But God Had Bigger Plans

 

Dave and Colleen saw a need and filled it

Some of our volunteers work behind the scenes. Every ministry is dependent upon those workers who see a need, and then work tirelessly to meet that need. Dave and Colleen are such people. Both have been involved for years with HELP Pregnancy Center in Monroe who is the ministry that sends our mobile ultrasound RV out to the sidewalk each day.

The RV is one of our great tools in helping women choose life over abortion. The RV provides a peaceful place where we can hear their needs, counsel them regarding our resources and help, and show them their precious baby on the ultrasound unit. Besides that, it gives the Cities4Life sidewalk counselors a place to get out of extreme weather, use the bathroom, and sit to gather thoughts and spirit. It is an incredible gift, and it was this couple who helped bring it about.

Dave and Colleen explain:

Colleen was at the HELP center for 13 years. She started there as Client Services Coordinator, then became Assistant Director, and then went to the finance department. She retired this year and volunteers at HELP when she can on Tuesdays. I came to the HELP center a year later after seeing Colleen's passion for the unborn and their mothers. God pulled on my heart strings and I became a board member.  

9 or 10 years ago, the center took a time slot in the 40 days for life campaign. We saw the struggles the sidewalk counselors went through. They had no place of refuge, no place to counsel, no place to take care of their children. Then one day, Tara (the HELP Director) showed me an article of a group in New York who would go around to the low income areas with an RV converted into a mobile clinic. When I saw this, God immediately spoke and told me, "That is what we need out at the abortion center!"

Tara said if God is in it, then He will provide. We had a newsletter coming out so Tara said she would put the need in the newsletter. So I started looking for an RV in the $3,000 to $5,000 range. But God had bigger plans! A few weeks after the newsletter came out, a humble man met privately with Tara and telling her he wished it was more, handed her a check for $50,000.00.

We found the right one. I converted it to meet our needs as a mobile clinic, and we have been out at the abortion center ever since. We are still committed to being out there for the sidewalk volunteers.
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One of the signs the "pro-choice" people like to hold up to challenge the Cities4Life volunteers says, "Fake RV."  Yesterday, K, a mom of twins who chose life showed up on the sidewalk. She is so grateful for the complete change in her life after meeting us (and accepting Jesus as Lord and savior) that she wanted to join us and help for the half hour before her job interview.

As the "pro-choice" protestor held up the "fake RV" sign to try to block K from calling out to the women entering the center, I pointed to the mom of twins who had joined us. 
"She went on the fake RV," I said.
"I sure did!" K exclaimed. "And I chose life. And these people here offered me everything I needed. They gave me so much help. They can help all of you too."

Thank you Dave and Colleen for your part in providing the "fake RV" that has saved thousands of babies...including one yesterday.
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Matthew 5:11

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
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The nauseating evil of the hate groups in Charlottesville sickened me. All the hatred, evil, and horrific deeds committed by people who have the audacity to call themselves Christians and then hate people based on race or religion is thoroughly reprehensible to me. None of those who are truly led by Jesus as Lord of their lives would hate nor harm others made in the image of God. 

Then as if the evil of hatred of the white supremist groups could not be bad enough, the attempt to silence others led to further carnage and death. Those intimidation tactics led to further violence, destruction, and horror. Hatred and devaluing of life never ends well.

It is gratifying to be involved with Christians who help the poor no matter their color, creed, or circumstance. That is the answer to the hatred we all denounced in Charlottesville. Be light, be love, reflect the saving, gracious hand of Jesus. Know the sacred value of life and protect those least able to protect themselves. That is what Christ-followers do.