Showering Moms Who Choose Life - Interview with Sheryl Chandler from Truth and Mercy Ministry

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 --> 00:00:10.630 Lord. I welcome to the Gospel Center pro life podcast. In this episode 3 00:00:10.669 --> 00:00:14.710 we do an interview with Sheryl Chandler from Truth and mercy ministries about how to 4 00:00:14.789 --> 00:00:19.469 Minister to a mom's practical needs as well as Minister The Gospel. Stay tuned, 5 00:00:20.550 --> 00:00:35.850 Lord. I felt show passis touch your heart. Welcome to the Gospel 6 00:00:35.890 --> 00:00:40.369 Center pro life podcast. Appreciate you guys listening to this podcast. Appreciate if 7 00:00:40.369 --> 00:00:44.570 you guys would share this podcast with your friends and let folks know that we're 8 00:00:44.609 --> 00:00:48.649 doing these episodes and we're doing these episodes. We're gearing these episodes toward people 9 00:00:48.649 --> 00:00:51.719 who are really on the front lines, people who are, like us, 10 00:00:51.719 --> 00:00:55.479 at the abortion center's reaching out, but also to pregnancy centers and others in 11 00:00:55.759 --> 00:00:59.799 other types of ministry that touch the issue of life and the reach out to 12 00:00:59.920 --> 00:01:03.310 women that are considering abortions. So just share these podcasts. Let folks know 13 00:01:04.629 --> 00:01:07.750 just some of the things that you've been blessed by. Let us know. 14 00:01:07.069 --> 00:01:10.950 Reach out to me, D parks at cities for Lifecom you can let me 15 00:01:11.030 --> 00:01:15.030 know what you think of the podcast. Some episode ideas that you have so 16 00:01:15.150 --> 00:01:19.459 you can reach out to Vicky at Vicossi Oorg at cities for lifecom. Let's 17 00:01:19.459 --> 00:01:23.900 jump into this episode. We have a special guest with us, Ms Caryl 18 00:01:23.939 --> 00:01:26.219 Chandler, who's with truth and mercy ministries. We've worked alongside with them. 19 00:01:26.379 --> 00:01:30.140 They've worked alongside with us since cities for life got started. Cheryl has been 20 00:01:30.180 --> 00:01:34.849 in ministry. She just told me thirty two years truth and mercy ministries, 21 00:01:34.890 --> 00:01:37.650 but she's been in prolife work for a long time. I think we can 22 00:01:37.689 --> 00:01:41.609 really glean a lot of wisdom from her and she's just got a unique perspective 23 00:01:41.650 --> 00:01:46.450 as it comes to the Ministry of reaching out of these MOMS after they've chosen 24 00:01:46.530 --> 00:01:49.319 life and doing baby showers. And she's done many baby showers for moms that 25 00:01:49.400 --> 00:01:53.760 have chosen life here in Charlotte and beyond. And so, Ryl, just 26 00:01:53.840 --> 00:01:57.560 introduce yourself real quick. I've already kind of introduced you, but your Ryl 27 00:01:57.599 --> 00:02:00.040 Chandler, truth and mercy ministries. What else you want to add to that? 28 00:02:00.239 --> 00:02:04.349 Your mom, you're yes, hi, Daniel and Vickie. I'm so 29 00:02:04.469 --> 00:02:07.390 happy to be here. Thank you for inviting me. It's really an honor 30 00:02:07.549 --> 00:02:12.030 to be with you today. Yeah, I live here in Charlotte, okay, 31 00:02:12.030 --> 00:02:14.590 and have since one thousand nine hundred and eighty three. Long Time. 32 00:02:15.310 --> 00:02:17.860 I have two kids and they're both grown now. One got married this past 33 00:02:17.900 --> 00:02:23.819 summer, Bethany. She's twenty two and she's now a nurse at Du Hospital. 34 00:02:23.979 --> 00:02:28.419 Graduated College last May. And my son, Nathan is nineteen. He's 35 00:02:28.460 --> 00:02:31.650 a business major at you and see Charlotte. Wow, great, and my 36 00:02:31.770 --> 00:02:36.289 husband is Doug. We've been married, Oh gosh, thirty four years. 37 00:02:36.330 --> 00:02:39.129 I think I can't do that math. Thirty four years, thirty four and 38 00:02:39.129 --> 00:02:42.889 a half, I think. Yes, yeah, cool. And so you've 39 00:02:42.930 --> 00:02:46.280 been truth and mercy ministries. has been going on for how long? Well, 40 00:02:46.520 --> 00:02:50.360 truth and mercy will get into that in the story a little bit. 41 00:02:50.439 --> 00:02:54.080 I officially named the Ministry Truth and mercy just back in I think, two 42 00:02:54.159 --> 00:02:59.189 thousand six, okay, so not that long. But I started in pro 43 00:02:59.310 --> 00:03:01.629 life ministry back in one thousand nine hundred and eighty eight, okay, October 44 00:03:01.710 --> 00:03:05.590 of eighty eight. So it'll be thirty two years in just a couple of 45 00:03:05.669 --> 00:03:07.830 weeks. Yeah. Well, without beating around the Bush, let's get right 46 00:03:07.870 --> 00:03:10.870 into that because I want to hear some of your history in the pro life 47 00:03:10.949 --> 00:03:15.939 movement and just how you got involved with what you're doing now. Okay. 48 00:03:16.259 --> 00:03:22.060 Well, everyone's got a backstory, including the women who come to the clinic 49 00:03:22.139 --> 00:03:28.009 for abortion services, and they, like I, are typically dragging a trail 50 00:03:28.129 --> 00:03:32.009 of brokenness behind them. My family life as a young child, in a 51 00:03:32.129 --> 00:03:37.169 teen really involved a whole lot of brokenness in my family. We were a 52 00:03:37.250 --> 00:03:40.599 church going family my whole life and I knew a lot about God, but 53 00:03:40.759 --> 00:03:46.039 I did not know God and and all the brokenness and trauma of my family 54 00:03:46.800 --> 00:03:53.120 caused me personally, as a girl, to never want marriage or family of 55 00:03:53.280 --> 00:03:55.909 my own. I was miserable as a kid and I did not want to 56 00:03:55.990 --> 00:04:01.509 continue that family misery into my adult life. And so I really embrace the 57 00:04:01.590 --> 00:04:06.469 sexual revolution that I grew up in in the S and I was raised on 58 00:04:06.750 --> 00:04:12.340 the feminist wave of the S and I got most of my moral instruction, 59 00:04:12.539 --> 00:04:18.139 unfortunately, from magazines like glammor magazine, Mademoiselle Vogue, and these are really 60 00:04:18.300 --> 00:04:24.970 godless rags that I caution anyone and everyone within the sound of my voice from 61 00:04:25.009 --> 00:04:29.490 consuming. Yeah, they led me to very dark and very, very damaging 62 00:04:29.649 --> 00:04:32.769 places. So you can just suffice it to say that back in the S 63 00:04:33.250 --> 00:04:38.129 and S I was very pro choice. It's just all I knew. And 64 00:04:38.720 --> 00:04:43.279 just to put a little, I guess, timeline where your listeners can know, 65 00:04:43.759 --> 00:04:46.319 I just turned fifty nine last week, so this was back in the 66 00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:51.839 s and you let me tag a timeline again. Rov Wade was decided in 67 00:04:51.990 --> 00:04:56.750 one thousand nine hundred and seventy three right. So I had a lot of 68 00:04:56.870 --> 00:05:00.870 godless views and a lot of godless ideas and I remembered defending them in freshman 69 00:05:00.949 --> 00:05:08.579 composition papers in college, and God help my professor who had to read through 70 00:05:08.579 --> 00:05:13.060 all of them. But thankfully the Lord pursued me and saved me when I 71 00:05:13.100 --> 00:05:15.220 was twenty years old. I was a junior in college, and he used 72 00:05:15.259 --> 00:05:23.250 a wonderful campus ministry and some wonderful believers to draw me to himself and he 73 00:05:23.329 --> 00:05:27.009 radically saved me, he really did. And the pro choice stance though it 74 00:05:27.170 --> 00:05:30.250 was, was it took a little while for that to fall it took a 75 00:05:30.370 --> 00:05:33.649 couple of years, I would say, for that to fall away. But 76 00:05:33.889 --> 00:05:39.399 fast forward. I graduated in one nineteen eighty three and I moved here to 77 00:05:39.480 --> 00:05:43.959 Charlotte for a job in my field of graphic design and I was growing in 78 00:05:44.120 --> 00:05:47.800 the Lord, I was active in church, I was making a lot of 79 00:05:47.920 --> 00:05:53.629 strides with with God and Um I met my husband, Doug. He was 80 00:05:53.670 --> 00:05:58.910 a native Carolinian and we married in eighty six. And in the summer of 81 00:05:59.029 --> 00:06:03.189 one thousand nine hundred and eighty eight I started hearing the national news about Operation 82 00:06:03.379 --> 00:06:11.180 Rescue and this was a pro life movement where Christians peacefully put their physical bodies 83 00:06:11.420 --> 00:06:16.300 between the killers inside the clinic and the victims outside the clinic, and this 84 00:06:16.620 --> 00:06:24.170 made sense to me. This was the first pro life ministry action activity that 85 00:06:24.490 --> 00:06:30.689 made so much sense to me. And they blocked the doors. They risk 86 00:06:30.810 --> 00:06:35.240 or rest for second degree trespass and the whole movement was based on proverbs eleven, 87 00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:41.959 which says rescue those unjustly sentenced to death, don't stand back and let 88 00:06:42.040 --> 00:06:47.430 them die. And blocking the doors bought time for sidewalk counselors to reach the 89 00:06:47.470 --> 00:06:51.870 women and talk to the women and offer help and hope. So this made 90 00:06:51.910 --> 00:06:57.790 a lot of sense to me. As Charlotte Group organized and I was on 91 00:06:58.029 --> 00:07:00.389 fire and that was October eighty eight. That was my start and I've been 92 00:07:00.430 --> 00:07:05.379 involved ever since. I have personally blocked the doors and I've been arrested thirteen 93 00:07:05.420 --> 00:07:12.060 times. I've served jail time for each of those arrests. I I always 94 00:07:12.100 --> 00:07:14.819 refused to pay the fines. That was always an option. You could pay 95 00:07:14.819 --> 00:07:16.370 a fine and not go to jail, but I refused to pay a fine 96 00:07:16.449 --> 00:07:19.649 because I thought the whole system is correct up. I'm not paying into it. 97 00:07:19.889 --> 00:07:26.529 Yeah, but mostly during that time I was sidebot counseling and I side 98 00:07:26.610 --> 00:07:30.160 got counseled from one thousand nine hundred and eighty eight to even now, although 99 00:07:30.199 --> 00:07:32.879 now I do very little of it, and we'll get to the reason for 100 00:07:33.000 --> 00:07:40.560 that, but I trained a lot of early sidelock counselors. For several years 101 00:07:40.720 --> 00:07:45.629 our group would hold rescues, we would block doors about four times a year. 102 00:07:45.829 --> 00:07:48.910 Those were kind of big rescue events. But every other week, every 103 00:07:48.990 --> 00:07:54.470 other weekend, we were sidebok counseling and what we call piccoting at that time, 104 00:07:54.709 --> 00:07:57.470 and I'll get to the reason why we call it picketing. Our did. 105 00:07:58.350 --> 00:08:01.579 So that's a little background. Yeah. So, yeah, just for 106 00:08:01.699 --> 00:08:05.980 you guys who are listening, we did it. We did it episode sometime 107 00:08:05.459 --> 00:08:11.660 ago about civil disobedience and how some of that fits into our Christian worldview and 108 00:08:11.939 --> 00:08:13.970 biblically. So we won't Labor that point. One of the things I will 109 00:08:15.009 --> 00:08:18.410 say is that folks like you and flip, which we did an interview with, 110 00:08:20.089 --> 00:08:22.970 and others, even folks that the volunteer with us now, who were 111 00:08:22.009 --> 00:08:26.600 involved in the rescue movement, really plowed the ground, really made the way 112 00:08:26.759 --> 00:08:31.000 for what we're doing here in Charlotte. We're not doing, obviously, the 113 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:35.360 rescues anymore, but it really did plow the ground it it really didn't make 114 00:08:35.399 --> 00:08:39.000 the way and stirred up the church and got people's attention toward the issue of 115 00:08:39.039 --> 00:08:43.669 abortion and really, I think, made a shift because for a long time 116 00:08:45.629 --> 00:08:48.990 it seems like the the issue of abortion and being at an abortion clink intervening 117 00:08:50.110 --> 00:08:52.230 like that was just sort of it. It was a Catholic thing. Yeah, 118 00:08:52.870 --> 00:08:56.019 but really the rescues brought the Evangelical Church and so I mean, you 119 00:08:56.019 --> 00:08:58.779 can tell me if I'm wrong, but it seems like just in me reading 120 00:08:58.860 --> 00:09:03.379 some of the history with that brought the Evangelical Church to the forefront of this 121 00:09:03.500 --> 00:09:07.620 battle and really, Hey, this is our battle because this is this is 122 00:09:07.820 --> 00:09:11.370 on the Lord's heart. These babies matter to him. Minister in the Gospel 123 00:09:11.370 --> 00:09:16.970 there in that context is important to the heart of God. So am I 124 00:09:16.090 --> 00:09:18.850 correct and all of that, and just really in the rescue movement bringing the 125 00:09:18.889 --> 00:09:22.289 Evangelical Church along from your view, I think so. That would be my 126 00:09:22.409 --> 00:09:26.600 assessment as well, although rescue did involve many Catholics. Yeah, they were 127 00:09:26.679 --> 00:09:30.960 part of it too, but it did, I think, wake up the 128 00:09:31.039 --> 00:09:35.919 Protestant Church. Yeah, so we could go on for hours for like king 129 00:09:35.960 --> 00:09:39.870 should do a whole other podcast on all that. I didn't even know all 130 00:09:39.909 --> 00:09:43.269 of that about you, but but we're at what point did you start what 131 00:09:43.389 --> 00:09:48.509 I do know of you, which is truth and mercy and and becoming involved 132 00:09:48.549 --> 00:09:52.350 in baby showers? How did that evolve, and I would love to hear 133 00:09:52.470 --> 00:09:56.539 about how your unique perspective of baby showers, because yours is not at all 134 00:09:58.139 --> 00:10:03.019 the typical baby shower. I love your approach and I love your philosophy behind 135 00:10:03.059 --> 00:10:05.899 why you approach baby showers the way that you do. So how did that 136 00:10:05.940 --> 00:10:09.570 all about? Well, as you know, I began it's just a typical 137 00:10:09.610 --> 00:10:15.649 sidewalk counselor. We were kind of weak in warriors. For Two decks I 138 00:10:15.809 --> 00:10:18.850 showered many of the moms who I met and kept up with, but each 139 00:10:18.929 --> 00:10:24.120 time I showered a mom I had to start from scratch to collect baby items 140 00:10:24.200 --> 00:10:28.120 for each mom because I didn't have any supply stored. I didn't have a 141 00:10:28.200 --> 00:10:31.360 storage unit, I didn't have anything like that, so I just kind of 142 00:10:31.440 --> 00:10:35.470 started from the beginning. Facebook wasn't around back then. That means so bad. 143 00:10:35.549 --> 00:10:41.990 That's my next day that I this was way before social media. This 144 00:10:41.309 --> 00:10:46.470 was we didn't use chisels and stones, but we did. I didn't even 145 00:10:46.509 --> 00:10:52.860 have voicemail and answering machine on my personal phone at home at this time. 146 00:10:52.899 --> 00:10:56.340 I didn't even have email. So I mean it was literally making call after 147 00:10:56.419 --> 00:11:00.899 call after call after call to people I thought might have a crib they were 148 00:11:00.899 --> 00:11:03.889 finished with or a car seat or something like that, and those people made 149 00:11:03.970 --> 00:11:07.409 calls to so it did spread out. It wasn't just me making them, 150 00:11:07.490 --> 00:11:11.450 but but the responsibility felt to me to make sure each thing, you know, 151 00:11:11.850 --> 00:11:16.129 was was met, each need was met. So it was way before 152 00:11:16.289 --> 00:11:20.200 any of the conveniences of communication that we have now. And can I just 153 00:11:20.360 --> 00:11:24.320 ask so would there's so many needs of the moms that we meet who are 154 00:11:24.559 --> 00:11:30.639 coming to kill their baby. The baby shower was that. How did that 155 00:11:30.960 --> 00:11:35.029 become such a an important need or did you see that as that was critical 156 00:11:35.230 --> 00:11:39.629 and a turning point for some of these moms that you met it? It 157 00:11:39.950 --> 00:11:43.950 was a turning point for some and, like I said, I didn't shower 158 00:11:43.990 --> 00:11:48.059 very many, maybe three or four year at this early stage, like back 159 00:11:48.059 --> 00:11:50.580 in Eighty Eight, eight ninety, just maybe three or four because each time 160 00:11:50.740 --> 00:11:56.620 it was he was a huge endeavor each time to get and they weren't as 161 00:11:56.620 --> 00:11:58.460 lavish as they are now by any stretch. They were just kind of what 162 00:11:58.539 --> 00:12:05.889 I could collect and patch together. But I just over the years of sidewalk 163 00:12:05.970 --> 00:12:09.129 counseling, keeping up with MOMS, you know, that maybe had their baby 164 00:12:09.169 --> 00:12:11.289 a couple of years ago, just keeping up with them, I just saw 165 00:12:11.370 --> 00:12:16.279 the need more and more and more and more clearly that the Gospel was what 166 00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:20.639 they really needed. Yeah, right, you know, because because sin patterns 167 00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:26.360 are not broken easily. I'm they're not broken in my life easily and they're 168 00:12:26.399 --> 00:12:28.360 certainly not broken in their life. So it was just became more and more 169 00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:35.789 and more apparent how critical the Gospel was and I saw the baby shower is 170 00:12:35.830 --> 00:12:39.669 another opportunity to get in front of these women and share the Gospel. It 171 00:12:39.830 --> 00:12:43.429 was just it was kind of an ulterior motive, to be honest. It 172 00:12:43.590 --> 00:12:48.580 was like, if I can lure them with gifts and and it's what they 173 00:12:48.659 --> 00:12:52.179 needed, they were happy to come. Nobody was ever forced to come, 174 00:12:52.659 --> 00:12:58.500 but it was just a way to meet the need and and their true spiritual 175 00:12:58.610 --> 00:13:01.330 need, which is their greatest need, far more than you know. They 176 00:13:01.409 --> 00:13:03.090 need the gospel far more than they need a crib, and they need a 177 00:13:03.210 --> 00:13:07.250 crib pretty bad. They got to have a car seat to have a you 178 00:13:07.330 --> 00:13:09.049 know, to have the baby. And so is it. Basically, it 179 00:13:09.169 --> 00:13:11.610 works this way. Unless they except Jesus, you don't give them a crib. 180 00:13:11.730 --> 00:13:16.120 Is that? We're told that. So, yeah, I told that. 181 00:13:16.480 --> 00:13:20.240 Absolutely absolutely. What you do are jump through our religious who's you get 182 00:13:20.360 --> 00:13:24.360 nothing. Of course, not right, but it is the means to to 183 00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:28.750 show them the tangible love of God and an opportunity to share the gospel. 184 00:13:28.789 --> 00:13:31.190 I mean we're doing that on the sidewalk and we talk to them, we're 185 00:13:31.269 --> 00:13:35.870 even the Gospel and everything we're doing, but there's another opportunity to present the 186 00:13:35.950 --> 00:13:39.669 Gospel and give them the ability to respond to the Gospel. And you're going 187 00:13:39.669 --> 00:13:45.179 to share some stories I'm sure. But Do Women Respond to the Gospel in 188 00:13:45.259 --> 00:13:48.659 that way? Have you had ladies respond to the Gospel? Yes, I 189 00:13:48.779 --> 00:13:52.019 know because we've. We've heard plenty of testimonies. Were moms and been involved. 190 00:13:52.059 --> 00:13:56.009 Vicki, you've been to some of those baby showers yourself where MOMS surrender 191 00:13:56.049 --> 00:13:58.929 their lives to the Lord. And we know the Gospel is what changes hearts, 192 00:13:58.970 --> 00:14:03.090 not not cribs and right those things are practical means to show the love 193 00:14:03.169 --> 00:14:07.250 of God, but it's ultimately the power of the Gospel that changes those hearts. 194 00:14:07.289 --> 00:14:09.600 And that's why I appreciate what you do so much, because in some 195 00:14:09.759 --> 00:14:13.080 of these not I'm not trying to point out any ministry in particular, I 196 00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:16.519 don't have one in mind, but I do know just in general, a 197 00:14:16.200 --> 00:14:20.879 lot of these kind of helps and mercy ministries are viewed almost is just humanitarian 198 00:14:22.039 --> 00:14:24.110 efforts and the Gospel is not really presented. People say, well, you 199 00:14:24.190 --> 00:14:28.509 know, they know that, you know I love them and that's the best 200 00:14:28.509 --> 00:14:31.710 thing. What yeah, they should know that you love them and baking somebody 201 00:14:31.710 --> 00:14:33.629 K yeah, that should show the love. But if you're not going to 202 00:14:33.669 --> 00:14:37.389 share the Gospel with them and you're not going to meet their most pressing need. 203 00:14:37.669 --> 00:14:41.259 Your kind of your kind. I just given them a baby shower and, 204 00:14:41.980 --> 00:14:43.700 you know, kind of putting springs on the wagon on their way to 205 00:14:43.779 --> 00:14:48.580 hell if you're not sharing the gospel. Yeah, and so my experience as 206 00:14:48.620 --> 00:14:52.100 I first met you, is, okay, I've been to many baby showers 207 00:14:52.220 --> 00:14:54.210 and here I'm invited to go because was a mom that I had worked with 208 00:14:54.370 --> 00:14:58.929 and I was invited to go to your baby shower and I'm expecting you a 209 00:14:58.049 --> 00:15:05.370 party, I'm expecting balloons and cake and decorations and oodles of people. Well, 210 00:15:05.490 --> 00:15:11.039 your shower was not that at all. There were let a whole lavish 211 00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:15.120 room filled with gifts. I mean not lavish room, lavish gifts. The 212 00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:22.389 room was filled with gifts. But you were very clear to me privately, 213 00:15:22.789 --> 00:15:28.110 and I think and how you developed your showers, that this was not necessarily 214 00:15:28.190 --> 00:15:31.429 a celebration. It was a celebration of that new life. I remember you 215 00:15:31.549 --> 00:15:37.100 telling me this and being so impressed. It was a celebration of the new 216 00:15:37.220 --> 00:15:41.059 life and the choice for life, but you were very careful not to be 217 00:15:41.419 --> 00:15:50.730 celebrating the lifestyle, life choices and immorality and rebellion from God that led them 218 00:15:50.850 --> 00:15:54.850 to this place where they were in their life, and so I'd love to 219 00:15:54.889 --> 00:16:00.129 hear how that came about. Did was that immediately what you were thinking? 220 00:16:00.970 --> 00:16:06.559 I have to be careful about how this is presented. I did. I 221 00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:15.759 I didn't want to celebrate Sind Right. I wanted to honor the woman for 222 00:16:15.960 --> 00:16:18.750 making the right choice and doing the very hard thing. I wanted to honor 223 00:16:18.789 --> 00:16:25.950 her, I wanted to encourage her, I wanted to meet her need, 224 00:16:26.309 --> 00:16:30.909 but I didn't want to celebrate her situation. So it's a fine line, 225 00:16:30.870 --> 00:16:33.700 you know, to draw. It really is, and it's a very delicate 226 00:16:33.740 --> 00:16:37.820 tension and my whole minute, the whole ministry, name which I'll get to 227 00:16:37.899 --> 00:16:42.019 in a minute, is is a tension. Yeah, Biblical tension that we 228 00:16:42.139 --> 00:16:45.980 all experience. You guys experience it every day on the sidewalks. But I 229 00:16:47.690 --> 00:16:52.370 do want to honor and encourage her and meet her needs and, you know, 230 00:16:52.610 --> 00:16:56.769 show her the love of God, the mercy of God, but I 231 00:16:56.889 --> 00:17:00.889 also want to bring truth right to the table as well, and that's the 232 00:17:00.049 --> 00:17:06.160 tension between truth and mercy. Yeah, since expand on that a little bit, 233 00:17:06.279 --> 00:17:11.119 though, because truth and mercy, that that's the the real theme of 234 00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:14.400 the Gospel, of course, but it's the theme of Your Ministry. So 235 00:17:14.519 --> 00:17:17.470 expand on that and how that name came about. was there a point in 236 00:17:17.509 --> 00:17:19.109 which she said Hey, this, this should be called Truth and mercy? 237 00:17:19.630 --> 00:17:23.349 There was. I was vacuuming one day. Really, honestly, I've been 238 00:17:23.430 --> 00:17:27.390 praying about a name for a long time because for years, for probably two 239 00:17:27.509 --> 00:17:32.900 decades, I didn't have a ministry name. I operated under action Lee for 240 00:17:33.059 --> 00:17:37.900 life. I operated under UM operations, save America. I was doing showers 241 00:17:37.940 --> 00:17:41.099 kind of under their banner. Yeah, a little bit, but when it 242 00:17:41.259 --> 00:17:45.170 became very apparent I needed my own storage units, I was going to have 243 00:17:45.250 --> 00:17:48.849 to raise my own money for that and I had to have my own name. 244 00:17:48.210 --> 00:17:52.690 And this was a huge step for me, a big step because all 245 00:17:52.849 --> 00:17:56.849 those years I started, you know, like I said, I had to 246 00:17:56.930 --> 00:18:00.039 start from scratch for every shower I did with baby items, and then I 247 00:18:00.200 --> 00:18:06.440 started kind of storing stuff in my garage, I started storing stuff in friends 248 00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:11.240 basements, I started storing stuff in friends addicts and every shower I did I 249 00:18:11.359 --> 00:18:17.190 had to go collect everything all around the city, drive all around the city, 250 00:18:17.349 --> 00:18:19.150 picking through and I had to keep like an inventory of what was where 251 00:18:19.509 --> 00:18:23.190 and it was very, very, very time consuming and I remember crying out 252 00:18:23.230 --> 00:18:26.619 to the Lord I could do so many more showers God if I could just 253 00:18:26.740 --> 00:18:32.339 be more efficient with this time. And he just really led me delicately, 254 00:18:32.380 --> 00:18:33.980 because it was I was fighting. I was like, I do not want 255 00:18:33.980 --> 00:18:38.339 to have to raise money. I am a terrible salesperson, if you will. 256 00:18:38.380 --> 00:18:41.809 I could not sell a heat or to an ESKIMO. I would say 257 00:18:41.849 --> 00:18:45.650 you don't really need this, you're okay. I really it would be very 258 00:18:45.730 --> 00:18:48.890 hard for me. So I told God, I said Okay, God, 259 00:18:48.970 --> 00:18:53.849 I'll do it, but you've got to make the fundraising part really easy and 260 00:18:55.329 --> 00:18:59.519 really quick, because I am afraid of it. I'm scared of it. 261 00:18:59.839 --> 00:19:04.839 And and so now I did name the ministry truth and mercy based on one 262 00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:11.589 of my favorite scriptures from Psalm ten, and it was just coincidentally, I'll 263 00:19:11.630 --> 00:19:14.309 say, it was in my scripture reading this morning. So I was really 264 00:19:14.430 --> 00:19:21.589 encouraged by that. Psalm five ten says love, loving, kindness and truth 265 00:19:21.829 --> 00:19:26.619 have met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other. This is a 266 00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:34.180 prophetic verse about Jesus and his Ministry to to reconcile God's truth, his Justice, 267 00:19:34.299 --> 00:19:38.450 his law, his wrath against sin and his mercy. And on the 268 00:19:38.609 --> 00:19:45.930 cross these two things came together in perfect reconciliation and they kissed on the Cross. 269 00:19:47.329 --> 00:19:51.569 So this is the tension of the ministry and you too know it well. 270 00:19:52.170 --> 00:19:55.960 When you're sharing the gospel with someone, when you're pleading with them not 271 00:19:56.160 --> 00:20:00.880 to, you know, destroy their child, you've got to walk this tension 272 00:20:00.920 --> 00:20:04.680 between how hard do I hit truth and how, you know, how much 273 00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:11.750 mercy do I express? It's very much attention. And they're very opposing things. 274 00:20:11.789 --> 00:20:15.390 Yeah, they're very opposing things. Only Jesus can bring them together perfectly. 275 00:20:15.630 --> 00:20:21.819 And I named the Ministry Truth and mercy because it reflects my dependence on 276 00:20:21.980 --> 00:20:26.380 God. Yes, I cannot do need the Holy Spirit to walk that tight 277 00:20:26.420 --> 00:20:30.180 rope of truth and mercy. I'll read it from the new King James Version, 278 00:20:30.180 --> 00:20:32.980 which is probably the initial version. Probably got it from the King James, 279 00:20:33.019 --> 00:20:37.369 which is mercy and truth have met together, righteousness and peace have kissed 280 00:20:37.410 --> 00:20:41.769 M and that's really from what I've seen from the ministry, that God is 281 00:20:41.890 --> 00:20:44.569 using you to do that. That's what happens and from what I've seen, 282 00:20:44.650 --> 00:20:48.450 by God's grace on the sidewalk we're seeing mercy and truth come together. We're 283 00:20:48.450 --> 00:20:53.119 seeing these two really, like you said, opposing ideas come together. And 284 00:20:53.200 --> 00:20:56.759 of course it's a natural fit with the Lord that truth and mercy come together. 285 00:20:59.240 --> 00:21:03.000 But in the minds of human beings, just in our human frailties, 286 00:21:03.400 --> 00:21:06.789 we can't reconcile. How can God be a god of Wrath and justice and 287 00:21:06.829 --> 00:21:11.349 judgment but also be merciful and patient and kind? Well, it's who he 288 00:21:11.549 --> 00:21:15.509 is and you do do well as you explain this to these mothers. I 289 00:21:15.589 --> 00:21:18.470 know my wife has been in some of those, those times where you've done 290 00:21:18.470 --> 00:21:22.619 the baby showers and Vicki's as as to I have haven't had I've come and 291 00:21:22.700 --> 00:21:26.180 brought some items before to a baby shower, but I haven't had the pleasure 292 00:21:26.180 --> 00:21:29.099 of sitting in account. Might be kind of Awkur. Came to one that 293 00:21:29.220 --> 00:21:33.089 Vicky was at and you prayed with them. They had specifically asked for a 294 00:21:33.170 --> 00:21:34.450 pastor. Yeah, you're right, I did. Right, yeah, I 295 00:21:34.529 --> 00:21:37.890 remember that that one. I think the gifts were already opened by then. 296 00:21:38.049 --> 00:21:41.970 Yeah, but you came and you counseled and you encouraged and prayed with them 297 00:21:42.009 --> 00:21:44.930 all. Yeah, I remember that. Now it's you bring that up. 298 00:21:44.970 --> 00:21:47.279 Yes, blessed, that one was at my house. I remember that. 299 00:21:47.400 --> 00:21:49.559 Yeah, yeah, that's right. That's right, because it's so easy to 300 00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:53.720 be too much of one and not enough of the other, and I think 301 00:21:53.799 --> 00:22:00.799 that's where so many Christian endeavors fail. Too much truth, too much hard 302 00:22:00.839 --> 00:22:04.150 hitting on the justice and not enough of that love and mercy, and then 303 00:22:04.230 --> 00:22:11.109 Budd to loving and merciful without sharing the hard truth, they'll just end right 304 00:22:11.269 --> 00:22:15.900 back up where they started. That's right. So I consider the truth part 305 00:22:15.980 --> 00:22:21.059 of the ministry to be what you guys are doing on the sidewalk, your 306 00:22:21.259 --> 00:22:26.059 you're saying you know that abortion is wrong. Yeah, it hates this. 307 00:22:26.579 --> 00:22:30.809 Yeah, you cannot destroy your child, this is against God's holy law. 308 00:22:30.890 --> 00:22:34.569 Yeah, this is truth. And you know their response would be my body, 309 00:22:34.650 --> 00:22:38.769 my choice. But we would say from scripture, you know you, 310 00:22:38.849 --> 00:22:42.849 you're not your own. You were bought with a price. Glorify God in 311 00:22:42.930 --> 00:22:48.160 your body. That's what scripture says. So we counter that with truth. 312 00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:52.440 And then the mercy side, once you know by the holy spirits power they 313 00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:56.240 have softened their heart and turn their heart to their child and let their child 314 00:22:56.359 --> 00:23:00.710 live. The mercy side is then shown at the shower where God's provision and 315 00:23:00.869 --> 00:23:06.589 his love and his care is just lavishly displayed with all these gifts. And 316 00:23:06.750 --> 00:23:11.430 I have to tell your listeners that these gifts I are really quite lavish. 317 00:23:11.589 --> 00:23:15.299 They're beautiful. Now, most of most of the things I give ar gently 318 00:23:15.420 --> 00:23:22.339 used, but I am very, very careful to make sure everything is clean, 319 00:23:22.420 --> 00:23:26.740 everything is in working order, everything is well taking care of, just 320 00:23:26.980 --> 00:23:30.490 gently used, in great condition. They're in beautiful bags. You put their 321 00:23:30.609 --> 00:23:36.970 names on on the beautiful tags, so that every single gift is presented to 322 00:23:37.089 --> 00:23:41.720 them by name, in a similar way as God presents the the gift of 323 00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:45.319 his free gift to us with Our Name. Our Name is on it. 324 00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:49.519 I am a little OCD yes about the gift tax. I spend a lot 325 00:23:49.559 --> 00:23:55.240 of time just making sure that each gift bag and each free standing item like 326 00:23:55.319 --> 00:23:59.029 a swing or a CARCI right has a gift tag on it. There their 327 00:23:59.069 --> 00:24:02.910 custom they have the mom's name on them and they have the ministry name. 328 00:24:03.029 --> 00:24:07.309 They have a scripture, a blessing, and I just want them to make 329 00:24:07.390 --> 00:24:11.539 sure that they know the gifts are for them. Personally. Yeah, from 330 00:24:11.700 --> 00:24:14.579 the Lord and I am always you know this, Vitie, I'm always quick 331 00:24:14.619 --> 00:24:18.259 to say really at the very beginning, right, really, almost verbatim, 332 00:24:18.299 --> 00:24:22.019 I say these gifts reflect God's love and mercy and care and provision for you. 333 00:24:23.180 --> 00:24:27.089 I want the woman is lavish love, right. I remember you saying 334 00:24:27.170 --> 00:24:30.089 that, always so impressed by it. Yeah, I want, when I 335 00:24:30.250 --> 00:24:34.690 tell her, when you see this lavish displaying, I want you to see 336 00:24:36.650 --> 00:24:41.160 a very small expression of God's lavish love for you, his care for you. 337 00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:45.440 Yeah, that's what I want the gifts to reflect and represent. So 338 00:24:45.640 --> 00:24:49.240 I take it very seriously that these gifts represent the love and mercy of God. 339 00:24:49.359 --> 00:24:55.470 So I want him to be represented well with quality items and and really 340 00:24:55.549 --> 00:24:59.710 nice things. And they do. They get two years worth of clothes, 341 00:25:00.349 --> 00:25:03.150 two years worth of toys, you know, from all stages up from zero 342 00:25:03.230 --> 00:25:10.700 to two books, bibs, car seat, strollers, swings, everything you 343 00:25:10.779 --> 00:25:12.579 can imagine. I mean it's, I call it, from bibs to cribs. 344 00:25:12.619 --> 00:25:17.660 It's the whole thing. Yeah, the whole kitten Kaboodle. So sometimes 345 00:25:17.700 --> 00:25:19.740 for their siblings as well. I know I've seen you always ask about the 346 00:25:19.859 --> 00:25:23.849 siblings and you try to provide, if possible, some things for the siblings. 347 00:25:25.410 --> 00:25:27.210 I do, I have. I keep some toys on hand that are 348 00:25:27.369 --> 00:25:30.009 probably, you know, a little older, and even the few older clothes 349 00:25:30.490 --> 00:25:34.369 so I can I can give gifts to siblings to because I don't want them 350 00:25:34.410 --> 00:25:38.160 to feel left out. How do moms respond when you say those words? 351 00:25:38.279 --> 00:25:42.720 This represents the lavish love of God, and I want you, as you 352 00:25:42.880 --> 00:25:45.920 look around this room, I still you say it, like you said verbatim 353 00:25:45.960 --> 00:25:48.480 every time I've been to the shower. I won't as you look around this 354 00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:53.029 room and you see this, I want you to see the love of God. 355 00:25:55.190 --> 00:25:56.910 Well, many are moved to tears. Yes, they really are. 356 00:25:57.069 --> 00:26:00.869 They many are. And then some words, but but many are. I 357 00:26:02.029 --> 00:26:04.019 think it's a I think it's a beautiful thing. I think it's one of 358 00:26:04.059 --> 00:26:07.660 the most poignant parts. Yeah, shower is really the surprise. When they 359 00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:11.900 walk in, right, they gasp and say they can't believe it. Yes, 360 00:26:11.059 --> 00:26:15.140 yeah, they really do. It's really beautiful. The gifts are all 361 00:26:15.259 --> 00:26:18.009 in you know, colorful gift bags that match. Most of them are either 362 00:26:18.049 --> 00:26:22.970 blue or pink or and the tissue shoe and the tags and all. It's 363 00:26:23.049 --> 00:26:27.650 really quite a nice display, I think. Yeah, I've actually delivered a 364 00:26:27.730 --> 00:26:33.200 few of those baby showers and had a I'm like, man, I don't 365 00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:34.720 know if I can fit all this on my vehicle. That's all. That's 366 00:26:34.759 --> 00:26:37.640 a lot of stuff. It is a lot, but it's not like it's 367 00:26:37.680 --> 00:26:41.000 not needed. I mean these MOMS are very thankful. Can I ask you 368 00:26:41.119 --> 00:26:45.680 a question that occurs to me because we have so many new missionaries coming on 369 00:26:45.880 --> 00:26:52.069 sidebock missionaries. What would you cautioned them as they're starting a baby shower ministry? 370 00:26:52.190 --> 00:26:56.109 Just in terms of what you do, and I don't mean to stump 371 00:26:56.150 --> 00:27:00.470 you with this question, but you do something that is different in from a 372 00:27:00.630 --> 00:27:08.220 typical baby shower. I would caution kind of you were alluding to it earlier 373 00:27:08.500 --> 00:27:14.980 about not thinking your job is to be a friend. I mean we do 374 00:27:15.170 --> 00:27:18.089 need to be a friend, but what we've said, we've already said it 375 00:27:18.210 --> 00:27:22.009 here, that the job is to share the gospel and to disciple. Yeah, 376 00:27:22.250 --> 00:27:26.089 and to call out sin if need be. Now there's kind ways to 377 00:27:26.130 --> 00:27:30.079 do that and there's some kind ways. Obviously I'm I'm encouraging the kind ways, 378 00:27:30.559 --> 00:27:34.160 you know, and that's that tension. We are always walking that tension, 379 00:27:36.039 --> 00:27:41.000 working with that tension. But I I don't have showers with cake and 380 00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:45.269 Punch and parties and party games and all of that. If I can help 381 00:27:45.269 --> 00:27:48.150 it. Now I have. I have if I've been discipling a woman all 382 00:27:48.190 --> 00:27:52.190 along or I know her mentor has, I'm a little more relaxed to do 383 00:27:52.309 --> 00:27:56.470 a party. But I don't typically want to have a party because for several 384 00:27:56.549 --> 00:28:00.539 reasons. One, the woman invites all her family and friends and then I 385 00:28:00.779 --> 00:28:04.700 come in and I've got literally thousands of dollars worth of gifts, right, 386 00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:08.339 and they're like who is she? And Yeah, why is she giving you 387 00:28:08.380 --> 00:28:11.619 all this stuff? Yeah, then the woman is going to have to revisit 388 00:28:11.700 --> 00:28:17.250 her near abortion, how I came into her life, what the connection is, 389 00:28:17.490 --> 00:28:18.569 and I don't think she's going to want to do that. So I'm 390 00:28:18.569 --> 00:28:21.970 trying to help her see that. No, you really don't want to party 391 00:28:22.009 --> 00:28:26.650 because of this reason. Yeah, and then a second reason is I want 392 00:28:26.650 --> 00:28:30.160 to share the gospel and that's really hard to do in a big group setting. 393 00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:33.440 Now, I have done it in a group setting, but it's really 394 00:28:33.519 --> 00:28:37.559 much better one on one in a more personal, private setting. And so 395 00:28:37.720 --> 00:28:44.109 what I typically do, I don't do decorations usually, and I don't do 396 00:28:44.549 --> 00:28:48.190 cake and punch. What I do because I'm bringing all these gifts and trust 397 00:28:48.230 --> 00:28:52.549 me, that is a lot of work and if I have to add decorations 398 00:28:52.710 --> 00:28:56.140 and food to that, it's kind of puts me over the edge sometimes. 399 00:28:56.460 --> 00:29:00.339 So what I like to do is have a shower. It takes about an 400 00:29:00.380 --> 00:29:03.019 hour and a half, two hours to open all the gifts and then I 401 00:29:03.180 --> 00:29:06.539 like to take them out to lunch, yeah, or dinner, whatever meal 402 00:29:06.740 --> 00:29:11.250 is appropriate at the time, and then I like to share the gospel over 403 00:29:11.650 --> 00:29:15.289 the meal. And I'm very intentional about it and it's tempting to just not 404 00:29:15.490 --> 00:29:22.369 do it because it it's awkward. Making that transition from Baby Chit Chat, 405 00:29:22.609 --> 00:29:27.480 names and all that kind of stuff to Gospel is sometimes challenge most times challenging, 406 00:29:27.799 --> 00:29:30.400 but I'm very after all the work I did for the shower, I'm 407 00:29:30.519 --> 00:29:36.480 pretty committed to making sure that this happens. So we shared over the over 408 00:29:36.640 --> 00:29:40.750 the meal. But what it's not to say she's got to come alone. 409 00:29:40.789 --> 00:29:44.670 I always encourage her to invite a close friend or a sister, mom, 410 00:29:45.390 --> 00:29:48.750 the boyfriend or husband or whatever. I mean. I'm happy to have a 411 00:29:48.190 --> 00:29:52.789 couple of others come as well, and then a sidewalk counselor like you, 412 00:29:52.829 --> 00:29:56.180 Vicky, have been to many of them. Whoever initially met her or if 413 00:29:56.259 --> 00:30:00.099 she has a love life, mentor the mint is welcome to come. So 414 00:30:00.619 --> 00:30:03.339 it's typically, you know, six, seven people at the most. Right. 415 00:30:03.819 --> 00:30:08.369 Yeah, they're pretty awesome. I remember one where a woman came to 416 00:30:08.410 --> 00:30:14.930 the Lord in Denny's. Was it? She is. Yeah, she would 417 00:30:15.049 --> 00:30:18.650 had been a former drug addict. It was in something like that we have. 418 00:30:18.769 --> 00:30:23.839 Yeah, yeah, I think it was denny's, I remember. Yeah, 419 00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:27.039 I know which one you're talking yeah, she's still following God and she's 420 00:30:27.119 --> 00:30:32.240 doing a she's doing well. Yeah, well, let's get into to some 421 00:30:32.400 --> 00:30:34.910 of those stories. Yeah, because you've got a lot of experience you. 422 00:30:36.269 --> 00:30:37.549 I mean, how many baby showers if we done over the years, like 423 00:30:37.990 --> 00:30:42.710 Kajillian's? I don't know, maybe enough time that math. I A lot, 424 00:30:44.109 --> 00:30:47.269 a real lie. mean the first many years, you know, I 425 00:30:47.430 --> 00:30:52.140 was probably first, maybe eighteen years, I was probably only doing three, 426 00:30:52.299 --> 00:30:56.299 four, five six a year, so not that many. But the last 427 00:30:56.500 --> 00:31:00.500 twelve since official, since getting storage units and getting a name, I've I 428 00:31:00.700 --> 00:31:03.769 do about twenty five to thirty a year, which is a lot. So 429 00:31:04.009 --> 00:31:07.730 we're talking every other weekend almost. Yeah, so it's a lot. And 430 00:31:08.009 --> 00:31:11.569 and so I do have three storage units now. I started out which is 431 00:31:11.650 --> 00:31:15.809 one little one and it grew and grew and grew and I have three quite 432 00:31:15.849 --> 00:31:21.599 large ones now that are pretty well organized. Not as well as I would 433 00:31:21.599 --> 00:31:25.960 like, but but that's when people say you have three units, that's it 434 00:31:26.160 --> 00:31:30.279 is expensive and that's my major ministry expense. But when you think about it, 435 00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:34.309 I mean think about thirty cribs a year. Think about thirty car seats, 436 00:31:34.430 --> 00:31:40.950 thirty swings, thirty bathtubs, thirty mattresses. Yeah, all of that. 437 00:31:41.109 --> 00:31:45.230 I mean thirty betting sets and all the clothes. I mean every woman 438 00:31:45.309 --> 00:31:48.700 gets about, I don't know, about three hundred outfits of clothes, at 439 00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:52.980 least I don't know. Do Six Times twelve? What's that? Knows? 440 00:31:52.140 --> 00:31:56.059 Oh, come on, don't at Daniel and for sure don't answer me. 441 00:31:56.460 --> 00:32:00.740 Six comes twelve, seventy two. Okay, good. Yeah, they're getting 442 00:32:00.819 --> 00:32:05.690 probably about a hundred and thirty outfits a year. It really is thousands of 443 00:32:05.769 --> 00:32:08.450 dollars with it really is. It's a life stuff. Yeah, so it 444 00:32:08.849 --> 00:32:14.170 just it takes a lot of room and it's It's a Pretty Well oiled machine. 445 00:32:14.289 --> 00:32:16.000 The ministry is, but most of it is is a lot of grunt 446 00:32:16.039 --> 00:32:20.480 work. I'm doing a lot of cleaning, I'm doing a lot of driving, 447 00:32:20.640 --> 00:32:24.359 picking up donations, organizing. I spent like four hours in storage yesterday 448 00:32:24.519 --> 00:32:30.150 just, you know, yeah, putting stuff in and out and organizing and 449 00:32:30.430 --> 00:32:34.710 that kind of thing. So it's a lot of worm. He's hot in 450 00:32:34.869 --> 00:32:37.630 the summer, is hot in my little tin storaging. It's in the winner 451 00:32:38.029 --> 00:32:42.309 it's cold, just like you guys on the streets. Maybe it's hot and 452 00:32:42.390 --> 00:32:45.420 it's cold. Yeah, so tell us some of those stories, which maybe 453 00:32:45.660 --> 00:32:50.700 maybe let's start with the we know there's highs and lows in any ministry. 454 00:32:50.740 --> 00:32:53.299 Maybe will end on a good note and maybe you could tell us about some 455 00:32:53.500 --> 00:32:59.369 of the sad or hard things that you've been countered. Yeah, because the 456 00:32:59.450 --> 00:33:01.809 case, there's this kind of notion because we share stories, we share them 457 00:33:01.849 --> 00:33:06.170 on social media. Yeah, there's this sort of notion that you know, 458 00:33:06.289 --> 00:33:08.410 all the stories are great, that they all go fantastic, and you know, 459 00:33:08.490 --> 00:33:10.849 in the light of who God is and the fact that the Gospel is 460 00:33:10.930 --> 00:33:15.920 being presented in all of these stories, it's always a good it's always God 461 00:33:16.160 --> 00:33:19.839 is winning. God wins. As long as we're on his side, we 462 00:33:20.039 --> 00:33:25.039 win. Right. But the reality of ministry is sometimes more difficult than people 463 00:33:25.079 --> 00:33:30.829 would really believe. And for someone like yourself that have been in ministry for 464 00:33:31.069 --> 00:33:35.910 thirty two years and really done some hard stuff, people need to come to 465 00:33:35.990 --> 00:33:38.349 terms with the reality. The ministries tough and if nothing else to know, 466 00:33:38.549 --> 00:33:42.859 hey, pray for Cheryl, pray for pray for Vicky on the sidewalk, 467 00:33:42.900 --> 00:33:45.180 pray for me is we're minister on the sidewalk, because these these stories are 468 00:33:45.259 --> 00:33:49.460 difficult and they are waity, but God's graces sufficient. So yeah, I'd 469 00:33:49.460 --> 00:33:53.259 share a share a story struggle and we get some prayer warriors from the podcast 470 00:33:53.339 --> 00:33:58.690 where you well, I'll just touch on this. One of the most ongoing 471 00:33:59.089 --> 00:34:04.970 difficult struggles is just the brokenness of America's families. Yeah, and just when 472 00:34:05.009 --> 00:34:07.809 you when you get to know these women, and I know you too know 473 00:34:07.970 --> 00:34:09.639 it well, when you get to know them and you meet him and you 474 00:34:09.679 --> 00:34:15.880 meet their family members and you find out how disconnected the relationships are. I 475 00:34:15.000 --> 00:34:20.760 mean a lot of the women we serve have had multiple children with multiple men 476 00:34:20.760 --> 00:34:24.750 and their siblings have done the same and and I used to try to meet 477 00:34:24.789 --> 00:34:30.550 them and try to mentally put together a family tree to find out how everyone's 478 00:34:30.590 --> 00:34:35.789 related and connected and it's really virtually impossible. So that's been very discouraging. 479 00:34:36.110 --> 00:34:40.179 And I'm always delighted that the baby is alive. The baby is loved at 480 00:34:40.260 --> 00:34:46.420 this point and welcomed and they're all excited about this baby coming. But but 481 00:34:46.659 --> 00:34:53.489 just knowing that the the baby is born into quite a fractured family and and 482 00:34:53.889 --> 00:35:00.929 the generational problem that ensues. When I mean it doesn't take long to to 483 00:35:02.329 --> 00:35:07.679 break up the family when a woman has never seen a functional nuclear family and 484 00:35:07.800 --> 00:35:14.360 her life and then her children repeated and their children repeated. They don't they've 485 00:35:14.400 --> 00:35:19.639 never seen it work and and that's really a big problem in America, not 486 00:35:19.800 --> 00:35:22.469 just with what we're doing here but all across them. Yeah, absolutely. 487 00:35:22.710 --> 00:35:27.349 So that's been discouraging. I've come home from showers and cried all the way 488 00:35:27.349 --> 00:35:31.070 home many times in my car. Yeah, many times. So just struggling 489 00:35:31.190 --> 00:35:37.420 with that. And but other low's have mostly involved the death of babies. 490 00:35:37.460 --> 00:35:42.659 Yeah, that's very hard. After all the work of saving, you know, 491 00:35:43.380 --> 00:35:46.940 of saving babies on the sidewalk and providing for them, meeting all their 492 00:35:47.059 --> 00:35:52.369 needs all down the list of you know, your lengthy resource needs, and 493 00:35:52.489 --> 00:35:57.969 baby showers and all that and have baby stye. Is Tragic and I've seen 494 00:35:58.010 --> 00:36:05.960 it many times actually over thirty two years. Baby that was saved from abortion, 495 00:36:06.159 --> 00:36:09.599 showered, died of a brain tumor right at her second birthday. She 496 00:36:09.800 --> 00:36:15.760 was diagnosed at our first birthday and treated, you know, Chemo, radiation, 497 00:36:15.800 --> 00:36:20.110 surgery, all of that, and and still passed away. And and 498 00:36:20.230 --> 00:36:24.429 I'm still in contact with that mother. We actually reconnected on facebook round about 499 00:36:24.590 --> 00:36:29.909 six months ago. So we're still in contact. We this was this was 500 00:36:29.989 --> 00:36:35.460 probably twenty years ago, and so we've reconnected recently. So I'm glad about 501 00:36:35.500 --> 00:36:37.340 that. And she has, you know, know, she's moved on, 502 00:36:37.619 --> 00:36:42.900 she's done great. Her other children are all grown by now and she's doing 503 00:36:42.940 --> 00:36:46.889 well. Let me ask you, was it? Was it at least somewhat 504 00:36:47.130 --> 00:36:52.969 glimmer of hope in that very tragic situation that it was not she who had 505 00:36:53.050 --> 00:37:00.690 taken the babies life, but it was whatever cancer wouldever? You know, 506 00:37:00.849 --> 00:37:05.840 that's what I try to communicate. Yeah, weak and frail skills of verying. 507 00:37:06.000 --> 00:37:08.960 So, but they still always ask right, why, you know, 508 00:37:09.119 --> 00:37:14.480 why? What? I should have just aborted this baby? The same result. 509 00:37:15.039 --> 00:37:16.550 Yeah, and I say no, it's not the same reas all. 510 00:37:16.989 --> 00:37:23.110 Yeah, your baby new love. Your baby knew your warm embrace, your 511 00:37:23.150 --> 00:37:29.550 kiss, your hug, your tender voice speaking to your child, holding your 512 00:37:29.590 --> 00:37:34.500 child. Your child knew that, knew that Mommy loved her. Yeah, 513 00:37:35.300 --> 00:37:37.579 an abortion, she never would have known that. She would have known as 514 00:37:37.699 --> 00:37:44.369 terror, right terror. Yeah, and your conscience is clear. You've done 515 00:37:44.409 --> 00:37:46.809 the right thing. So these are the things I try to communicate. But 516 00:37:46.929 --> 00:37:50.449 there have been others. I mean, she's not the only one. That 517 00:37:50.570 --> 00:37:55.050 was a baby who died from asphyxiation in his crib. Oh, he had 518 00:37:55.250 --> 00:37:59.960 the flu and she had taken him to the emergency room that the night before 519 00:38:00.679 --> 00:38:04.559 and he was treated, given medicine. She brought him home and put him 520 00:38:04.559 --> 00:38:07.519 in his crib and woke up the next day and he was yeah, that's 521 00:38:07.559 --> 00:38:10.679 awful, he had passed. So, you know, she's the one that 522 00:38:10.800 --> 00:38:15.829 got saved. She's the one who called me with all those questions that day, 523 00:38:15.070 --> 00:38:20.150 and she was a believer by this point. So she had tough questions. 524 00:38:20.389 --> 00:38:23.110 And Yeah, and these are questions none of us have the answers to. 525 00:38:23.429 --> 00:38:27.260 But God is the one whose sovereign over life. We are not. 526 00:38:27.539 --> 00:38:32.820 We cannot take life, only God can do his will and he has reasons 527 00:38:32.860 --> 00:38:38.139 and purposes and scripture shows all that and we are just to trust. Yeah, 528 00:38:38.300 --> 00:38:43.530 but very recently a mom who you two met right here on the sidewalks 529 00:38:44.809 --> 00:38:50.409 here just months ago, she delivered twins, boy, girl, twins about 530 00:38:50.409 --> 00:38:53.050 a month early. She had been on bed rest but she got to the 531 00:38:53.170 --> 00:38:59.039 eighth month and delivered a month early and it was all expected. Nobody was 532 00:38:59.119 --> 00:39:05.440 surprised by premature birth of twins. But the twins never thrived. They struggled 533 00:39:05.480 --> 00:39:10.429 for twelve days and fourteen days and they both passed just a couple of weeks 534 00:39:10.429 --> 00:39:15.670 ago. Right. So this is all very fresh and so I've been trying 535 00:39:15.710 --> 00:39:19.630 to minister to her and encourage her and pray with her and just be with 536 00:39:19.750 --> 00:39:23.940 her and there are no words. I mean there are no words and she 537 00:39:24.139 --> 00:39:28.940 is really quite numb right now. But she did have those same questions like 538 00:39:29.139 --> 00:39:30.739 why, what would have been wrong with me aboarding? You know, that 539 00:39:30.860 --> 00:39:35.380 kind of thing. So I went through the same type things with her. 540 00:39:35.460 --> 00:39:38.090 So these are lows. These are lows and these are questions I can't answer. 541 00:39:38.289 --> 00:39:42.570 None of us really can. But I do know that we have no 542 00:39:42.650 --> 00:39:47.489 right to take life right. Yeah, absolutely, and in all of that, 543 00:39:49.449 --> 00:39:52.840 by God's grace and by His mercy, you were there and able to 544 00:39:52.920 --> 00:39:58.360 speak truth to these MOMS, to listen. The hope ultimately that is, 545 00:39:58.519 --> 00:40:01.199 that is sure and that is steadfast, is the hope that's found in Jesus 546 00:40:01.239 --> 00:40:07.039 Christ, and you're able to offer that and that's a tremendous blessing. People 547 00:40:07.119 --> 00:40:09.389 have, you know, all across the world, across the country, their 548 00:40:09.469 --> 00:40:14.190 children die young ages and they struggle with this and they have the why and 549 00:40:14.510 --> 00:40:17.150 many don't have a person like you who's going to be there and bring the 550 00:40:17.269 --> 00:40:21.460 mercy of God and the truth of God into the equation. So I appreciate 551 00:40:21.500 --> 00:40:22.900 you doing that and I know it's not easy. I man, I've had 552 00:40:22.980 --> 00:40:28.739 situations, stories that I could tell of these MOMS and these these dad's that 553 00:40:28.780 --> 00:40:31.739 I've ministered to, and you just come away from those situations thinking wow, 554 00:40:32.099 --> 00:40:36.369 that I really do any good. And you know, and you started doubt, 555 00:40:36.369 --> 00:40:38.969 but when you put things in perspective, like you said, that baby 556 00:40:39.489 --> 00:40:44.289 got to know love, whereas just in the womb and being torn apart by 557 00:40:44.289 --> 00:40:47.369 abortion, would not even be able to feel the touch of his mother. 558 00:40:47.449 --> 00:40:52.039 And so that's just an amazing way to put it. Appreciate you sharing that. 559 00:40:52.239 --> 00:40:55.840 Yeah, so going from the from the lows. Yeah, share a 560 00:40:55.920 --> 00:41:01.119 story that's just been a tremendous blessing, something that stuck out in three years. 561 00:41:01.280 --> 00:41:05.590 And there's so many of them. I've I've I've been so privileged to 562 00:41:05.670 --> 00:41:07.989 be a part of so many of those with you and there are just really 563 00:41:08.030 --> 00:41:13.710 amazing stories from your ministry. There are, and it was really hard to 564 00:41:13.789 --> 00:41:16.030 narrow it down to one right, but you can be too if you want. 565 00:41:17.190 --> 00:41:21.219 Well, I have one that's a really very sweet and it's about a 566 00:41:21.780 --> 00:41:25.699 sixteen year old story. Now, I met a very young, sweet couple, 567 00:41:27.179 --> 00:41:31.820 Hispanic couple, at the Hebron road abortion clinic about sixteen years ago and 568 00:41:32.250 --> 00:41:37.489 I really don't even remember reading meeting them at this point, but they spoke 569 00:41:37.610 --> 00:41:42.489 only Spanish. So My, you know, interaction with them was very brief 570 00:41:42.570 --> 00:41:45.090 because I don't know Spanish more than just a couple of words anyway, and 571 00:41:45.130 --> 00:41:47.440 I know, like you, you've probably said, in my spare time I'm 572 00:41:47.440 --> 00:41:52.679 going to learn Spanish. Never have. If you're bilingual, we need to. 573 00:41:52.960 --> 00:41:55.760 That's really that's one gift us. If the Lord can just give that 574 00:41:55.880 --> 00:41:59.440 to me without me trying that that would be the thing I would ask for. 575 00:42:00.039 --> 00:42:01.989 Yeah, so all I could do really at the time I met him 576 00:42:02.150 --> 00:42:09.190 was to give them Spanish literature and then a resource list written in Spanish and 577 00:42:09.550 --> 00:42:13.829 say the little I could and point to the pictures, you know, of 578 00:42:13.949 --> 00:42:16.940 the babies in the literature and that kind of I showed them fetal models and 579 00:42:17.059 --> 00:42:21.980 they did they turned away and they left that day. But I, you 580 00:42:22.059 --> 00:42:23.739 know, I they had my number, but it's not like if they called 581 00:42:23.820 --> 00:42:29.340 I could understand them. The man spoke a little more English because he worked 582 00:42:29.380 --> 00:42:34.690 in construction and he had more exposure than she did. But anyway, several 583 00:42:34.809 --> 00:42:39.329 months later they came back to the clinic all smiles and she had a big 584 00:42:39.449 --> 00:42:44.960 pregnant belly and so that broke all the language barriers right there, her pregnant 585 00:42:45.000 --> 00:42:47.719 belly and saw her at the clinic when she came back. Yeah, you 586 00:42:47.840 --> 00:42:52.400 just happen to be there that that day then? Yes, well, I 587 00:42:52.559 --> 00:42:55.679 was there every Saturday. I think they probably knew maybe I don't know, 588 00:42:55.760 --> 00:42:59.510 maybe they tried other times, I don't know, to find me, but 589 00:42:59.869 --> 00:43:01.869 if they came on a Saturday, I was most likely going to be there. 590 00:43:01.909 --> 00:43:08.349 Okay. So, so they showed up and we rejoiced and and I 591 00:43:08.469 --> 00:43:13.099 got their number once again, and then I had a bilingual friend of mine 592 00:43:13.219 --> 00:43:16.659 call and offer the shower and make the arrangements of the time and day I 593 00:43:16.739 --> 00:43:20.659 could come and bring gifts and that kind of thing. Well, I came 594 00:43:20.780 --> 00:43:22.900 and they went through the gifts and I had, you know, Spanish Gospel 595 00:43:22.940 --> 00:43:27.369 material that I can't really share, the Gospel and Spona. So anyway, 596 00:43:27.489 --> 00:43:30.730 that was kind of feeble, but it's the best I could do. And 597 00:43:30.849 --> 00:43:36.010 then after the gifts were open, they started calling their family and friends and 598 00:43:36.570 --> 00:43:40.289 they all started pouring into this ty tiny apartment with all the gifts already in 599 00:43:40.369 --> 00:43:45.320 the room too. So and they start singing, they pull out instruments, 600 00:43:45.559 --> 00:43:50.559 the women go in the kitchen and start cooking, and I am not a 601 00:43:50.639 --> 00:43:54.239 good cook, and they made there were from Honduras and they made a delicious 602 00:43:54.400 --> 00:43:59.150 Hondur and meal and there may making Tortillia's by hand, and I want you 603 00:43:59.190 --> 00:44:04.710 to imagine all these little feminine hands patting out these Tortillia's in rhythm. I 604 00:44:04.750 --> 00:44:07.030 mean it was almost it was mesmerizing to me. And they're putting them in 605 00:44:07.110 --> 00:44:12.780 hot oil without burning their fingers. They're doing with their bare hands and I'm 606 00:44:12.860 --> 00:44:15.420 like, why are you using a tool? It was it was amazing to 607 00:44:15.460 --> 00:44:19.340 me. It was a breathtaking so they're synchronized and doing all that and they, 608 00:44:19.820 --> 00:44:22.340 you know, they start singing their songs and they start singing Christian songs 609 00:44:22.980 --> 00:44:28.050 and it was really beautiful. And their baby was born, baby girl. 610 00:44:29.090 --> 00:44:31.170 Her name is Cynthia and she was born in two thousand and five. She 611 00:44:31.369 --> 00:44:36.489 just turned fifteen a few well, last month, August, two thousand and 612 00:44:36.530 --> 00:44:39.320 five, and she's in high school now. But the sweet part of this 613 00:44:39.480 --> 00:44:46.639 story is that this family calls to me every Christmas. Oh, every Christmas 614 00:44:46.800 --> 00:44:52.000 they call me and thank me, and I mean if it's not well, 615 00:44:52.039 --> 00:44:54.389 it might be Christmas, our New Year's. It's in that week of holiday. 616 00:44:54.670 --> 00:44:59.150 Yeah, and and the daughter always speaks to me the longest. She 617 00:44:59.349 --> 00:45:02.630 knows the story, she knows what almost happened to her. The fifteen year 618 00:45:02.630 --> 00:45:06.710 old knows. She knows she was almost aborted. Wow, she does. 619 00:45:06.829 --> 00:45:08.500 In her English is the best. So she talks to me the longest. 620 00:45:08.539 --> 00:45:14.139 Yeah, and they had another they married and they had another daughter about four 621 00:45:14.139 --> 00:45:16.099 years ago. So they have two girls right now and they work very hard. 622 00:45:16.139 --> 00:45:22.530 They're very responsible family pursuing the American dream and their gratitude has lifted me 623 00:45:22.809 --> 00:45:27.610 on many, many discouraging days. That's a really it is a blessing, 624 00:45:27.769 --> 00:45:31.530 an awesome story. We have a Vietnamese lady who sends both me and Cheryl 625 00:45:31.730 --> 00:45:39.280 and the interpreter notes every every few weeks with pictures and thanking in in her 626 00:45:39.440 --> 00:45:45.559 broken English, thanking you for for all that you did and for us being 627 00:45:45.639 --> 00:45:49.480 there. It is she's sweet, that's she is jerious. Kind of thanks, 628 00:45:49.559 --> 00:45:52.829 because there are many that don't think right, as you know. There 629 00:45:52.869 --> 00:45:54.909 are many, but I the Lord has reminded me many times that. You 630 00:45:55.030 --> 00:46:00.389 know, Jesus at one point healed ten leppers. It's only one came back 631 00:46:00.469 --> 00:46:07.780 to exactly, I mean disease that is incurable, and only one came back 632 00:46:07.940 --> 00:46:10.539 to the right. So we don't operate for thanks, we operate for God's 633 00:46:10.579 --> 00:46:15.019 glory. Yeah, but it is good to have things. It can be 634 00:46:15.099 --> 00:46:19.409 discouraging in a lot of times to be out there, to be doing what 635 00:46:19.530 --> 00:46:22.289 you're doing day in and day out and not have any anythinks. The Lord 636 00:46:22.369 --> 00:46:27.250 Is Very Merciful, yeah, to let us sometimes hear those, those thank 637 00:46:27.329 --> 00:46:30.809 you's. Yeah, well, your model, your model of ministry, became 638 00:46:30.889 --> 00:46:37.440 the model that I think love life strives to follow with their the mentors when 639 00:46:37.480 --> 00:46:42.639 they give a baby shower, providing two years of the baby's clothes and equipment. 640 00:46:42.679 --> 00:46:47.190 And that's something that we call out every day and that alone has changed 641 00:46:47.269 --> 00:46:52.190 people's minds, sometimes just hearing Oh, I don't have to do all that 642 00:46:52.510 --> 00:46:57.230 and they'll come and talk to us. So when you said you kind of 643 00:46:57.349 --> 00:47:00.869 grease the wheels, it's it's not a bribe at all. It truly is 644 00:47:00.230 --> 00:47:07.659 just just showing I'm offering, through God's people, this this law, this 645 00:47:07.860 --> 00:47:12.820 demonstration of love, and they're willing then to trust and to come talk with 646 00:47:12.980 --> 00:47:15.489 you. It does. It Softens Hard It's softens hearts ex and now that 647 00:47:15.690 --> 00:47:20.929 lays the groundwork for the gospel. Except one's hearts are soft, then they 648 00:47:21.010 --> 00:47:24.489 can hear truth. Yeah, yeah, Amen. Well, I mean I 649 00:47:24.610 --> 00:47:28.050 think with that we're going to wrap this thing up. Yeah, we could 650 00:47:28.090 --> 00:47:31.880 talk to the food end on a positive note. Yeah, and just thank 651 00:47:32.000 --> 00:47:35.559 God for all that he's done. I appreciate you, shy ill. Appreciate 652 00:47:35.639 --> 00:47:39.440 Your faithfulness to the Lord and the encouragement that really you've given to so many, 653 00:47:40.400 --> 00:47:45.389 certainly to me, certainly to Vicky, into others. And if you 654 00:47:45.429 --> 00:47:46.989 guys want to reach out to share, where can they? They can reach 655 00:47:47.030 --> 00:47:52.030 you. Is it truth and mercy Pro Life Ministries Dot Org? That is 656 00:47:52.070 --> 00:47:57.269 okay. Spell out and truth and mercy pro life dot Org. Okay, 657 00:47:57.469 --> 00:48:00.659 cool, and they can get your email address there and reach out to you 658 00:48:00.699 --> 00:48:02.380 that way. And if you guys want to support Cheryl, like she said, 659 00:48:02.420 --> 00:48:06.980 a big ministry expense is the storage units that she has and there's other 660 00:48:07.099 --> 00:48:09.940 ministry expenses to come on gas and hallow these gifts and all of that stuff. 661 00:48:09.940 --> 00:48:13.050 So you guys want to help out with that, you certainly could reach 662 00:48:13.050 --> 00:48:15.130 out to her and I'm sure she would receive your donation. And if you 663 00:48:15.210 --> 00:48:17.889 have baby items you want to give, yes, you can certainly give some 664 00:48:19.010 --> 00:48:22.050 baby items to her, but she year. We appreciate you coming and sharing 665 00:48:22.570 --> 00:48:24.690 and we appreciate you guys that listen. Please again, like I started out, 666 00:48:24.730 --> 00:48:28.880 share this podcast. I'm sure it'll be a blessing to somebody and reach 667 00:48:28.920 --> 00:48:31.960 out to us if you have ideas for future podcast. We're gonna be touching 668 00:48:32.000 --> 00:48:36.840 off on all kinds of subjects in the coming weeks. We just have a 669 00:48:36.880 --> 00:48:39.000 lot that the Lord is doing here in our ministry and we want to share 670 00:48:40.000 --> 00:48:44.070 some of the things that God is doing and also share just some of the 671 00:48:44.150 --> 00:48:46.110 issues that we're struggling with and helping you guys. This is for people who 672 00:48:46.150 --> 00:48:51.590 are in ministry and you guys are just got some questions and things you're struggling 673 00:48:51.590 --> 00:48:53.590 with. When to help you as we talk, there are struggles in the 674 00:48:53.670 --> 00:48:58.900 things that we're dealing with on a daily basis and help encourage you guys. 675 00:48:58.980 --> 00:49:05.980 So we appreciate you guys listening and until next time, God bless give me 676 00:49:06.780 --> 00:49:19.130 our love for love, give me our love for gratitude. I know it 677 00:49:19.289 --> 00:49:28.119 will cost me my life. Nothing's too precious and some that you