May Newsletter: Nothing is insignificant…when you step out in faith.

The hardest thing each day at the abortion clinic is when it's time to leave. However, one day as I was gathering up all the signs, I was helped by a woman who had come to pray. She picked up some of the signs to bring them to the truck just as a car was pulling up to Boyd's. The woman coming to the clinic caught a glimpse of one of the signs the volunteer was holding. The image stopped her in her tracks and immediately brought conviction. The next sign she saw was the reality of abortion and she covered her mouth and gasped. In an instant she changed her mind about going into Boyd's abortion clinic. She realized we were there to offer help, but she didn't speak English. We used signals and gestures to ask her how old her baby was and her friend responded by saying that the baby was 5 months old. We gave her Spanish literature and then with broken Spanish asked if her friend would follow one of us to Project Defending Life. The friend shook her head yes and another volunteer escorted them to PDL for help. A picture has the power to bridge the gap between life and death; it can speak volumes and transcend language barriers. Nothing is insignificant when you step out in faith. God can even use you as you are leaving to help save a life!

This month at the UNM Center for Reproductive Health, a van parked fairly close to where Bud and others were praying. We asked those inside if we could pray for them and they said yes. A couple and a young woman came over. After we prayed one of the women went into the clinic. The woman's sister and her boyfriend stayed and spoke further with us. We were told that the young woman was abortion minded. They had tried everything to talk her out of having an abortion. We gave them some literature with local life saving resources. We asked the sister to go inside the clinic and show her sister the information, and she did.
A few minutes later she came back out and said that her sister wasn’t interested in receiving help. The couple said they couldn’t wait around and left. Several minutes later the young woman came out of the clinic . She pulled out a cell phone and called her sister. A few minutes later the van showed back up and they left the clinic. Praise God, prayer and persistence helped save a life!

Storming the Gates of Heaven

Our family participated in the Jericho Walk this month. The Jericho walk is the largest pro-life event in New Mexico which represents the Old Testament story of Joshua marching around the city of Jericho 7 times with the walls tumbling down after. We marched around Planned Parenthood 7 times while praying for an end to abortion in ABQ. Bud also had the honor of speaking at this event. He was able to share about how ABQ has become the Late-Term abortion capital of the U.S. and the opportunities available to reach out and serve women, families, and children in need. Prayerful, public, and peaceful events like this are the key to ending abortion in New Mexico, the U.S and the world! Pray that more church leaders will catch the vision for Life and host events like this in your community.

Presentations in April

This month we were blessed to speak to 2 different groups about our ministry and how others can get involved. We were invited to the Rio Rancho, NM Right to Life Chapter meeting. It is so vital for all members of the pro-life community to have the same knowledge about what is taking place in our communities. We pray that this group was encouraged by what we are accomplishing (by God’s grace) and will continue doing the great work of NMRTL.

Tara also spoke at a ladies Bible study. She was able to answer some of the tough questions people have about abortion. Hopefully she will be able to visit the group again and encourage the women to become involved. We cherish each opportunity to share the truth because we know that when people know what is happening it’s difficult to continue to ignore it.

Exciting News!

This month during 40 Days For Life, God provided an opportunity for us to lease another PDL location right across the street from the UNM Center for Reproductive Health! Project Defending Life will now have two locations next to two different abortion clinics in Albuquerque, NM. Praise God! The new location will open May 1st. It is so important to have a continuous presence at our local abortion clinics and it is just as important to have life affirming help and resources to offer these women and couples in need. It is even that much more effective having a place to send them for help and an ultrasound just a few feet away! We know many babies will be saved and women helped through this new PDL location!

April Newsletter: Changing Lives, One Life at a Time

Cayden Josiah born in March.

John 15:5: Bear Much Fruit

This month we have begun to see the fruit of our labor working here in Albuquerque. Three babies have been born as a direct result of our efforts in reaching out at the late term abortion facility and Planned Parenthood. One of these mom's was homeless and unsure of her future when we met her. Thankfully she was able to move right into PDL's maternity home. She now has a beautiful baby boy and is almost finished with a dental assistant certification program that she began after she moved into the maternity home.

Another mom's father was pressuring her to abort at 16 weeks. She was able to receive help and support from PDL and she is currently not living with her father but with supportive family and her baby boy in California. The third mom had been dropped off 5 times by her abusive boyfriend for an abortion and finally when Bud reached out to her at Boyd's Late-Term clinic she hurried over to him and only had one question for him; it was, "Do you have a place for me to stay ...tonight?" Bud responded with "Yes, as a matter of fact we do." She was able to stay at PDL's maternity home as well. She now has a beautiful baby girl.

Neither one of these women had life affirming support before they met us at the clinic. It is such a reward to see these little lives that have the potential to change the world with their very own life saving testimonies. We are simply thankful to be used on a daily basis for God's service. When we consider all of the victories we are seeing, we are even more amazed at what must be happening that we are unable to see. We continue to trust God, that he is moving in powerful ways.

Changing Lives, One at a Time

One Tuesday this month was truly a day of God's providence. Outside of Boyd's late term facility a woman walked up on her phone. She hadn't come from the clinic, but it wasn't clear where she was going. She just stood there on the phone. I decided to approach her to see if we could help. She explained that she had an appointment but was lost. I asked what the appointment was for and where she was from. She had come 230 miles to see a Doctor regarding her heart murmur and high blood pressure. As I tried to help her find out where she needed to be, I felt God tugging at my heart to find out more about her. I offered to take her where she needed to go and then she asked me if we were with a church group. I explained to her that our ministry was to help pregnant mom's and that yes we were Christians. It seemed natural to then ask her if she was pregnant. She said yes!

We then found out that her doctor back home is concerned about her high blood pressure and had sent her to ABQ's abortion hospital for a consult and testing. Her doctor had already planted the possibility of an abortion being a necessity for her situation. She was very concerned because she wants her baby. I was able to counsel her and encourage as I knew she was headed for the wolves at UNM. Thanks be to God that a volunteer who had come to pray at the clinic today was willing to take her to her appointment so that I could stay at the clinic. The woman had an exam at the hospital where abortion again was mentioned. She was then admitted to the hospital to undergo tests. Graciously the volunteer who brought her to the hospital stayed with her until she was admitted, bought her lunch and bought her clothes and toiletries for her stay. What a powerful testimony of what God can do when His people work together! I spent the rest of the day seeking out pro-life physicians to be involved with this woman's case and to be a voice for life amidst the darkness at UNM.

That evening I called the woman in her room at the hospital. She has such a sweet spirit, full of gratitude and optimism. Thanks be to God that up to this point of the day all of her tests have been with good results. I asked her if she needed any-thing for the following day because I planned to go visit and encourage her. All she asked for was a Bible study! Praise be to God! I am so amazed that in her difficult situation so far away from home that the one thing she wants is to seek God through His word.

She ended up staying in the hospital for 4 nights and was then released. The last test the doctors performed was a heart catheter, and we really believed that whatever was wrong with her heart would lead the doctors to again recommend abortion. Thankfully her heart was not as bad as they thought! God can work miracles! She is scheduled to come back to ABQ at least once a month for continued monitoring and testing. Please continue to pray for her and her baby!

As Bud and several other people were praying out at Boyd's late-term abortion clinic, a car pulled up and two women got out of the car. One of the women was obviously pregnant, the other one just looked con-fused as Bud offered help and hope. They went into the clinic, and several minutes later, the driver (who looked confused) came back out and began speaking with one of our sidewalk counselors. They spoke for several minutes and then the pregnant mom came out of the clinic and her sister called her over to talk with the counselor as well. After a few minutes they called Bud over to explain all the ways that Project Defending Life could help her.

Bud spoke with the pregnant mom and explained how dangerous the late-term procedure was and that several women had in fact died as a result. The mom was adamant that she did not want our help because she is addicted to alcohol and unwilling to quit drinking. We pleaded with her to at least go to PDL and that she had nothing to lose by sitting down with someone who can help her. She wasn't interested and walked back into the abortion clinic. We could really sense the spiritual battle that was taking place.

Her sister then broke down crying and told us that she had no idea that this was an abortion clinic. She was under the impression that they were going there for a pregnancy test and ultrasound. She was appalled when she went inside and the staff was explaining the late-term procedure and how they would give an injection into the baby's heart today and it would die and then it would take three to four days to complete the abortion. She ran out and did not want to go back in. She asked her pregnant sister how she knew about this place and she told her that their mom (who now is in jail) had taken her 6 months ago for a previous abortion. She said that her sister is homeless and in an abusive relationship. The family has tried to help her get off drugs but nothing has worked. I asked if we could pray for her and she said yes.

A few minutes later, her sister came back out of the abortion clinic and said that she was interested in what we had to offer, and she also said she was going to cut back on her alcohol use. Another sidewalk counselor took them both over to Project Defending Life and she is receiving help. Only God knows what would have happened if someone wasn't there to offer help. Currently the pregnant mom has met with Laura, PDL’s Mom’s Ministry leader. Laura has gotten her some things that she needs and has even met with the moms boyfriend. We are now looking forward to meeting her baby in the next couple of months! Glory be to God!

A woman came to Boyd's Late-Term abortion clinic for the first time to join 40 Days For Life. The first person she talked to just so happened to be her son who drove by and was surprised to see his mom holding a sign stating: "Jesus Forgives and Heals." The next sign he and his girlfriend saw, was the reality of abortion. They both break down and confide with her that they had an abortion. She was able to share the grace and love of Jesus with them. The life saved out at an abortion clinic may be your son or daughter...for eternity.

 Making the Most of Every Opportunity!

God continues to provide opportunities for us to share our work and encourage others to get involved. We were both asked to testify in Santa Fe regarding a parental notification bill that was being introduced. Bud also spoke to 2 different groups of men about abortion in Albuquerque and how to get involved. He had several interviews on three local Christian radio stations about 40 Days for Life and our ministry.

40 Days for Life is still going on and in Albuquerque there have been at least 8 babies saved and over 400 volunteers have taken part in this campaign. God is moving in Albuquerque and we can’t wait to see what He is going to do through the efforts of His faithful servants.

 Thank you everyone who is lifting our ministry up in prayer. God continues to be faithfully protecting, providing and blessing our efforts. Thank you as well to all of our financial partners. Our work here is impossible without your help. Thankfully, each month we are getting closer to our ultimate monthly goal. Please let us know how we can pray for you!

The most powerful and effective tool we have in ending abortion is prayer. Individual prayer and group prayer, prayer at home and prayer at the clinic. We need prayer warriors to cover Boyd's clinic! If you are anywhere near ABQ please come and pray where the killing is taking place. Like Ephesians 6:12 says" For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms”.... so join us in this spiritual battle for the lives of these babies and the souls of their Mothers.

We Need To Live Out God's Love - It May Save A Life

I received a notice from someone this week requesting me to remove them from my local pro-life contact list. I send out weekly e-mails letting local contacts know about ways to get involved in our community to reach out to abortion minded couples. This person told me that they were praying for the Lord to do something about abortion. I understand that we are all busy, but the Lord desires to use US to do something about abortion. We need to be his hands and feet in our communities and compassionately lead those in need to embrace him in their desperate hour.

Today I was praying and reaching out to abortion minded women in Albuquerque, New Mexico at Curtis Boyd’s late-term abortion clinic. There were two cars from New Mexico, two cars from Georgia, a car from Texas and a car from Arizona. His clinic is drawing women from all over the country for late-term abortions. A young guy was sitting in his car smoking a cigarette. He was looking over at me and I could tell that he was listening to what I was saying to women as they would enter Boyd’s clinic. Here is what I say in my short window of opportunity: “God loves you and I care about you and your situation. Please let me help you. There are so many resources available to you. Please come and talk to me. Abortion is something that you can never take back. If you are pregnant you are a mother and your baby loves you. God bless you.”

He got out of his car and went inside the clinic. A few minutes later a girl came out of Boyd’s clinic. She was pacing back and forth while wiping tears from her eyes. I waved to her and signaled her to come and talk to me. She practically ran over. I told her that I cared about her and her situation and asked her if she was there for an abortion. She told me that she was. I told her that this was ultimately her choice and she would be the one most affected by it. I told her all the ways that abortion hurts women and about the breast cancer link after abortion. I told her that she would be emotionally scarred as well. I told her about all the financial resources, housing and other type of assistance available to her but she did not need any. She just needed life affirming encouragement. She told me that she was going to call her sister.

Her boyfriend (the young guy who was sitting in the car) came over and I started talking to him. I told him that abortion was not the answer to their problems. I said our culture promotes abortion as the solution to all their problems, but it doesn’t help. In fact, it causes so many more problems. I said he may feel obligated to seek abortion, but ultimately it doesn’t just affect women; it affects men too. I encouraged him to be supportive and do the right thing. Immediately I could see a transformation in his demeanor. He told me they were from Phoenix, AZ and that he was pushing for the abortion. In fact, he told me that he had already paid for the abortion. As he told me this he started to break down and cry. I could tell that he was ashamed of himself. I hugged him and told him that it was not too late and that being a father was such a blessing. I spoke with him a little more and then he reached over and hugged me and told me that I was a blessing to him.

The girl told me that she had called her sister who lived here in ABQ and that she was pregnant herself and very pro-life. Her sister pulled up and they spoke in their car for several minutes. The sister from ABQ got out of the car and went inside the clinic to get the money back. When she came out, she walked over to me and with tears in her eyes and choking up she said, “God bless you and the work you do. Thank you for being here.” The couple left the abortion clinic with their baby heading back to Arizona. For the first time they were excited to be parents.

Put yourself in the place of the pro-life sister. You may find yourself receiving a phone call from your estranged family member who you thought was in another state and meet them at the abortion clinic in your community. You too would be grateful that someone chose to take a public stand for life and compassionately reached out to your loved one. It is so important to have resources to offer couples in desperate need. The assistance we provide may be the very thing that removes the pressure or presumed need to go through with the abortion. However, all that may be needed is a kind word, a hug, or just someone offering life affirming encouragement. Love lived out and made available may be all that is needed to save a life.

Yesterday the stomach flu that has ravaged my family hit me and I was feeling lousy. I was not sure if I would be out at the clinic today. I prayed last night and entrusted it to God and when I woke up this morning I did not feel sick, so I went out to the clinic. As I was driving back home, I started feeling lousy again. It seems that God had a task assigned for me today and he gave me the strength to accomplish it. How can God use you to do something about abortion? Don’t remove yourself from how God is moving and working. We need to remove the things that consume our lives and distract us from accomplishing God’s purpose for our lives. The Lord wants to see an end to abortion, and he wants to use us to "do something about abortion." God can use you to bless others as we stand for life.

Written by Bud for: STAND FOR LIFE

God Has Called Us To Be Faithful

Tara and I have sidewalk counseled for several years and in several states. We have started abortion clinic outreaches from scratch, where there was no presence out at the local abortion clinic at all. We have felt like we were all alone at times and we have felt like it was impossible to activate Christians to get involved to end the abortion holocaust. During that time we had a few turnarounds but we also found out later that one of the women who turned around later went through with the abortion another day at a different abortion clinic. We know that it is impossible to gauge success in this type of ministry. Echoing the words of Mother Teresa, "God has not called me to be successful. He called me to be faithful."

However, Tara and I have been amazed by how many positive meetings we have had with church leaders here in Albuquerque, New Mexico and are encouraged by the fact that we have several pro-life educational presentations lined up at several churches. During the past few months, our efforts out at the late-term abortion clinic here in Albuquerque have resulted in several turnarounds and we have confirmation of several babies being saved. While it is so very important to stand for life at the abortion clinic, this is only one aspect of what results in women choosing life and leaving the abortion clinic with her child.

A question I have been asking myself lately is: “What is so different here that has contributed to such a positive difference than in other places that we have engaged in pro-life outreach?” One of the primary things that I have observed over the past few months here in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is the commitment to prayer to end abortion by so many people of different Christian denominations. I truly believe that abortion is the result of evil spiritual forces and must be defeated using spiritual means. Prayer is one of the most important ways of engaging in this spiritual battle. Individual prayer and group prayer; prayer at home and prayer out at the abortion clinic, we must stand in the gap for our communities and our nation. This commitment to prayer has made an obvious difference.

Another thing that I have observed that has been different here in Albuquerque, than in other cities, is the commitment to working together with all people of the Christian faith. People of different denominations have committed to reaching out and having a peaceful presence out at the abortion clinic. If they cannot come to the abortion clinic, they find other ways to stand for life and support abortion minded women. I truly believe that God can and has blessed this level of unified outreach to engage the injustice of abortion. One of Jesus’ last requests before he went to the cross was that his followers live in unity and love one another. In fact this is how the world will learn of Gods love. (John 17:20-23)

The final thing that I have observed that has contributed to the confirmed saves of several babies is the resources that have been provided by the generosity of many Christians. Having tangible ways of helping women in crisis can and does save lives. The realization of the urgent nature of helping abortion-minded women by the Christian community is key. While it is vitally important to have a peaceful, prayerful presence out at the abortion clinic to reach out to every abortion minded woman...it is not the only way to stand for life.

I encourage all Christians everywhere to seek out ways to get involved and be used to promote a culture that values human life.

Written by Bud for: STAND FOR LIFE

Albuquerque, New Mexico- Our new mission field

I am constantly amazed at God’s provision and plan for our lives. He is always faithful. During my time studying missions at a Bible college in Texas, God put on my heart the American mission field. At that time I wasn’t really sure what that looked like, but I did know that God would provide His vision for my ministry.

After I graduated in 2003, I was hired by a congregation in Southern Arizona as their full-time Evangelist. After I fulfilled my year commitment, my wife Tara and I moved to Flagstaff, Arizona to begin an apartment ministry. During our time in Flagstaff, God opened our eyes to the reality of one of the greatest injustices in American history…abortion.  Abortion affects all ethnic groups, hurts both men and women, and it has killed 1/3 of our generation (50 million since 1973). Over 3,000 lives will be lost today in America due to abortion. When we came to this realization we prayerfully made a commitment to God to faithfully do whatever we could to end this injustice through prayerful and peaceful means.

Since we prayed that prayer, we have moved from Flagstaff, AZ (after starting a pro-life outreach at the local Planned Parenthood) to Riverside, CA. I was the Assistant Director of the Campus Life Tour for the organization, Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust. We traveled around the country visiting a high school and a college everyday educating our peers about the reality of abortion and all the ways that is has destroyed our culture and devastated so many lives. From August 2008- May 2009, we went to over 180 schools.
For the past year, we have been interns for Operation Rescue. Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the nation. Operation Rescue recently made headlines when it bought and closed an abortion clinic in Wichita, Kansas and has become perhaps the most visible voice of the pro-life activist movement in America. Its activities are on the cutting edge of the abortion issue, taking direct action to restore legal personhood to the pre-born and stop abortion in obedience to biblical mandates.

We have made Albuquerque, New Mexico our new home as of July 1, 2010. Our move to Albuquerque has been an answer to prayer, we have seen God lead us every step of the way. Our reason for choosing Albuquerque is that it has become the late-term abortion capital of America and there is a great need here. There are at least four abortion clinics in this city including a late-term clinic that draws women from all over the country.

Tara and I are Protestant Christians serving with the Catholic ministry, Project Defending Life in their life-saving efforts. We are working with Project Defending Life to help mobilize the Christian community here in Albuquerque into peaceful and prayerful action. We will be reaching out to the Protestant community to activate and educate them about the horror of abortion. With a united Christian front, we are confident that God will bless our call to make Albuquerque abortion free. We pray that God will bless our service and faithfulness as we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness here in Albuquerque. Our prayer is that God will bless our effort to end abortion in our community as we find common ground together. We realize the devastation that abortion leaves behind. Abortion pushes women and couples further from, not closer to God.

Written by Bud for: STAND FOR LIFE