What’s Your Excuse? A Pro-life Conselor’s Testimony

Courtney joined us almost a year ago on the sidewalks of the abortion center, speaking on behalf of the unborn. Her story is powerful, reminding us that we all have a perspective that is unique and a life story that can touch others in our obedient service to God. Listen as Courtney explains what brought her to the sidewalks to speak for LIFE.

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                I choose to stand with Cities 4 Life on the sidewalk of the busiest abortion center in the southeast because I believe it is a passion God has put in my heart and called me to. My interest in pro-life/abortion started back in middle school, when I first began writing papers about this debated topic. In doing research for my school papers, I was appalled at the truth behind Roe v. Wade, which continued to fuel my passion for spreading the truth and Good News. The truth that God is sovereign over all and a good Father has steered my life.

 Pro-life is a natural passion of my heart because I was a baby that other mothers might have chosen to abort. My mother had me (a biracial baby, which was still pretty rare in 1989) one month after turning 17 years old. I grew up watching my mother struggle to provide the best life for me that she could afford. When my mom was 23, both of her parents had passed away and she was alone raising me and two of my older cousins. I witnessed my mother make a lot of sacrifices and struggle for the sake and well-being of us three children. 

I was also very fortunate to be raised in church. My grandmother began taking my cousin and me to church with her, and my mother continued to take us after my grandmother passed away. I grew up in a primarily white community, so I was often the only colored person in a room. I always felt welcome and was often validated through Psalms 139:13-16 (“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank You for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous – how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment laid out before a single day had passed.”)

My life journey thus far has all been a testament to God knowing me before I was born, knitting me together in my mother’s womb, and laying out every moment of my life. God loves us so recklessly, in that He will leave the 99 to go after the 1 who is lost. He has continued to pursue me and woo me back to Him every time I have strayed. 

This past year, God spoke to me about needing to volunteer and share His Good News with others, just as Christians before me had done to help grow my faith and bring me back to Him. As an undergrad in Wilmington, NC, I had volunteered with a pregnancy care center, so knew that I was interested in doing something similar here. My sister’s friend is involved with Love Life Charlotte and suggested I look into that organization. I had also been trying out a new church that had promoted the big Love Life Prayer Walk the previous fall, so felt some confirmation by that familiarity and agreed to research the organization. 

I began praying about this decision.  Even though I felt God’s nudges, I continued to procrastinate about even viewing the website. I happened to be scrolling on facebook one evening when a post about Cities4Life popped up.  I felt God say “Well, what’s your excuse now?” 

I immediately clicked on the link, reviewed the website, and submitted my volunteer form. 

Being on the sidewalks has only strengthened my urge and desire to be out there spreading the truth. “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rules and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

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What’s your excuse?  Click HERE to join us!