out about her pregnancy, so we decided to introduce her to the Sisters of Life. We dialed the number to the Sisters' office and gave the phone to the scared young woman. After being consoled by the Sister she was speaking with she agreed to see the Sister in person. We had gotten the woman to consider having her baby. We exchanged numbers and sent her off smiling.

A few days ago I spoke with the woman on the phone when another intern and I were on a bus going from Virginia to New York. Coincidentally, she was on a bus going from New York to Virginia to discuss moving into a maternity home to have her baby. The young pregnant woman then told me something very beautiful. She told me something that indicated her advancement in understanding the reality of her situation and deeper knowledge of her faith. She told me, "This baby is God's child, I am just the vessel in which the child is being carried."

This brought tears to my eyes as I imagined the joy she must had been feeling at that moment. Telling me courageously on the phone that she was going to face her problem and do what she knew was the right thing to do even though it was going to be difficult. I will keep in touch with this woman and give an update on her inspiring story of bravery.

I only ask you to keep her and the EMC Pregnancy Centers in your prayers that the best possible outcome can come of this.

First Fruits

After being here a little over a week I was beginning to get nervous as to whether or not I was able to make a difference. I was seeing the other interns getting turn-arounds (what we call a girl who originally was planning on getting an abortion but decided to have her baby) but I was not getting any.

Last Tuesday was a dark and rainy day. I began to pray harder than I was originally praying, saying the Rosary one after the other. Whenever a girl pulled up to the abortion clinic I would ask Jesus to send the Holy Spirit and to give me the words I need to say to convert the woman's heart.

A few women went in but I kept praying for confidence and strength to keep working. One woman started listening to me but then decided to go in. I told her as she was walking inside that we would be out here waiting if she needed us. She ended up coming back out because she had trouble inside with her insurance card and she took it as a sign. I escorted her to the van to get a sonogram and then she went back home.

Shortly after that, another woman pulled up in a cab. I asked Jesus to give me the words to say to convert her heart and then began to approach her. I told her that we provide free sonograms and that we could help her out. I could tell she was interested so I began to ask her questions. As it turned out, she was on her way inside to get an abortion but she did not know how far along she was or what the baby looked like inside her. The abortion clinic did not show her the sonogram or give her any information about the baby inside of her that she was about to terminate.

I escorted her to the van for a sonogram and consoled her because she was extremely nervous. After seeing her baby with the sonogram she decided she was going to keep it. She then thanked us for intervening for she almost made a decision that she would have regretted.

I thanked God for using me that day and this gave me the confidence I need to give this work my all.