A Fresh Perspective On Sidewalk Counseling

WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.600 --> 00:00:05.799 I Am Yours, I am yours, I am yours. Send Me, 2 00:00:06.160 --> 00:00:10.109 Lord. Welcome to the Gospel Center pray life podcast. There's a lot of 3 00:00:10.189 --> 00:00:13.509 expectations of what it's like to be on the sidewalk in front of an abortion 4 00:00:13.630 --> 00:00:17.149 center. This episode we talked with our intern autumn, about what it felt 5 00:00:17.149 --> 00:00:20.230 like for her and we thought her perspective would be a blessing to you. 6 00:00:20.510 --> 00:00:35.619 Stay tuned. I felt show Passi touch your heart. Welcome to the Gospel 7 00:00:35.619 --> 00:00:39.130 Center pray life podcast. We're glad to be able to be with you and 8 00:00:39.289 --> 00:00:43.090 just share from our hearts some of the things that Lord has put on our 9 00:00:43.170 --> 00:00:47.530 hearts and today we really want to have a podcast that will help some of 10 00:00:47.570 --> 00:00:51.359 you folks who are hearing about what we're doing with cities for life and what 11 00:00:51.439 --> 00:00:55.320 other people are doing at abortion clinics. Although this podcast is not just about 12 00:00:55.399 --> 00:00:59.560 sidewalk counseling, it's a lot of what we focus on and the perspective we're 13 00:00:59.560 --> 00:01:02.880 coming from, and some of you guys are may be interested and get involved. 14 00:01:02.920 --> 00:01:04.709 Maybe you have been involved, but there can be some barriers. You 15 00:01:04.790 --> 00:01:07.670 know, we hear from a lot of folks that want to be involved on 16 00:01:07.750 --> 00:01:10.510 the sidewalk and there's a lot of unknowns, there's a lot of you, 17 00:01:10.829 --> 00:01:15.590 scariness of doing something new and something outside of your comfort zone. So we 18 00:01:15.750 --> 00:01:19.219 thought that we would bring a guest on who has had that experience in the 19 00:01:19.260 --> 00:01:23.859 past couple of weeks. Who is our intern the cities for life. Yeah, 20 00:01:23.900 --> 00:01:26.859 she's done a great job. Autumn, Autumn Lowery, who's been with 21 00:01:26.900 --> 00:01:30.099 us. You've been, I'm ministering, with us for for a couple of 22 00:01:30.180 --> 00:01:33.849 weeks now. How long? This is my fourth week, Fourth Week Minister 23 00:01:33.969 --> 00:01:37.290 with it now. You had been out on the sidewalk before when you were 24 00:01:37.370 --> 00:01:41.209 younger with a church group that came out and so you kind of had an 25 00:01:41.250 --> 00:01:46.930 idea of what goes on out there, but you really never experienced it from 26 00:01:46.930 --> 00:01:51.519 that perspective until just about four weeks ago. Yes, so we wanted to 27 00:01:51.560 --> 00:01:55.120 have autumn on guys so that we could kind of, you know, get 28 00:01:55.200 --> 00:01:57.519 some of the the the questions that you guys have answered, some of the 29 00:01:57.599 --> 00:02:01.790 anxiety that you feel. Maybe we can help calm some of that and encourage 30 00:02:01.829 --> 00:02:04.909 you to be out there on the sidewalk, you know, just to take 31 00:02:04.950 --> 00:02:08.669 a step of faith to do the hard ministry of being on the sidewalk. 32 00:02:08.870 --> 00:02:13.830 It's misunderstood. Even in Christian circles. People don't understand why you're out there. 33 00:02:13.870 --> 00:02:15.699 So that's one of the fears. But just in your mind, maybe 34 00:02:15.740 --> 00:02:21.939 you misunderstand what sidewalk counseling is and what you know, what it feels like 35 00:02:22.060 --> 00:02:23.979 to be out there. So we're going to just talk with autumn a little 36 00:02:23.979 --> 00:02:28.979 bit and hopefully this conversation will be a conversation with you as well as you're 37 00:02:29.020 --> 00:02:31.050 listening. Yeah, and in calm some of the fears that you have. 38 00:02:31.490 --> 00:02:36.050 Yeah, yeah, so I'll ask You, autumn, as you came, 39 00:02:36.169 --> 00:02:38.889 because you reached out to me on email and ask about interning with us. 40 00:02:39.129 --> 00:02:45.159 You're at North Greenville, yes university there, and you needed an internship. 41 00:02:45.240 --> 00:02:47.039 That's part of your your school in there, and so he reached out to 42 00:02:47.080 --> 00:02:52.560 me about coming out and I said Ah, fresh me fun. We were 43 00:02:52.639 --> 00:02:57.240 so excited. You don't know what she's getting into. Yeah, what were 44 00:02:57.280 --> 00:03:00.389 your thoughts? Like kind of I know I asked you this when we interview 45 00:03:00.469 --> 00:03:02.389 you for the internship, like what do you think we do? But before 46 00:03:02.469 --> 00:03:06.590 you came out on the sidewalk, Whoa, what were your thoughts? So 47 00:03:06.710 --> 00:03:08.349 what SID Walk Counseling. He is what cities for life does. What was 48 00:03:08.389 --> 00:03:13.460 going through your mind? Well, I think I maybe had a little bit 49 00:03:14.099 --> 00:03:17.819 of a different perspective just because I have been coming out with my church since 50 00:03:17.939 --> 00:03:22.860 like the sixth grade, but I had never talked on the trobe drive until 51 00:03:22.900 --> 00:03:24.659 I started working for you guys. We'd always come out just to pray. 52 00:03:24.659 --> 00:03:29.169 Yeah, so I actually didn't know I was going to be as involved on 53 00:03:29.250 --> 00:03:31.849 the sidewalks as I am just being an intern. I thought I was going 54 00:03:31.889 --> 00:03:35.610 to do a lot more, maybe behind the scene stuff. So when you 55 00:03:35.650 --> 00:03:38.090 guys told me that I was going to be more on the sidewalk, I 56 00:03:38.129 --> 00:03:40.129 went home and told Ashley. I was like I'm gonna cry. It's like 57 00:03:40.250 --> 00:03:46.000 that's so intimidating. Again, I've never said a word on this street before 58 00:03:46.120 --> 00:03:49.759 now, like and I didn't know that you guys called out as much as 59 00:03:49.840 --> 00:03:53.199 you did, I guess, because when I had come out with my youth 60 00:03:53.280 --> 00:03:55.229 group it was just one person like on a mic talking, and so I 61 00:03:55.349 --> 00:04:00.150 thought that's majority. I didn't know. I thought like maybe the Sidewalk Council 62 00:04:00.310 --> 00:04:02.669 just sat there and waited. Someone came out and did but just flock to 63 00:04:02.789 --> 00:04:05.509 them. Yeah, I guess that's what I thought, you know, living 64 00:04:05.509 --> 00:04:09.469 in America, right. So that but like and then pless. You knew 65 00:04:09.550 --> 00:04:14.860 we were such wonderful people and you're exactly see their places. You'd want to 66 00:04:14.939 --> 00:04:17.060 cling to that. And then on Saturdays, I've never been out doing the 67 00:04:17.100 --> 00:04:20.300 week and on Saturday is it just there's so much going on, it's so 68 00:04:20.379 --> 00:04:24.730 hectic. It's hard to see everything, guys going on. And then with 69 00:04:24.810 --> 00:04:27.329 the proports being out there, I feel like that's where a lot of my 70 00:04:27.449 --> 00:04:30.129 tension roles go, because it's just you don't see that like a target, 71 00:04:30.290 --> 00:04:34.769 you know. Right. So I definitely didn't know that I would be talking 72 00:04:34.850 --> 00:04:41.680 as much as I have been, and that has been very challenging and very 73 00:04:41.839 --> 00:04:44.560 scary. So, yeah, but yeah, in fact terrifying, I guess 74 00:04:44.680 --> 00:04:48.480 from the the ECO Turre, we had no clue. Right. I'm sorry, 75 00:04:49.360 --> 00:04:53.870 very sorry. It's great. Listen, you need that. You need 76 00:04:53.990 --> 00:04:57.189 to be put out and we really did sort of put her out there. 77 00:04:57.230 --> 00:05:00.069 We did. Hey, you want to intern with us? We have a 78 00:05:00.189 --> 00:05:04.149 job for you. Yeah, but in our defense, when you were initially 79 00:05:04.230 --> 00:05:10.699 talking to us, coronavirus had not yet quite appeared, or if it yeah, 80 00:05:10.819 --> 00:05:14.100 it hadn't at least crossed over to our country and all of a sudden 81 00:05:14.100 --> 00:05:16.620 here we are with the with, you know, all these new restrictions. 82 00:05:16.660 --> 00:05:20.060 We have no idea how we're going to navigate that, but we didn't want 83 00:05:20.060 --> 00:05:24.250 to lose our journey. Well, even when I came to interview with you 84 00:05:24.370 --> 00:05:26.569 guys, I didn't even know I was gonna be able to start right away 85 00:05:26.569 --> 00:05:29.410 because at that point my school was still like we might still go back right 86 00:05:29.529 --> 00:05:32.649 so it was way before anything major ride. I really had no idea. 87 00:05:32.730 --> 00:05:36.160 Yeah, but it was going to look like. Yeah, so the calling 88 00:05:36.240 --> 00:05:41.560 out in your mind, was that the scariest preconception that you did? Just 89 00:05:41.639 --> 00:05:45.360 so we kind of define our terms. That's a little shorthand calling out right. 90 00:05:45.480 --> 00:05:47.199 Yeah, pretty easy for people to figure out. But basically, people 91 00:05:47.199 --> 00:05:50.709 are going into the abortion center, get out of their cars, they've got 92 00:05:51.029 --> 00:05:55.350 probably fifteen seconds before they make it to the front door. We're calling out 93 00:05:55.430 --> 00:05:58.389 to them to get them to come over and talk to us. So we're 94 00:05:58.470 --> 00:06:01.670 trying to start a conversation, but we've got to call out across the parking 95 00:06:01.709 --> 00:06:05.139 lot. So and that can be an intimidating thing. Yeah, so my 96 00:06:05.379 --> 00:06:09.819 first day out there, Viggie told me just to stay in there and listen 97 00:06:10.500 --> 00:06:14.060 and because I really I was like what do you like? Do you say 98 00:06:14.100 --> 00:06:17.139 things that are offensive? Do you not offend? You only preach love? 99 00:06:17.339 --> 00:06:20.730 Do you also talk about the reality of what they're doing? And I in 100 00:06:20.810 --> 00:06:23.930 the back of my mind I was like, I can't say anything because I'll 101 00:06:23.970 --> 00:06:27.170 say the wrong thing. And so let's kind of what I wanted to get 102 00:06:27.170 --> 00:06:29.490 it. Yeah, there's a fear of saying the wrong thing. Yeah, 103 00:06:29.529 --> 00:06:33.360 and so like and even being out there for four weeks now, even when 104 00:06:33.360 --> 00:06:36.160 they're super nice to me, I'm like, I don't want to say anything 105 00:06:36.160 --> 00:06:41.120 that's gonna offend them, but they're literally about to drive in and murder their 106 00:06:41.160 --> 00:06:44.800 child. It's such going back and forth in my mind of like this is 107 00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:46.589 life and death and they want to choose death. You sometimes have to say 108 00:06:47.110 --> 00:06:51.829 offensive things, and so the women on the sidewalk that I've worked with so 109 00:06:51.949 --> 00:06:57.149 far have been absolutely amazing. So you don't the volunteers? Yes, it's 110 00:06:57.189 --> 00:07:00.980 yes, yeah, they have been so great and because even sometimes I'll think 111 00:07:01.019 --> 00:07:03.060 of my head, is this okay to say, and then she'll say it 112 00:07:03.180 --> 00:07:05.300 right and say I'm like okay, that was it. That's okay to say, 113 00:07:05.779 --> 00:07:11.860 and they have just been very honest. But it I hear it and 114 00:07:11.939 --> 00:07:14.339 it's coming from a place that we love you and we want to help you. 115 00:07:15.180 --> 00:07:17.009 What you hear a lot from the counselors on the sidewalk is we just 116 00:07:17.129 --> 00:07:20.649 want to help you and we're here. And then a lot of the women 117 00:07:20.689 --> 00:07:24.850 I have shared with me that they've experienced this too, and so that's been 118 00:07:24.889 --> 00:07:28.649 interesting to hear, is that they're being bold about we I've been in your 119 00:07:28.689 --> 00:07:30.600 shoes kind of thing. And for me, if I was walking inside and 120 00:07:30.759 --> 00:07:34.959 was abortion minded, hearing that someone out there could relate with me, that 121 00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:38.439 would I would identify with that and that would make me want to listen and 122 00:07:38.519 --> 00:07:41.399 stuff. So so, yeah, just going back and forth. I know 123 00:07:41.480 --> 00:07:45.029 you guys weren't going to throw your pitchforks at them just because of coming out 124 00:07:45.029 --> 00:07:47.310 with love life. I never saw anything like that, and so I just 125 00:07:47.430 --> 00:07:51.949 didn't know like where the line was. Yeah, and I feel like there's 126 00:07:51.990 --> 00:07:55.870 not really a line, because you have to be honest. Yeah, like 127 00:07:56.310 --> 00:08:01.220 they are good. It's it's a strange dynamic and it's something, you know, 128 00:08:01.300 --> 00:08:03.339 I've learned over the years and I know you've learned over the years and 129 00:08:03.459 --> 00:08:07.980 everybody sort of has their own perspective and there, I guess, their own 130 00:08:09.899 --> 00:08:11.500 I don't know, angle they come from. As far as yes, if 131 00:08:11.540 --> 00:08:13.850 you're post aboard. If you're going to come from a different angle, well 132 00:08:13.930 --> 00:08:18.250 that. But the Lord has really blessed us, I think, with a 133 00:08:18.410 --> 00:08:22.490 good balance, and we did a podcast about this balancing truth and grace, 134 00:08:22.170 --> 00:08:26.449 and I think the Lord has helped us. I think we've learned through some 135 00:08:26.930 --> 00:08:30.519 trial and error them and made plenty of mistakes in my time of being just, 136 00:08:31.040 --> 00:08:33.120 you know, just too fourth right. But also, you know, 137 00:08:33.240 --> 00:08:37.879 we can be not forth right enough. I mean we were had a place 138 00:08:37.960 --> 00:08:39.440 of life and death. Were there in front of an abortion thing. This 139 00:08:39.600 --> 00:08:43.029 is, of course, what I want folks who may be intimidated a little 140 00:08:43.029 --> 00:08:46.389 bit about going out to an abortion and it can be in the side wall 141 00:08:46.429 --> 00:08:50.789 counselor you know, you got to be aware that you're in a place literally 142 00:08:50.830 --> 00:08:54.950 of life and death and it's not no time to dance around the issues. 143 00:08:54.029 --> 00:08:56.580 We've got to be forth right. When a woman's coming to the abortion clinic 144 00:08:56.620 --> 00:09:00.980 and she stops to take our information, we don't talk about the whether or 145 00:09:00.980 --> 00:09:03.580 anything like that. We get right to that right here fro an abortion. 146 00:09:03.220 --> 00:09:07.100 Now, from that point we're not going to just say what if you're here 147 00:09:07.100 --> 00:09:09.220 from an abortion, your wicked person. You know, we don't get there. 148 00:09:09.379 --> 00:09:11.809 We want to engage in a conversation, but we're going to be real. 149 00:09:11.929 --> 00:09:13.129 Fourth Right. And so you've picked up on a lot of that. 150 00:09:13.289 --> 00:09:18.370 Yeah, I guess, gracious forthrightness. Yeah, maybe you would got that. 151 00:09:18.450 --> 00:09:22.210 Well. I think you've identified the tension that I think exists in all 152 00:09:22.250 --> 00:09:26.679 of us, not just when you're brand new but throughout. I'm and and 153 00:09:26.840 --> 00:09:33.080 that that that balance does shift depending on what the person you're talking to, 154 00:09:33.120 --> 00:09:37.320 yeah, has to say and and where. If she's hardening her heart, 155 00:09:37.909 --> 00:09:41.990 I'm going to tend to shift more towards truth. Yeah, and I know 156 00:09:43.149 --> 00:09:48.950 I do that. I'm conscious of that because I'm always feeling there's a baby 157 00:09:48.029 --> 00:09:52.340 slipe on the line. Yeah, and and to express too much of God's 158 00:09:52.379 --> 00:09:58.500 forgiveness and love to early just helps her to justify that's something I've noticed, 159 00:09:58.500 --> 00:10:01.059 as well as when there's been a mom that's in and out of her Carla 160 00:10:01.059 --> 00:10:05.059 or in out of the building. A lot write the progress of what comes 161 00:10:05.100 --> 00:10:09.330 out of the side. What counselor's right. It's deeper. Yes, first 162 00:10:09.370 --> 00:10:11.009 it's like here's what we can do, we can help you, and then 163 00:10:11.090 --> 00:10:13.970 as they notice that they're coming in and out, then and get I noticed 164 00:10:13.970 --> 00:10:16.370 that they get down to the root of this is sin, this is what 165 00:10:16.490 --> 00:10:20.330 would God have yeah, and you can't take back and stuff, and I 166 00:10:20.409 --> 00:10:24.159 think that's been really helpful to yeah, I know one of the the benefits 167 00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:26.679 that you've had, and I think you'll say this is a benefit actually've already 168 00:10:26.679 --> 00:10:30.919 mentioned it, that that some folks that are listening and may not have is 169 00:10:31.039 --> 00:10:35.789 that you have veteran sidewalk counselors that are there, that are there right besides 170 00:10:35.870 --> 00:10:39.269 you and you're able to listen to and and they're sort of coaching you along 171 00:10:39.509 --> 00:10:43.629 and encouraging you. And maybe not, you know, because one of the 172 00:10:43.669 --> 00:10:45.990 most intimidating things you can tell me whether or not I'm wrong, but I 173 00:10:46.029 --> 00:10:48.909 think I'm right about this, is the one on one conversation. YEA, 174 00:10:48.149 --> 00:10:50.980 not just the calling out, but the one on one conversations. And so 175 00:10:52.100 --> 00:10:54.500 a veteran sidewalk counsel if someone stops talk, you can kind of step in, 176 00:10:54.779 --> 00:10:58.419 yeah, and talk. That happened today. So yeah, in fact, 177 00:10:58.580 --> 00:11:03.500 and the the woman stopped for autumn and autumn started the conversation and I 178 00:11:03.779 --> 00:11:09.210 was instantly over there. We had talked about Ottoman. I that okay, 179 00:11:09.409 --> 00:11:11.610 Vicky will show up, because there will come a point at which just really 180 00:11:11.690 --> 00:11:15.970 doesn't know enough yet in terms of our resources. Yeah, that's so. 181 00:11:16.049 --> 00:11:18.399 I was right there within a few yeah, and that can be one of 182 00:11:18.440 --> 00:11:22.960 the most intimidating things, the one on one conversations, and you know how 183 00:11:22.039 --> 00:11:26.000 far you can go with the conversation, how you answer this question or that 184 00:11:26.080 --> 00:11:28.919 question that concerned. And it's one of the reasons why on the sidewalks for 185 00:11:30.039 --> 00:11:33.230 life website, a lot of folks don't know this, but in the I 186 00:11:33.309 --> 00:11:35.909 believe it's the join our community tab. If you click that and you scroll 187 00:11:35.990 --> 00:11:41.549 down on that page, there's actually a map there of sidewalk counselors all across 188 00:11:41.549 --> 00:11:43.669 the country, not necessarily sidewalks for life people or cities for life people, 189 00:11:43.750 --> 00:11:48.899 even people that we know. They're just people who somehow, through social media 190 00:11:48.940 --> 00:11:52.220 or whatever, if told us they do sidewalk counseling. So those who want 191 00:11:52.220 --> 00:11:54.740 to get involved with sidewalk counseling and want to have, you know, at 192 00:11:54.740 --> 00:12:00.299 least some veteran presence out there is helpful. Go on that map and check 193 00:12:00.340 --> 00:12:03.250 it out. But also it's one of the reasons why Vicky and me, 194 00:12:03.929 --> 00:12:07.250 and hopefully we'll get some other folks to start writing content to are trying to 195 00:12:07.370 --> 00:12:13.450 disciple people through blog posts, because those things experiences, sharing a story that 196 00:12:13.610 --> 00:12:16.279 you, Vicky, have encountered, even maybe autumn has encountered, sharing that 197 00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:20.559 with somebody and how you worked through that a situation is encouraging. So that's 198 00:12:20.600 --> 00:12:24.720 why we write those articles. Shameless plug in for the for that website, 199 00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:28.120 because I think it is important as powerful. Well, Autumn today, when 200 00:12:28.840 --> 00:12:33.309 and I took over, I think I'm talking about the same interaction. Maybe 201 00:12:33.309 --> 00:12:35.629 there were two that that this happened with, but I took over and talked 202 00:12:35.629 --> 00:12:41.629 with her for quite a while and as soon as I finished, Autumn asked 203 00:12:41.669 --> 00:12:45.019 me, what did you say? Yeah, so she wanted to hear so 204 00:12:45.139 --> 00:12:50.179 that she could then internalize that and decide. You know what felt like. 205 00:12:50.500 --> 00:12:54.179 We're thinks that she could use. Yeah, and didn't know. I felt 206 00:12:54.179 --> 00:12:58.019 like I asked a ton of questions because I'm I'm out there every day, 207 00:12:58.100 --> 00:13:01.889 so there's different people out there, obviously every day, and everyone's been really 208 00:13:01.929 --> 00:13:03.929 gracious, because sometimes I'll just stand there and I'll be quiet because I'm, 209 00:13:03.929 --> 00:13:07.330 like I said, my four lines and I'm not quite sure what's in us. 210 00:13:07.409 --> 00:13:11.570 And then someone who's experience will jump in and so I'll be like, 211 00:13:11.970 --> 00:13:13.960 if they're doing this, like how do you respond in this situation? Like 212 00:13:15.039 --> 00:13:18.960 one time our girl did respond back to me kind of in she was upset, 213 00:13:20.039 --> 00:13:22.519 obviously. Yeah, so I asked Daniel. I was like, when 214 00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:26.559 they respond that way, how do I respond back in a loving way as 215 00:13:26.600 --> 00:13:30.149 well? And so the people on the sidewalks have been very patient with me 216 00:13:30.350 --> 00:13:33.350 with all my questions that I've been asking, because I do want to learn 217 00:13:33.549 --> 00:13:37.230 something. I can be quick to read a situation well enough to be able 218 00:13:37.230 --> 00:13:43.179 to respond in the appropriate way that they have and yeah, so we did, 219 00:13:43.220 --> 00:13:46.539 I think the first I don't know you can tell me if I'm if 220 00:13:46.539 --> 00:13:48.940 I remembering correctly, but the first couple of days you were out, I 221 00:13:50.019 --> 00:13:52.740 think I'll put you at the driveway. Given that way to you. To 222 00:13:52.779 --> 00:13:54.929 Day. They're thing and they have anything work the driveway. I said, 223 00:13:54.929 --> 00:13:58.490 I don't know what that means, but all right, yeah, well, 224 00:13:58.529 --> 00:14:01.690 you know as it is. I can appreciate your willingness and you did a 225 00:14:01.730 --> 00:14:05.289 great job and up better at the main driveway offer in literature, and that's 226 00:14:05.289 --> 00:14:07.570 where people stop and want to talk. And I said, what did I 227 00:14:07.649 --> 00:14:09.809 tell you? I can't remember what I told you exactly. You just like 228 00:14:09.889 --> 00:14:11.320 sometimes you've got to be thrown in there. You know that tail learned and 229 00:14:11.399 --> 00:14:16.080 I was like okay, because she came in. When there's coronavirus or teams 230 00:14:16.120 --> 00:14:20.720 are small, I have an injured voice so I can't call out, so 231 00:14:20.840 --> 00:14:22.679 I'll be standing behind on him sometimes saying to say that. Say this so 232 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:26.950 well, in the day before I hadn't talked at all because it was my 233 00:14:26.029 --> 00:14:28.549 first day and it was so busy and there was someone on the Rv so 234 00:14:28.590 --> 00:14:31.669 I like barely saw you. So I was like, I have no idea 235 00:14:31.750 --> 00:14:33.710 what to do and he was like just go stand at the driveway and I 236 00:14:33.830 --> 00:14:39.620 was like you, I'm going to do what? Don't you learn the in 237 00:14:39.860 --> 00:14:41.299 that? I mean, this is this is what people got to understand. 238 00:14:41.299 --> 00:14:46.860 This is a very intense spiritual battle. It is if you're coming into sidewalk 239 00:14:46.940 --> 00:14:50.580 counseling being, you know, whatever it maybe even, I'd say definitely pregnancy 240 00:14:50.580 --> 00:14:54.529 center ministry. When you're dealing with abortion, you're dealing with the very spiritual 241 00:14:54.090 --> 00:14:58.409 matter, and this is this is got to be a ministry. We got 242 00:14:58.490 --> 00:15:01.809 the business mentality, like we're running a business or something that out on the 243 00:15:01.850 --> 00:15:05.529 sidewalk is just completely thrown out of the windows. Right. We've got to 244 00:15:05.610 --> 00:15:09.799 learn to lean on the Lord, and so I helped you to do that. 245 00:15:11.440 --> 00:15:16.919 Have you learned, though? I mean you're you're a godly young lady, 246 00:15:16.159 --> 00:15:20.200 you love Jesus, you want to serve him, but do you think 247 00:15:20.240 --> 00:15:24.509 in the past four weeks that you've learned at least a different dynamic, if 248 00:15:24.549 --> 00:15:30.830 not a more intense need to lean on the Lord, the trusted percent? 249 00:15:31.070 --> 00:15:33.870 Okay, it is way harder than I thought it was going to be here 250 00:15:35.230 --> 00:15:39.100 because, I mean, obviously I picked cities for life because I supported, 251 00:15:39.220 --> 00:15:43.980 I believe in the cause, and we, I mean we talked about abortion 252 00:15:43.019 --> 00:15:46.779 at my house all the time, at the dinner table. We talked about 253 00:15:46.779 --> 00:15:50.330 because my sister was heavily involved with love life. Yeah, and so it's 254 00:15:50.330 --> 00:15:52.529 a constant conversation we're always having. I know where I stand. I know 255 00:15:52.649 --> 00:15:56.450 the facts. I thought this will be a natural place for me to just 256 00:15:56.490 --> 00:16:00.450 jump on in because I already believe this. I already talked about this, 257 00:16:00.090 --> 00:16:06.679 but what I didn't realize is that I was having those conversations with people that 258 00:16:06.720 --> 00:16:11.320 agreed with me, and even there are sometimes of people at school where all 259 00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:14.279 have conversations about the Gospel where they may not agree and I've had to defend 260 00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:17.039 my faith. I've been to India, like in the slums of India, 261 00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:21.389 sharing the Gospel. That is hard, yeah, but coming out here and 262 00:16:21.629 --> 00:16:25.590 being on the sidewalk, it is something that I've never experienced before. I 263 00:16:25.629 --> 00:16:30.230 feel like I am going to like war. Every day, my chest just 264 00:16:30.350 --> 00:16:33.659 feels super heavy. Yeah, every day, and my first week I left 265 00:16:33.700 --> 00:16:37.779 and I cried every day on my way home because it's I don't even know 266 00:16:37.820 --> 00:16:41.419 if I can adequately put into words how it feels once you're actually out there, 267 00:16:41.940 --> 00:16:45.139 because you can say it all day long, you agree, but then 268 00:16:45.179 --> 00:16:48.210 once you're put in that position and now you're trying to in a way, 269 00:16:48.490 --> 00:16:53.049 sort of convince those women that this is not the way, while being royal. 270 00:16:53.090 --> 00:16:56.889 There's a fence and there's trees in the security guards are laughing at you 271 00:16:56.289 --> 00:17:00.889 and I had to deal with any pro boards yet. Praise Jesus, but 272 00:17:00.169 --> 00:17:04.119 it's don't. Yeah, it's. That has been a blessing of acause I 273 00:17:04.319 --> 00:17:08.400 was actually that they're not out there. But you are describing beautifully spiritual warfare, 274 00:17:08.440 --> 00:17:14.000 right. You have experienced that more than any place else you've ever yeah, 275 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:17.670 yeah, even being in India, right, I didn't feel it as 276 00:17:18.150 --> 00:17:21.990 heavy as I did than being on a place like this, because, I 277 00:17:22.069 --> 00:17:25.509 mean, we live in America where it's okay to do this. So people 278 00:17:25.549 --> 00:17:27.990 are now being they're being taught from a young age that, as a woman, 279 00:17:29.069 --> 00:17:32.859 it's your right to do that. So on learning that and then trying 280 00:17:32.940 --> 00:17:36.579 to tell them and make them see that you're not coming out of place. 281 00:17:36.619 --> 00:17:40.859 I'm not yelling at you, like I genuinely just want you to love Jesus 282 00:17:40.980 --> 00:17:44.059 and want to choose life. And it's like, if there's so many things 283 00:17:44.099 --> 00:17:47.410 going through your mind and then feeling that way as well, I've been in 284 00:17:47.569 --> 00:17:51.890 my Bible so much and reaching on to my discipler so much and have all 285 00:17:51.930 --> 00:17:53.490 these people are praying for me, because I'm like, I would literally die 286 00:17:53.569 --> 00:17:57.130 if Jesus wasn't walking through this would because it's so heavy. Yeah, we 287 00:17:57.250 --> 00:18:00.240 knows. This one of the things that I see with folks who, you 288 00:18:00.279 --> 00:18:03.599 know, I've been exposed to this type of ministry for about fifteen years now, 289 00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:08.319 since two thousand and five, and I've seen some folks almost literally go 290 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:12.269 bunkers down their mind that are involved at abortion clinics and just go off the 291 00:18:12.349 --> 00:18:15.630 rails. And it's one of the reasons why I'll stress, and it's a 292 00:18:15.670 --> 00:18:18.950 requirement if you're going to volunteer with us, you've got to be a part 293 00:18:18.950 --> 00:18:21.869 of a local church. Yeah, you need that accountability, you need that 294 00:18:21.990 --> 00:18:23.589 encouragement, you need to be able to you know, you need to have 295 00:18:23.670 --> 00:18:30.460 mentors and people you can bounce things off of and unload on, because it's 296 00:18:30.500 --> 00:18:36.220 such an intense battle. It's it's such a it's so not normal for us 297 00:18:36.259 --> 00:18:40.140 to be in this sort of battle, especially in American Christianity, where a 298 00:18:40.220 --> 00:18:42.009 lot of the preaching and teaching is you know, how do you feel, 299 00:18:42.369 --> 00:18:45.450 and about you know, five ways to get your best life and all these 300 00:18:45.490 --> 00:18:48.490 other things. We're not tall. Yeah, sacrifice, lay your life down, 301 00:18:48.569 --> 00:18:52.490 speak on behalf of those that can't speak for themselves, at the risk 302 00:18:52.650 --> 00:18:56.640 of getting threatened or whatever. You know, it's it is pretty into yeah, 303 00:18:56.799 --> 00:18:59.640 sure, and that's just talking about a abortion, which is which is 304 00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:03.480 of course, the major focus of our ministry. But what leads to abortion 305 00:19:03.240 --> 00:19:07.319 has to be addressed or they'll just be back. And so that's a whole 306 00:19:07.319 --> 00:19:11.470 new layer that you probably haven't even really quite explored yet. But you know, 307 00:19:11.670 --> 00:19:15.549 talking about a God's message about sexual purity, because if it wasn't for 308 00:19:15.670 --> 00:19:18.950 sexual sin, Ninety nine percent of the abortions would not be happening. So 309 00:19:19.190 --> 00:19:23.420 you know, then there's all there is that gets added into the the the 310 00:19:23.619 --> 00:19:29.460 discomfort of sharing with complete strangers. Yes, you are involved in sexual sin 311 00:19:29.700 --> 00:19:33.500 which has led to this terrible place. So so the best is yet to 312 00:19:33.539 --> 00:19:38.089 come, in other words, all do you remember? I'm pretty sure I 313 00:19:38.210 --> 00:19:42.009 said this to you when you came and interviewed for the internship. I say 314 00:19:42.089 --> 00:19:45.329 this to probably, I think, all of our volunteers. I basically I 315 00:19:45.450 --> 00:19:48.769 make two promises. If you were coming, if you and I make a 316 00:19:48.809 --> 00:19:52.400 promise to anybody listening to this podcast, if you commit to come on to 317 00:19:52.519 --> 00:19:57.039 the sidewalk on a consistent basis, two things are going to happen. God 318 00:19:57.119 --> 00:20:00.400 will use you to save babies. So that's going to happen. I'm just 319 00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:03.519 telling you, even if you don't find out about it, I promise you, 320 00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:06.200 if you stand in front of an abortion clinic and you reach out, 321 00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:07.950 even if you don't see the fruit of it visually, when you stand before 322 00:20:07.990 --> 00:20:11.150 God, I promise you he's going to use you to say babies, because 323 00:20:11.190 --> 00:20:15.670 your voice is if your believer, your voice is effective. God is going 324 00:20:15.710 --> 00:20:21.190 to use you to say babies. And second promises you're going to grow spiritually 325 00:20:21.230 --> 00:20:25.059 in ways you otherwise would not grow. Have you found those two things to 326 00:20:25.099 --> 00:20:29.180 be true? Of the first one, I don't feel super confident yet, 327 00:20:29.259 --> 00:20:33.980 but I believe that you're right, because something that you told me when we 328 00:20:33.059 --> 00:20:37.609 were on the phone talking one day after this was that, like Jesus, 329 00:20:37.809 --> 00:20:42.690 I'm not responsible for the successes or the women of don'ts. I didn't know 330 00:20:42.690 --> 00:20:45.250 if that woman had chosen life right. I was feeling really bad because I 331 00:20:45.250 --> 00:20:48.329 thought I should have said more right, and so then I was thinking about 332 00:20:48.369 --> 00:20:52.559 what you said is, even if I don't see a single result, if 333 00:20:52.599 --> 00:20:55.519 I never know, if no one ever comes and tells me that, because 334 00:20:55.640 --> 00:20:57.480 what I said, Jesus gets all the glory for and then he tells me 335 00:20:57.559 --> 00:21:02.000 later in heaven, then that'll be so worth it. And that's been something 336 00:21:02.039 --> 00:21:06.950 that's been hard to kind of wrap my mind around too and be okay with. 337 00:21:07.789 --> 00:21:11.430 Is when I do interact with somebody, if I don't say enough or 338 00:21:11.470 --> 00:21:14.309 if I said something that I shouldn't have said, then in my head I'm 339 00:21:14.309 --> 00:21:17.710 not beating myself up and I'm but then you told me those encouraging words. 340 00:21:17.950 --> 00:21:21.740 They decided to go in there and I did my part by being obedient to 341 00:21:21.859 --> 00:21:23.299 what Jesus has called me to do. Yeah, and that's one of those 342 00:21:23.420 --> 00:21:27.460 that that's a another aspect of spiritual warfare. Yeah, so that it, 343 00:21:27.700 --> 00:21:32.140 you know, in this is another thing that we encourage the volunteers with, 344 00:21:32.660 --> 00:21:34.690 is that the devil's going to eat your lunch, or at least try to, 345 00:21:36.329 --> 00:21:37.329 when you could. You've been out there on the sidewalk, you've poured 346 00:21:37.329 --> 00:21:41.289 your heart out and then you know you've pulled your heart out, maybe even 347 00:21:41.289 --> 00:21:44.210 one and one, to a woman who's pulled over on the side of the 348 00:21:44.210 --> 00:21:48.359 hood and she's gone into that abortion clinic and the devil later on that day, 349 00:21:48.359 --> 00:21:49.640 when you leave or whatever, is going to be all you should have 350 00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:52.079 said this well, you should have said that all. You didn't do this. 351 00:21:52.359 --> 00:21:56.880 You can't do that just right. No one can say everything that needs 352 00:21:56.920 --> 00:22:00.640 to be said. We just have to make ourselves available to be vessels of 353 00:22:00.680 --> 00:22:04.309 the Lord, to speak the truth to them. You can say even if 354 00:22:04.349 --> 00:22:10.910 you knew everything exactly to say perfectly, you could say everything exactly perfectly and 355 00:22:11.109 --> 00:22:12.869 still she might go in there and have an abortion. Right. Well, 356 00:22:12.910 --> 00:22:17.220 we've had women, and I think we've shared this on the podcast before, 357 00:22:17.299 --> 00:22:19.099 one young lady who went on the mobile ultra sound unit. And it's about 358 00:22:19.579 --> 00:22:23.099 ninety ninety five percent of the women that go on that mobile unit will choose 359 00:22:23.099 --> 00:22:26.980 life for their bags. But this young lady, this couple of years ago, 360 00:22:26.980 --> 00:22:30.490 the mom of twins, eighteen week old twins, went on the mobile 361 00:22:30.490 --> 00:22:32.730 unit parked right in front of the abortion clinic. She went on there, 362 00:22:33.210 --> 00:22:37.049 she saw her babies perfectly. Eighteen weeks old, you can tell one whether 363 00:22:37.049 --> 00:22:41.490 or not they're little boys little girl. Yeah, every need she had was 364 00:22:41.569 --> 00:22:45.960 answered with some corresponding resource. You know, housing, need all here it 365 00:22:47.079 --> 00:22:49.200 is, Free Prenatal Care, AH, here it is. All of that 366 00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:53.880 stuff was answered and yet she walked right off that mobile unit. Rite another 367 00:22:53.960 --> 00:22:59.950 abortion clinic and killed those two right eighteen week old baby and for the nurse, 368 00:23:00.549 --> 00:23:04.390 for the counselor devastating. Yeah, and the Devil speaking his lies. 369 00:23:04.509 --> 00:23:07.390 Oh, you should have did this, you should have did that, and 370 00:23:07.750 --> 00:23:12.380 you've gotta come to the point, and this is where your growth in the 371 00:23:12.460 --> 00:23:15.779 Lord and just learned to lean on the Lord, is where you come to 372 00:23:15.819 --> 00:23:18.259 the point and say, devil, I am not receiving you your lies. 373 00:23:18.779 --> 00:23:22.140 I did what God call me to do. I was a voice for those 374 00:23:22.180 --> 00:23:26.769 babies. Maybe I didn't say everything exactly right, but I said what God 375 00:23:26.809 --> 00:23:30.450 to put on my heart to say and it was up to them, you 376 00:23:30.529 --> 00:23:33.769 know, and that's that's the reality. It's up to that mom and you 377 00:23:33.890 --> 00:23:36.210 gave you the right thing. You gave all you had at that moment. 378 00:23:36.369 --> 00:23:40.369 Yeah, and accept that then. So so we've heard a lot of struggles 379 00:23:40.529 --> 00:23:45.559 and at this point there may be listeners thinking, why is anybody because I'm 380 00:23:45.559 --> 00:23:49.039 sure not going there. Are there? Are there any like reboards? Oh, 381 00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:53.319 I think this has been one of the most beautiful experiences I've ever had. 382 00:23:53.559 --> 00:23:59.829 Talk about that please, because listeners are, I think every Christian, 383 00:24:00.150 --> 00:24:03.150 you know, they always say like every person should work in some sort of 384 00:24:03.190 --> 00:24:06.470 food service and then know how to treat service workers. Yeah, I think 385 00:24:06.549 --> 00:24:08.990 every single Christian in the world should come out and spend at least a week 386 00:24:10.059 --> 00:24:12.619 out here. Yeah, we said that way because you have so many people 387 00:24:12.660 --> 00:24:15.140 that are like, Oh, yeah, I'm pro life, of course, 388 00:24:15.180 --> 00:24:18.500 until it comes down to it, and I think being out there on the 389 00:24:18.539 --> 00:24:22.900 sidewalk, it's definitely gonna show your true colors of whether or not you really 390 00:24:22.940 --> 00:24:27.809 do stand for this or not. And I mean even though like art came 391 00:24:27.970 --> 00:24:32.609 in, like being pro life, this is just opened I feel like the 392 00:24:32.650 --> 00:24:36.089 veils been ripped from my eyes again. There are people that do want to 393 00:24:36.130 --> 00:24:38.319 help and there are so many resources that I didn't even know about that you 394 00:24:38.359 --> 00:24:42.480 guys can provide for women, and there are people on the sidewalks that genuinely 395 00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:47.079 love all these women that are going in there. And even with the music 396 00:24:47.160 --> 00:24:48.880 playing that you guys have out there, I feel like it. I just 397 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:52.559 spend so much time in prayer and I feel like that's where I struggle the 398 00:24:52.640 --> 00:24:55.710 most. My own personal life is in prayer, like sitting down and doing 399 00:24:55.789 --> 00:24:59.269 it, but being out there when there's when it's just quiet because they've all 400 00:24:59.309 --> 00:25:02.990 gone inside and there's no more people sitting in their cars. I've poured out 401 00:25:03.150 --> 00:25:04.950 to God being right, please God, and so I feel like that has 402 00:25:04.990 --> 00:25:08.779 helped me grow so much too, just being so dependent on him, because, 403 00:25:08.819 --> 00:25:11.859 I mean, I can't go in there, I can't cross the line 404 00:25:11.859 --> 00:25:15.740 of already got yelled at once, yeah, stepping over there on to the 405 00:25:15.779 --> 00:25:19.180 property right. Yeah, I just got a hundred percent that whatever happens in 406 00:25:19.220 --> 00:25:25.049 there, like he's sovereign and he's in control. And and then being so 407 00:25:25.250 --> 00:25:27.930 encouraged by the women on the sidewalks and you guys. Having Christian community, 408 00:25:27.970 --> 00:25:33.289 yes, so important as well. Some of the deepest relationships that that I 409 00:25:33.769 --> 00:25:37.279 have in my life have been forged out there on the side of text because, 410 00:25:37.599 --> 00:25:41.119 you know, the deepest relationships are oftentimes forged in battle. Yeah, 411 00:25:41.720 --> 00:25:44.880 it's a real battle. Yeah, I want to talk about something, Ottoman. 412 00:25:45.400 --> 00:25:48.440 You know, I'm just throw the question out there, like, okay, 413 00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:51.269 I'm not trying to be accusatory, certainly not towards you, but towards 414 00:25:51.269 --> 00:25:53.269 the women that we minister to primaries, when I'm talking aboutcause there's a mentality 415 00:25:53.589 --> 00:25:56.789 and you may have come in with this mentality and I tried to tear it 416 00:25:56.869 --> 00:25:59.589 down as quick as I could so that you didn't get discouraged. Yeah, 417 00:25:59.950 --> 00:26:03.789 when you came and interviewed for the internship. But there's a mentality that a 418 00:26:03.829 --> 00:26:06.940 lot of Christians have that women that come to an abortion clinic are just victims 419 00:26:07.299 --> 00:26:11.220 and they're just poor, innocent little victims and we just need to be there 420 00:26:11.299 --> 00:26:15.420 just just to love them. And that's not untrue and I'm no way implying 421 00:26:15.460 --> 00:26:17.980 that there aren't women that come. There are victims. Ultimately, we did 422 00:26:17.980 --> 00:26:19.930 a whole podcast about this. But how women are not victims, but they 423 00:26:19.970 --> 00:26:22.890 are. Yeah, did you come with that mentality that these are just poor 424 00:26:23.130 --> 00:26:27.650 women that are victims of circumstances and I'm going to say the world, by 425 00:26:27.849 --> 00:26:33.000 coming out there? No, okay, again, just because we have this, 426 00:26:33.559 --> 00:26:36.839 this constant conversation my household, I feel like that's kind of helped. 427 00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:41.640 But something that I've noticed, I feel like a lot of it is just 428 00:26:41.720 --> 00:26:45.279 to take away human responsibility. Okay, because I've seen like so many people 429 00:26:45.400 --> 00:26:49.869 just come in and like they're laughing as they walk in or joking as they 430 00:26:49.950 --> 00:26:53.509 come out or just not having a care in the world about what's going on. 431 00:26:55.150 --> 00:26:57.589 Bringing there McDonald's into the parking I gets almost like you're just waiting to 432 00:26:57.630 --> 00:27:02.539 get your nails done, so nonchalant. Yeah, and so, I mean 433 00:27:02.579 --> 00:27:07.220 I genuinely there was a woman last week that I genuinely believe that she was 434 00:27:07.299 --> 00:27:11.180 in a horrible situation, something horrible had happened to her and she she felt 435 00:27:11.180 --> 00:27:15.099 like this was her only option. Yeah, but what I've seen a lot 436 00:27:15.460 --> 00:27:21.130 is that this is just a way to take away the human responsibility of my 437 00:27:21.410 --> 00:27:25.410 personal actions, like I want to have the fun without the consequence. Yeah, 438 00:27:25.490 --> 00:27:27.009 and this will get rid of the consequence. Yes, and the reason 439 00:27:27.049 --> 00:27:30.880 why I ask that question is because a lot of people, from the outside 440 00:27:30.920 --> 00:27:33.119 looking in. Any I had this mentality. You know, the women that 441 00:27:33.160 --> 00:27:36.240 come to an abortion clinic. I mean for them it's got to be an 442 00:27:36.279 --> 00:27:40.519 extreme thing, it must be some big time issue going on in their lives. 443 00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:42.400 When you're out there on the sidewalk, you quickly find these are not 444 00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:48.390 poor little innocent victims just waiting for your help. They're venomous, they hate 445 00:27:48.390 --> 00:27:49.789 your guts, they want they want to rip your head off and they're going 446 00:27:49.789 --> 00:27:52.950 to kill their baby and they don't give a rip what you say. They 447 00:27:52.990 --> 00:27:56.710 don't care what God says. That's probably the majority. Yeah, and it's 448 00:27:56.750 --> 00:28:00.619 not that God doesn't want to reach those people. He does, and we've 449 00:28:00.660 --> 00:28:02.940 seen him do it so many times. I mean I think of a woman 450 00:28:02.980 --> 00:28:07.140 who came to the abortion clinic five different times and I think the third or 451 00:28:07.180 --> 00:28:10.779 fourth time she came, I was actually calling out to her and I was 452 00:28:10.819 --> 00:28:12.210 saying, Hey, we're here to offer help. You don't want to go 453 00:28:12.210 --> 00:28:15.049 in there and take the life of your baby, and she said if I 454 00:28:15.049 --> 00:28:17.809 could spit this baby out of my mouth right now on the sidewalk, I 455 00:28:17.930 --> 00:28:21.450 would. I was like, Oh God, how wicked. Yeah, but 456 00:28:22.410 --> 00:28:25.170 she couldn't have an abortion that day. For whatever reason. She came back 457 00:28:25.289 --> 00:28:29.279 that fifth time, fourth or fifth time or whatever, and the mobile unit 458 00:28:29.319 --> 00:28:30.720 was out there and she said, you know what, I'm just going to 459 00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:33.640 go in there and see what see what they have to say, and she 460 00:28:33.640 --> 00:28:37.079 ended up choosing life for a baby. So God can save all kinds of 461 00:28:37.119 --> 00:28:38.759 people, right, right, he does. Yeah, but some folks again 462 00:28:38.799 --> 00:28:41.430 might come with this mentality of these you just pour victims, and if you 463 00:28:41.470 --> 00:28:45.589 come with that mentality on the sidewalk you're going to quickly either you're going to 464 00:28:45.630 --> 00:28:49.069 get burned and leave not come back, or your attitude is going to change 465 00:28:49.109 --> 00:28:52.109 and get very, very bitter. Yeah, you'll get bitter. Or, 466 00:28:52.390 --> 00:28:56.140 you know, you allow the Lord to give you his perspective. You know, 467 00:28:56.660 --> 00:29:00.619 God's perspective is, you know, all the humanity is lost, dead 468 00:29:00.740 --> 00:29:04.460 in our trespasses and sins, separated from him. We're all rebels against him 469 00:29:06.180 --> 00:29:08.819 and he comes to US fourth rightly confronts us in our sin, but he 470 00:29:08.940 --> 00:29:11.730 does it out of love. And so I think the Lord teaches us to 471 00:29:11.730 --> 00:29:15.569 do that, to be forth right, to confront sin, but to do 472 00:29:15.690 --> 00:29:19.690 it with compassion, because you can come and confront sin and do it without 473 00:29:19.809 --> 00:29:22.890 compassion, almost like, you know, with some folks, mentality is, 474 00:29:23.049 --> 00:29:26.440 you know, I'm better than them and therefore I can set them straight, 475 00:29:26.559 --> 00:29:30.480 and that's a bad mentality to have. But you can also come with an 476 00:29:30.519 --> 00:29:33.759 attitude of these are just poor, innocent victims, and that's that's not going 477 00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:36.359 to work for you either. So some kind of balance there, the Lord 478 00:29:36.440 --> 00:29:38.869 teaches you. That's why clinging to the Lord, getting in his word, 479 00:29:40.390 --> 00:29:47.430 getting his heart is is Mooe importante. Yes, Spanish for very got it. 480 00:29:48.509 --> 00:29:52.789 So we're there. Were there things that now you've been out there for 481 00:29:52.829 --> 00:29:57.579 a month, that were misconceptions from the beginning, that now you really have 482 00:29:57.740 --> 00:30:03.339 come to have a deeper understanding of what really happens out there. I don't 483 00:30:03.380 --> 00:30:08.490 know. I I think I again, I just thought that it was going 484 00:30:08.529 --> 00:30:15.569 to be a lot easier than what it is and I guess I just didn't 485 00:30:15.569 --> 00:30:21.130 realize how much the volunteers to. I don't know, because I never thought 486 00:30:21.329 --> 00:30:23.640 when other people say, because when I tell people that I work for you 487 00:30:23.680 --> 00:30:26.680 guys. Now, though, it's what you just stand out there and the 488 00:30:26.720 --> 00:30:29.039 yell at women are do you actually help women? And I'm I don't know. 489 00:30:30.039 --> 00:30:33.599 I person I haven't met anybody that stands out there and like yells at 490 00:30:33.640 --> 00:30:38.789 women. So when people have that that misconceptions. Yeah, I'm always really 491 00:30:38.789 --> 00:30:41.990 confused by that. And I know that, like you read about the Westboro 492 00:30:42.150 --> 00:30:45.549 Baptist Church. That, yeah, test stuff. And but like, I 493 00:30:45.589 --> 00:30:48.990 follow Jeff Durban a lot and watch a lot of his stuff and he's always 494 00:30:49.019 --> 00:30:52.180 so peaceful when he talks to people. And then seeing guys out there, 495 00:30:52.299 --> 00:30:56.420 I never have had that mentality that you guys are out there to do that. 496 00:30:57.099 --> 00:31:00.819 So and then being out there just kind of confirmed that. Yeah, 497 00:31:00.859 --> 00:31:03.980 that's what guys were there to do. Yeah, again, I just thought. 498 00:31:04.049 --> 00:31:07.650 And then, being an intern, I thought I wouldn't be yes involved, 499 00:31:07.690 --> 00:31:11.250 which is totally fine. It's helped me grow so much and so and 500 00:31:11.329 --> 00:31:12.250 if that's what you guys need me to do, I'm willing to do that. 501 00:31:12.289 --> 00:31:17.170 It's just, I don't know, there's just so much more help. 502 00:31:17.210 --> 00:31:18.960 I guess that you guys are providing them. My thought, I guess, 503 00:31:19.319 --> 00:31:22.279 yeah, yeah, I don't know if it's yeah, no, that's good, 504 00:31:22.400 --> 00:31:27.319 that that's I I wonder where that miss perception comes from, because when 505 00:31:27.400 --> 00:31:30.960 there it comes from the time, comes from from media sources who are not 506 00:31:32.400 --> 00:31:36.230 favorable towards us. You know, I've seen that too, because the article 507 00:31:36.309 --> 00:31:37.829 that they just put out about you that we were reading, yeah, I 508 00:31:37.869 --> 00:31:41.230 he needed the fact check. is stuff seeing on a smaller scale of what 509 00:31:41.349 --> 00:31:47.220 the media can do. And then if I wasn't pro life and thought it 510 00:31:47.339 --> 00:31:51.460 was okay reading that, I would just confirm right my thoughts. And so, 511 00:31:51.619 --> 00:31:55.259 like you, going out here and seeing what you guys are actually there's 512 00:31:55.259 --> 00:31:59.259 a mentality that and it's the media that puts this mentality and then Christians, 513 00:31:59.299 --> 00:32:00.529 we just, you know, people read stuff and they just sort to take 514 00:32:00.609 --> 00:32:04.250 the bait. But you know, we're protesters. Yeah, you know, 515 00:32:04.369 --> 00:32:06.769 we're just out there to protest, which we're going to do a podcast to 516 00:32:06.849 --> 00:32:09.809 be exactly which is out there protest. was like, no, we're not. 517 00:32:10.130 --> 00:32:14.890 I'm not protesting anything. I'm out here offering help to women that are 518 00:32:14.890 --> 00:32:17.000 going into the abortion clinic and share in the Gospel with them. You can 519 00:32:17.039 --> 00:32:20.920 put it wherever label you want on it. We're not protests and we're not 520 00:32:21.079 --> 00:32:23.640 walking back and forth with picking signs and saying no more abortion. You know 521 00:32:23.799 --> 00:32:27.680 whatever. We're not trying to appeal to the government. We're trying to appeal 522 00:32:27.720 --> 00:32:30.470 to women going into the abortion clinic not to kill their babies and offer them 523 00:32:30.549 --> 00:32:34.950 help. And you know that. Again, a lot of folks don't either 524 00:32:35.029 --> 00:32:38.710 don't want to see that or just haven't bothered to dig into it, because 525 00:32:38.750 --> 00:32:43.349 we get those those on facebook all the time. We get questions you guys 526 00:32:43.349 --> 00:32:46.940 actually help the women after they choose life, and I'm like, have you 527 00:32:47.099 --> 00:32:52.579 looked at our facebook page? Have you looked at our website, the myriad 528 00:32:52.660 --> 00:32:57.180 of ministries that we partner with and the stories that we share on a regular 529 00:32:57.259 --> 00:33:01.329 basis of how we've went from the abortion clinic to stories where they we've seen 530 00:33:01.529 --> 00:33:06.009 people get married and help them get housing and help them get vehicles. is 531 00:33:06.089 --> 00:33:07.690 like all these things. Yeah, so, yeah, thankfully you came in 532 00:33:07.849 --> 00:33:12.289 sort of understanding all of that stuff. Yeah. Well, something else that 533 00:33:12.369 --> 00:33:15.079 I've learned while being out here, and you asked me this and my interview 534 00:33:15.319 --> 00:33:19.599 was, even if we didn't provide all this stuff, would it's still be 535 00:33:19.680 --> 00:33:21.720 okay for us to be on good? That was the next thing I was 536 00:33:21.839 --> 00:33:23.920 going to ask if you changed or do you what are your thoughts about that? 537 00:33:24.119 --> 00:33:27.589 Yeah, so, like my first thought was, I mean absolutely the 538 00:33:27.670 --> 00:33:30.509 people shouldn't murder their kids. Yeah, but even now, being out here, 539 00:33:30.710 --> 00:33:35.950 I like firmly believe that even if I gave you nothing, yeah, 540 00:33:36.109 --> 00:33:38.630 you're still voluntarily walking in there to take the life of your Chib. If 541 00:33:38.630 --> 00:33:42.460 you were taking a one year old in there, there would be way more 542 00:33:42.500 --> 00:33:45.779 people out here. But because it's inside the womb, people want to justify 543 00:33:45.819 --> 00:33:47.539 it, to make it different, but it's still the same. It's still 544 00:33:47.539 --> 00:33:52.539 a child, it's just a little younger. And so even if I had 545 00:33:52.619 --> 00:33:54.579 nothing to give you, I still have the right to tell you that you, 546 00:33:54.730 --> 00:33:57.569 yeah, take the lack. Yeah, it's not just the right of 547 00:33:57.650 --> 00:34:00.769 the RESPONSIBI. Yeah, yeah, the biblical Mand yes, yeah, to 548 00:34:00.849 --> 00:34:06.529 speak those you can't speak for themselves. So I really yeah that now. 549 00:34:06.609 --> 00:34:10.199 Yeah. Well, so, I mean we're we're thirty plus minutes into this 550 00:34:10.320 --> 00:34:13.800 thing, so I think we're about ready to wrap this up. As long 551 00:34:13.800 --> 00:34:16.920 as you're yeah, yeah, Autumn, questioning autumn. You've been great. 552 00:34:17.039 --> 00:34:22.159 We have a used yeah, really a blessing. And and just from a 553 00:34:22.440 --> 00:34:25.869 practical standpoint, just all that you do behind the scenes, which we really 554 00:34:25.869 --> 00:34:29.989 didn't talk about at all, but though you you're doing all of those things, 555 00:34:29.989 --> 00:34:31.269 to setting up the equipment, all that. That has been such a 556 00:34:31.550 --> 00:34:37.269 blessing to us. But then for you to do what you did, coming 557 00:34:37.309 --> 00:34:42.539 in every day for now four weeks and you've been on a crash course of 558 00:34:42.619 --> 00:34:45.940 how to be a sidebaught counselor, and you are really good and you round 559 00:34:46.099 --> 00:34:50.699 so much. It's made me think that maybe this should be our regular volunteer 560 00:34:50.980 --> 00:34:52.610 protocol, you know, throw them in for a whole month. Amen. 561 00:34:52.730 --> 00:34:58.530 Yeah, day might run a lot of away. I'm saying that happened to 562 00:34:58.769 --> 00:35:01.570 but we are so appreciative you've been fantastic. Yeah, I'm happy to be 563 00:35:01.650 --> 00:35:05.250 here, but yeah, well, I'll say though, you memory. I 564 00:35:05.289 --> 00:35:07.119 said I made those two promises to everyone. Got We use you to say 565 00:35:07.199 --> 00:35:10.119 babies. You're going to grow. So you've already shared. You've grown and 566 00:35:10.280 --> 00:35:15.519 I've seen, listen, I've seen women that you've handed out literature to leave 567 00:35:15.559 --> 00:35:17.559 out of that abortion Clin of God has usual to say babies with. Yeah, 568 00:35:17.559 --> 00:35:21.079 and it's kind of like our body of Christ podcast that we do have. 569 00:35:21.159 --> 00:35:23.190 A body of Christ works together. Somebody hands out literature, somebody else 570 00:35:23.230 --> 00:35:28.070 calls out, somebody else ministers to on the mobile ultrasound unit. All of 571 00:35:28.269 --> 00:35:31.190 this is the body of Christ working together ultimately to glorify Jesus. But God 572 00:35:31.349 --> 00:35:35.590 uses that to say babies. God has hues that whole body. Yeah, 573 00:35:35.590 --> 00:35:37.219 absolutely. So, as we read this thing up, is there anything, 574 00:35:37.340 --> 00:35:42.980 autumn, that you would say to someone who has fear and anxiety about going 575 00:35:43.059 --> 00:35:45.380 out to an abortion clinic? And is there anything you would say to them 576 00:35:45.539 --> 00:35:50.289 to encourage them to step out in faith and do that? Or maybe you 577 00:35:50.530 --> 00:35:53.969 just warn them don't do it? Well, no, Um, I hate 578 00:35:54.050 --> 00:35:58.769 confrontation more than anything. I don't like being mean to people. I don't 579 00:35:58.769 --> 00:36:01.210 like them being mean to me, and so for me to step out and 580 00:36:01.369 --> 00:36:06.519 do this has been crazy. Yeah, and so I think if I can 581 00:36:06.599 --> 00:36:08.559 do it, then anybody can, and not just that we can, I 582 00:36:08.639 --> 00:36:14.880 think everyone should. And so if we're going to claim to know the Lord 583 00:36:15.199 --> 00:36:19.989 and to pick up our crosses and to die to ourselves and to follow him 584 00:36:20.230 --> 00:36:22.349 and to live like how he lives, I think, like you guys said, 585 00:36:22.349 --> 00:36:27.829 we have a biblical responsibility. We're spiritually held accountable to be out there, 586 00:36:27.909 --> 00:36:30.269 and so if you want to step out in faith and be obedient to 587 00:36:30.349 --> 00:36:34.460 that, I think this is one of the perfect places yes, start. 588 00:36:34.539 --> 00:36:37.099 Yeah, man, and so I would encourage anybody to come out here and 589 00:36:38.019 --> 00:36:43.099 to to definitely just sit and listen first, yeah, and just see what 590 00:36:43.219 --> 00:36:45.900 it's about. But then I have to really tell myself. I'm like, 591 00:36:45.019 --> 00:36:47.250 okay, you just had to do it. Yeah, because that first time, 592 00:36:47.329 --> 00:36:50.250 like call out, you get a little anxious and you're like Oh, 593 00:36:50.650 --> 00:36:53.690 but you just gotta swallow your pride and and do it. And then when 594 00:36:53.690 --> 00:36:58.050 I leave here I'm like, I'm really glad that I didn't let the fear 595 00:36:58.289 --> 00:37:02.199 take over my mind and control my word. So could encouragement. Yeah very 596 00:37:02.199 --> 00:37:05.599 much, and so I do want to encourage those who are listening. You 597 00:37:05.679 --> 00:37:07.719 know, we do have the sidewalks for life websites, I walks in number 598 00:37:07.760 --> 00:37:12.199 four lifecom, with articles that we put out. We have videos out there, 599 00:37:12.360 --> 00:37:15.710 training videos. We're going to continue to produce content and put things out 600 00:37:15.710 --> 00:37:19.070 there as we're able. Also, you know, maybe you're listening and you're 601 00:37:19.110 --> 00:37:22.429 from California or you're listening from wherever. Maybe you're from the Charlotte area. 602 00:37:22.909 --> 00:37:27.389 We'd be more than willing to have you out there on the sidewalk. Maybe 603 00:37:27.389 --> 00:37:30.460 you want to fly in from California or drive in because you don't want to 604 00:37:30.460 --> 00:37:34.460 be the airplane right now because of the coronavirus or whatever, and you want 605 00:37:34.460 --> 00:37:36.780 to stay in town for a couple of days and come out and shadow our 606 00:37:36.820 --> 00:37:38.300 teams. We've had people do that. We've had people from as far away 607 00:37:38.340 --> 00:37:45.250 as Ohio and other states that are seeing what we're doing online on social media 608 00:37:45.289 --> 00:37:47.250 and they see what God's doing through this ministry and they come and they shadow 609 00:37:47.289 --> 00:37:51.130 us. If you want to do that, reach out to me De Parks 610 00:37:51.130 --> 00:37:53.489 at cities for lifecom. We'll we'll set that up and make it happen. 611 00:37:53.690 --> 00:37:57.250 You know, we'd love to. You know, I don't think think that 612 00:37:57.329 --> 00:38:00.159 we have it all figured out, but I think by God's grace, we've 613 00:38:00.559 --> 00:38:01.800 worked through a lot of it. So We'd love to have you come in 614 00:38:02.000 --> 00:38:07.360 town and we actually have toyed with the idea of doing some kind of conference 615 00:38:07.400 --> 00:38:12.909 here in Charlotte and doing some training, sort of a real small many conference. 616 00:38:12.989 --> 00:38:15.309 We've kicked that idea around. The coronavirus is a lot of stuff, 617 00:38:15.829 --> 00:38:20.269 but but I would say in the future we will definitely do something like that. 618 00:38:20.630 --> 00:38:22.550 Be Watching on social media in the coming months for us to put something 619 00:38:22.630 --> 00:38:27.260 out for us putting that together. If you have any questions for me, 620 00:38:27.300 --> 00:38:30.219 D parks, cities for lifecom, any questions for Vicky v CASSIE ORG at 621 00:38:30.260 --> 00:38:35.219 cities for Lifecom, we'd love to answer your questions. Appreciate if you would 622 00:38:35.219 --> 00:38:37.340 share this podcast for other people. Appreciate you listening. Until next time, 623 00:38:37.420 --> 00:38:54.010 God bless our love for love. Give me our love for gratitude. I 624 00:38:54.329 --> 00:39:04.719 know it will cost me my life. Nothing's too precious and some you