Explaining What We Do To The World

WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.600 --> 00:00:06.320 I Am Yours, I am yours, I am yours and me. Welcome 2 00:00:06.360 --> 00:00:09.830 to the Gospel Center pro life podcast. Have you ever been in that awkward 3 00:00:09.830 --> 00:00:13.390 situation when someone asks you what do you do and you have to explain to 4 00:00:13.429 --> 00:00:17.269 them the ministry on the sidewalk? This episode, Viki now talk about those 5 00:00:17.269 --> 00:00:23.699 awkward situations and how to honor God through them. Stay with us. I 6 00:00:24.059 --> 00:00:35.380 felt show passish touts your use me he they're. Welcome to the Gospel centered 7 00:00:35.500 --> 00:00:39.729 pro life podcast. I'm Vicky, I'm Hereriet, I'm Daniel. Daniel. 8 00:00:39.969 --> 00:00:45.609 Yeah, and this is a podcast that, as many of them do, 9 00:00:46.490 --> 00:00:51.560 came to mind because of real life situations that I know many people in our 10 00:00:52.280 --> 00:00:58.840 ministry or our type of ministry, deal with the inevitable question in a social 11 00:00:58.920 --> 00:01:02.560 situation. Yeah, with often people you don't know at all. You don't 12 00:01:02.640 --> 00:01:07.150 they're not necessarily believers. Oftentimes they're not. Maybe neighbors work something where they 13 00:01:07.150 --> 00:01:11.989 say, so, what do you do? Yeah, and I don't know 14 00:01:11.109 --> 00:01:15.989 about how most people respond when they hear that question in their life, but 15 00:01:15.109 --> 00:01:19.939 when I hear that question, my heart sinks, I start to sweat hard 16 00:01:21.060 --> 00:01:27.500 palpitations. I mean, I know I am about to endure a very socially 17 00:01:27.540 --> 00:01:38.049 awkward moment. Yeah, because it just is not generally a well accepted work 18 00:01:38.170 --> 00:01:41.250 that we do, even among we've talked about that in many podcasts, even 19 00:01:41.290 --> 00:01:44.930 among Christian circles. Yeah, we did a podcast couple of weeks ago about 20 00:01:44.930 --> 00:01:48.200 dealing with criticism. Right, so this is kind of along those same lines. 21 00:01:48.280 --> 00:01:52.959 It's kind of that that social, I guess, view of what we 22 00:01:53.040 --> 00:01:57.680 do right. And yet talks specifically, yeah, from maybe it mays book 23 00:01:57.760 --> 00:02:00.000 right, maybe the differences in in that last podcast. So those are people 24 00:02:00.040 --> 00:02:02.989 coming to you while you're doing what they know what you do. There they 25 00:02:04.069 --> 00:02:07.430 come and talk to you as you're doing it in general and then they're expressing 26 00:02:07.510 --> 00:02:12.069 the criticism. In this case these are people. Usually it's like I was 27 00:02:12.189 --> 00:02:15.780 telling you earlier before we started this, it was neighbors. We met across 28 00:02:15.819 --> 00:02:19.659 the fence for the first time and we're exchanging, you know, just summaries 29 00:02:19.699 --> 00:02:22.699 of our lives and then they said so what do you do, Vicky? 30 00:02:23.379 --> 00:02:30.210 And it had often so light and cheery and and really nice interaction. And 31 00:02:30.530 --> 00:02:35.689 when I said that first sentence of what I do, I'm on a sidewalk 32 00:02:35.729 --> 00:02:39.689 in front of an abortion center. And I encourage the women to choose life. 33 00:02:40.409 --> 00:02:46.280 Dead Silence. Yeah, awkward, Dead Silence, eyes averted, you 34 00:02:46.400 --> 00:02:49.960 know, people looking everywhere. Yeah, how do we get out of this? 35 00:02:50.280 --> 00:02:53.120 And that is often the point at which, certainly in my past, 36 00:02:53.599 --> 00:02:59.110 I would just change the subject, move on. Sure, St Start talking 37 00:02:59.150 --> 00:03:04.270 about other things, my children, my dog, anything. But but I'm 38 00:03:04.310 --> 00:03:06.909 not. I don't do that so much anymore. Yeah, I kind of 39 00:03:06.990 --> 00:03:12.270 I I've come to a different sense of what I should do with that question. 40 00:03:12.310 --> 00:03:15.580 Yeah, you know, personally, as I shared with you, and 41 00:03:15.699 --> 00:03:19.219 you guys probably, if you've been doing this or any amount of time, 42 00:03:19.219 --> 00:03:23.580 you know exactly what we're talking about. Right, you're at a social function 43 00:03:23.620 --> 00:03:25.259 or something, that's like one of the first questions that people ask you. 44 00:03:25.460 --> 00:03:29.289 Exactly what do you do? Yeah, right, because we as a society, 45 00:03:29.889 --> 00:03:32.370 we like to define people by by their vocation. Right, is not. 46 00:03:32.650 --> 00:03:36.409 You know, I ask the question, what do you do to try 47 00:03:36.449 --> 00:03:40.210 to get a feel for that person? Yeah, yeah, and so my 48 00:03:40.370 --> 00:03:45.879 response actually, I told you, I kind of I gage whether or not 49 00:03:45.960 --> 00:03:50.520 I have enough time to explain whether or not I want to really go there 50 00:03:50.919 --> 00:03:53.800 at this point. So sometimes, Daniel, we never want to go there. 51 00:03:53.800 --> 00:03:59.870 Let's well, sometimes I do. Sometimes I feel inclined to go there 52 00:03:59.949 --> 00:04:03.150 and kind of explain and really give an apologetic I guess, yeah, for 53 00:04:03.590 --> 00:04:06.789 why we do what we do at all on all of that. But you 54 00:04:06.870 --> 00:04:09.830 know, if I'm in a hurt, in a hurry and I don't really 55 00:04:09.870 --> 00:04:13.379 want to deal with the explanation because this is not a vocation, this is 56 00:04:13.500 --> 00:04:15.540 not a ministry. I mean, if you're a pastor, you caxam a 57 00:04:15.540 --> 00:04:18.899 pastor of a church, people know exactly well all that that entails. Not 58 00:04:19.100 --> 00:04:23.779 all of it, but they understand what you're talking about and other things. 59 00:04:23.819 --> 00:04:27.089 And even if you said you're I'm a missionary, right, you could say 60 00:04:27.129 --> 00:04:29.889 that. Yeah, but people know what that means. You don't have to 61 00:04:29.970 --> 00:04:33.490 give a long explanation or whatever. But with this, you know, you 62 00:04:34.449 --> 00:04:39.319 you might say all for help and hope in the name of Jesus, at 63 00:04:39.319 --> 00:04:44.040 an abortion center, but what they hear is I yell at people at an 64 00:04:44.040 --> 00:04:46.720 abortion clinic and and Harrass and judging condemn. Yeah, exactly, they're. 65 00:04:47.040 --> 00:04:53.589 They're not. I don't think of those other fields of work. The misconception. 66 00:04:53.829 --> 00:04:57.550 Yeah, absolutely, whereas there is yeah, and so we do. 67 00:04:58.269 --> 00:05:00.189 When I get in those situations where I I don't really feel like going into 68 00:05:00.189 --> 00:05:04.310 a long explanation, and I think I'm a cop out in this area. 69 00:05:04.430 --> 00:05:08.459 I agree. I will say something to the effect of I work for a 70 00:05:08.579 --> 00:05:13.339 nonprofit that helps women in crisis pregnancy situations, right, right, and I'll 71 00:05:13.339 --> 00:05:16.939 get into that. That's basically my explanation. Yeah, and I don't really 72 00:05:16.939 --> 00:05:20.180 have to get into details on that, right. So I'll tell you that. 73 00:05:20.569 --> 00:05:24.730 That is what I you. I don't know if I stated it that 74 00:05:24.850 --> 00:05:28.610 way, but something that was kind of hedge. Yeah, that's what you 75 00:05:28.730 --> 00:05:31.370 used to say before you grew a backbone. Exactly kind to say. So 76 00:05:31.449 --> 00:05:33.730 you're trying to say I need to grow back, I think. So. 77 00:05:33.930 --> 00:05:40.639 Here's here's well, I had a recent experience that actually prompted this podcast and 78 00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:46.360 I thought, since we are a Gospel centered prolife podcast, that maybe we 79 00:05:46.439 --> 00:05:51.389 should start the reason for why I feel like there's been a shift in me. 80 00:05:51.709 --> 00:05:58.189 Okay, with some verses from first Peter Three, okay, wellknown versus. 81 00:05:58.350 --> 00:06:00.990 Yeah, a lot of you have heard these verses, but these verses 82 00:06:01.189 --> 00:06:08.699 call out to me and tell me I need to tell people what I do 83 00:06:09.300 --> 00:06:14.139 and not just give that one sentence. That is going to make them all 84 00:06:14.740 --> 00:06:17.569 run from me? Yeah, but to actually expand upon it in a way 85 00:06:18.490 --> 00:06:26.129 that God is glorified, magnified and advancing his kingdom, and I believe really 86 00:06:26.810 --> 00:06:30.250 that question that I used to look at with dread, and I'd be lying 87 00:06:30.329 --> 00:06:32.079 if I said I don't feel dread. I do. Every time I hear 88 00:06:32.120 --> 00:06:40.000 it, I feel sent of dread. What do you do right? Oh, 89 00:06:40.120 --> 00:06:44.839 it's awful, it's awful, but I think I want to I'm kind 90 00:06:44.879 --> 00:06:48.189 of turning it around in my heart, as it's an opportunity. It has 91 00:06:48.230 --> 00:06:53.110 become an opportunity. Do you want to share this? This verse? You 92 00:06:53.189 --> 00:06:58.029 read it all right, it's first Peter Three versus fifteen and sixteen. But 93 00:06:58.310 --> 00:07:02.620 sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense 94 00:07:03.019 --> 00:07:08.980 to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in 95 00:07:09.139 --> 00:07:14.180 you. Yet with gentleness and reference and keep a good conscience, so that, 96 00:07:14.379 --> 00:07:17.329 in the thing in that you are slandered, those who revile your good 97 00:07:17.410 --> 00:07:21.730 behavior in Christ will be put to shame. Yeah, my goal is not 98 00:07:21.810 --> 00:07:26.009 to put anyone to shame, but there is no doubt that what we do 99 00:07:26.170 --> 00:07:31.279 is lander. Yeah, in media, in just in people's hearts and minds 100 00:07:31.560 --> 00:07:35.279 this. They they don't know what we do and they they look at it, 101 00:07:35.360 --> 00:07:40.560 it in general, in a very negative light. Even Christians, I 102 00:07:40.959 --> 00:07:44.470 find I'm hard pressed to find people that will say wow, that is really 103 00:07:44.509 --> 00:07:48.269 yeah, wonderful. Almost never. Yeah, yeah, well, I will 104 00:07:48.350 --> 00:07:54.670 say in my defense. Okay, this is me twisting scripture a little bit 105 00:07:54.790 --> 00:07:58.110 to make myself feel better. I'm not twisting it, I'm taking it for 106 00:07:58.230 --> 00:08:01.500 what it says actually, but sanctify crisis Lord in your heart, in your 107 00:08:01.540 --> 00:08:07.579 heart. Yeah, always being ready to make a defense doesn't say always making 108 00:08:07.620 --> 00:08:11.019 a defense. Okay, I just so, I'm ready. How about that? 109 00:08:11.300 --> 00:08:13.689 I'm always ready. Okay, I can make a good defense and what 110 00:08:13.810 --> 00:08:16.250 I do and why I do what I do. Yes, I don't mean 111 00:08:16.370 --> 00:08:20.850 always have to defend what I do right. I mean, though, I 112 00:08:20.009 --> 00:08:24.050 really have to to share. Well, every time someone asks me to deal 113 00:08:24.170 --> 00:08:26.800 with God, okay, about that, leg got to do with me that 114 00:08:26.920 --> 00:08:31.240 issue, and God will got to deal with you. So, so we've 115 00:08:31.240 --> 00:08:35.879 all been there, and so let me. I'll tell you about my experience 116 00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:39.559 and then you can tell me if it's right or wrong or how I dealt 117 00:08:39.600 --> 00:08:41.950 with but I learned a lot of things in this I mean there's been many, 118 00:08:41.990 --> 00:08:46.590 many times that I've dealt with this question, but it happens specifically when 119 00:08:46.629 --> 00:08:52.990 I was getting new classes just a couple weeks ago. Yeah, and the 120 00:08:52.230 --> 00:08:58.779 person who does all the tests before the optician gets me is someone I have 121 00:08:58.899 --> 00:09:03.259 a relationship with. We have been friends should because I've been going to the 122 00:09:03.299 --> 00:09:05.779 side doctor for years. She's she's remained the same. The eye doctor has 123 00:09:05.820 --> 00:09:09.009 changed, other staff have changed, but she's remained the same. So she 124 00:09:09.169 --> 00:09:15.250 knows what I do. She's a believer. She's very supportive of what I 125 00:09:15.409 --> 00:09:20.690 do and we have talked about it before. So we finish all the eye 126 00:09:20.769 --> 00:09:24.960 test I go in and get the exam from the optician. I forget if 127 00:09:24.960 --> 00:09:28.039 it's the optician or ophthemologist, but anyway I don't know. And then I 128 00:09:28.120 --> 00:09:31.600 go out to go pick out the glasses and I haven't gotten glasses in years. 129 00:09:31.759 --> 00:09:33.360 I don't like glasses, I don't wear glasses. They're back up, 130 00:09:33.879 --> 00:09:37.759 but I figure if I'm going to spend all the money for a glass glasses, 131 00:09:37.799 --> 00:09:41.429 I should get a nice one. So it was closing time. There's 132 00:09:41.470 --> 00:09:46.470 like four or five employees all getting their starting to clean up and close up. 133 00:09:46.149 --> 00:09:50.710 And and I go over to pick out the glasses and I said, 134 00:09:50.710 --> 00:09:54.340 I have no idea. What could they said something. Well, what are 135 00:09:54.379 --> 00:09:56.860 you looking for? Well, and I said, I have no idea, 136 00:09:56.940 --> 00:10:00.419 I just don't know. And so all five of them, including the OPTICIAN, 137 00:10:00.539 --> 00:10:03.700 gather around. It was fun. They're picking out all these different frames 138 00:10:03.740 --> 00:10:09.649 and and they pick out a beautiful, wildly colored just they you, they 139 00:10:09.649 --> 00:10:13.289 were obviously even me, with no taste, could tell these were pretty controversial 140 00:10:13.330 --> 00:10:18.250 kinds of glasses. And and and she handed it to me, my friend, 141 00:10:18.250 --> 00:10:20.799 and said, oh, but these would probably be a little too wild 142 00:10:22.080 --> 00:10:26.080 for the work that you do, maybe too happy. Okay, the work 143 00:10:26.159 --> 00:10:31.320 that you do. And I'm like already starting to sweat thinking here it comes 144 00:10:31.639 --> 00:10:39.789 at explain and and one of the other employees had what what does she do? 145 00:10:39.509 --> 00:10:43.830 And she said well, Vicky, why don't you tell us? So 146 00:10:45.029 --> 00:10:48.830 here we go and again my first response was to do what you do, 147 00:10:50.340 --> 00:10:54.940 just deflect, yeah, and and give some kind of noncommittal general answer. 148 00:10:56.659 --> 00:11:01.820 But I thought I can't do that. I I need to tell them what 149 00:11:01.899 --> 00:11:05.009 I do. So I said, you know, I'm I'm CIBOT, counselor 150 00:11:05.049 --> 00:11:09.169 in front of an abortion center and I offer hope and help to women who 151 00:11:09.169 --> 00:11:18.409 are going into abort their child. And and that's about it. Yeah, 152 00:11:18.799 --> 00:11:26.720 and instantly predictable response. Their faces fall immediately, because I've been doing this 153 00:11:26.799 --> 00:11:31.559 a long time and you develop sixth sense of people and their responses and why 154 00:11:33.230 --> 00:11:37.750 kind of they've got their response. I could tell to the women had had 155 00:11:37.750 --> 00:11:41.909 an abortion. I felt almost beyond a shadow of a doubt. They looked 156 00:11:41.909 --> 00:11:46.070 away and you could see shame. Yeah, you could just I don't know, 157 00:11:46.230 --> 00:11:48.779 I can't define it, but I could tell there was guilt, there 158 00:11:48.860 --> 00:11:56.740 was shame and and a wall went right up. Yeah, and maybe that's 159 00:11:56.779 --> 00:12:01.179 what bade me soldier on, because I was thinking I can't leave it there, 160 00:12:01.490 --> 00:12:09.490 right, because it already is a guilty, silent thing. that their 161 00:12:09.970 --> 00:12:16.559 burden. Yeah, they're carrying and maybe God had engineered that moment for me 162 00:12:16.679 --> 00:12:24.960 to somehow lift that burden. Yeah, so I decided to go on to 163 00:12:26.080 --> 00:12:31.830 explain more right and and in my head is the thought there are post abortive 164 00:12:31.870 --> 00:12:39.669 women hearing this. So the first thing I said is no one wants to 165 00:12:39.789 --> 00:12:43.909 get an abortion, no one wants an abortions. Could what I was hoping 166 00:12:43.070 --> 00:12:50.019 to do with that was kind of dispel the lie that abortion is normal and 167 00:12:50.220 --> 00:12:56.220 good, right, but also to speak to them. I know you didn't 168 00:12:56.259 --> 00:12:58.929 want that abortion. Yeah, and I know there is a not a victim 169 00:13:00.009 --> 00:13:05.210 movement and I agree with that in part, but I think that in many 170 00:13:05.250 --> 00:13:09.250 of the women coming for abortion they're not victims in the true sense of the 171 00:13:09.330 --> 00:13:13.919 word. Right, but I think in many cases if they didn't feel they 172 00:13:15.679 --> 00:13:20.840 if there was another choice that to them was, I say, easier, 173 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:26.519 but but would keep them from having to do it. I don't think anyone 174 00:13:26.679 --> 00:13:31.549 goes there with joy, right, saying I can't wait to get an abortion. 175 00:13:31.629 --> 00:13:37.230 Yeah, right, yeah, I agree. So and then I then 176 00:13:37.269 --> 00:13:41.620 I described that what we're there offering, that were offering the hope and love 177 00:13:41.700 --> 00:13:45.220 of Jesus. You all know, if you've heard the podcast, you know 178 00:13:45.299 --> 00:13:48.899 the sorts of things that we offer, but all the resources. Talked about 179 00:13:48.940 --> 00:13:54.899 a little bit about the truth, about the development of the baby, and 180 00:13:54.100 --> 00:14:01.129 and then as I'm listing off all the things that we do, including the 181 00:14:01.210 --> 00:14:05.610 baby shower, the optician chimed in then and said, so you don't just 182 00:14:05.889 --> 00:14:13.000 tell people don't do this, you tell them don't do this and will help 183 00:14:13.159 --> 00:14:18.159 you. Yeah, I loved that, how she summarized it that way, 184 00:14:20.120 --> 00:14:26.470 because I that's what I love about our ministry. Yeah, is is that 185 00:14:26.950 --> 00:14:37.269 we aren't just protesting abortion or offering help and solutions so that people feel less 186 00:14:37.350 --> 00:14:39.860 inclined, yeah, to have an abortion. You know, I think in 187 00:14:39.980 --> 00:14:45.659 one sense, we did do a podcast about this some months ago, well, 188 00:14:46.059 --> 00:14:50.740 year ago maybe, about do we really need to meet their needs, 189 00:14:52.059 --> 00:14:54.250 or able to meet their needs, in order to be in front of the 190 00:14:54.289 --> 00:14:56.090 abortion centers telling them not to kill her children? And, of course, 191 00:14:56.970 --> 00:15:01.809 if we had nothing to offer them, if we had no resources, no 192 00:15:01.889 --> 00:15:05.769 baby showers, none of that stuff, we could still, we would still 193 00:15:05.769 --> 00:15:09.720 be perfectly justified into and saying don't kill your child. Right, right, 194 00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:11.639 because, after all, it is murder. Yeah, it's like when someone's 195 00:15:11.639 --> 00:15:15.879 about to kill they're two year old. You don't have to be willing to 196 00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:20.519 adopt the two year old in order for them to to listen to what you're 197 00:15:20.519 --> 00:15:22.070 saying, right, and you'd be able to be justified in telling them not 198 00:15:22.110 --> 00:15:24.870 to kill their two year old. So in the same way, however, 199 00:15:26.389 --> 00:15:31.190 it does really help in these conversations, and maybe it's maybe it's I don't 200 00:15:31.230 --> 00:15:35.509 know, a fig leaf that we used to make ourselves look, I guess, 201 00:15:35.629 --> 00:15:37.220 better in their eyes. So I guess we need to examine our hearts 202 00:15:37.259 --> 00:15:41.220 on that level. But what it does do, I think, is it 203 00:15:41.340 --> 00:15:45.659 dispels this notion in these lies. It's kind of like that first Peter's scripture, 204 00:15:45.820 --> 00:15:48.139 so that we're not slandered, because we're slandered as saying your pro birth, 205 00:15:48.620 --> 00:15:52.850 yeah, right, that's the slanders accusation. Your pro birth, yeah, 206 00:15:52.009 --> 00:15:56.090 when these resources and things that we give after they're born proves that to 207 00:15:56.169 --> 00:16:00.529 be wrong. So it's not just a fig leaf, it's it's a reality 208 00:16:00.649 --> 00:16:03.799 too. As believers in Jesus, we are not called to only speak the 209 00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:07.600 truth, you know, John Says First, John Says, if you love 210 00:16:07.720 --> 00:16:12.240 your brotherren word only, but not indeed, then it's not true love. 211 00:16:12.559 --> 00:16:15.519 Right. So we're supposed to love indeed, and we that's part of these 212 00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:19.590 resources and all of that. Yeah, loving these these babies, yeah, 213 00:16:19.629 --> 00:16:26.309 these maps as well. You makes such a good point and and you, 214 00:16:26.830 --> 00:16:30.830 you were the first person that I think, I probably ever heard that stated 215 00:16:30.470 --> 00:16:37.539 so well. That made me really think about he's right. They don't. 216 00:16:37.700 --> 00:16:41.940 It is why I'm attracted to now love life ministry is because we do offer 217 00:16:41.220 --> 00:16:48.049 resources in addition of the Gospel. But I have come to feel very strongly 218 00:16:48.250 --> 00:16:52.970 that if I had nothing to offer, say I was traveling and all I 219 00:16:52.090 --> 00:16:56.690 could offer with Jesus was Jesus and his truth in his word, I I 220 00:16:56.889 --> 00:17:03.079 should and I'm definitely justified in doing that. But our ministry, Biblically, 221 00:17:04.640 --> 00:17:08.559 I believe, offers resources. The parable of the Good Samaritan. Yes, 222 00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:17.109 our guiding principle. Well, that's not just sharing God, that's finding someone 223 00:17:17.150 --> 00:17:22.069 who's wounded and dying and on a path of destruction and getting them out of 224 00:17:22.109 --> 00:17:26.549 that ditch. Yeah, and and helping them and providing tangible help. So, 225 00:17:26.829 --> 00:17:33.099 and in fact, what I did next was tell that parable. I 226 00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:37.500 said this is what our ministry is based upon. Yeah, and and resent 227 00:17:37.259 --> 00:17:41.380 not knowing with ours talking to believers or not. And I mean most people 228 00:17:41.420 --> 00:17:44.609 have heard that parable, but there are people that haven't that I've come across. 229 00:17:44.690 --> 00:17:48.490 And I told that parable and and explained each section of it and how 230 00:17:48.609 --> 00:17:52.009 it relates to what we do out there on a sidewalk. And as I'm 231 00:17:52.089 --> 00:18:00.480 sharing that, I was beginning to see a transformation in my audience because they're 232 00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:08.200 I think they began to see that exactly what you said. Being a Christian 233 00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:15.990 is not just saying thou shall not, but then offering help in the name 234 00:18:17.029 --> 00:18:22.430 of Jesus and showing the love of God tangibly through how we help others. 235 00:18:23.069 --> 00:18:27.740 And I think that's a that's a really a positive picture. Yeah, that 236 00:18:27.900 --> 00:18:36.700 you're painting at that point. So they they started to clearly, I think 237 00:18:36.819 --> 00:18:41.299 they were listening. They're leaning in and those women who weren't looking at me 238 00:18:41.339 --> 00:18:45.849 are now looking at me and what I could kind of feel going through their 239 00:18:45.970 --> 00:18:52.730 head was maybe if someone had offered help to me, maybe I might not 240 00:18:52.849 --> 00:18:56.680 have done it. Yeah, I have heard that. Yeah, have you 241 00:18:56.680 --> 00:19:00.599 at the that I've heard that specifically, but I have at one point. 242 00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:06.000 One story that comes to mind. I was I was in the barbershop and 243 00:19:06.200 --> 00:19:07.720 get my hair cut. Is Actually Walmart, I guess, the barbershop and 244 00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:11.910 Walmart in this young lady was cutting my hair and she asked me the question. 245 00:19:11.990 --> 00:19:15.789 I may even had cities for life at that time, t shirt own 246 00:19:15.829 --> 00:19:19.150 or something like that. Yeah, and I there I am in the Barber 247 00:19:19.230 --> 00:19:23.299 Chere. You gotta really are right and take that long to cut my hair. 248 00:19:23.380 --> 00:19:26.819 But okay, I had some time and they're sort of a captive audience 249 00:19:26.859 --> 00:19:30.859 and I'm going to pay the money to do this anyway, so they have 250 00:19:30.940 --> 00:19:33.019 to listen to what I have to say. So she asked me what I 251 00:19:33.059 --> 00:19:37.650 do and I shared with her what I do and she she broke down right 252 00:19:37.730 --> 00:19:41.289 there in the barber shop. She shared about how she'd had an abortion. 253 00:19:41.650 --> 00:19:45.849 Wow, like eight years ago. Yeah, like eight years ago. Yeah, 254 00:19:45.170 --> 00:19:48.890 at that point in this was a couple of years. So anyway, 255 00:19:48.130 --> 00:19:52.359 and she said specifically she had a child after she had the abortion, but 256 00:19:52.519 --> 00:20:00.079 she said she's still grieves over that baby that she killed and she still sees 257 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:03.720 that empty spot at the table. So she said specifically. And what that 258 00:20:03.880 --> 00:20:10.069 did? Was it opened for you or for anyone who takes the plunge in 259 00:20:10.190 --> 00:20:15.950 these conversations to then share healing. Yeah, yeah, it's absolute it. 260 00:20:15.109 --> 00:20:21.029 It created an opportunity that you would otherwise never have had. Yes, that 261 00:20:21.150 --> 00:20:22.619 woman, and would anyone have had? You know, it seems to me 262 00:20:22.740 --> 00:20:26.299 like a really divine appointment. I was absolutely a divine appointment. I got 263 00:20:26.299 --> 00:20:30.460 two minister to her. Yep, I think she had become a believer, 264 00:20:30.619 --> 00:20:33.339 which is why she was so open about it. For again, it's been 265 00:20:33.380 --> 00:20:37.130 some years since that situation kind of played out. Yeah, but from what 266 00:20:37.170 --> 00:20:41.329 I recollect she had become a believer in Jesus, which is why she was 267 00:20:41.450 --> 00:20:45.130 really open about it and really sharing right there in the barbershop. And there 268 00:20:45.130 --> 00:20:48.849 are other people around and all of that. Are they all listening to? 269 00:20:48.369 --> 00:20:52.039 I mean, I'm sure they listening. So I mean there you've got it. 270 00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:56.079 Your your you're not only ministering to her, your ministering to the whole 271 00:20:56.119 --> 00:21:00.640 group of people that are listening. Yeah, and and learning, which is, 272 00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:07.950 I think, another really important point. When these opportunities arise, don't 273 00:21:07.750 --> 00:21:12.990 shrink from them, don't shrink back, because you never know where it might 274 00:21:14.029 --> 00:21:18.900 lead. An earlier conversation that very day in that office, which I was 275 00:21:18.019 --> 00:21:23.660 not a part of this group of five, but when I was talking about 276 00:21:23.700 --> 00:21:27.819 my work and someone did same thing, said she had had an abortion. 277 00:21:29.140 --> 00:21:33.650 She still regretted it and the sorrow and and I talked about where to find 278 00:21:33.690 --> 00:21:37.930 healing, first in Christ and then the program some programs where you could find 279 00:21:37.930 --> 00:21:47.200 healing again. Never would have had that conversation if someone didn't ask me what 280 00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:49.640 it is that I do. Yeah, and I wasn't able or willing to 281 00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:56.559 respond fully or even with just that first response, which was pretty straightforward. 282 00:21:56.599 --> 00:22:00.799 But had I ended there, and that was one of the points I wanted 283 00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:03.869 to really make in this podcast, if I had ended with that first sentence, 284 00:22:04.710 --> 00:22:11.309 with their faces fallen, they clearly just felt nothing but hostility and shame, 285 00:22:11.630 --> 00:22:18.140 grief whatever. If I had left it there, think of the repercussions 286 00:22:18.180 --> 00:22:25.539 of that as opposed was to what did happen. Yeah, so then, 287 00:22:26.220 --> 00:22:34.970 after talking about the parable of the Good Samaritan and and the optician making her 288 00:22:36.130 --> 00:22:41.089 point, you you help them, then they, the two who had backed 289 00:22:41.130 --> 00:22:45.440 off, started handing me glasses to try on and saying tried these, these 290 00:22:45.480 --> 00:22:48.599 would go well with your work, and it was like they had come full 291 00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:52.480 circle to let's even help her. Right. Yeah, so it was. 292 00:22:52.559 --> 00:22:57.559 It was really it'll bet you there we was after you walked out of the 293 00:22:57.589 --> 00:23:02.789 door, their magical conversations. Imagine the discussion after I walked out the door. 294 00:23:03.630 --> 00:23:11.869 So it was such a wonderful experience, which these conversations don't always end 295 00:23:11.910 --> 00:23:15.900 there. No, oftentimes they don't, but in in that case it opened 296 00:23:15.940 --> 00:23:22.420 up so much that it really made me glad that I had told them what 297 00:23:22.579 --> 00:23:26.220 I what. I really what I really do. I do. Sometimes what 298 00:23:26.339 --> 00:23:30.369 can happen, and I'm sure I've done this. I can't think of particular 299 00:23:30.410 --> 00:23:34.490 situation when I have. But when we try to like, well, I 300 00:23:34.569 --> 00:23:40.410 guess I'll say when we have to give a defense, we actually, instead 301 00:23:40.410 --> 00:23:41.680 of that, kind of go on the offense, you know, because it 302 00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:47.039 says here we should be ready to make a defense and out of our own 303 00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:51.960 kind of, I guess, I don't know, anxiety over trying to explain, 304 00:23:52.039 --> 00:23:55.910 we'll go into offensive mode rather than defensive mode where we'll just come right 305 00:23:55.910 --> 00:23:57.750 out of the gate. And what do you do? Well, people are 306 00:23:57.789 --> 00:24:00.670 murdering their children. So, you know, we kind of go on the 307 00:24:00.750 --> 00:24:03.269 offense and just go after and just go after every objection they might have. 308 00:24:03.470 --> 00:24:07.269 Yeah, when in reality they're just asking what we do. So one of 309 00:24:07.309 --> 00:24:11.140 the things we don't want to do in these situations, because it's about being 310 00:24:11.180 --> 00:24:12.579 a witness for Jesus, right, is it? We don't want to just 311 00:24:12.779 --> 00:24:18.980 unload on people and just unload, you know, all of the numbers and 312 00:24:18.140 --> 00:24:22.700 Statistics and all of that. I think you can, you have provoke a 313 00:24:22.779 --> 00:24:27.369 really good conversation and give a really good defense and be willing and able and 314 00:24:27.529 --> 00:24:32.529 ready to share those numbers and Statistics and all that other stuff. But we 315 00:24:32.609 --> 00:24:36.130 don't want to kind of get an offensive Moor. We just unload on someone 316 00:24:36.690 --> 00:24:38.920 when they ask what we do exactly. Be kind of almost like this, 317 00:24:41.519 --> 00:24:45.279 I don't know, this kind of psychological thing, even our own mind out 318 00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:48.759 of our own anxiety and we don't really want to share what we do, 319 00:24:48.920 --> 00:24:52.079 but let's just go ahead and get it out there. Well, we've been 320 00:24:52.119 --> 00:24:56.150 attacked for it so many times a sidewalk and so we're it's kind of a 321 00:24:56.190 --> 00:25:00.230 natural response. But you sparked the actually where it where it ended that I 322 00:25:00.750 --> 00:25:03.750 forgot about. The very ending of that discussion then, was I shared a 323 00:25:03.910 --> 00:25:07.539 story, which we shared, I think, on our last podcast, about 324 00:25:07.539 --> 00:25:12.579 the grandma who returned eight years after her grandchild had been saved from abortion at 325 00:25:12.619 --> 00:25:17.380 the at that very abortion center and came back to tell us and to thank 326 00:25:17.460 --> 00:25:21.529 us and just to say that kid in the back seat wouldn't be here today 327 00:25:21.529 --> 00:25:23.769 if you guys hadn't been there. That was when they started handing me the 328 00:25:23.849 --> 00:25:30.769 glasses. I forgot about that. But having a story that demonstrates than the 329 00:25:32.049 --> 00:25:37.759 results. Yeah, of what you've done can really be very powerful. Yeah, 330 00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:41.799 absolutely. Yes, stories, people can connect with stories. You can 331 00:25:41.880 --> 00:25:47.319 give a defense all day long with statistics and all that other stuff, and 332 00:25:47.960 --> 00:25:52.029 I'm not saying that's not good, but really, people's hearts connect with stories. 333 00:25:52.269 --> 00:25:56.789 Yeah, and that's a biblical concept. I actually you see Jesus, 334 00:25:56.190 --> 00:26:00.430 he doesn't just give numbers and Statistics and just rebuke the Pharisees right out. 335 00:26:00.549 --> 00:26:04.980 He does that for sure, but he'll give a story that kind of shows 336 00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:08.900 the hypocrisy of the Pharisees or whatever other point he's trying to make. You 337 00:26:08.980 --> 00:26:12.500 know, sewing seed. He gives a story of the sower of seeds, 338 00:26:12.539 --> 00:26:18.369 right. Yeah, so sharing real life stories or even personal testimonies. I 339 00:26:18.369 --> 00:26:22.369 mean you have a personal testimony in the area of abortion. Yeah, I 340 00:26:22.450 --> 00:26:26.769 have a personal testimony in the area of unplanned pregnancy, right. Are Quote, 341 00:26:26.809 --> 00:26:30.049 unplanned pregnancy? Yeah, and so I'll share that. I'll share the 342 00:26:30.170 --> 00:26:36.200 story of me being seventeen, my girlfriend fifteen and just the blessing that our 343 00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:40.559 daughter is and how I couldn't imagine what if we'd would have aborted, like 344 00:26:40.640 --> 00:26:44.279 I certainly, yeah, had that in my mind and thank God we didn't 345 00:26:44.279 --> 00:26:48.750 go that direction. Yeah, and so kind of equating that with the people 346 00:26:48.789 --> 00:26:51.589 that we encounter, were able to minister. One of the things I'll share. 347 00:26:51.589 --> 00:26:53.630 I'm able to minister to those young men, my wife is able to 348 00:26:53.710 --> 00:26:57.470 minister to the those young ladies. And, of course, sharing about the 349 00:26:57.509 --> 00:27:02.259 mobile Dr Soun you is really powerful too, because people don't imagine, because 350 00:27:02.299 --> 00:27:06.180 they do have this this vein, it's a vein imagination in their minds when 351 00:27:06.180 --> 00:27:08.299 you tell them you go out to an abortion center, here's yelling at people 352 00:27:08.339 --> 00:27:11.420 and all this. So when I lay out all the resources and the fact 353 00:27:11.420 --> 00:27:17.210 that we park a mobile pregnancy center in front of the abortion center, it 354 00:27:17.329 --> 00:27:19.329 lets people know, like we're serious about this thing. This is just some 355 00:27:19.450 --> 00:27:23.970 Ragtag Group of people, but this is a serious, concerted effort to really 356 00:27:25.009 --> 00:27:27.769 help these these women and save babies. Yeah, and bring the Gospel, 357 00:27:27.849 --> 00:27:32.920 yeah, that place of darkness. Yeah, and then talking about, depending 358 00:27:32.920 --> 00:27:36.079 on the amount of time you have, but but that the church is being 359 00:27:36.160 --> 00:27:40.359 mobilized and being this is not just the efforts of people out on a sidewalk, 360 00:27:40.799 --> 00:27:48.309 but whole churches who are now stepping up to support women who would ordinarily 361 00:27:48.349 --> 00:27:52.869 run to the abortion center. And hopefully now will turn to the church, 362 00:27:52.990 --> 00:27:56.069 and the church is saying we will no longer because I think we have in 363 00:27:56.190 --> 00:28:03.299 the past just condemned, but we will offer hope, help and love. 364 00:28:03.740 --> 00:28:07.619 Yeah, and and embrace you. Yeah, and help to not that we 365 00:28:07.700 --> 00:28:11.890 want to leave you as someone who thinks sex, high side of marriage or 366 00:28:11.890 --> 00:28:17.490 abortion are either valid choices for a Christian. They should not be. But 367 00:28:18.849 --> 00:28:23.529 hopefully the love and fellowship and embracing by the Church will lead them to a 368 00:28:25.049 --> 00:28:30.799 greater relationship with God and in obedience to God. Yeah. So, so 369 00:28:30.839 --> 00:28:34.000 there were some things that I thought of as I was like recapping in my 370 00:28:34.039 --> 00:28:37.480 mind that story, because it went well. Yeah, and so I do 371 00:28:38.480 --> 00:28:42.549 always try to analyze, not only when things have gone terribly. What did 372 00:28:42.549 --> 00:28:47.630 I do wrong? What could I have done better, but I also was 373 00:28:47.869 --> 00:28:52.269 thinking about, well, what were some things that I did this time that 374 00:28:52.789 --> 00:28:56.700 maybe I don't always do when these kinds of stories don't end as well, 375 00:28:57.140 --> 00:29:00.660 right, and and so I wrote down some bullet points. But the the 376 00:29:00.819 --> 00:29:04.180 first one was just to be bold and confident. I, like I said, 377 00:29:04.180 --> 00:29:07.059 I felt trepidation when I started. I was like, Oh, brother, 378 00:29:07.220 --> 00:29:11.769 here we go again. But when I started speaking honestly, the Holy 379 00:29:11.809 --> 00:29:17.930 Spirit does take over, but also I believe in what I do. I 380 00:29:18.130 --> 00:29:25.839 believe what we do is so important and valuable and God ordained and we should 381 00:29:25.839 --> 00:29:30.480 express that. We should, instead of apologetically or, like in the point 382 00:29:30.519 --> 00:29:34.480 you made, angrily answering the question, just with bold confidence, the same 383 00:29:34.480 --> 00:29:40.349 way we counsel the MOMS. Go forth with with bold confidence. Yeah, 384 00:29:40.950 --> 00:29:48.309 I purposely did not use the word murder because I knew that that's an inflammatory 385 00:29:48.349 --> 00:29:52.630 word, right, and that that might right away put up a wall in 386 00:29:52.829 --> 00:29:56.619 what they were able to hear from me. So I softened it, right, 387 00:29:56.900 --> 00:30:03.900 and I use the word abortion as opposed to kill your baby. Then 388 00:30:04.900 --> 00:30:12.410 talking about what we do in terms of the resources, right, and presenting 389 00:30:12.529 --> 00:30:19.130 those so that they say they they're looking at us in a more compassionate light. 390 00:30:19.609 --> 00:30:22.359 Right. Yeah, it's certain things right, like they actually are, 391 00:30:22.480 --> 00:30:26.640 like we're out there out of compassion, just out there to be judging and 392 00:30:27.200 --> 00:30:33.079 condeming people or angry protesting or whatever. Right. Yeah, that was to 393 00:30:33.119 --> 00:30:37.990 spell those false notions, right. Yeah, using the biblical support. As 394 00:30:38.069 --> 00:30:41.269 you're talking, you may or may not be talking to Christians, right, 395 00:30:41.509 --> 00:30:45.789 but it is an opportunity then to give the reason for the hope that is 396 00:30:45.910 --> 00:30:52.539 in us like that. Those verses in Peter talked about that. And it's 397 00:30:52.660 --> 00:30:57.140 the Gospel, it's Jesus and sharing the truth of why we're doing there from 398 00:30:57.180 --> 00:31:00.940 a biblical perspective. Right. Yeah, even if you don't. My sister 399 00:31:02.099 --> 00:31:03.769 is not a believer, but she knows that I do it out of a 400 00:31:03.890 --> 00:31:10.250 conviction, that I've been biblically commanded to do what I do, and she 401 00:31:10.529 --> 00:31:15.650 really respects that, that I'm following my convictions biblically, and I think that's 402 00:31:15.690 --> 00:31:19.960 true of some people anyway that you speak to. If you give the biblical 403 00:31:21.200 --> 00:31:25.559 reason and you might be planted. You definitely are planning seeds every time you 404 00:31:26.440 --> 00:31:33.190 use biblical support. Yeah, so, and then the the specific stories that 405 00:31:33.430 --> 00:31:40.029 like what you said, telling a story that shows the positive work that we 406 00:31:40.150 --> 00:31:45.869 do is really important. Remembering also what I recognized early on, which I 407 00:31:45.990 --> 00:31:48.420 don't know that people who aren't on a sidewalk would recognize this, but that 408 00:31:49.460 --> 00:31:56.220 so many of your audience are post abortive and and speaking with the gentleness and 409 00:31:56.380 --> 00:32:02.970 compassion at that, you would towards anyone who is struggling with something they've done 410 00:32:02.970 --> 00:32:10.089 in their past which I believe every abortion minded or post board of woman is 411 00:32:10.369 --> 00:32:15.839 is struggling. Those were kind of those were some of the major things that 412 00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:22.119 came to me that I felt had probably made that conversation go better than it 413 00:32:22.319 --> 00:32:28.559 always does. Yeah, maybe it'll guide others when they're tackling these conversations. 414 00:32:28.720 --> 00:32:31.069 Yeah, absolutely. I think one of the things that I would mention here 415 00:32:31.309 --> 00:32:36.509 is the the scripture. You you kind of base this thing on which is 416 00:32:36.630 --> 00:32:38.990 give a defense for the hope that laws in us. Yeah, is not 417 00:32:39.269 --> 00:32:45.059 just in these conversations, giving a defense for our pro life convince actions, 418 00:32:45.299 --> 00:32:50.019 or giving a defense for the work that we do or are, what our 419 00:32:50.059 --> 00:32:52.859 job or vocation is. Yeah, but really giving a defense of the Gospel. 420 00:32:52.900 --> 00:32:57.019 Right, right, because why we do what we do is because we're 421 00:32:57.059 --> 00:32:59.970 born of God. If I was not born of God, I could care 422 00:33:00.009 --> 00:33:04.250 less about, you know, other people, especially unborn children, people I 423 00:33:04.329 --> 00:33:07.089 can't see. Yeah, it's because of the power of the Gospel, and 424 00:33:07.210 --> 00:33:10.490 so I think taking the opportunity, whenever you are able to and you have 425 00:33:10.609 --> 00:33:14.759 the time to do it, to share the Gospel, to share what Jesus 426 00:33:14.799 --> 00:33:17.759 Christ is done, to share about his death, Bury and Resurrection, just 427 00:33:17.880 --> 00:33:22.240 the Plain Gospel and then, especially if you've got people that are post abhorative, 428 00:33:22.519 --> 00:33:27.789 yeah, to share with them the hope that they can have in Jesus, 429 00:33:28.109 --> 00:33:30.750 right, and so taking the opportunity to share the Gospel, letting the 430 00:33:31.029 --> 00:33:36.430 work that we do be a Spring Board for the Gospel, is a powerful 431 00:33:36.430 --> 00:33:38.549 way to kind of turn this whole thing around, right, and give us 432 00:33:39.589 --> 00:33:45.339 even more opportunities to share even beyond the sidewalker. Yeah. Yeah, so 433 00:33:45.460 --> 00:33:51.099 I hope and I believe that we have kind of made a case for don't 434 00:33:51.180 --> 00:33:55.089 shrink away right there. Right, so these from these questions, drink away 435 00:33:55.210 --> 00:34:01.009 like I do sometimes. I truthfully, I do shrink away sometimes. Say 436 00:34:01.089 --> 00:34:06.369 they're there is discernment and wisdom. There are. There are definitely times when, 437 00:34:06.769 --> 00:34:09.440 no, it is just not appropriate for you to be going into a 438 00:34:09.480 --> 00:34:14.400 very long defense, yeah, of what you do, but I think more 439 00:34:14.480 --> 00:34:19.679 often than not there is an opportunity and I just am a little bit afraid 440 00:34:19.719 --> 00:34:23.000 of of entering. Yeah, yeah, we don't want to do is fall 441 00:34:23.079 --> 00:34:27.789 into the trap of the fear of Man, right, we want to fear 442 00:34:27.869 --> 00:34:31.309 the Lord First. Yeah, but then even within that, use wisdom. 443 00:34:31.750 --> 00:34:35.829 I mean, you're checking out in the grocery store and somebody ask you about 444 00:34:35.829 --> 00:34:38.619 your t shirt, right, you can't give a quick little plug. Yeah, 445 00:34:38.900 --> 00:34:42.219 what you do, but you want to get in this long I mean 446 00:34:42.260 --> 00:34:45.619 you don't not be holding up the whole line behind you. People taked off 447 00:34:45.699 --> 00:34:47.900 at you right as your start. Even Genesis one one, and we're gay, 448 00:34:47.900 --> 00:34:52.730 exactly revelations. Use Wisdom, Y, bold, be confidentiss in the 449 00:34:52.769 --> 00:34:58.449 work that you do on the sidewalk is life saving work. Yeah, who 450 00:34:58.489 --> 00:35:00.530 will stand in the gap? You've said you will. You've stood in that 451 00:35:00.610 --> 00:35:05.610 gap on that frontline. You've likely learned, with some of the friction and 452 00:35:05.730 --> 00:35:08.960 some of the tension that you get out there, that you can actually stand 453 00:35:09.159 --> 00:35:13.679 bold, you can be strong and courageous in the power of the Holy Spirit. 454 00:35:13.719 --> 00:35:15.840 You can do that on the sidewalk. And, if so, you 455 00:35:15.880 --> 00:35:17.719 can do that, yeah, at the barbershop, at the hairdresser. That's 456 00:35:17.760 --> 00:35:22.510 a grocery store. optician. Have the optician. Yes. So, guys, 457 00:35:22.670 --> 00:35:25.190 we want to encourage you again. The work that you're doing is life 458 00:35:25.309 --> 00:35:30.750 saving. It's soul saving. God uses you to save souls and two saves 459 00:35:30.829 --> 00:35:36.739 lives. It's amazing. It's an amazing privilege. You have no reason to 460 00:35:36.860 --> 00:35:40.579 be ashamed at all at what you do. Should be very happy that the 461 00:35:40.699 --> 00:35:45.940 Lord has privileged you with this charge to be a voice for the voiceless. 462 00:35:45.380 --> 00:35:50.769 So keep that up, guys, and if you need further encouragement, I 463 00:35:50.929 --> 00:35:53.809 encourage you to reach out to us. Daniel Love Life Dot Org. Vicky, 464 00:35:53.889 --> 00:35:58.570 I love Life Dot Org. We'd love to share with you any other 465 00:35:58.730 --> 00:36:01.730 pointers or tips or our experiences if we're able to. We're pretty busy these 466 00:36:01.769 --> 00:36:05.039 days, but we certainly try to get back to you. If you shoot 467 00:36:05.039 --> 00:36:07.800 us over an email. If you've got other subjects, that would be a 468 00:36:07.840 --> 00:36:09.519 blessing for us to cover for you. We'd love to do that as well. 469 00:36:09.599 --> 00:36:14.199 So shoot us over an email. Leave us a review. Please leave 470 00:36:14.239 --> 00:36:19.590 us some good reviews in whatever podcast service that you use, and we'll be 471 00:36:19.710 --> 00:36:22.389 thankful for that. But with that we're going to wrap this thing up. 472 00:36:22.510 --> 00:36:31.230 So God blessed guys, God bless by Bay. Give me our love for 473 00:36:31.469 --> 00:36:44.699 love, give me our love for gratitude. I know it will cost me 474 00:36:44.900 --> 00:36:52.570 my life. Nothing's too precious. And some met you