Respect for ALL Life

Being Pro-Life is more than just wanting to save the lives of babies and the souls of women seeking abortion. Being Pro-Life means you care about humanity, all humanity, through all stages of life.

There is a popular song by Brandon Heath whose chorus goes like this:

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity.

Give me your arms for the broken hearted
Ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see.

This afternoon I watched a powerful pro-life scenario...it was about 1:30 and there were about 5 of us out at Planned Parenthood. It was cold and so I was counting my last remaining minutes when I noticed a man lumbering down the road toward our little band. It was apparent that he was homeless the closer he got.

He stopped, spoke briefly and then read our signs, nodding all the while. He shared a bit about himself and introduced himself as Michael. He told us that he loved Jesus but that (in his own words) he was a drunk. After a short conversation he went down the road.

Just a bit later he came back passed us and Kathy W. asked him if we could pray with and for him; he readily agreed. She asked the LORD to work in his life anew and to deliver him from alcohol. After the "amens" Kathy ministered to him - beseeching him to go back to his church, to get sober. As she wept, Michael (whose name means "one who is like God") reached up with his dirty, calloused hands and wiped away her tears.

And as he wiped them he told her how beautiful she was, and she is. But Michale wasn't just seeing Kathy, he was coming face to face with Christ - in her! At that very sacred moment I knew God was at the corner of Union and Pine, again...still. Christ is there because we are gathered there in His name and for His glory.

We have chosen to stand for life. He sends those we need to minister to whether they are confused young women, desperate enough to take the life of their unborn or a homeless man whose presence reminds us that all life is sacred.

- Judy

"He or she is a human being in God's eyes..."

"I know it's common today to think of abortion as a simple answer to an inconvenient problem - but it is actually a far more serious issue. Your child isn't simply a mass of tissue; he or she is a human being in God's eyes." - Pastor Billy Graham

Praying for an end to abortion with new friends!

A prayer volunteer shared her testimony at one of our events. She said that one of her favorite times when standing vigil is when the people arrive for the next hour or when she arrives for the next hour. She said it is a great time because you are able to meet "new people" and pray with them.

"Happy is that people..."

"Happy is that people, whose God is the Lord." Psalms 144:15

Standing Vigil is a Witness!

Standing vigil at Planned Parenthood, 1407 Union Avenue, is a witness.

Two of our prayer volunteers were used by God to make an impression. They wrote us:

"We were standing vigil in the afternoon, only hours before the snow started to fall. It began to rain and sleet. We were holding our signs and giant umbrellas that kept going inside out. We continued though, trying to pray and keep in mind what actually happens in the building behind us. At one point a car pulled over and commented to us, 'Thank you for what you are doing. We were watching you from across the street at 'The Cupboard' [a restaurant]. We were just talking about the two of you standing here in this kind of weather. Wow. Thank you for what you are doing.'"

Someone else found our email and wrote us saying,

"I was visiting Memphis this past weekend and drove past your location on Union Street just as the sleet was starting. God bless you for being there in the horrible weather! A fellow Lifer from Mississippi."

When we stand there, no matter what the weather is like, we make an impression about the reality of what is behind us. It sends a message to our community and to Planned Parenthood. We, as Memphians, are not about to give up on seeking to protect life. We also do not want Planned Parenthood in our community. Especially when the weather is like it was and we still do not budge... it is a great testament to what is our strength: God.

1st Child Saved! Grandmother and Mother spared from pain of abortion!

"Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you." - God (Jeremiah 1:5)

The above is what one of our signs say at the vigil site. And, thanks be to God that a mother and her expectant daughter read and believed in the sanctity of life!

Our first "save" happened today, the second day of standing vigil! What a blessed experience to be able to witness a mother turn away from Planned Parenthood and choose life for her unborn child and a life free from the pain and regret of abortion for herself!

Here is what happened, as reported by the two prayer volunteers standing vigil at that time:

They were standing vigil at around 11:00 am when a mother walked up to them. She had seen the signs our volunteers were holding, asking for people to pray to end abortion. Her daughter was standing in front of the main doors of the 1407 building as she came down to talk with us. She said, "I really don't want my daughter to have an abortion. She does not want to have an abortion either. Is there any other option?" Our volunteers supplied her with some information and a card to the local crisis pregnancy center. She thanked them and went back to her daughter. She got her daughter and they left!

Thanks be to God! At the moment it is reported that two other children have been spared from abortion in these first two days nationally (one child in Australia, one child in New Jersey)! What a blessing! Please keep this grandmother, mother, and baby in your prayers! May God bless them!

Kick-Off Rally A Success!

The Kick-Off Rally for 40 Days for Life Memphis was a great success! Everyone met up at Sacred Heart Church, where Reverend William Spink, Jr. from River Oaks Reformed Presbyterian Church gave a talk on the reason behind the time period of "40 Days." Upon conclusion we gathered outside the church to start our walk to Planned Parenthood. Once we got there two children led us in song and prayer. It was an amazing evening, and a great, prayerful start to our 40 Days!

Those that attended sacrificed time, energy, and warmth to be there. We had people come from as far south as Tupelo, Mississippi and from as far north as Savannah, Tennessee. They drove two hours to be with us! Despite it being chilly, people of all ages made the walk (1-90 years old).

A man who joined us from Tupelo, MS wrote saying:

"I went to the kick-off last night. Chills went down my spine when I saw the building on Union Ave., but I'll never forget the dumpster in the alley, to me, it represents life being thrown out as if it were trash. An eleven year-old girl with a wonderful voice sang a song on the sidewalk corner of Planned Parenthood, that was the focal highpoint for me. You should have seen her eyes, it was as if she was staring Satan in the eye saying, 'I will not be moved.' This brings to mind a shepherd boy named David and a stand against a giant. We all should have faith and strength like this child."