Putting Feet Work to Seat Work

I recently reminded a student leader who we trained this past year that we pray as an office staff for 30 minutes each weekday morning. She emailed me last week with this request:

Sunday night, I got a phone call from a friend. She was crying because she found out she's pregnant. The conversation was very short. I called her Monday and Tuesday but she didn't pick up. I finally got a hold of her today.

She’s wants an abortion. She’s going to Planned Parenthood tomorrow for information. I’m trying to convince her to keep her baby and to go with me to a crisis pregnancy center.

Can you please pray that she changes her mind?

Thanks, Jinny

My reply:

Jinny, remember your training. Listen, ask good questions, and repeat often.

If Amanda (not her real name) is determined to go to Planned Parenthood, offer to go with her. You might say, "If I go with you to Planned Parenthood will you also come with me to the crisis pregnancy center?"

Ask Amanda to request at Planned Parenthood that you be permitted to accompany her throughout her entire appointment. Use your own judgment, but you probably should not talk during the appointment unless Amanda or a Planned Parenthood official asks you a question.

If Amanda will accompany you to a crisis pregnancy center, have her also ask them to allow you to accompany her throughout the entire appointment. Do not depend on a crisis pregnancy center to show her what she needs to see.

Take a JFA Exhibit brochure with you to show Amanda both human development and abortion. (I advise against taking it into Planned Parenthood.)

About how old is Amanda's unborn child? If you can get her into a room with a computer and high speed Internet, show her this web site - http://www.ehd.org/resources_bpd_illustrated.php (click on the age and scroll down the page). Talk with her about what has already taken place and will soon take place biologically in her child's life.

Remember, you must not only re-humanize her child, you must help make abortion real for Amanda. This site - http://cbrinfo.org - actually shows a first trimester abortion being done - ask her to watch it with you.

Spend as much time with Amanda as she will permit you to do. Gently ask her if you can pray for her and the difficult situation that she and her unborn baby face. Inquire about the posture of the father of the baby; what do her parents will think (has she told them she's with child?); their involvement may be helpful unless they would pressure her toward abortion.

We're praying - keep us posted.

"The birth canal has become the new Mason-Dixon Line in America."

I've been saying it since March. Most of the so-called "pro-choice" students I've spoken with agree.

Two African-American students from the University of Georgia at Athens (March 2009) were the first to agree with my premise. They did so emphatically, dismissing any parallel between the plight of African-Americans in the U.S. during the 19th century.

The last two University of California - San Diego (UCSD) students that I spoke with on the final Exhibit day of our spring tour (Paul and Chris) agreed without the slightest hesitation.

In the first Mason-Dixon line, black slaves who could escape across state boundary lines separating slave states (in the south) from free states (to the north) ceased to be property--they were considered persons protected by state and federal law.

Once again America has drawn a line that divides people into two classes. Once again America has drawn a geographic boundary that separates those considered to be mere property from those considered to be persons protected by law.

The birth canal has become the new Mason-Dixon line in America.

Chasing v. Changing the Culture of Abortion

What are serious pro-lifers to do when the flagship of American Catholic universities invites the most pro-abortion president in history to their stage on May 17?

The invitation of President Obama to speak at Notre Dame's 2009 commencement and their decision to award him an honorary degree has predictably drawn the ire of knowledgeable pro-lifers.

Each passing day witnesses a new editorial, a talk show reveille or requiem for American Catholic education, or yet another planned rescue of the again tarnished Dome by a pro-life activist.

Frankly, most of these responses come across as chasing the culture of abortion rather than changing it.

At Justice For All we’re committed to using our resources to change the culture by training thousands like 14 year old Amanda Coles to make abortion unthinkable for millions, one person at a time. (Click here to read about Amanda’s training experience.)

Almost all of our future leaders in business, education, medicine, and politics (presidents, members of Congress, and judges), are or will be enrolled in a school somewhere in the nation. Justice For All is committed to reaching as many of them as is humanly possible, and with God’s aid, see their hearts transformed by truth and grace in Christ.

Serious pro-lifers must put serious time, treasure and talent into educating and training the next generation of American leaders BEFORE they reach public office, or the commencement stage at Notre Dame.

Only then will we not be chasing the culture of abortion. Only then will we see our nation's leaders and people truly embrace justice for all.

Which of These Preached the Gospel?

At a recent campus outreach in Texas, Lauren overheard a student named Sarah* admit to a pastor that she had an abortion. He immediately responded, “So, you know that that was murder, right? I used to be promiscuous too, but then I found Jesus. You need Jesus.”

Sarah told him that she wanted nothing to do with Christianity. “My parents are pastors. I’ve heard all this before.”

Lauren gently intervened saying, “I heard you say you had an abortion. How are you doing?”

Sarah poured out her heart to Lauren. “I think about [the abortion] everyday. I was 8 weeks pregnant. It was horrible. It was the most excruciating pain of my life for 24 hours; I had blood clots the size of my fist. I was so alone. My parents were getting a divorce, so my mom wasn't home and my dad ignored me. Plus they wouldn't let me see my boyfriend. So there I was, in intense pain, and completely alone.”

Listening brought Lauren close to tears. She asked Sarah if she would like to speak with women at a nearby resource table who had also experienced abortion. Sarah said she would. Lauren escorted her to the table and introduced her.

After learning about Sarah’s abortion, the woman behind the table sternly warned her, “I had an abortion too. Until you repent and turn to Jesus you’ll never recover!”

Sarah was visibly upset. She walked away, leaving the literature the woman offered her on the table. “That was not very helpful.” She said.

Lauren asked more questions and listened. Sarah wanted to be a mom but had heard that after abortion she might not be able to get pregnant again. She looked to her counselor for guidance, but her counselor was the one who first recommended the abortion.

“Sarah, I know that you don't really want anything to do with all of the religious stuff you’ve heard about today, but could I pray for you?” Sarah said that she would actually really like that.

Lauren prayed that God would heal Sarah and bring other people into her life who could help her. She prayed that God would bless Sarah with a husband who loves her and that she could have more children.

Afterwards, Sarah gave Lauren a very long hug. She kept thanking Lauren for her compassion. She gave Lauren her email address and phone number. They’ve been writing to each other since.

Afterwards Lauren expressed concern to me that she had not actually shared “the gospel” with Sarah. How would you answer her concern?

*Name changed for privacy