For Such a Time As This

Yesterday, three women chose life at the abortion mill. Two of the cases are perfect illustrations of why the church should be on the frontlines of abortion centers, fighting for the life of unborn babies. The first one was a woman who had been used in sex trafficking. The counseling, help, and resources to escape that lifestyle came because the pro-life RV was in front of the abortion mill, and offered her a free ultrasound. She has our names and phone numbers, and we will be actively working with her to set up resources and assistance.

The second woman instantly stopped when I called through her open car window, "Please let me help you."
"How," she asked, "can you help me?"
"Pull over and let me tell you."  She did instantly, and from the moment we began talking it was clear this woman would grasp at any hope we could offer to convince her to save her baby.
"Are you here for an abortion?" I asked as she stopped her car.
"Yes, I have no choice."
"Will you let me show you other options?"
"Can you find me resources to help raise this baby?" she asked, a mix of combat and pleading in her voice.
"Yes," I said, "And we can start with a free pregnancy test and free ultrasound."
"I do not want to kill my baby," she said, "But I don't know how I will manage."
"We will help you find resources. We have food assistance, clothing assistance, and baby showers to provide the first two years of your child's needs. Will that help?"
"Yes!" she said, "Can I get the ultrasound tomorrow? I have such a busy day."

Sometimes this is a ploy to make us stop talking, and then the women just drives into the abortion mill. So before another word, I made sure she had our information with my name and number, and showed her the list of resources, as well as the photo of a preborn baby at 7 weeks.
"Drive up to that RV, and we will schedule it," I told her, "I'll get my exercise and jog beside you."
I wasn't going to let her out of my sight! As she drove, I jogged beside her car telling her how we help many women, and none of them regret the decision to keep their babies.

I handed her off to the RV staff, and later they assured me she did indeed make the appointment. I alerted my baby shower group, to be sure they were on board for another shower in about 7 months. Right around then, "L", another mama who chose life some months back and is due in a few short weeks texted me, just to chat.
"Hi!" I told her, "Three women chose life today at Latrobe!"
"Awwwww," she texted, "I am so happy for them. It was the best choice for me and I will never regret changing my mind. I hope they feel the same."

God places us in just the right spot at just the right time if we are obedient. What if no one had been on the sidewalk when those women arrived, desperate and despairing...hoping for someone to show them a way they could somehow not do what they knew they really didn't want to do? Might those babies now be dead, flushed away like garbage?

I often hear the argument that the crime rate has decreased in poor areas since abortion was legalized. I have also heard people say that the risk of poverty and terrible lifestyles is increased when these women choose life rather than abortion. All this may be true, particularly if there is not a support network like cities4life that reaches these women with the Gospel, mentorship, and training programs. However, I think what we lose as humanity is far more serious than poverty. If we fall prey to the notion that human life is disposable at any age, every human being is at risk of being marginalized by some group. Either life is sacred, or it is not.

Instead, three women are hopeful, and about to embark on a journey that I pray leads them straight into the grace and mercy of God.

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To learn more about this frontline ministry, go to cities4life.org or contact Lisa Metzger at lisametzger@cities4life.org
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Esther 4:14

For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Romans 6:16 

Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?

Matthew 7:21 

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

James 1:22

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Joshua 1:8 

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

1 Peter 3:18

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.

1 Peter 3:18 NIV