"Mom, Dad, I've got some questions..."

JFA's 3 Essential Skills are at the heart of our training program. The even better news is that using them will help make conversations on just about anything be more productive.

If you've ever attended a JFA "Seat Work" seminar, recall our 3 Essential Skills' promise: use them with anyone, anywhere, on any topic, anytime and you'll experience a better conversation every time!

Guaranteed.

I've even tried using them at home. My wife said she liked it; that I should try it again, maybe even try it with the kids - we still have 5 teens under our roof!

Speaking of teens, it could be hazardous to parents (at least to their bank account) if teens learn to use our 3 Essentials Skills. Imagine the following dialogue between a teen and his or her parents:

T (teen): Mom, dad, do you have a few minutes to talk? I have some questions.

P (parent): (speechless - but almost immediately dad has a mental choke-hold on his wallet...mom's mouth is stuck in the open position...and enterprising siblings listening in are tweeting a betting line to their friends.)

T: (sympathetically as the teen senses distress in his or her parents' face) Now mom and dad, please relax, I want you to know ahead of time that no matter how you answer my questions I will listen with the intent to understand and not to argue.

P: (still speechless - dad now has two hands around his wallet...mom has decided to sit down...and all except zombie siblings have migrated off to play Call of Duty Black Ops 2.) 

T: (now fearing possible cardiac arrest for one or both parents) And I promise you, mom and dad, no matter how you answer my questions, I will try my best to find common ground with you.

P: (turning to their spouse or other children if present) What have you done with [son/daughter's name]? Who is this? What if we don't file a missing persons' report and say we did?!

Because JFA's Abortion: From Debate to Dialogue (ADD) training program is built around Truth AND Love, it is a quality of relationship multiplier (even at home)...and by design equips participants with the power to change hearts and to save parents and their children at risk to abortion.

If you live in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas or Atlanta, JFA's ADD training is coming soon to a city near you. If you live outside of these states, are you going to let a plane ticket or car rental stop you from learning how to change hearts and save lives?!

Click here to register your interest in attending an upcoming JFA training event. Ask a friend to join you.

Click here to help fund an upcoming training event. Tell a friend about our work so that they too can be part of our life-changing and life-saving team!

No matter which side of the start-a-conversation-about-abortion spectrum you're on (read quotes from Julia or Becca below), we have a mentor and the training ready to help you move to the next level.

I am not one to just go...begin dialogue with strangers about...abortion... I wanted to change their minds—their hearts...but I didn’t know how. My confidence was missing, and the fear of failure used to hold me back when opportunities arose...but the Justice For All [training] literally changed my life!

Julia Reiss
Joshua Leadership Institute
August 2013

“I learned to value [fellow students] as human beings, not just to wait to talk but to listen to what they are saying, to listen to their hearts. I learned to find common ground so they don't feel attacked or ignored. Basically, I learned how to communicate.”

Becca Kohl
StudentsFor Life Club President
March 2014

Empowered to Listen

Reflections from our recent training by the university club advisor and club president at Fort Hays State University in Fort Hays, Kansas:

I witnessed our students for the first time feel truly empowered. JFA training helped them learn how to discuss pro-life issues with their peers.

Nancy Cunningham
Students For Life Advisor
March 25, 2014

“I learned to value [fellow students] as human beings, not just to wait to talk but to listen to what they are saying, to listen to their hearts. I learned to find common ground so they don't feel attacked or ignored. Basically, I learned how to communicate.”

Becca Kohl
StudentsFor Life Club President
March 27, 2014

Wowee Zowee!

In JFA's most recent Impact Report ("Crash-Course Training Helps Save a Life"), Catherine Wurts shares a moving story of one recent outreach that made a big impact in her life, the life of one pro-life student at Wichita State University (WSU) named Amanda, one of Amanda's friends (Kim), and Kim's unborn child.

As you read the above linked report, notice how JFA’s heart for training (Seat and Feet Work) prepares our staff and our volunteers to train pro-life advocates we meet on campus during an outreach to also be ambassadors for life, i.e., to do "Repeat Work."

The following details didn't make it into the impact report, but so well illustrate God's "divine appointments" that I decided to share them with you below (you'll need to read the impact report to put them into proper context):

• For years Amanda had felt God calling her to do something about abortion, but didn’t know what to do.

• Amanda and Kim have such different lifestyles that people at their work wondered aloud why they get along so well. Amanda is convinced it is all by God’s grace and according to His plan. We're also impressed that Amanda seeks to be Christ's ambassador.

• Our JFA team would not normally have had an outreach at WSU in January. The only reason we were there that week was to test out our new A-frame kiosk before taking it to Arizona later that month.

• That's not the only reason we might never have met Amanda; she was only going to stop at the kiosk for a few minutes between classes, but the class she was heading to got canceled, so she had time to stay and get trained by Catherine!

• After talking with Amanda, Kim called the JFA office the following week on a day that Catherine doesn’t usually answer the phones, but Catherine happened to pick up. Kim had already decided to keep her child, but she seemed fairly stressed-out on the phone. Catherine per her training listened, process some of the stress points with Kim, and arranged a three-way call with one of the counselors at Choices Medical Clinic. 

Amanda just sent (today) the following text message:

"Today I had the privilege of seeing a sonogram of the child whose life was spared by God working through me, and as I watched her wiggle around on the screen, we found out she is a precious baby girl :)

I trust that you share our joy for Kim, but also for Catherine and Amanda. Your faithful financial and prayerful support helped make possible the rescue of this "precious baby girl."  Thank you!

May Amanda, Kim, and her baby girl move the hearts of many to join the ranks of trained and intentional ambassadors who speak up for those who have no voice.

Click here to write a short note of encouragement to our JFA staff member, Catherine, to Amanda and/or to Kim.

 *Name changed for privacy.

"Wake up! We're Going to War!"

Earlier this fall I got to mentor one of six training groups at Heritage Christian Academy (HCA) in Ft. Collins, CO. I needed an ice breaker that day for my small group of six students, so I asked:

"Where were you on 9/11?"

Despite these students being only five or six years old in 2001, THEY REMEMBER.

“I was only five years old,” answered Christy. “My mom came upstairs to my room. I was still asleep. She shook my arm and shouted, ‘Wake up! Come downstairs. We’re going to war!’”

After we had all had a good laugh, I asked her, “Do you think your mom overreacted?” Briefly hesitating, she answered, “I guess not, because all those people died that day.”

“How many died?” I asked, looking at each face in the group. Their spirits had quickly sobered.

“About 3,000, I think,” offered a student named Ryan. “It’s been all over the news this past month.”

“You’re right, nearly 3,000 died that day. That’s 600 more than died during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. And we did go to war!”

On 9/11 Christy’s mom woke her daughter to help DO something to stop the killing of innocent people. There was urgency in her voice and in her actions that day.

On this day forty HCA students were awakened to what they can DO to help stop the killing of innocent unborn children. Some even felt that same urgency that Christy's mom felt on 9/11.

Every day is a 9/11 for unborn children – about 3,500 will die in the U.S. on the day you read this.

We remember where we were on 9/11. Why won’t most remember where they were or what they were doing even a week ago when 3,500 children died?

At the end of the day I asked Christy if she would go home, shake her mom’s arm, and say, “Mom! Wake up! We’re going to war!”

If you're reading this, I'm fairly confident that you are already awake to the abortion tragedy. If you haven't already, I strongly encourage you to join with us to fight for the hearts, the minds, and the babies of the next generation.

Here's some key ways how you could use your time, treasure and/or talent to make a difference:

• Learn to start gracious but persuasive conversations about abortion. How? Take a missions trip to a JFA training event. Almost all of our training events are designed with you in mind! (contact tammy@jfaweb.org)
• Financially support one or more of our training events - we held 40 "Abortion: From Debate to Dialogue" seminars (seat work) and 38 corresponding university campus outreaches (feet work). Donate Here.
• Request and be accepted into JFA's training certification track designed to help you learn to train others to change hearts and save lives. (contact steve@jfaweb.org)
• Join JFA's part or full-time intern team which will put you on a VERY fast training certification track! (contact tammy@jfaweb.org)

The WE in Growth at JFA

As WE began our fall 2009 training season, WE had one person who could facilitate JFA’s seat work to feet work training. Two years later, WE have four. By Christmas, Lord willing, WE’LL have 6.

In 2009 WE sent six JFA staff to begin our training partnership with Right to Life of Central California (RLCC – Fresno). This past week, two years later, one JFA staff person, Catherine Wurts, was in Fresno facilitating RLCC training events, assisted by 5 trained RLCC mentors!

In 2009, our by-invitation-only Training Certification Program was but a dream in the mind of JFA's Director of Training, Steve Wagner. Two years later, WE have 34 people enrolled, 20 of whom are completing weekly certification activities.

In 2009, JFA’s mentoring program focused primarily upon our seminar event. Today a ratio of one JFA certified mentor to 8 trainees (max of 10) permeates almost every part of JFA training: from seat to feet to repeat work.

In March 2009, WE trained students and adults in Georgia. In March 2012, WE’RE tentatively scheduled not only to train again in Georgia, but also in Connecticut (Yale), Michigan (UofM), Texas (San Antonio), Nebraska (UNL) and Kansas (Benedictine).

This kind of growth is NOT possible without your financial partnership. That’s why I’ve put “WE” in caps throughout this report of thanks. The years keep roll by at breakneck speed! It’s your support that’s made the difference.

Please join in giving special thanks to both OUR experienced and new “team” members in Lawrence, at the University of Kansas (KU) and Benedictine College. Last week WE fielded a team of about 60 for the KU outreach. On Tuesday Jules, a KU coed, took a step back from the Exhibit to say,

"I'm 2 months pregnant. All my friends are telling me to get an abortion; that this baby (pointing to her womb) will ruin my life.”

Then pointing at side one, panel 4 she continued,

“I think I’ll take a picture of that aborted baby on my phone right now, send it to my friends and ask, 'Is THIS what you want me to do to my baby?'" --Jules, University of Kansas student, Sept 12, 2011 (name changed for privacy)

We thank God and you for your continued support!

Door Opens in Nepal

JFA staffer Jacob Burow recently met Kacie,* the daughter of Nepal missionaries. She was on her way back to Nepal to teach students and adults about abortion. Below is her shortened post-trip report:

"Thank you for your prayers during my time in Nepal! My trip was a huge success... . JFA's Exhibit brochures were a huge hit! Everyone wanted to take them home.

You were so right! I should have taken more. But I can mail them more and my dad can take a lot with him when he goes back in October. Is there a way I can buy more or ask Justice for All to donate them?

There is a small grassroots pro-life movement starting [in Nepal]. While there, I was able to speak to two youth groups about abortion."

Kacie has real passion for training people in Nepal about abortion and to help the fledgling pro-life movement in Nepal have the best materials and the best training possible. Back to her report:

"We visited churches in Banepa, Nala, Dolagat, Melanchi, and many other villages, speaking to 10 churches altogether. These groups varied in size from 30 to 100 people. We had all ages from youth to elderly women... .

I also spoke in some classes at 2 different high schools. Surprisingly, many children were interested and they especially enjoyed the pictures and models. One of the schools also had some visiting Australian teachers who listened to my [presentation]."

We hope to train Kacie this fall to take back more than just our materials to Nepal!

The bottom line is that your support is helping us train tomorrow's leaders today! Please consider making a special gift to help train students like Kacie to not only take JFA materials into countries like Nepal, but also be trained to train others - around the world!

*Her name has been changed for privacy.

Honored at 2011 Wichita Servant Awards

In April we were honored to learn that Justice For All (JFA) had been chosen to receive a First Tier Prize of $5,000 at the 4th annual Wichita 2011 Servant Awards.

The theme of this year's awards was "The Story of One," which matches our mission of training thousands to make abortion unthinkable for millions, ONE person at a time.

JFA was one of fifteen ministries so honored and one of three to receive a First Tier Prize. The annual Wichita Servant Awards is part of the National Christian Foundation. JFA has a donor advised account set up with NCF through which tax-deductable contributions can be made with all the benefits of a donor advised fund.

We are humbled by this award honoring the work that our donors have helped make possible.

Your gifts will mean so much to so many!

Homeless Not Helpless - Pt. 3 Repeat Work

Dear JFA,

I know I already shared with you Christina's story, but I'd like to summarize some of it again since my heart is overflowing with joy at the ending. (Christina's name has been changed for privacy.)

I first contacted JFA on 10/23/10 asking for prayer support for a homeless woman named Christina. Christina lived in a local motel and had attended a church event where I met her. She told me that day that she was about 4 months pregnant with her 10th child.

Christina had had 7 children and 2 abortions; the first abortion when she was only 14 years old, after she was raped by a family member. All 7 of her living children were removed from her care.

Christina told me [the day of the church event] that she had an abortion scheduled for the coming week. I asked her if there was anything I could do to help her.

I used my JFA training to talk to her about her pregnancy and about her decision to abort the baby. I was terrified as she walked out the church doors that day, because I didn't know if I had loved her enough, said the right things, or prayed hard enough to save the life inside of her.

Weeks later, Christina had cancelled her abortion appointment, but she scheduled another one for the following week. I took her shopping for some clothes that fit and to dinner one night, and I prayed without ceasing for the baby.

Christina called me the day after her 2nd appointment for an abortion and told me that the place she went "wouldn't do it." I nearly cried. Later that week, Christina disappeared.

As it turns out, Christina had gone to prison, and I had no idea whether or not her baby was still alive. I prayed that God would intervene over and over for Christina and for her unborn child.

Fast forward to the beginning of June. My church held an annual baby shower for single moms, teen moms, and underprivileged moms in our area. Christina's name was on the register... and she would be bringing her nearly 3 month old baby girl! I was overjoyed! The baby's father had legal custody, so he would be bringing Christina and the baby.

When Christina arrived for the church event, and I looked into her child's precious, innocent, peaceful face... my heart exploded with relief and such overwhelming joy. I took baby Esther (name changed for privacy) out of her car seat and cradled her in my arms.

This baby was here, in part, because of me. I laid Esther on my chest, and her heart beat right next to mine. It was my birthday that day, and God couldn't have given me a better present.

Esther was born March 8th, 2011 weighing 6 pounds. Though Christina was not in good health when the baby came, Esther was 100% perfect. I was holding a breathing, sweet smelling, tiny miracle in my arms, and I didn't know how I'd ever put her down again.

Of course I'm tearing up writing this because remembering the moment when I saw is so precious to me. Justice For All has changed my life, and you've helped me save Esther's life too. I don't know how to begin to thank you for your training and for your support. I knew you'd help me lift up Christina in prayer, and now I know you'll celebrate with me because Esther is here with us.

I was SO excited to write to you! You guys are the best.

Love,

Nicole

(Editor's note: Read Homeless Not Helpless Pt. 1 here and Part 2 here. Nicole was one of the Focus Leadership Institute student volunteers at our Fall 2006 Colorado State University outreach. Read her Reflection of that life-changing experience. Check out JFA's website description of our "Abortion: From Debate to Dialogue" training program.)

From Almost "Sick" to Almost "Staff"

A high school senior reflects on their JFA training experience.

What were your thoughts before the outreach?*

Because the training was mandatory, I actually thought about being “sick” and just avoiding the whole thing.

What are your thoughts after the outreach?

I [now] think the outreach is a great idea. People do not know very much about abortion. I liked all the variety of conversation starters - the Exhibit, the poll table and especially the free speech board.

Describe an experience and/or conversation during the outreach.

I spoke with a girl who had never given much thought to abortion. She actually started to cry when we were talking because of the pictures. She said she never thought [about] abortion killing a baby until she saw the pictures. She said because of the pictures she is now totally against abortion.

How did the outreach experience change or affect you?

This experience changed my mind about using images to talk to people. It also made me more confident about speaking about abortion.

What was valuable about the pre-outreach "Abortion: From Debate to Dialogue" seminar?

I did not feel prepared at the end of the seminar but later realized that I really was prepared. I liked being able to see examples of conversations between pro-life and pro-choice people. I’m in favor of having more [seminar] teaching time.

Would you participate in such an outreach again?

I feel like this is a good way to reach people. While I do not want to make it a full time job, another outing or two would be good. I do feel [now] that you do not always have to make huge exhibits to talk about abortion.

Are you willing to help JFA train more students like Loren?

Click here to learn how you can give of your time, treasure and/or talent.

*The above reflections were excerpted for length and clarity from Loren Koch's written response after his March 2011 participation in a Justice For All outreach event at the University of Texas-San Antonio.

JFA's participation in Loren's training would not have been possible without the leadership of Dr. Daryl Rodriguez, one of JFA's satellite trainers and Loren's Bible teacher at Bracken Christian School in Bulverde, TX. Fifteen other Bracken Christian students also participated in this training event.

Dr. Daryl (known as "D_ROD" to friends and students) also serves as a pastor at Living Water Fellowship (Bulverde), and is founder and president of Love of Truth Ministries.

"Why is it wrong?"

That was the question posed in February by a high school student after hearing one of the world’s best pro-life presentations. How does that happen?!

Like this:

> Back-to-back presentations (JFA and Silent No More respectively) totaling 60 minutes at a Christian, college preparatory high school assembly of more than 1,100 students, most of whom live with pro-life parents in a conservative city in a very conservative state, taught 5 days a week by pro-life faculty and at least several times a week by pro-life clergy.

> The JFA speaker gave our time-tested Facing Abortion presentation + SLED (an acronym for Size, Level of Development, Environment, and Degree of Independence) which we use to illustrate that it is not location, form or function that gives humans their value (a concept from Steven D. Schwartz's, The Moral Question of Abortion (Loyola University Press, 1990).

> During the Q&A following the JFA portion of the assembly one student rashly stated that he would be more likely to consider our message if he heard from someone who had an abortion. Enter stage right the Silent No More speaker (Brenda) who proceeded to tell him and the other 1099 students her gut-wrenching abortion story.

To recap, these religiously educated and conservative freshman through senior high school students saw both Psalm 139 pictures AND hellish abortion images AND heard from a quite believable soul who had been there, done that.

After the assembly, Brenda, the Silent No More speaker, and I approached a table full of girls (8 or 9 of them) to ask, “What do you think of what you just heard?”

After their genuine affirmation and “thank you very much” all around the table, one of the girls blurted out, “But why is it wrong?” (her emphasis)

“Excuse me?” I asked. “Do you mean, ‘Why is abortion wrong?’”

“Yea, I mean, you know…I believe it’s wrong…but why is it wrong?” (her emphasis) The girls ‘round the table all joined in, “Yea, why is it wrong?!” (their emphasis)

“Wow,” I said. “Great question. Have you ever heard anyone say, ‘I personally believe abortion is wrong, but…women should have a choice.’”

“YEA, EVERYONE says that!” they all answered back.

“I hear you,” I said sympathetically, “but what if the mother of a one-year old wants the same choice? I mean she wants to get rid of her born child? She wants to abort her one-year old kid? Should she have the same legal right to kill her one-year old if she feels the kid’s going to be too great a burden on her?”

“No!” the girls shot back, almost in unison.

I directed my next question squarely at the girl who had first asked “Why is it wrong?”

“Why not?” I asked her.

She quickly shot back, “Because that would be wrong!”

“But why would that be wrong?” I probed.

With only slight hesitation she answered, “Because it’s a living human!” Then in less than two seconds she exclaimed, almost under her breath, “OMG…they’re both living humans! That’s why it’s wrong!” (her emphasis)

Then, almost as if on queue, the end-of-break bell rang, the girls chorused their goodbye’s and thank you’s and departed for their next class.

Brenda and I sat at the table first pondering, then discussing our conversation with the students.

Had we failed to convey adequately “Why abortion is wrong?” No presentation is perfect. Perhaps at least JFA’s presentation is in serious need of repair? How about the girls didn’t pay close enough attention during the assembly?

While all of these may be in part why the girls didn’t come away with an understanding of why abortion is wrong, another possibility is that good or even great presentations by themselves may not be sufficient to overcome the cultural acceptance of abortion as the lesser evil compared to carrying an unwanted unborn child to birth.

Given that all these explanations may have some basis in fact, I conclude that:

> Believing abortion to be wrong does not necessarily mean the person holding said belief understands “why” abortion is wrong.
> Neither the individual nor combined current influence of Christian family, church or education may sufficiently form and inform students of the moral injustice of abortion.
> Though someone may believe it’s wrong to abort unwanted unborn children, without an adequate moral foundation to this belief, they remain vulnerable to abortion.

Even more insidious than the lie about what abortion is and does is the a priori lie that a child’s value before birth should be subservient to the personal preferences and/or needs of his or her parents.

And that lie has permeated even the safe harbor of private Christian education in America.

It’s my opinion that neither neutering Planned Parenthood nor immunizing the World Health Organization is going to reverse this lie. Nor will passing a Personhood Amendment undo the damage already done to America's individual and collective psyche.

And while abortion images and abortion experience stories may help convince students that abortion is wrong, they don’t lay the foundation for “Why” it’s wrong.

The “Why” approach I took with the Christian high school girls is comparative in nature. If unborn humans are extended the same worth as born humans, would it not be just as immoral to kill an unborn child as it is a born child?

Yet from whom or where does human value of both the born and the unborn human derive?

Saving Sarah and Her Baby

Tuesday Morning, Wichita (KS) - David
As my two youngest boys (10 & 11 years of age) sat in the truck waiting, they found two JFA Exhibit brochures. Each began a journey through its pages.  As I entered the truck and saw what they were doing, I was initially shocked to see them viewing the abortion pictures of the Exhibit (warning - very graphic). My shock quickly turned to amazement as they asked questions and reflected on my answers.

"Are these pictures of aborted babies?" "Who does this?" "Why?" "That's just wrong." "It's awful."


Tuesday, Ventura County (CA) - Regina to Catherine
At first I felt funny standing outside the Planned Parenthood clinic by myself...I thought, “Ok Lord. You got me here, please guide me.”


Shortly thereafter a young woman walked up to me and asked to use my phone. She made her call while standing right next to me and said, “They won’t do [the abortion] today. They said ‘cause I ate they can’t put me under. It could kill me….I don’t care. I’m 13 weeks and I want it done. I’ll come back tomorrow at 8:30(a.m.) on the train to get it done.”


Thoughts in my head were racing. “O, dear Lord please, what do I say?”


She gave me back the phone and walked off. I was so overwhelmed that I couldn’t respond. She was angry. I feared nothing I could say at that moment would have changed her mind.


I did have one thing. The phone number she had called. It was in my phone. Whomever the number belonged to, she trusted them enough to know where and what she planned to do.


I went home and after much prayer, research, a few phone calls (one to my friend Catherine at Justice For All), and beginning a prayer chain, I knew I had to call that number.


A female voice picked up. I told her that I had some information to share if she or her friend would be willing to listen. The conversation didn’t last long - she briefly listened but then hung up on me.


I called back. “I care about Sarah and her Baby. I want you to know that there are people that want to help Sarah and her Baby.” Again the conversation didn’t last long before she hung up on me.


I sent a text message. "Please help Sarah be completely informed. Go to abortionno.org. You can call Jane at the Pregnancy Help Center xxx-xxx-xxxx or you can call me.”  No return text.



Tuesday Noon - Catherine to David
"One of my best friends just called to ask what she should do - should she call the number in her phone?" The JFA office staff gathered to pray for Sarah and her Baby and for Regina and the number in her phone. We notified the field staff by email.



Wednesday Morning - David
I told my wife and boys about Sarah and her baby - both boys individually prayed for them. Abortion was now more than a word for them.

Wednesday - Regina to Catherine
I was at the abortion clinic by 7:30 am. I wanted to see a miracle. I wanted to stand there and be happy that I didn’t see anyone resembling Sarah go in to the clinic. I wanted to report back to everyone that our prayers had been answered. I wanted to share that we had saved a precious little one.


My heart sank when I saw Sarah arrive. She and her friend were headed into the clinic. They walked quickly as I walked up to them. All I had time to say was, “Sarah, over 225 people are praying for you and your Baby.”


I stood outside that place and cried. A little while later Sarah’s friend, came out. Turns out that this was the lady Sarah called with my phone and with whom I had spoken on the phone the day before. She was Sarah’s sister. We had a chance to talk but the deed was being done as we spoke.



The Back Story - Regina to Catherine
Sarah's sister shared with me that she aborted twins of her own the previous week! She said Sarah, 19 years old, has mental illness and had been told her baby (13 weeks) has Downs Syndrome (13 weeks is too early to know this with certainty). When I offered to help financially, Sarah's sister said they have all the help they need - they go to church and have plenty of money - but that it was their mother's demand that they have abortions or she wouldn't continue to pay for their phones, cars, and school.



Wednesday Evening - Regina to Catherine

My heart is heavy tonight. I wanted to see the miracle but this morning was a harsh reality. We did not stop Sarah from entering the abortion clinic. We tried but did not save Sarah’s Baby from this tragedy.

I’m very new to this front-line fight on abortion.  Up until yesterday afternoon I could not imagine myself crying over a stranger’s baby. I’ve been crying for Sarah’s Baby today. Our actions do speak louder than words. Our prayers bring all of us together and give us the courage and graces we need to be the voice for our precious little ones in the womb.

The Lord doesn’t give us what we can’t handle, that’s probably why my life lessons have not come easy. I believe the Lord put Sarah and her Baby in my path so that I could feel His pain and sorrow. He had given a beautiful gift to Sarah but she refused to accept it. I am forever changed by this experience. 

This fight is not easy or pretty. Our prayers and unity in this is necessary. I thank God for each of you and your efforts. Thank you for helping me learn what it takes to try and save a baby like Sarah’s... I am forever changed by this experience. I will always remember the sorrow I feel today. I can now accept the challenge of being a bold and active voice for these little ones with a completely open heart.


Wednesday Evening - David
I suspect the timing of the boys seeing abortion and then hearing about a situation in which it was about to occur was not happenstance. Yet I haven't been able to muster the courage to tell the boys what happened to Sarah and her baby today after their prayers. Maybe tomorrow morning.

Homeless Not Helpless - Pt. 2 Repeat Work

Hi JFA,

Thank you for keeping Christina and her unborn baby in prayer. She is still pregnant, though there was a brief scare when she called an abortion clinic shortly after I wrote the first time.

The [abortion] clinic told her she was too far along for them to help her and they did not give her the name of any other clinics to contact. Praise God for that victory.

My church has [also] been helping Christina and keeping in touch with her every day. My mom and I are taking her out for her 28th birthday next week. She wants to go to Red Lobster! :)

The next step is to get her to a nearby pro-life free clinic that can get Christina in touch with some adoption agencies.

I felt discouraged by people's attitudes when I shared a little bit of my walk with Christina. A co-worker made a nasty face at me and said that Christina's baby SHOULD be aborted because Christina hadn't had prenatal care and may or may not have taken drugs/used alcohol.

I was able to share with this co-worker that we will take whatever comes with this baby... we're praying for him or her, we already love him or her, and consider his or her life precious.

She was confused and didn't wish to discuss it further with me. I was proud of myself for responding to her with love, like JFA taught me.

And when we get to meet Christina's baby, by the grace of God, my co-worker will see that our prayers have reaped rewards. Whatever hardships this baby may face...we'll take them on.

So, keep us in prayer, as I do for you.

Love you guys!

-Nicole

Homeless But Not Helpless

With JFA's training behind you, repeat work can be merely a conversation away at ANY event - even church events!

Dear JFA,

Today my church hosted a fall event for the less privileged in our area and for the homeless currently living at a local motel.

I met Christina. She's 27, has had 7 babies and 2 abortions - the first when she was 14 because she became pregnant after being raped by her adoptive father.

Christina is now 4.5 months pregnant and has an abortion scheduled for this week. She said to me, 'I don't want to kill him or her, but I don't want to bring another one here and have the authorities take it (again).' Christina has had all 7 of her kids forcibly removed from her - each time leaving her wounded.

I was able to sit with Christina. I got her a cupcake (chocolate is her favorite), and coffee (I had to send someone to the church office with a tea cup to get some!), and we talked.

She has beautiful blue eyes - plagued with hardship and pain. Her pregnancy is obvious, and because she doesn't have clothes that fit, her pants looked uncomfortably tight.

I shared with Christina that one day I dream of adopting a baby. She said that was nice.

I touched her arm and said that if all babies went from the womb to heaven, there wouldn't be any babies to adopt - but that adoption is an option for her unborn baby.

She looked at me, and asked, 'Would there be someone who might adopt this baby?' I assured her there would be.

She said that she would rather not abort, but only if she could pick a family for the baby. My mom then joined us and we discussed getting in touch with some adoption agencies.

Christina left the event with a bag of sandwiches, another chocolate cupcake, a blanket, and a fleet of angels following her.

"Christina left with a fleet of angels following her."

On Monday my mom and I are going to contact Christina and see what we can do to help her. The father of the baby is not in the picture, though Christina lives with a man who does not support her decision to abort.

Please pray for wisdom for me and my mom as we walk with Christina.

I felt a bit helpless watching Christina walk out the church doors. Had I shown her enough love - said the right things? I pray so - and that this journey with her isn't over.

Thanks for being there for me JFA. I wouldn't have had the courage to sit down with Christina if it wasn't for the training you gave me. I love you guys.

I'll keep you updated.

--Nicole

Sent via BlackBerry

Just One More

Not only did Nicole not enjoy her seat work with JFA, she hated her first day of feet work.

In her own words:

"Bumping along on the bus ride to the Justice for All Exhibit, I actually slept peacefully, knowing full well that God would use me if He chose to do so. I felt I had prepared since I knew to ask, “What do you think of the Exhibit,” wait for an answer, and then proceed to introduce my new friend to a toddler or take them for a knowledgeable ride on a 'S-L-E-D.'

I figured that it was my pro-life duty to spend a couple days chatting with a few people about my beliefs, but I didn’t wish to be contacted by JFA for any future outreaches since I was doing my time, and earning my Family, Church, and Society class credit at the Focus Leadership Institute.

So, arriving safe and sound at the ghastly Exhibit (which I had seen earlier during JFA training), I proceeded to listen to a few conversations between Rebeccah, Steve, and a few of the CSU campus students. Then, I felt that it was my time, and so I stood, upright and qualified in front of the Exhibit, and waited for a student to happen along my path.

About three minutes later, I looked to my left and saw a girl, about my age, staring intently at side one of the Exhibit. I prayed to God, asking Him if indeed He did want me to talk to this girl, and I felt the Holy Spirit prodding me toward her.

By this time she had been standing beside me for about two minutes and so I figured she was committed to at least discussing the Exhibit with me for a little while. I had evaluated this girl, prayed for guidance about whether or not to talk to her, and I was so ready to finally ask my 'What do you think…' question! And so I did.

There aren’t words to describe what this girl said when I politely invited her to discuss the Exhibit. Actually, there are words, but I’m not repeating them.

It was as if she was spitting fire, flinging it back and forth between the Exhibit and me, and I was stunned. I tried once more to engage her, but it was no use; she cut through me with her angry eyes one last time and then stormed off, spewing a few more choice words as she went.

I was completely defeated. My upright and qualified stature turned into a sunken down and absolutely ruined one. I slunk away from the Exhibit, sat down under a tree that was away from people, and began to question God. 'Why in the world would you have me talk to that one?!'

I sat and talked with God for a while, and my answer seemed to be, 'Because that one, Nicole, is the one I wanted you to talk to.' But I didn’t understand. The rest of the day I couldn’t bring myself to talk to anyone.

The next day I was worried. I couldn’t possibly go through another situation like the one I had the day before. And so I prayed, 'God, let me just talk to one person today.'

A friend and I took some surveys into the heart of the campus and before I knew it, I was jumping in on a conversation between my friend and a guy who had said he believed that a baby was 'alive' only after birth. I challenged his belief with the 'environment' part of the S-L-E-D test and I actually felt like I had stood up for what I believed to be true, that a baby was whole, alive, and important at conception.

I had spoken to my 'one person!' And so, I prayed, 'God, let me talk to just one more person.' Six or seven surveys, and about five great conversations later, I was still praying, 'Okay, God, just one more!'

When I found myself back at the Exhibit, I began to get a little nervous again, because this was the war zone where I had been trashed! But with my prayer on my lips, I walked up to a young girl and her friend and asked them if they had been at the Exhibit the day before.

One said she had and the other one flipped her phone open and said that she hadn’t. I asked the one with the phone what she thought and she said, 'Well, I carried my baby nine months, and it was because of pictures like these. So I don’t mind this (exhibit) being here at all.'

Then, holding up her phone, she asked, 'Do you want to see a picture of my daughter?' Of course I said yes, and on the screen of the phone was the face of a gorgeous 6 month old, curly haired little girl named Shanae. I told the young mom what a hero she was for making the hard choice to carry her baby and to care for her. She said that yes, it had been a hard choice, because when she found herself pregnant, neither her parents nor her church had agreed to take the child, and so she had decided to get an abortion.

Before she did, though, she said she had to check on the internet to see what exactly an abortion was. She told me, 'After seeing those (abortion) pictures, I knew I could never do that to my baby, and I decided to keep her.' It was the pictures she saw of abortions that changed this girl’s mind, and so people who say, 'The pictures are just shock tactics that don’t affect people other than to make them emotional' are wrong! It was such a blessing to talk to this girl that the hard conversation that I had had the day before drastically faded in my mind.

I must have spoken to about a dozen just 'one more persons' on that second day, and the impact it had on my life was indescribable. I told Tammy (JFA staff member) that I wanted to change my mind about going to future exhibits and I gave her my email address. Now I can’t wait to receive an email from JFA telling me how I can help and when I can attend another campus with them.

But I also know that I don’t need to be standing in front of the JFA Exhibit in order to discuss my beliefs about abortion. With my JFA training, my two days at CSU talking with students, and with a prayer on my lips, I could talk to hundreds of 'just one more persons' in my lifetime; but I pray that by the time God takes me home, I won’t have to argue against abortion anymore because there truly will be 'Justice for All.'"

Postlogue: Click here to read about Nicole’s first “Just One More Person” experience (her mom) upon returning home from the Focus Leadership Institute in 2006.

Second Postlogue: Click here to read about Nicole's most recent (2010) "Just One More Person" named Christina.

Turning 2-day outreaches into 2-minute outreaches

JFA’s very first 2010 training gave me firsthand opportunity to witness the practical goal of JFA’s Abortion: From Debate to Dialogue (ADD) training:

Translate two day life-changing JFA training experiences into two minute life-changing conversations with family, friends and peers.

Texan native Charity Boaz met JFA Texas staffer Jacob Burow through FaceBook. Jacob persuaded her to attend our Georgia Tech (GT) training. Charity flew to Atlanta to attend our Sunday afternoon ADD seminar at GT.

She was in my GT outreach carpool the following Monday morning. We finished our journey to the GT campus each day via MARTA, Atlanta’s mass transit train.

Despite a very rainy Monday Charity had 15-20 conversations in which she practiced JFA’s 3 essential dialogue skills: ask good questions, listen, and find common ground.

On Tuesday morning’s 10-minute crowded MARTA commute, I had to stand but Charity found a seat beside a young man (Darius) who promptly asked if she was a GT student.

"No," she said, "but I am going to GT for the 2nd day of a pro-life outreach." Darius barely had time to nod before Charity asked him, "So are you pro-life or pro-choice?"

"I’m...(hesitating) I don't know. Which are you?" Darius was as smart as he looked!

"Oh," Charity quickly responded, "I'm pro-life. May I show you why?"

“Sure,” he said. Charity proceeded to give Darius our 2-minute side-one tour of the JFA Exhibit using the 9-inch JFA Exhibit brochure, asking the key questions: “When do we become human?” and “Should wanted-ness determine our value as humans?”

As the train neared the GT stop Darius told Charity, “I think I’m pro-life too. May I have that brochure?”

“Sure,” responded Charity, handing it to him. “If you fill out the card in the back I’ll make sure you receive more information. Thanks for letting me share it with you.”

“Oh, thank you,” said Darius. “I plan to share this with my friends.”

Through God’s blessing, your prayers and your generous financial support, we’ve had an entire year of equipping more than 1,500 students and young adults like Charity to become 2-minute ambassadors!

A fait accompli

The dehumanization of unwanted unborn children is a fait accompli.

Fait accompli is French for "I don't care what the weight is or the gender of the person singing, or even if cigars have been handed out. It means "It's over. It's done."

The attitude that unwanted unborn children are "different" from born children has reached those we would once have though most protected from such a dehumanizing bias.

I recently spoke in a Sunday morning service in very pro-life, pro-home school church in one of American's most conservative cities. The message I gave that morning was JFA’s hard-hitting and heart-breaking 30 minute presentation entitled, “Facing Abortion.”

It’s the pro-life PowerPoint presentation to end all pro-choice confusion and sentiment. You would expect it - I wrote it. And that morning I delivered it to a full church.

One of the first people to greet and thank me after the service was a young man who introduced himself as Hanley.* (Name changed for privacy)

“I really enjoyed your presentation,” he said, and then almost in the same breath added, “I have a friend who’s 17. She told me about 3 weeks ago that she was pregnant and planning to get an abortion.”

“Wow…your girlfriend?”

“Oh no, I’m only 13. My dad would kill me if I did something like that!”

“Got it. So Hanley,” I asked, “what did you say when your friend told you she was planning to get an abortion?”

“I told her it was a bad idea, but then I didn’t know what else to say.” He looked distressed.

“Did you tell your parents or her parents or anyone about the situation?” I asked.

“O no, she made swear not to tell anyone. She knows a lot of people in this church and is also home-schooled. She didn’t want her parents to find out."

“So do you know what happened?” I inquired.

“Yeah, I called her later that week to see how she was doing – she told me that she had already had the abortion."

“How is she doing now?” I asked.

“I don’t know. I haven’t seen or talked to her since.”

“Does anyone else know that she got an abortion?”

“I don’t think so. She made me promise not to tell anyone.”

With the utterance of those words Hanley’s face went white and his voice quivered, “Oh no, that’s my dad coming over to tell you what a good job you did this morning. PLEASE don’t tell him what I just told you."

(to Hanley's father) “Hi...thank you. Yes, I met Hanley. We’re having a great conversation. Thanks again, good to meet you too. Talk with you a little later.”

After Hanley's father had left and Hanley began to breathe again I said, “Got a question for you.”

“Okay,” Hanley said gamely.

“What if your 17-year old friend had told you that she was going to kill her 2-year old brother, but asked you not to tell anyone. Would you have remained silent?”

“Oh no, that would be totally different,” he quickly shot back.

“How would it be different, Hanley?” I asked.

Hand under chin, Hanley visibly considered my question. After about 15 seconds, a wry smile broke across his face. He said, “Really wouldn’t be different, would it?”

Listen up. The bad news is that if a 13-year old home schooled boy in a pro-life church in the heart of conservative America believes there's a moral difference between killing born and unborn children, for all practical purposes, the dehumanization of the unwanted unborn child is a fait accompli.

The good news is that the cultural attitude that Hanley had assumed was not consistent with his personal faith. Once better informed and then challenged to consider his previous bias, Hanley dismissed any difference between killing unwanted unborn and born children.

The mission of Justice For All? Train thousands like Hanley to make abortion unthinkable for millions, one person at a time.

Semper Fi

I met John, a Marine, at our “Should This Exhibit Return Next Year?” poll table at the University of North Texas outreach the first week of November 2010. He had recently returned from Afghanistan.

Standing near the poll table in order to talk with participants, I asked John why he had signed the "YES" side indicating he wanted the Exhibit to return.

“It’s wrong to kill innocent babies,” he answered. “And this seems like a really effective way to say that.”

When I asked John if he’d would be willing to get involved in the pro-life club on campus, he said he didn’t see the point since he already believed in our mission.

“John, let’s assume people believe in the mission you just returned from doing. If we send them to Afghanistan to do the mission but don’t train them before sending them, what will happen?”

"They will die,” John quickly shot back.

“What if we train someone to do the mission but never send them to do it?” I asked.

“Be a waste of time,” he said without hesitation.

“Plus the people you were sent to protect would die?” I asked.

“That’s right,” he affirmed.

Looking at the Exhibit, we both fell silent.

In less than half a minute, John added, “I got it. You want me to get trained to help save lives.”

I nodded yes. I loved not only the efficiency of our conversation, but his follow-up response:

“When does the pro-life club meet?”

Lives depend on training the next generation. Don’t neglect your own training.

Consider participating in a 2011 JFA training event. Make it a personal missions trip. Bring a friend or family member.

You (and they) will never forget it. Neither will those you learn to engage.

Neither will those whose lives are saved.

Semper Fi.

JOIN JFA'S IRONMAN TEAM!

Meet JFA superhero Mike Pluimer! Superheros and superheroines are known to risk their own safety and use their power to help the helpless - without any expectation of reward.

Mike Pluimer is just such a superhero! He will compete on JFA's behalf this Sunday (July 25) in Lake Placid at the Ford Ironman triathlon.

He will make this superhuman effort (swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, and run 26.2 miles - all within about 12 hours) not to glorify his own superhero image, but to help raise money for those who are super-needy - unwanted, unborn children.

One of the charities that Mike is sponsoring in Lake Placid in the Janus Charity Challenge is Justice For All.

Your generous donation to Justice For All earmarked for this event may not elevate you to a superhero, but it will certainly place you on the side of those separated by their concern and care for "the least of these." (Matthew 25.40).

Become a JFA Ironman through your generous donation here or on Facebook (please reference "Ironman" in the memo field for your gift to count toward the Janus Charity Challenge at Lake Placid).

Children like Nick and Donato will not be here tomorrow without your help today.

Conversation 5, Kenesaw State University

I asked a girl who stopped to view the Exhibit what she thought. She told me that all of her friends were talking about the JFA Exhibit and saying that "they couldn't get anymore now."

I asked, "What do you mean?"

She quickly responded, "All of my friends are saying that after seeing [the JFA Exhibit] they can't get anymore abortions. Like, every time they get pregnant they get one. Some of them have been pregnant 5 times and have gotten 5 abortions. One of my friends got one last month and it's been ripping her apart."

Our conversation ended well. I showed her how to walk people through the JFA Exhibit brochure and told her how to guide her friend to local post-abortion counseling services.

--Allison Martinez, Texas A&M, March 2010

Breaking the Cycle at Kennesaw State Saves Child

March 2010

I saw a woman slowly walking around the small exhibit so I took the opportunity to strike up a conversation. She seemed curious as to why we were there and what we were doing. I told her that we also had the large exhibit up on the grassy area at Kennesaw [State University]. She wanted specific directions on how to get there so she could go look at it.

She said, "wow, these pictures are really sad....and graphic..." I asked her more about that. All of a sudden she interrupted me and asked, "Oh is that your poll?" looking at the "Should abortion remain legal" question. I said, "Yeah, that's us too."

She then said, "I had an abortion a few years ago, so I think I'm gonna go sign yes." I was in shock. She quickly walked away from me to go sign her name under yes. As I was waiting for her to finish signing her name so that I could ask her about her abortion and possibly refer a crisis pregnancy resource, another volunteer took the opportunity to talk to her. I waited to talk to her until someone else started talking to me. A few minutes later she was gone.

Later in the day at the large exhibit I saw her talking to another volunteer. Again, I tried to catch her but she left before I could catch her attention. I asked the volunteer who had spoken to her how their conversation went. She said, "That woman is pregnant now and said that she didn't know what she was going to do."

She said that she saw the small exhibit earlier and after thinking about it for a while decided she couldn't do the same thing with this pregnancy.*

--Allison Martinez, Texas A&M University, March 2010

*The Alan Guttmacher Institute reports that about half of all abortions each year are performed on women who have already had at least one previous abortion.

Dust the Rust Off

I feel incredibly blessed to have spent my spring break with JFA in Georgia. God used the trip in numerous ways. I no longer feel "rusty." I even ended up sharing the JFA Exhibit brochure with a director on the plane flight back, which resulted in a 2 hour conversation!

I always instantly notice the spiritual fruits that come from going on JFA mission trips. I feel much more brave and at peace. I also feel charged and more passionate, but also heartbroken about the pro-life cause. And it always makes me want to go on more mission trips : ) ! --Allison Martinez, Texas A&M sophomore (March 2010)

Trained to listen and pray!

Fifty high school students took part in JFA's seat work (4.5 hour seminar) of which forty volunteered for the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) outreach (feet work) in early April.

Below is an excerpted reflection by Shelbi Launer, a Dayspring Christian Academy senior.

"I don’t consider myself a great speaker, but during the outreach at UNC last week, I didn’t need to be a great speaker in order to impact someone’s life.

I discovered that just praying can make an impact. I prayed that those viewing and discussing the Exhibit would see the love God has for both them and the unborn babies.

I continually prayed for those who seemed broken and hard-hearted. It made me sad to see all the hate and resentment.

Although the JFA Exhibit speaks loudly about abortion, those who represent JFA do not. I was amazed at how calm the JFA staff and volunteers were and how they portrayed God’s love through their speech. They showed me how to be passionate but also respectful.

On the way to UNC campus I was really nervous and worried -- about what to say and how to approach viewers. I was scared I was going to make a mistake. What I didn’t think about enough was helping others, and showing them God’s love.

I would like to participate in another Justice For All outreach. I had a great time listening to conversations and praying for each person.

Next time I also want to engage people to help them understand the truth about abortion."

-- Shelbi Launer, Senior, Dayspring Christian Academy, Greeley, Colorado

Your prayerful support helps train tomorrow's leaders (like Shelbi) today to listen and to pray as they give their time and talent on behalf of those without a voice.

Team Up with JFA and Right to Life of Central California

On April 18 - 21, 2010, Justice For All and Right to Life of Central California are teaming up to change hearts and save lives. Details here.

Join the team!

Donate - help JFA train tomorrow's leaders today.

Get trained. Learn about JFA's "Abortion: From Debate to Dialogue" training program.

Partnerships and Repeat Work Saves Lives

Last fall (2010) God led the JFA staff and regular volunteers into Oklahoma for our annual training trek with OK private and public schools.

JFA’s staff and volunteer training program contains 3 key elements:

1. Seat work – Abortion: From Debate to Dialogue (ADD) Seminar
2. Feet work – participation in an ADD Exhibit Outreach
3. Repeat work – individual and/or group follow-up using ADD training

Local partnerships are critical to changing hearts and saving lives before, during, but especially after outreach events.

For each outreach venue JFA strives to partner with pregnancy resource centers who serve their communities 24/7.

During our first training in Oklahoma (2007), we were blessed to connect with Crossroads Clinic, based in Guthrie, OK. Crossroads again partnered with us for our 2009 University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) campus outreach.

Not only did the Crossroads staff join us at UCO last fall with a resource tent/table (pictured right), they brought with them several high school girls from Guthrie to train on each day.

Crossroads shares JFA’s vision for training next generation leaders!

This past February Linda Stewart, Executive Director of Crossroads Clinic, wrote to tell us:

“…our Client Services Director, Stephany, took a group of teens to counsel [at the Crossroad’s table during JFA’s campus outreach at UCO].

[Afterwards] one of these high school girls, a girl named Kyla (a junior), took the JFA Exhibit brochure back to her high school and showed it to fellow students.

Several months later Kyla received a note from a Guthrie high school girl that she didn’t know. It read,

‘Kyla, you don’t know me, but those pictures you passed around at school about abortion saved my baby’s life.’”

Your financial gifts and prayers help JFA develop critical training partnerships that change hearts and save lives, one person at a time.

Pray for us – we’re off to Colorado next month (April 7-14) where we’ll partner with at least 2 high schools, Focus on the Family Leadership Institute, several churches and campus groups. Thank you for your generous support!

Meet Josh - JFA's Newest World Changer

"If you could help thousands of people rethink their view on abortion, would you?"

That was the question for JFA's newest intern, Josh Pedrick (left in picture right). Josh is the youngest sibling of Rebeccah (Pedrick) Wagner, who herself was once a JFA intern and staffer AND is now married to JFA's Director of Training, Steve Wagner.

We're going next-generational at JFA with Josh's internship!

Josh has previously joined JFA for 3 training events - the first time as a 15 year old. Now 3 years later as an 18 year old, Josh reflects:

"JFA taught me how to dialogue with students, reveal truth, and still show gentleness and respect. The training experiences I've had with JFA have truly been life-changing."

Josh shares that a conversation he had at age 15 at North Texas ended with the college student saying: “Before this conversation [with you] I hadn’t given much thought to abortion. But after looking at this [exhibit] I can see abortion is wrong.”

After which Josh said, "This conversation made a tremendous impact...it showed me that I could make a difference in people’s hearts."

His willingness to do anything and everything we've asked and to do it with enthusiasm and charity is indeed a special addition to our team.

We covet your prayers and continued support as we head to Colorado next month!

3,500 Will Die in America Today

More than all killed on September 11, 2001.

Why doesn't this news stop us - in our tracks?

Unlike the Taliban attack, today's assault

Won't catch us by surprise.

We know when they will die.

We know where they will die.

We know how they will die.

And we know why they will die. BECAUSE

THEY THREATEN THEIR FAMILY'S LIFESTYLE.

Why don't we think about those killed by abortion today?

Could it be that we fear saying "YES" to HELPING THEM

WILL THREATEN OUR LIFESTYLE?

Remember Jesus' story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10)?

His answer to the lawyer's question

"What must I do to inherit eternal life?"

The guy whose day-trip to the city

Was interrupted by an unscheduled and messy encounter?

The story of a person who stopped to help someone left for dead.

Someone very different from them.

Someone Mr. S. may well have had good reason to resent;

IT was an unwelcome interruption in his journey.

IT was a potentially serious financial intrusion

Upon Mr. S' wallet.

His journey to the bigs.

IT was an unwanted burden

An appointed test of faith for Mr S.

Why show mercy?

Who would ever know (at least in this life)

That he simply walked on by.

It was not his mess.

Not his passion.

Not his fight.

"Whatever you did not do... ." (Jesus, Matt. 25.40)

In the words of pro-life luminary Gregg Cunningham,

"The Samaritan not only felt pity for the beating victim;

He took pity on him."

Justice For All prepares people to be Good Samaritans.

To rescue those so small and helpless that

They can be left for dead in a bedpan.

How?

We train people to make abortion unthinkable

for everyone they know and meet, ONE person at a time.

Does your daily calendar allow for such interruptions?

Samaritan-like appointments?

Meetings appointed by God to change hearts.

Are you equipped?

Emotionally?

Mentally?

Physically?

Spiritually?

Willing? (e.g., Jesus, Philippians 2.5-7)

On March 7-19, 2010,

Lord willing, Justice For All will train 300-400 students and adults

In Georgia and Tennessee

To save lives.

Will you be one of them?

Will you help?

If not, why not?

You were born to make a difference.

They can be too.

3,500 will die today

And tomorrow.

Unless we stop to help.

Click here for JFA March 2010 Training info

Click here to Donate

Pray always.

World Changers Who Rest in the Everlasting Arms

I recently had the opportunity to share the speaking platform at "Prime" with Steve Gillis, college pastor of First Baptist Church of Woodstock, GA.

His theme that night was "World Changers." The idea that followers of Christ should be "World Changers" was woven throughout the evening.

In my remarks I briefly referenced the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., yet the recent holiday commemorating Dr. King's life actually celebrates an entire generation of intentional world-changers.

Among my favorites is Dr. Ralph David Abernathy. Fellow activist Andrew Young reportedly summed up Rev. Abernathy's role in the civil rights movement with "Ralph was really the pastor to Dr. King. He was a source of strength to us all."

Asked about his source of strength -- how he withstood the immense pressures of both internal and external criticism not to mention threats to his and his family's lives, Pastor Abernathy quickly reflected with the 19th century hymn's refrain, "Resting on the everlasting arms of Jesus."

The source of Dr. Abernathy's strength (Jesus) is both the start and finish line for anyone seriously considering living in opposition to injustice.

The prophet Isaiah spoke of the same source and strength:

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty, God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign...over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness...forever." (Isaiah 9.6-7)

God, help me be a world changer who rests daily in the "everlasting arms of Jesus."

Dumb About Abortion

Students "...smart enough to meet entrance requirements..." but dumb about abortion was essence of the antilogy observed by Leslie Cumiford in a recent The New Mexico Breeze article highlighting Justice For All’s fall 2009 outreach at the University of New Mexico (UNM).

Consider Julie, a pre-med UNM junior who scolded me at the “Should This Exhibit Return Next Year” poll table with “Why don’t you redirect your efforts to accomplish something beneficial to mankind?”

Her assumption?

Unborn humans are either not full members of the human community, or if they are, they’re certainly not as valuable as needy born humans.

How indeed can students like Julie successfully test into our institutions of higher learning, but seriously fail a pop quiz about abortion? (Warning: link contains graphic abortion image)

Answer: Bad leadership and a cover-up of unparalleled proportion.

The Cover-up. Over 100,000 unwanted, unborn children on planet Earth are violently killed each and every day - 24/7 (about 3,500 daily in the U.S.).[1]

Do the Google or LexisNexis search. Not a single article in a single newspaper in a single country decried yesterday's violence against 100K unborn humans. Or the day before. Or tomorrow’s.

Why not?

Bad Leadership. Leaders we would expect to expose such evil by instructing those for whom they have oversight are instead relatively silent.

And the truth is few in America's pews want their peace disturbed.

In large part because the majority of those so weekly seated have either participated in an abortion, love someone who has, or want to preserve a future "choice."

The Net Result. Those who could and should be better instructed (born children) enter adolescence completely unprepared for the evil they themselves are vulnerable to experience.

Join Those Prepared to Make a Difference. Help JFA find and train leaders willing to equip next-generation leaders to change hearts and save lives.

How? One gift, one person (You?) at a time.

Click here to financially help JFA annually train over 1,500 students like Josh, Jamie and Kelly to win their generation.

Go here to get trained yourself to make a difference.

---

[1] http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/fb_IAW.html