The last year and half has brought exhaustion, frustration and disappointment but never regret. The smiles, tears of joy and opportunity to see life, that was but a moment from death's doorway, born into the world has brought my heart into a place I just can’t escape. But more than the feeling, the realization that God has called me to love my neighbor as myself regardless of the outcome has become real to me. The mothers, fathers and children in the womb are our neighbors, and they come Wednesday – Saturday to 4 Office Park Drive, Little Rock Family Planning, where roughly 30-40 abortions are performed each day. Some come broken and desperate. Some come laughing and mocking, but they all come lost. Every parent needs to hear truth in love, and every child deserves the chance for a hope and a future. So if we as the body of Christ do not reach out, who will? The answer is no one.
This is where Every20Seconds comes in, but Every20Seconds is not myself or any of the individuals who founded it. It is not some exclusive club with a secret hand shake. Every20Seconds represents the movement of the body Christ to end abortion in the state of Arkansas. Yes we need finances, but more than that we need willing hands and feet. I’m inviting you all to join us on this journey and take the challenge of looking at yourself in the mirror and declaring that if I don’t do something, no one will.
When 1% of the church shows up abortion in Arkansas shuts down. That’s what the Every20Seconds billboard states on the I-30 river bridge in Little Rock, Arkansas. I think the simplicity of this statement seems to confuse people. I get it all the time. “What does that mean?” What’s the 1% all about?” Let’s try to clear this up for you. In Little Rock alone there are roughly 196,000 people. In Arkansas, statistics show that 53% of the population claims to attend church almost weekly, but let’s go on the conservative side and say it’s 40%. If only 1% of Little Rock church members were actively participating in outreach at the abortion clinic that would be a total of 784 individuals. I’ve seen what God can do on any given Saturday when there might be anywhere from 15-35 people praying and reaching out in love with offerings of housing, groceries and medical help. I’ve seen hearts soften when the sound of praise worship cuts through an atmosphere of death and destruction. Can you imagine if 784 people decided to show up? I think we’d see not only the end of abortion in our state, but we’d see revival in our churches and communities. We as the church have ministries for children, couples, financial counseling, homeless, widows, recovering alcoholics and foreign countries, but there seems to be a disconnect when it comes to the pro-life mission field. We think that if we write a check to the nearest right to life group and check the boxes next to the pro-life candidates we’ve done our part. The world has dictated our terms and created in us a fear of looking unusual. We’ve forgotten that we’re not of this world. When will we care more about what God wants than what the world thinks?
I’d like share a story with you. It was one of the first saves that I witnessed, so it holds a special place in my heart. –
Two young ladies drove into Little Rock Family Planning, at 4 Office Park Drive, just like many others had that day. After talking to each other for over 20 minutes inside their car, they got out and walked toward the door. Immediately one of the women with us who regularly counsels called out to her. “Can we pray for you? I had an abortion here and went through the pain and regret. You don’t want to do this.” With tears in her eyes, the young lady turned around, her friend by her side, and walked back towards the white line that we pro-lifers are restricted from crossing. I wish I had taken a photograph at that moment, because it was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. In a circle they stood holding hands at the white line in prayer. The line that represented a barrier between two worlds at that moment united them in a bond of love. Tears were flowing down their faces as well as mine. When the prayer was over, my aunt asked the young lady, “What is your name?” She replied, “Sky.” My aunt came that morning wearing a random T-shirt from her drawer from the Bible school theme at our church two years prior. She said, “Sky, look at my shirt," which said "Sky-Everything is possible with God." Sky had asked God to send her a sign that day, and he did just that. I was able to hold that baby in my arms this year, and I couldn’t help but get a little misty eyed once more. This child, that was almost torn apart, was lying in my arms, wide eyed, ready to face the world. He had been given the opportunity to live, all because the body of Christ decided to show up one Saturday morning and Love. His mother couldn’t be more proud.
Everything is possible with God. Do we believe that? Abortion is a giant, but giants fall because our God is mighty and we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. God slayed a giant through a shepherd boy, freed his people from captivity through a stuttering man, and he can deliver us from the abomination of abortion if his people are just willing to show up.
This is where Every20Seconds comes in, but Every20Seconds is not myself or any of the individuals who founded it. It is not some exclusive club with a secret hand shake. Every20Seconds represents the movement of the body Christ to end abortion in the state of Arkansas. Yes we need finances, but more than that we need willing hands and feet. I’m inviting you all to join us on this journey and take the challenge of looking at yourself in the mirror and declaring that if I don’t do something, no one will.
When 1% of the church shows up abortion in Arkansas shuts down. That’s what the Every20Seconds billboard states on the I-30 river bridge in Little Rock, Arkansas. I think the simplicity of this statement seems to confuse people. I get it all the time. “What does that mean?” What’s the 1% all about?” Let’s try to clear this up for you. In Little Rock alone there are roughly 196,000 people. In Arkansas, statistics show that 53% of the population claims to attend church almost weekly, but let’s go on the conservative side and say it’s 40%. If only 1% of Little Rock church members were actively participating in outreach at the abortion clinic that would be a total of 784 individuals. I’ve seen what God can do on any given Saturday when there might be anywhere from 15-35 people praying and reaching out in love with offerings of housing, groceries and medical help. I’ve seen hearts soften when the sound of praise worship cuts through an atmosphere of death and destruction. Can you imagine if 784 people decided to show up? I think we’d see not only the end of abortion in our state, but we’d see revival in our churches and communities. We as the church have ministries for children, couples, financial counseling, homeless, widows, recovering alcoholics and foreign countries, but there seems to be a disconnect when it comes to the pro-life mission field. We think that if we write a check to the nearest right to life group and check the boxes next to the pro-life candidates we’ve done our part. The world has dictated our terms and created in us a fear of looking unusual. We’ve forgotten that we’re not of this world. When will we care more about what God wants than what the world thinks?
I’d like share a story with you. It was one of the first saves that I witnessed, so it holds a special place in my heart. –
Two young ladies drove into Little Rock Family Planning, at 4 Office Park Drive, just like many others had that day. After talking to each other for over 20 minutes inside their car, they got out and walked toward the door. Immediately one of the women with us who regularly counsels called out to her. “Can we pray for you? I had an abortion here and went through the pain and regret. You don’t want to do this.” With tears in her eyes, the young lady turned around, her friend by her side, and walked back towards the white line that we pro-lifers are restricted from crossing. I wish I had taken a photograph at that moment, because it was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. In a circle they stood holding hands at the white line in prayer. The line that represented a barrier between two worlds at that moment united them in a bond of love. Tears were flowing down their faces as well as mine. When the prayer was over, my aunt asked the young lady, “What is your name?” She replied, “Sky.” My aunt came that morning wearing a random T-shirt from her drawer from the Bible school theme at our church two years prior. She said, “Sky, look at my shirt," which said "Sky-Everything is possible with God." Sky had asked God to send her a sign that day, and he did just that. I was able to hold that baby in my arms this year, and I couldn’t help but get a little misty eyed once more. This child, that was almost torn apart, was lying in my arms, wide eyed, ready to face the world. He had been given the opportunity to live, all because the body of Christ decided to show up one Saturday morning and Love. His mother couldn’t be more proud.
Everything is possible with God. Do we believe that? Abortion is a giant, but giants fall because our God is mighty and we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. God slayed a giant through a shepherd boy, freed his people from captivity through a stuttering man, and he can deliver us from the abomination of abortion if his people are just willing to show up.
RSS Feed