The Enemy Defeated

A few weeks ago, Mary, a fellow sidewalk counselor for Cities4Life, set up a very special service at her church. She  would be sharing the mission and work of Cities4Life, the ministry we volunteer with that sends us to the sidewalks of Charlotte abortion mills to urge women to make a different choice than abortion. Key to the work of Cities4Life is changing hearts through the Gospel, as well as meeting the needs of these women. Mary wanted to show her church the impact of our ministry through a personal story.  She is increasingly burdened with a desire to bring awareness and action by churches to be more involved in fighting abortion's terrible scourge on our country. These women who choose life need a network of support: physical, practical, emotional, and especially spiritual. As James 2 reminds us, if you see a brother in need, but don't meet the need, you are worse than unbelievers. What a difference the church could make by coming alongside these women when they turn from abortion. If the church could see how one woman's life was changed, it would be a powerful testimony. 

I had spoken some time ago about baptism with L, a woman Mary and I had co-counseled to choose life when she found herself pregnant in difficult circumstances. She saw abortion as the only way out. When she saw her baby on a mobile ultrasound provided by Monroe HELP center for crisis pregnancies, and was counseled and promised help by Cities4life, she knew she could not abort. 

I have known L for almost a year now, since she decided not to abort her child. When we met her, she was abortion-minded, desperate, and didn't know God. It has been a privilege to walk alongside her, watching her transform before my eyes, helping her to make better choices, and encouraging her to pursue dreams of making a better life for herself and her baby. Many needs have arisen, and Cities4Life supporters have met every single one. Most exciting was when she prayed with me to accept Jesus as Lord. She and I do a daily bible study by texting back and forth.

During one of our lunches out, she wondered about baptizing her baby. When I shared the verses in the Bible about baptism, she felt it was clear her baby girl should not be baptized till the child could choose and understand Jesus. On the other hand, she was convicted that she herself should be baptized. I spoke with Mary about L's desire, and the idea of a baptism at Mary's church was born. After some missed opportunities for baptism,  Mary arranged that L would be baptized, as well as dedicate her baby to the Lord at this special service about Cities4Life that Mary was planning. L agreed. It was all set.

In the interim, L got a job. It is one of many great choices she is making in turning her life around and building a future for her beautiful baby girl. Unfortunately, she works all night. She texted me Saturday, mere hours before the special event, saying she didn't know if she would be home Sunday morning in time for the service! Mary and I momentarily freaked. Several worried texts back and forth ended as night fell and exhaustion set in. We decided we had done all we could do. It was in God's hands.

We felt there were many issues at war inside L, but Mary and I prayed, and assured her that no matter when she got home from work, we would find a way to get her to Mary's church. L confided to me that she wasn't sure she was ready for baptism, but did want to dedicate her baby. I was concerned as this is how I believe Satan works. He  fills our heart with fears and doubts, and tries to drown out the promptings and quiet voice of God in our hearts. I knew L had wanted to be baptized. Why was she hesitating now? Mary and I prayed that the Holy Spirit would move L, and somehow, the baptism would still take place. 

L did get home from work in time, and since Mary lives near, she picked her up. L told us she would do the dedication, but not the baptism. Mary and I hoped God had other plans. I met them at the church. From the moment the service started till it ended, tears were rolling down my cheeks. Same with L. The baby slept, unaware of a whole ceremony going on in honor of her life. Mary spoke eloquently and movingly of the mission of Cities4Life, sharing L's story and other incredible anecdotes of the women who had chosen life and turned away from abortion at the last minute. I kept glancing at L's baby, thinking that beautiful child would not be here now were it not for Cities4Life ministry!

At the end of Mary's talk which had dissolved me into a steady puddle of tears, Mary and I  were asked to go up front with L for the baby dedication. L woke her baby, and we went to the front. The whole church gathered around us and prayed for the precious little baby and her brave mother. It was clear that the precious little baby was very busy filling her diaper so convincingly that it began to leak all over L.  No matter. God was there, even then, while  laughter bubbled out around the chain of congregants praying for the baby with the dripping diaper.

After the congregation left, and the last stragglers were packing up, I sat down next to L.  I asked if she might want to be baptized now, with just us few witnesses. I could tell she did, but she had been so certain she would not be, that she hadn't brought clothes to change into. Mary walked by. Mary had on two shirts. Providential!  I asked Mary if L could use one shirt of hers to get wet so L could be baptised. Appropriately, it was a Cities4Life T-shirt.

"What about pants?" asked L. 

"We'll find some shorts somewhere," Mary promised.

"How will I dry my hair before work?" asked L, who doesn't own a hair-dryer.

"I'll buy you a hair dryer," said Mary, laughing.

Mary went hunting and returned with shorts that miraculously fit L.  My  heart leaped with joy when L took the clothes and went into the bathroom to change.

The  baptism pool was frigid. There is no heater and the church itself was quite cold. L came out in her baptism T-shirt that said "Speak Life," and her borrowed shorts that fit perfectly. She dipped a toe in the icy water and groaned. Slowly, cringing and shivering, she stepped into the freezing water. While the few of us remaining stood around the pool, Mary's husband asked L the pertinent questions of faith and then began to dunk her.

"Wait, wait!" cried L. It was so cold, and she doesn't love water at any temperature. We began chanting encouragement, and she took a deep breath.

"Ok, do it fast!" she cried.

He dunked her and she rose from the water with a gasp. As she dashed to the towels, I followed her.

She stood there shivering, and I said, "Sorry L, it didn't take. You have to do it again." Her mouth fell open. Laughing, I hugged her. "I'm so proud of you," I whispered.

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charlotte.cities4life.org

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James 2: 14-17

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Romans 6:1-23 

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. ...

John 15:7 

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Revelation 12:10 

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.