Lessons for SWO from Mom Testimonials

For the 2025 Celebrate Life Prayer Walk in Charlotte, six women who had chosen life spoke to the crowd of nearly a thousand people about their journey choosing life. The testimonies have been shortened for this article but were all powerful stories of God’s redemption and provision. In each case, a sidewalk counselor intervened when the woman arrived at the abortion center and was pivotal in changing her choice from death to life.

In this article, we will briefly retell each story. Then we will give some takeaway lessons specific to each story. Our goal is to encourage people who minister on the sidewalk to be aware of effective strategies in promoting a decision for life.

It is always important to remember that God always goes before us and with us. He is sovereign and it is His Holy Spirit that prepares every heart to turn to Him and resist the enemy. Our job is to show up and be blessed to let Him use us to work His miracles!

“Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’”

Theresa

In 2022, I was going through a hard time with just getting married and finding out I was pregnant. I already had six children. I was scared and not ready for another baby. When I was on my way to the abortion clinic, the SWO lady talked to me and let me know nothing is impossible with God, and that having a baby is a blessing!  She told me I would never know who the baby might become! I changed my decision instantly!  Afterwards, I had doubts at times… but I went through with keeping my baby. She was extremely right! He is a blessing. Every morning, he wakes me up even when i’m down. He says, “Kiss mommy!!! I love you!” He brightens my day, every day, and helps me push forward. I don’t know where I would be mentally if I had not chosen life. Looking at him reminds me everyday that anything REALLY IS possible with God… and with faith, there is ALWAYS a way BUT getting an abortion is NOT the way. 

Lesson:

• Paint positive vision
• Use scripture
• Know that even after choice of life there will be doubts
• Faith trumps doubt, build on that.
• Despite struggle, remind that abortion is not the answer

Jamie

10 years ago I was going through the hardest trial of my life. I had 2 children, my mom was going through chemo, and I had an ex husband who abused me in ways I wouldn't wish on anyone. I ended up pregnant and after being body slammed, my placenta abrupted which is very uncommon at 7 weeks gestation. Because I felt lost, I came to this very clinic to abort my child. As I pulled up, the SWO volunteer came up to me offering hope and healing, asking me to please not abort my baby. I pulled into the parking lot anyways and just sat there sobbing. I could hear her begging me not to go through with it.  I am and always have been against abortion. At that time I was just scared and felt that was my only option. How could I support 3 children on my own? I got out of my car, talked to the sidewalk people, and went to the free ultrasound. Love Life connected me with a baby shower ministry, a prolife doctor who helped heal the medical issues, and the LL people have been with me ever since. My healthy baby is the light of my world. I got married to a great guy, got my own home, and turned more fully to God.

Lessons:

• Find out the obstacles
• Offer medical second opinion, high risk prolife doctor
• Stay connected and encouraging
• Offer help for immediate struggles
• Remind conflicted women that God is the one bringing the conflict to help them avoid doing what He would never have them do

Valerie

I came to the clinic to have an abortion a few years ago. Thanks to the wonderful counselors, I did not have an abortion. But it was down to the wire...I was on the abortion table and asked, “May I see the baby?” They said no. 

I could hear the Christian counselors speaking over a loudspeaker! At that point, all of the messages God was sending through the amplified voice of His people on the loudspeaker became clear. I could not kill my child.  I got up and I left. Everyone was so happy. 

Fearful again off and on, I returned to the clinic. However, the sidewalk counselors were there once again, telling me what I already knew was true about God and my baby, and again I turned away. I was referred to a baby shower ministry, a Pregnancy resource center, and given so much help and support.

I can not imagine living this life without her, or what I would be doing if I did not have her. God is amazing. Despite life’s inevitable challenges, with God, I am still standing. All because faithful Christians were willing to speak and keep speaking, offering truth and help.

Lessons:

• Use amplified sound if able so they can hear inside the facility.
• Know that many moms return to abort but continue to counsel against abortion. Knowing how vulnerable they are for MONTHS sometimes is critical in the effort to disciple and keep them firm in their decision for life.
• Remind them of so many testimonies similar to theirs who say the baby ended up being the best thing that ever happened to them.
• Never stop showing up and speaking on sidewalk and in the moms’ lives, offering truth and help.

Atzahari

I had my 1st baby at 19 years old, which was unplanned. I could handle 1 child…but not another one!

I didn't think twice about getting an abortion. All I thought of was how many things i still wanted to do in life and the career that I wanted to pursue.

The day we drove to the abortion center, Ms. Vicky from Love Life came up to our car… and we were thinking that it was the abortion people trying to help us park. She told us that what we were doing was wrong and that it was a sin, it was murder, and asked what God would have us do? She was so certain of what she was saying…I felt the truth of it.

I had just felt numb, but at that moment, it hit me. My tears were falling. I knew it was wrong. I realized I had been blocking my thoughts and feelings the whole time. 

The abortion lady came running over and told me to ignore them and keep going. She said, “Just do it.”

Just Do It????? Just go kill a baby????

The fact that even came out her mouth horrified me. 

It was like the devil in one ear and God in the other. I chose life right then.

If you are thinking of abortion, please reconsider. You are not alone and there are so many people willing to help.  What if I aborted? How could I have lived for the rest of my life knowing I had killed her?

My baby is a blessing from God. I have learned God will take care of me. My family and I have been getting closer to God because of my baby Alina. She is the best thing that could have happened to me, and now her sister has a lifetime friend.

Lessons:

• Remind moms not to let fear and uncertainty rule a moral choice.
• Always use bold specific terms of what is about to happen.
• Sometimes, the stark contrast of the evil promoted by the opposition works in our favor!
• Be bold and certain you have the power of truth on your side.
• Pointing the moms to God is always important, even if they do not seem to care what God thinks.

Izzy Testimony

Four abortions in my past, and I found myself newly pregnant with a man I hardly knew. 

I did what I knew to do—I ran to this clinic for another abortion in 2018.

What I encountered was unlike any other clinic I had been to before. Here, I met the presence of God.

Deep down, I didn't want to have the abortion. I was searching for a reason not to go through with it. Well, I found that reason.

A pamphlet from the sidewalk outreach team made its way into a tiny crack in the car window. As I flipped it open, I read, “Children are a blessing from the LORD, they are a reward from Him” next to a picture of an eight-week-old baby in pieces after an abortion. The combination of that image and the prayers of the faithful compelled me to run out of there with my baby safe in my womb.

Weeks later, I called Vicky. She prayed with me and led me to the LORD over the phone. They connected me with a mentor and resources to help me. My little girl is now seven years old, and those people are still in our lives; they have become family.

Lessons:

• Women with multiple abortions is not uncommon and that is often something they are ashamed of.
• Remind them that the past does not define the present…the next choice can be a choice to honor and follow God.
• Get the pamphlet in their hands – it is very convicting.
• Have prayer warriors in real-time prayer for your ministry.
• Share the Gospel!
• Be there for these moms in tangible ways. Mentors should do day to day discipleship and guidance, but little touches now and them from SWO person can be a huge encouragement to people who feel all alone.

Latifah

I came to the abortion center because the father of my son was trying to force me to have an abortion. I considered it because I didn’t want to be a single mom again. However, deep inside, I knew I didn’t want to do it. I saw a Love Life lady and stopped for her. She told me about Love Life and all the help that was available. She gave me a rock that she had painted a Bible verse on with a picture of a baby. I still have that! She gave me her name and number so i could call her for help in my area. But i lost that pamphlet. Months later, I was cleaning my house, and i found it! I feel like that was God working in my life! I called Vicky and she connected me with a mentor, a baby shower ministry, and so many resources. I was worried about being a single mom, but I finished my phlebotomy CNA degree and now work full time as a certified medical assistant. Things have not been easy, but I am so happy I did not let myself be pressured into an abortion. My son is now three years old and he means everything to me. I love him so much. He is a blessing.

Lessons:

• Find out obstacles and offer specific help
• Give something to remind them of the baby and of God to hold and keep if they express conflict or tentative choice for life. (Painted baby rocks with Bible verses have been really powerful for that purpose.
• Always give name and number on pamphlet
• Try to get their name and number to stay in touch in case they lose the pamphlet as in this story
• God is sovereign and will engineer what needs to happen!
• Single moms can reach goals like schooling and jobs. Give examples or have other moms they can call who have done so.