In Light of the Empty Sidewalks, History Will be the Final Arbiter!

By Bud Shaver - Prayer and a Pro-Life Witness
(This post originally appeared on www.standforlife.net)

Injustice taints and forever mars the ability to play the moral card. History records and reveals to the world what was done on behalf of those forever scarred.

When you think of a father convicted of a heinous sexual crime that he did to his child, we don’t really care if he provided food, shelter, a good education, or even brought that child to church. One act of injustice forever mars his ability to claim that he was a good father.

When you think of Christians who lived in the deep South in America during the time of slavery who owned slaves, we don’t really care if they fed the poor, did other acts of service, or attended church regularly and tithed. One act of injustice forever taints their legacy.

When you think of church leaders who lived in Nazi Germany during the Holocaust, we don’t really care how many gospel presentations they proclaimed, how many baptisms they did; we care about what they did or did not do on behalf of the Jews being led to the slaughter. One leader’s heroic actions and words of opposition to the injustice during that generation live on and history remembers Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

In the light of injustice we get clarity. All that matters is our participation with our generation’s injustice and whether we are striving to end that injustice. History is the ultimate arbiter.

The greatest injustice of our generation is abortion! 54 million (+) children have been legally slaughtered in the name of “choice." 65% of those obtaining abortions claim to be Christian/Catholic[i]! Whatever is being said or done from our churches and church leaders is not producing much of a difference for the children being led to the slaughter!

In light of the empty sidewalks, deafening silence from the pulpits, and pews filled with post-abortive women and men (1/3rd of American women over 45 have had at least one abortion[ii]), history is already documenting the American church of the 21st century! In the light of injustice the legacy we leave behind will be forever tainted and determined by what we do and have done to end this barbaric killing!

Posterity will not ask you about your giving, how many times you read through the Bible in a year, how many missionaries you sent around the globe, or how many soup kitchens you started. You will be asked what you did to end the open genocide being perpetrated across the street from our churches and in the midst of our communities!

How to Start a Pro-Life Ministry at Your Church

Start a prayer group at your church. Seek to build a core group of people who are pro-life to pray about the direction of a ministry to the pre-born and their mothers within your church.


Educate. Host a pro-life presentation/training with local organizations and/or pastors who are already involved in local pro-life ministry to find out what is taking place with regard to abortion in your community.
a. These presentations could be tailored to a midweek Bible study, men’s or women’s Bible studies, or a Sunday or midweek whole church service.
b. If there are no local organizations start one! If your pastors are not involved pray for them and meet with them to encourage their involvement and support!


Become Active. Decide how active you want your church to be and what types of events/activities you want to participate in. There are many opportunities to get involved such as:
a. Praying at an abortion clinic once a week or once a month or more.
b. Volunteering at or open a local pregnancy resource center.
c. Hosting a series of pro-life "apologetics/sidewalk ministry” training classes.
d. Post-abortion healing training.
e. Donate to local pregnancy centers. Host a clothing/diaper/formula drive.
f. Outreach at local universities or other outside venues.
g. Come up with your own ideas to reach out, educate, and serve the pregnant women in your community.


Find out about other local/national Pro-life organizations.

a. Sign up for e-mails and newsletters to stay informed about their events.
b. 40 Days for Life

The main reason to start a pro-life group in your church is to make a difference in your community. There are many ways to get involved. Together we can end abortion one woman, one child, one day at a time! The end to abortion begins with the churches in America!

www.prayerandaprolifewitness.blogspot.com

Rescue those being led away to death;
hold back those staggering toward slaughter.
If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,”
does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?
Proverbs 24:11-12

[i] http://www.guttmacher.org/presentations/abort_slides.pdf
[ii] Henshaw SK, Unintended pregnancy in the United States, Family Planning Perspectives, 1998, 30(1):24–29 & 46.
Jones RK and Kavanaugh ML, Changes in abortion rates between 2000 and 2008 and lifetime incidence of abortion, Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2011, 117(6):pp-pp.

We Are At War...Not Against Individuals, But Against Pretensions!

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood...We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God!" Eph. 6:12; 2 Cor. 10:5


(No audio, If you doubt we are in a battle for hearts and minds...Check this out!)

"We see [Jesus] who abhors both passivity and violence and teaches us a new way forward that is neither submission nor assault, neither fight nor flight. He shows us a way to oppose evil without mirroring it, where oppressors can be resisted without being emulated and neutralized without being destroyed." ~Shane Claiborne


(You can watch portions of our actual conversation and see how we eventually found common ground...and became friends!)

This video footage was taken on August 8, 2012 out at Late-Term abortion clinic Southwestern Women's Options (www.lateterm.com) This was this woman's (and children's) first time peacefully witnessing and offering help out at SWO! What an introduction to the hostility intolerance, and hatred from the "Pro-Choice" community!

This guy admitted to being post-abortive. He was carrying around all this baggage, abortion does not just effect women and children...it also effects men! We eventually found common ground and we actually became...friends! (This is just some excerpts the actual conversation was over an hour long!)

Also, there were two babies and two women saved from the horror called abortion this day! One of the women was able to receive help from Project Defending Life! (www.defendinglife.org)

We are making friend's with God-Haters, and ending abortion one woman, one child, one day at a time!

Showing Christ's Love Saves The Unborn And Comforts Those In Need

By Monte Harms- standforlife.net

This originally appeared on Stand For Life

I am standing in front of an abortion facility to be a defender of the unborn. A woman goes in to have an abortion and totally ignores those standing on the sidewalk. Sometimes her boyfriend, father, mother, or friend who brought her will be verbally combative with the defenders. It's spiritual warfare at its core.

Part of my human nature urges me (unsuccessfully, I might add) to say or even yell:

"You do know you're killing your own baby."
"Are you out of your mind?"
"Who in the world would kill their own baby?"

... or tell the boyfriend or whoever brought her:

"Do you know you are an accessory to this killing?"
"You are having your own baby (or grandbaby) killed!"
"You call yourself a friend by helping her kill her own baby!"

... or after an abortion my human nature tells me that I shouldn't have anything nice to say to her or those who brought her. I should ignore them because they just had a fellow human killed.

A few have used the human nature methods, but what has been effective at the late-term abortion facility in Albuquerque and across the country is not using your human nature, but Christ's nature.

Having Christ's love flow through those on the sidewalk have saved lives and comforted those after they had their abortions. Bud Shaver shares recent encounters from the sidewalk of Southwestern Women's Options in Albuquerque, NM:

Everyone has a picture, concept...stereotype of what a public presence at a abortion clinic is. Let me share with you what I witnessed and experienced today out at late-term mill SWO. A woman came out of the abortion clinic after she had her abortion. Also, a college student from UNM was waiting while his girlfriend was inside having an abortion (his child). Jennifer and others were able to wave them over to talk with them...they didn't just talk to these people, they were able to hug, weep, minister to, pray and love them! This is more than a snap-shot of pro-life ministry...This is what grace, mercy, love...Christ looks like. We have an opportunity to live out Christ's love and share Him with those who desperately need to find Him! We love because He first loved us...We have been lost and broken until we found the healer! I witnessed what Christianity is...I witnessed Christ being lifted up and drawing the lost to Him! I was also able to talk to the abortion clinic manager. Orae gave her our latest handout (from HLA) so she would know what help and information the women received from us. (A UPS driver told us that they have a sign posted inside the clinic stating "Pray to end sidewalk harassment!") I was able to tell her we cared and were praying for her too. She told us they were "Having a hard time keeping up with us!" We have had several turnarounds and saves this month...that we know about! We have the opportunity to be His hands, feet, body...and heart to these men and women!

Bud shares other interactions:

Pretty intense spiritual battle today out at Late-Term mill SWO (learn more at www.lateterm.com)! A woman got out of a taxi with all her luggage and as she headed into SWO. I told her that we cared about her and were willing to help her with whatever she needed. She stopped and asked if I had $3,000...I told her Yes, if that's what it would take to save her baby, I would come up with the 3 grand! Bobby Coffman Jr and Collette Pacheco-Coffman spoke with her for 5 minutes as she had the door to SWO open. She eventually went inside. After 10-15 minutes she came back out to talk with us and see if we really were willing to help her. She told us that she was from Washington, and her husband left her and she was all alone...We told her that she was not alone...We were here for her! She did not believe us, so I told her to put us to the test! After a lot of tears, talking with the executive director of Project Defending Life (PDL) who arranged a couple of days in a hotel so she could just think more about everything, trying to get her husband on the phone...she went back inside SWO. A half hour later she came back out with all her luggage and left SWO with Jennifer Jacobson Bresett and headed up to PDL...the battle still rages! She would not give us her name, but please keep her and this situation in your prayers!

Another young girl pulled up in her car and had her young son with her. She was headed into SWO but came over to talk to us as we offered her help. She too left following another sidewalk counselor (today was her first time praying and offering help out at an abortion mill) heading up to PDL for an ultrasound and resources! The battle is raging, but in the midst of the storm, there is hope for the hopeless. We are lighting up the darkness...We are ending abortion one woman, one child, one day at a time...and to God be the Glory!

Many who go in to have an abortion know what they are destroying, but they often feel that abortion is the only alternative for them. Unfortunately, the outside pressure from others to abort is tremendous. But when an alternative is displayed that shows Christ's love for them and help for their situation, their eyes are sometimes opened. Project Defending Life in Albuquerque and other organizations throughout the country give sidewalk counselors the necessary tools to assist the needy. PDL offers all types of assistance to those that feel backed into a corner with no way out. Often when the woman and man involved sees an ultrasound of their baby at PDL or another pregnancy center, they feel there isn't any reason for them to destroy that life. Also, if they know there is someone there to assist them financially and with moral or spiritual support, they can see the light at the end of a very dark tunnel. Thousands of sidewalk counselors and pregnancy centers across America are that beacon of light for the unborn and those who want to abort.

Christ's love wins out while human nature often destroys the chance to save or comfort the most vulnerable unborn and born humans.

Read more of Bud Shaver's encounters from the sidewalk at Prayer and a Pro-Life Witness.

Ignorant & Idiotic...Modern Day Fool's For Christ

Today (August 23, 2012) out at UNM abortion mill UNMCRH, a guy came over to state how ignorant, idiotic, down right evil it was for us to be out in front of an abortion clinic. I asked him "Why?" He went on to say how hypocritical Christians are and he had his list of course! I told him "How about I concede everything you just stated about Christians, and allow me to ask you...How is it, that you are anti-war, anti-death penalty, anti-violence, pro-social justice, but you support the most brutal form of violence...abortion? Abortion has killed more people in our country than all the wars, violence, people executed by the death penalty, and all the other social injustices of our past...combined!" His response was, "The unborn aren't sentient, and therefore not persons."

I asked him, "Just suppose the unborn were equally human persons as you or I, then would you concede your own hypocrisy?" He said he could see my point...but then he went on another rant about Christians and their different interpretations of the Bible, "You just believe what you want to believe!" I replied "How about I concede that frustration with you...But why do you look at the empirical scientific data which unanimously and clearly states that the unborn are alive, biologically distinct from their mothers, and human, but through some philosophical leap (about sentience) come up with your own interpretation of the data and arbitrarily conclude that the unborn aren't persons..."You just believe what you want to believe!" He said he saw my point.

He then went on to say how useless it was to be out at the abortion clinics and that we were wasting our time and embarrassing ourselves. I said, "Really...? Just this week we were able to reach out to a young (High School) girl and because of our presence, she did not kill her child! Last week we were able to help a woman from Washington, who was 7 months pregnant and I know she did not kill her child either...because my wife Tara Shaver spoke to her today and is keeping in contact with her in case she needs more help! In fact, just this month alone...I know that our presence out at local abortion clinics saved 10 children from a violent and brutal death!" He said "Wow...! Of all of my talk and all that I have protested, I can't say that it has resulted in saving...one person!"

We talked about a few other things, but I then went on to tell him that we have documented and publicized how dangerous abortion clinics are including the one we were standing out in front of, in fact it is currently under investigation by the New Mexico medical board, based on our research and subsequent complaints! He said, "You should make some signs up about that and have those signs out here." I said, "How about you make some signs up and join us out here! He laughed and we shook hands and hugged!

What seemed idiotic, meaningless, foolish to him earlier was now...Commendable!

When we step out in faith and publicly Stand For Life, the world may deem us foolish, but we are making a difference..."Making Friends With Our Enemies"...and ending abortion one woman, one child, one day at a time!

To God be the Glory!

MAKING FRIENDS WITH OUR ENEMIES!

In the widely-viewed film 180, there is a young man named Steve with a Mohawk, tattoos, and piercings. He is also very fouled-mouth, anti-God and anti-Jewish. The first reaction to him might be is that he is a kook or "those atheists are so weird and rude." By the end of the interaction with 180's creator Ray Comfort, it is obvious Steve's heart has been softened and he states that he will think about reading his Bible.

Pro-life activist Bud Shaver demonstrates often how to respond to someone who states they are pro-abortion, anti-God, or just does not want Bud to be in front of the abortion facility. He has made friends with his enemies by not shunning them but engaging in productive positive conversation. Read Monte's entire article here: The Exception and Worst-Case Scenario Approaches To Issues

As we step out in faith, God can use us to Light Up the Darkness, and deal with people's brokenness, those who are carrying heavy burdens. We can represent Jesus to them as he says "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) As we lead them to Jesus..He will do the rest!

MAKING FRIENDS WITH OUR ENEMIES!


I was reaching out to abortion-minded women at the late-term abortion mill, Southwestern Women’s Options (www.lateterm.com), I was confronted by a young man who was very angry! I was as close as you get to being violently assaulted. He cursed me and asked me what I had to say about it. I told him God Bless You and if you want to talk rationally about the situation we could. He left just as quickly as he came, cursing and flipping me off as he left!

This does not happen as often as one may think, but it does occasionally happen. The difference today was that this guy returned about an hour later…this time very apologetic! He was genuinely sorry for how he treated me.

When we ended our conversation, he did not fall on his knees and profess Christ as his Lord and he was still “Pro-Choice” when he left but he did shake my hand…What seemed impossible just one hour earlier with him being my enemy, was possible for the God that we serve…We ended our (rational) conversation as friends!

Read the full article, by clicking here.

MAKING FRIENDS WITH OUR HARSHEST CRITICS...FELLOW CHRISTIANS!


Sometimes our harshest critics are fellow Christians! We are not here to make friends (even though we sometimes do!), but to save lives! Our ministry is Christ centered and Grace Filled! Please be gracious to us! We do save lives and change minds...everyday! We are always effective...Each and every-time we step out in Faith! Yes, we have seen the "Mountains Move!"

MAKING FRIENDS WITH GOD-HATERS!


This video footage was taken on August 8, 2012 out at Late-Term abortion clinic Southwestern Women's Options www.lateterm.com This was this woman's (and children's) first time peacefully witnessing and offering help out at SWO! What an introduction to the hostility intolerance, and hatred from the "Pro-Choice" community! This guy admitted to being post-abortive. He was carrying around all this baggage, abortion does not just effect women and children...it also effects men! We eventually found common ground and we actually became...friends! (This is just some excerpts the actual conversation was over an hour long!) Also, there were two babies and two women saved from the horror called abortion this day! One of the women was able to receive help from Project Defending Life! www.defendinglife.org We are making friend's with God-Haters, and ending abortion one woman, one child, one day at a time!

Pro-Life Missionaries are Pushing Back the Abortion Cartel in New Mexico

By, Cheryl Sullenger- Senior Policy Advisor for Operation Rescue

Bud and Tara Shaver need our support to continue their life-saving work in the Late Term Abortion Capital of the Southwest

Albuquerque, NM -- Bud and Tara Shaver are full time pro-life missionaries in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Their ministry encompasses its name, "Prayer and a Pro-life Witness." As former Operation Rescue interns they have learned proven strategies to close down abortion clinics. Since arriving in Albuquerque in July 2010 they have begun to implement those strategies by stripping away the layers of the abortion industry and by educating the public with the truth about abortion. When the Shaver's arrived in New Mexico there were seven abortion clinics, as of January 1, 2012 there are only five! The retirement of abortionists Lucia Cies in Santa Fe and Bruce Ferguson in Albuquerque at the end of 2011 is proof that when pressure and exposure is applied through peaceful legal means abortionists aren't willing to continue killing babies!

Why Albuquerque, New Mexico?

The Shaver's have researched and uncovered, that the injustice of abortion is deeply entrenched in New Mexico. New Mexico is one of 15 states in the country that force tax payers to foot the bill for abortion! The state also has virtually no laws protecting the pre-born and those who are in positions of authority have proven to be apathetic and unwilling to act. Abortion clinics are running amok in New Mexico, with virtually no oversight from the Health Department or other state agencies to ensure unsuspecting women's safety!

Albuquerque is also home to the notorious Late Term abortion clinic Southwestern Women's Options (SWO) run by abortionist Curtis Boyd. Curtis Boyd was an illegal abortionist who harmed women before Roe vs. Wade and continues to put women at risk in his Albuquerque clinic. SWO performs abortions through all nine months of pregnancy unashamedly. Albuquerque is also home to the University of New Mexico which operates a free standing abortion clinic (UNM Center for Reproductive Health) which performs abortions through 22 weeks of pregnancy. The University of New Mexico is attempting to train the next generation of abortionists through a residency training program and has medical students performing abortions. Using the research training they received as interns, the Shavers have begun to uncover and expose a deep seated abortion culture and agenda at the University of New Mexico.

Accomplishments this far

In June 2011 Tara obtained fourteen 911 calls stemming fromboth SWO and The University of New Mexico's abortion clinics through a public records request. While most pro-abortion individuals believe that legal abortion is safe, the Shaver's have debunked that myth by uncovering the 911 calls. These calls revealed serious abortion complications including uncontrollable bleeding after a punctured uterus, seizures and a ruptured uterus. Once these calls were obtained, Medical Board complaints were then filed by Tara and Operation Rescue. Filing Medical Board complaints in other states has proven to be extremely successful in closing down clinics by the stripping of doctors licenses. Once light is shed on how women are being needlessly injured behind abortion clinic doors the Medical Board is then compelled to act.

Bud and Tara have also been diligently working to mobilize the Christian community through education to become actively pro-life. They are also striving to organize and maintain a constant prayerful presence at the abortion clinics in Albuquerque. As a result of their efforts countless lives of women and babies have been saved and Churches are getting involved.

They have endured persecution and assault as they boldly confront evil every day in order to light up the darkness! The Shaver's have also helped Project Defending Life open and run their second pregnancy resource center directly across the street from UNM Center for Reproductive Health abortion mill.

The Shaver's collaborate with established Pro-Life organizations in New Mexico, and are directly working alongside Project Defending Life. With the leadership of Father Stephen Imbarrato the Shaver's have met with several state senators, representatives, other public officials, and the Governor of New Mexico Susana Martinez numerous times delivering the information they have uncovered into the hands of those who can act. They are working to develop a relevant strategy to address the pertinent Life Issues that face New Mexico. Bud and Tara recognized the abortion crisis and urgent need for outreach in New Mexico and have made New Mexico their mission field.

Operation Rescue recently launched the Pro-Life Nation project, and the Shaver's are an example of what the Pro-Life Nation is, and what it takes to achieve it! The Shaver's are working to end abortion in New Mexico by implementing proven strategies they learned during their time with Operation Rescue and they are ending abortion one woman, one child, one day at a time!

The Shaver's are full-time Pro-Life Missionaries and raise our own support from individuals who have a heart for their life saving work! Please prayerfully consider supporting this family so they can continue their effort to end abortion in New Mexico!

All donations made out to Project Defending Life, earmarked for "Bud or Tara Shaver" are tax deductible. Your donation can be mailed to:

Bud and Tara Shaver
P.O. Box 50351
Albuquerque, NM 87181

Also, tax-deductible donations can be made on-line here: Prayer and a Pro-Life Witness


________________________________
About Operation Rescue®
Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the nation and has become a strong voice for the pro-life movement in America. Operation Rescue is now headquartered in a former abortion clinic that it bought and closed in 2006. From there, Operation Rescue launches its innovative new strategies across the nation, exposing and closing abortion clinics through peaceful, legal means. Its activities are on the cutting edge of the abortion issue, taking direct action to stop abortion and ultimately restore legal personhood to the pre-born in obedience to biblical mandates.

About Pro-Life Nation

Pro-Life Nation is an initiative of Operation Rescue that offers a goal-oriented strategy to end abortion. For more visit ProLifeNation.org and read our new booklet that details our strategy.
________________________________
Web site: www.operationrescue.org
E-mail: info.operationrescue@gmail.com

This also appered on LifeNews.com

Pro-Life Advocates in New Mexico Keep Fighting Abortion Industry

________________________________
LifeNews.com is an independent news agency devoted to reporting news that affects the pro-life community. With a team of experienced journalists and bloggers, LifeNews.com reaches more than 500,000 pro-life advocates each week via its web site, email news reports, social networking outreach and weekday radio program.

LifeNews.com also acts as a service provider to furnish news content to media that share the pro-life perspective. The topics covered by LifeNews.com include abortion, assisted suicide and euthanasia, bioethics issues such as human cloning and stem cell research, campaigns and elections, and legal and legislative issues.

Formerly the Pro-Life Infonet, LifeNews.com has been harnessing the power of the Internet since 1992 to bring pro-life news to the pro-life community. We’ve developed a reputation for fairness, accuracy and timeliness in our nearly two decades of service.
________________________________

MAKING FRIENDS WITH GOD-HATERS!

This video footage was taken on August 8, 2012 out at Late-Term abortion clinic Southwestern Women's Options www.lateterm.com This was this woman's (and children's) first time peacefully witnessing and offering help out at SWO! What an introduction to the hostility intolerance, and hatred from the "Pro-Choice" community! This guy admitted to being post-abortive. He was carrying around all this baggage, abortion does not just effect women and children...it also effects men! We eventually found common ground and we actually became...friends! (This is just some excerpts the actual conversation was over an hour long!) Also, there were two babies and two women saved from the horror called abortion this day! One of the women was able to receive help from Project Defending Life! www.defendinglife.org We are making friend's with God-Haters, and ending abortion one woman, one child, one day at a time!