What is Sidewalk Counseling?

WEBVTT100:00:00.600 --> 00:00:06.440I Am Yours, I am yours, I am yours. Send Me Lord,200:00:06.919 --> 00:00:11.550I am yours. Welcome to theGospel Center prolife podcast and this episode300:00:11.589 --> 00:00:15.390we're going to ask the question whatis sidewalk counseling? We're going to get400:00:15.390 --> 00:00:19.309into the some of the scriptural supportfor sidewalk counseling and some of the practical500:00:19.390 --> 00:00:26.260implications of being in front of anabortion center. I felt show passish,600:00:27.339 --> 00:00:38.130touch your heart. Use Welcome tothe Gospel Center prolife podcast. We appreciate700:00:38.170 --> 00:00:41.850those who've joined us. We're goingto deal with the subject today that's really800:00:41.890 --> 00:00:46.810near and dear to our hearts,and that sidewalk counseling folks that come into900:00:48.329 --> 00:00:52.240into prolife ministry and those sort ofthings. Maybe some of you folks are1000:00:52.320 --> 00:00:56.799new to Pro Life Ministry and you'veheard this term sidewalk counseling and maybe you1100:00:56.840 --> 00:00:59.159know what that means, maybe youdon't. And so we're going to talk1200:00:59.240 --> 00:01:03.679through what sidewalk counseling is, tosome of the real basics of it and1300:01:03.920 --> 00:01:08.750and share some of our experiences andthen share some of the scriptures of why1400:01:08.989 --> 00:01:15.069we believe sidewalk counseling is Biblical andand Biblically what sidewalk counseling looks like.1500:01:15.989 --> 00:01:22.379It's not that this podcast is designedto to just equip sidewalk counselors. It1600:01:22.459 --> 00:01:25.739certainly is for that. We reallywanted to be more broad than that,1700:01:25.900 --> 00:01:29.060though, and just equip people ingeneral to talk through questions that they have1800:01:29.180 --> 00:01:33.730in general about prolife issues and lightof the Gospel. But it's our heart,1900:01:33.769 --> 00:01:37.329it's what we're doing day in andday out sidewalk counseling at the abortion2000:01:37.370 --> 00:01:40.890centers here in Charlotte and it's alot of you know, a lot of2100:01:40.930 --> 00:01:46.010people look to us with questions aboutsidewalk counseling and we do trainings and things2200:01:46.049 --> 00:01:49.680like that. And we have thesidewalks for life website, sidewalks the number2300:01:49.760 --> 00:01:53.879four and lifecom and that website isa side won't counseling website. It's a2400:01:53.920 --> 00:02:00.200Gospel centered prolife sidewalk counseling website.But let's talk real quick about sidewalk counseling.2500:02:00.239 --> 00:02:02.989This, hopefully will be a prettyshort podcast, but maybe not.2600:02:04.069 --> 00:02:07.230Maybe we'll get in some more depththan we than we thought that we would,2700:02:07.030 --> 00:02:13.310but let's let's talk a real quickjust the basic definition of sidewalk counseling.2800:02:13.430 --> 00:02:15.020Thank you. What is that basicdefinition? Yeah, well, I2900:02:15.379 --> 00:02:19.659know when I when I first heardthat word, I had no idea,3000:02:19.699 --> 00:02:23.099I didn't know what it was,but but now I do it. So3100:02:23.740 --> 00:02:29.500I think sidewalk counseling is being onthe sidewalk in front of an abortion center3200:02:29.659 --> 00:02:36.169where dozens or more babies are dyingevery day, and counseling or pleading with3300:02:36.569 --> 00:02:42.610truth, God's truth, to themom's that this is something they should not3400:02:42.810 --> 00:02:46.639do and that there's hope and helpavailable to yeah, I know some people,3500:02:46.639 --> 00:02:50.639because we talked a little bit aboutthis before we started the podcast,3600:02:51.280 --> 00:02:55.919and even some of our pro bowlportion friends have have kind of wondered why3700:02:55.919 --> 00:03:00.629do you, why do you callyourself counselors? You're not really a counselor.3800:03:00.789 --> 00:03:04.110You know, you have to gothrough training and go through school in3900:03:04.189 --> 00:03:07.349order to be a counselor. Andwhat they're talking about of courses, they're4000:03:07.349 --> 00:03:10.550talking about like clinical psychologist and thesesort of things. So why would we4100:03:10.750 --> 00:03:15.780use a term like counselor when we'retalking about the issue of abortion and we're4200:03:15.780 --> 00:03:20.620talking about engaging with women going intoan abortion center? Sure, and and4300:03:20.740 --> 00:03:23.979that was another thing when I firstread and I saw it on facebook with4400:03:24.139 --> 00:03:28.770one of my friends who called herself sidebought counselor, and I had actually4500:03:28.770 --> 00:03:31.129the same response. I'm like,no, you're not, not a counselor.4600:03:31.210 --> 00:03:36.689I know you don't have a degreein counseling, but but indeed,4700:03:36.930 --> 00:03:42.759really, if you go to thescripture, we are we're counseling with the4800:03:42.840 --> 00:03:46.400word of God, and some scripturereally popped out at me as we were4900:03:46.479 --> 00:03:51.439discussing this. One of those issome one hundred and nineteen twenty four,5000:03:52.240 --> 00:03:59.509which says your testimonies are my delight, they are my counselors. So we5100:03:59.870 --> 00:04:02.789have as believers, we have theword of God, the Holy Spirit,5200:04:02.949 --> 00:04:08.150living within us, and it shouldbe our delight, and that is what5300:04:08.349 --> 00:04:14.180counsels us and what we now havethat we know is of great value and5400:04:14.300 --> 00:04:19.259probably truly, I believe the onlyanswer to the abortion crisis is is to5500:04:19.379 --> 00:04:26.930then counsel others as we have beencounseled by the Holy Spirit. And there's5600:04:26.930 --> 00:04:30.850another one. It's sort of likeJesus is saying to his disciples, freely,5700:04:30.930 --> 00:04:36.410you have received so freely, giveso the wonderful counselor Jesus. He's5800:04:36.410 --> 00:04:44.160changed our lives and counseled us intoeternal life by his holy spirit. We're5900:04:44.240 --> 00:04:46.879just taken what he's spoken to usand we're trying to speak that to other6000:04:46.920 --> 00:04:50.759people, really speak to that Gospelcentered we're here not just as humanitarian effort,6100:04:50.879 --> 00:04:56.910we're here as Gospel proclaimers at theabortion centers come it's that's right.6200:04:56.990 --> 00:05:00.750Yeah, yeah, yeah, andwe are not trying to pretend that we6300:05:00.870 --> 00:05:06.180have a degree. Yeah, butwe do have knowledge of the Lord and6400:05:06.379 --> 00:05:11.939of and the Holy Spirits, guidance. And it was that. That next6500:05:11.939 --> 00:05:18.100scripture, you can time this isproverbs twenty four six, and remember what's6600:05:18.139 --> 00:05:25.970happening now there on the sidewalk ofthe abortion center is warfare. It is6700:05:26.129 --> 00:05:30.610spiritual warfare. You, you,you are right there where the battle of6800:05:30.730 --> 00:05:35.519good and evil is happening in theheavenly realms. And and so this verse6900:05:35.639 --> 00:05:42.639says in Verse Six, Again ProverbsTwenty four, for by wise guidance you7000:05:42.800 --> 00:05:48.000can wage your war, and inabundance of counselors there is victory. And7100:05:48.319 --> 00:05:56.110so when we're waging a spiritual war, scripture says that that we are counseling7200:05:56.230 --> 00:06:00.709each other. We are counseling eachother towards how to engage in that battle7300:06:00.470 --> 00:06:06.060and and it is in that abundanceof counselors that there is victory. So7400:06:06.100 --> 00:06:12.500I think that's the sense that counseloris used in sidewalk. Counselor we are7500:06:13.019 --> 00:06:18.930we are counseling from the the counselingthat the Holy Spirit has has given us.7600:06:19.129 --> 00:06:21.889And Yeah, that is that's whatwe are off. Yeah, I7700:06:21.930 --> 00:06:26.810mean if you think about counselor whenwe when we talk about, you know,7800:06:27.009 --> 00:06:33.040a clinical psychologist or we talk abouta counselor that you sit down with,7900:06:33.319 --> 00:06:36.600you know, in a crisis ora difficult situation, that's really what8000:06:36.639 --> 00:06:40.639we're talking about. Somebody who sitsdown with you in a crisis or some8100:06:40.759 --> 00:06:44.279of it, that converses with youin a crisis and talks you through that8200:06:44.439 --> 00:06:48.670crisis and helps you to get onyour feet and gives you some some things,8300:06:48.870 --> 00:06:53.269some tips, some some to do'sand those sort of things to help8400:06:53.310 --> 00:06:57.230you get over that slamp. Iguess we get through that crisis and then8500:06:57.389 --> 00:07:02.339thrive in spite of that crisis,and that's exactly what we're doing in that8600:07:02.620 --> 00:07:06.259sense right. As far as counselors? Yeah, I want to read this8700:07:06.300 --> 00:07:11.500scripture ahead. I mentioned again aswe were talking through before, this podcast,8800:07:11.980 --> 00:07:19.689which is in Second Timothy and itssecond Timothy Three starts at sixteen and8900:07:19.810 --> 00:07:24.290goest verse seventeen. It says allscripture is given by inspiration of God.9000:07:24.529 --> 00:07:28.490So it speaks to the scripture thatthe Bible is our is the key for9100:07:28.649 --> 00:07:32.600our our ministry. Right, I'llscriptures given by inspiration of God and is9200:07:32.680 --> 00:07:39.279profitable for doctrine, for reproof.Doctrine could mean could be teaching. It's9300:07:39.319 --> 00:07:44.829not just it's primarily talking about teachingto do with theology and those sort of9400:07:44.870 --> 00:07:47.990things, but it can mean otherteaching as well. Profitable for doctrine,9500:07:47.990 --> 00:07:54.230for reproof, for Correction, forinstruction in righteousness, that the man of9600:07:54.310 --> 00:07:58.899God may be complete, thoroughly equippedfor every good work. So it's basically9700:07:58.980 --> 00:08:03.779when we have the word of Godwe're thoroughly equipped for every good work.9800:08:03.899 --> 00:08:09.939So we don't need no one's sayingthat going to school and getting degrees and9900:08:09.019 --> 00:08:13.329stuff is bad, but if we'retrying to reach people in crisis and we10000:08:13.410 --> 00:08:16.689believe the Gospel is the answer,I don't need, you know, an10100:08:16.730 --> 00:08:20.449eight year degree in order to talkto someone in crisis and share with them10200:08:20.490 --> 00:08:24.490what the answer is, because Iknow the answer is Jesus Christ right.10300:08:24.649 --> 00:08:28.160So that's sort of that. Youknow. That that aspect of sidewalk counseling.10400:08:28.759 --> 00:08:35.000We even have a few of oursidebot counselors who are counselors literally trained10500:08:35.039 --> 00:08:39.960and degreed in counseling, and theystill come to us for training and the10600:08:41.080 --> 00:08:48.350experience Orians of how you approach momwho is there to aboard. So with10700:08:48.590 --> 00:08:52.029all of their training, it's great. There are some things that they have10800:08:52.269 --> 00:08:56.340learned as a counselor that are definitelygood, like framework or techniques to use10900:08:56.419 --> 00:09:01.139with those MOMS, asking questions,finding out the situation, being sure that11000:09:01.220 --> 00:09:07.340you're a good listener, those sortsof things. But but, like you11100:09:07.500 --> 00:09:11.529said, we don't need to havea degree and we're not claiming to be11200:09:13.090 --> 00:09:18.610a degreed counselor. We are claimingthat we have the power of the Holy11300:09:18.690 --> 00:09:22.330Spirit to counsel others and everyone whohas the Holy Spirit in dwelling them has11400:09:22.450 --> 00:09:28.480that that power. Yeah, anotheraspect of counseling, you know, as11500:09:28.559 --> 00:09:33.840talking earlier about. You know,so we look at counseling and what is11600:09:33.840 --> 00:09:39.870a counselor counselor is someone who whois talking you through an issue and and11700:09:39.470 --> 00:09:43.549helping you to come to certain conclusions. Right, right. But when we11800:09:43.629 --> 00:09:48.230talk about legal counsel, we talkabout lawyers. Lawyers are counselors, right,11900:09:48.350 --> 00:09:52.820I mean the judge might address alawyer as counsel. So, counsel,12000:09:52.899 --> 00:09:56.980what is your what's your motion andthat? So that's another aspect of12100:09:58.139 --> 00:10:03.340counseling and it comes right out ofproverbs thirty one versus eight nine, which12200:10:03.419 --> 00:10:07.330and these when you read this passageof Scripture and also the proverbs twenty four12300:10:07.330 --> 00:10:11.730passage, we're talking about, youknow, rescue those who are being led12400:10:11.769 --> 00:10:15.370away to slaughter. This sort ofspeaks in that same the same terms,12500:10:15.409 --> 00:10:20.129but it uses really legal terms andit says open your mouth for the speechless12600:10:20.169 --> 00:10:22.840and the cause, or it couldbe the case like a judicial case,12700:10:24.440 --> 00:10:26.519and the cause of all who areappointed to die. Open your mouth,12800:10:26.919 --> 00:10:31.440judge righteously. That we're talking aboutmaking judgments. It's as judge righteously and12900:10:31.559 --> 00:10:35.870plead the cause of the poor andneedy. The pleading part is the counseling13000:10:35.909 --> 00:10:39.909part. Like what does a law. You're doing. He is. He13100:10:39.110 --> 00:10:46.110is counsel for those who are potentiallygoing to be condemned to a particular sentence,13200:10:46.509 --> 00:10:48.309and this case we're talking about ababy who's going to be condemned to13300:10:48.470 --> 00:10:52.299death, and we are a counseloron behalf of that baby. That's like13400:10:52.379 --> 00:10:56.860a legal counselor sort of. We'relike laying out of thanks that child's like13500:10:56.940 --> 00:11:00.659exact exactly. We are laying outa case and in this case the judge13600:11:00.700 --> 00:11:05.210is actually the mom. The judgewho gives the sentence is the MOM,13700:11:05.289 --> 00:11:09.850and we're trying to appeal to thejudge. People talk about don't judge.13800:11:09.370 --> 00:11:15.169The reality is that the MOMS thatare going into abortion clinics are actually judging13900:11:15.210 --> 00:11:20.000their babies in certain ways, andI don't believe that it's always malicious and14000:11:20.080 --> 00:11:24.320it's alway always thought out in thoseways, but practically the way that it14100:11:24.440 --> 00:11:28.080works itself out is she is ajudge toward that baby and we're appealing to14200:11:28.200 --> 00:11:33.110her and saying, hey, judge, hey mom, these are the reasons14300:11:33.149 --> 00:11:37.750why your baby doesn't deserve to right. And then there's three sort of points14400:11:37.750 --> 00:11:41.669that we talked about constantly, whichare what God says about this, the14500:11:41.750 --> 00:11:45.470humanity of the baby and the resourcesthat are available to the mother, or14600:11:45.549 --> 00:11:48.539sort of like how we lay outa legal case in that way. We14700:11:48.700 --> 00:11:50.860talk about those, you know,in our trainings we talk about those on14800:11:50.980 --> 00:11:56.700the sidewalks for lifesite and what arethose, those three points, and how14900:11:56.740 --> 00:12:00.500do you apply them? But thatthat comes right out of this sort of15000:12:00.539 --> 00:12:05.289mentality of being a counselor legal counselorwill be half of that baby. You15100:12:05.370 --> 00:12:09.730know, and I was thinking asyou were talking, that we are the15200:12:09.210 --> 00:12:13.370council for the defense, yeah,of the baby. Well, there's another15300:12:13.529 --> 00:12:18.240group that's, in a sense,the council for the other side. Yeah,15400:12:18.279 --> 00:12:20.720but execution. That's right, thatare prosecuting that baby, and those15500:12:20.759 --> 00:12:26.879voices are loud and they are powerfulbecause they have access to those moms that15600:12:28.039 --> 00:12:31.509we don't have. They often havethe law supporting them, at least in15700:12:31.710 --> 00:12:35.750our city, and ways that sothey have access, again, legally,15800:12:35.950 --> 00:12:41.230that that we find we don't have. And and they're arguing the other side.15900:12:41.309 --> 00:12:43.899They're saying that this is so,it's easy, it will solve all16000:12:43.980 --> 00:12:48.179your problems. Those curs are theones that are making money off of them.16100:12:48.259 --> 00:12:54.700They were, sadly, exactly,and so they there's there's no other16200:12:54.820 --> 00:12:58.850voice if that baby's to get afair trial. If you're talking about it16300:12:58.929 --> 00:13:03.129kind of in a legal sense andthere are people pleading in the case where16400:13:03.169 --> 00:13:07.409there's plenty of voices. But yeah, the case for death and the sidebalt16500:13:07.450 --> 00:13:11.690counselor is pleading the case for life. Yeah, and in one sense,16600:13:11.769 --> 00:13:15.480you know, with the like,in a legal sense, the burden of16700:13:15.639 --> 00:13:22.480proof is on the prosecution and thedefault is innocent and depriven guilty. Unfortunately,16800:13:22.600 --> 00:13:26.190in the situation that we're dealing with, which is really an uphill battle,16900:13:26.230 --> 00:13:31.149yeah, that baby is assumed guiltyand we have to lay out a17000:13:31.230 --> 00:13:33.389case of their of their innocence.Now, again, I'm not saying this17100:13:35.230 --> 00:13:37.629and I'm not saying that on theMOM's part. For the most part,17200:13:37.710 --> 00:13:41.539these women are not thinking it throughin this way. They're not maliciously like17300:13:41.740 --> 00:13:46.740laying out this this thing where theywant to judge their baby. It's really17400:13:46.179 --> 00:13:50.500there are circumstances are dictating to themand they're there's fear that they're under.17500:13:52.500 --> 00:13:56.970Is really dictating to them that thisbaby doesn't deserve now it is. It's17600:13:56.049 --> 00:14:00.210sin and we need to come backthat with the truth, with the Gospel.17700:14:01.049 --> 00:14:05.850But since we're fighting uphill battle andsince our appeal is to the mother,17800:14:05.850 --> 00:14:11.039we, as sidewalk counselors, arehave to be careful in our in17900:14:11.120 --> 00:14:15.159our wording, and that's sort ofwhere, you know, when we start18000:14:15.200 --> 00:14:18.639our trainings and we talk about forpeople who are just brand new to volunteering18100:14:18.720 --> 00:14:22.480with us, when we talk aboutwhat sidewalk counseling is, we actually typically18200:14:22.519 --> 00:14:26.950start with what sidewall counseling is,not exactly, which is, you know,18300:14:26.029 --> 00:14:31.750we get accused on a regular basisand if you searched sidewalk counseling,18400:14:31.110 --> 00:14:33.789I don't know if you have onGoogle, but if you search sidewalk counseling,18500:14:35.190 --> 00:14:39.980you'll find several articles. You'll findsome about real sidewalk counseling and what18600:14:39.059 --> 00:14:43.860sidewall counselors are, and some positive, but you also find sidewalk counseling is18700:14:43.860 --> 00:14:48.100sidewalk harassment, you know, andso they paint this picture. I think18800:14:48.100 --> 00:14:52.409there's an article, and I mayeven actually be in that article on Cosmopolitan18900:14:52.490 --> 00:14:56.889magazine. They talked about thee thesesidewalk harassers. They're not sidewall counselors.19000:14:56.929 --> 00:15:03.009They're harassers, and so when wetalk about what sidewalk counseling is, we19100:15:03.210 --> 00:15:07.919oftentimes begin with what sidewalk counseling isnot in our training and it's not harassment19200:15:07.000 --> 00:15:11.240and it's not just yelling at womenand it's not a protest. They are19300:15:11.320 --> 00:15:18.000protests that take place at abortion clinicsand those are fine in some context and19400:15:18.159 --> 00:15:22.269as long as they don't overlap whatsidewalk counselors you're trying to do. But19500:15:22.350 --> 00:15:24.669that's not what side will counseling is. It's literally pleading with the women,19600:15:26.029 --> 00:15:30.029appealing to them, because then we'resort of beholding to that mother. So19700:15:30.190 --> 00:15:33.350we don't want to be overthetop,we don't want to be yelling just accusatory19800:15:33.389 --> 00:15:37.100statements. Your Amer don't murder yourbaby. We want them to come to19900:15:37.139 --> 00:15:41.139us. Yeah, right, ifyou hear that. Yeah, called that20000:15:41.179 --> 00:15:43.700out, and so that's where youknow, with it with a counselor.20100:15:43.139 --> 00:15:48.259And I'm you know, I've beenin several counseling situations as a pastor and20200:15:48.419 --> 00:15:52.769with friends that have struggles and thingslike that and had to counsel. You20300:15:52.850 --> 00:15:56.450know, I've had times where I'mcounseling with somebody, body and they're shared20400:15:56.529 --> 00:16:00.850with me a story and I wantto stand up and say you need to20500:16:00.929 --> 00:16:03.960repent, you're a wicked person.You you, you need to get it20600:16:04.039 --> 00:16:08.320right. But if I'm counseling withsomeone and I want there to be a20700:16:08.480 --> 00:16:15.039productive taking the information that I'm givenin it being received in a productive way,20800:16:15.720 --> 00:16:19.029I want to deliver it in away that they're actually going to listen20900:16:19.029 --> 00:16:23.070to what I'm saying. If I'mjust accusatory, yeah, I'm not necessarily21000:16:23.230 --> 00:16:30.230technically wrong if what I'm saying isbiblical, but I might just be practically21100:16:30.309 --> 00:16:33.740missing the mark because I'm not deliveringit in a way that they're actually going21200:16:33.779 --> 00:16:37.259to receive it. Yeah, andultimately they have to come to that conclusion.21300:16:37.700 --> 00:16:41.259If we just say what the conclusionis, which is what you do,21400:16:41.340 --> 00:16:44.340if you say you're a murderer,that's evil, that's in that is21500:16:44.379 --> 00:16:48.169all true. Yeah, but ifwe say that and they haven't come to21600:16:48.769 --> 00:16:52.490realize that on their own and theirown spirit be convicted in their own heart,21700:16:53.210 --> 00:16:56.929they'll just be back. Yeah.So, so part of a good21800:16:57.090 --> 00:17:04.279sidewalk counselor's job is to present thethe arguments, the questions in such a21900:17:04.400 --> 00:17:08.920way that that woman will think herheart will be convicted and she will come22000:17:10.079 --> 00:17:15.750to change her mind based on theevidence that we are bringing. Yeah,22100:17:15.069 --> 00:17:19.150to the case. Yeah, whichkind of goes into maybe you can talk22200:17:19.190 --> 00:17:25.470about this. The sidewalk counselors aretrained, there is training, there are22300:17:25.630 --> 00:17:33.579things that are preparation and necessity fora good sidewalk counselor, and so maybe22400:17:34.299 --> 00:17:37.259you could talk about some of thosethings, like what are some of the22500:17:37.299 --> 00:17:41.980things we need to know to beable to share with that woman so that22600:17:42.099 --> 00:17:45.769we can effectively plead the case yeah, for that baby. Well, I22700:17:45.849 --> 00:17:49.970mean those three talking points lemented earlier, like key, which is what God22800:17:51.130 --> 00:17:55.210says about this and what God saysabout abortion. What God says about the22900:17:55.329 --> 00:17:57.599mom that he loves her, thehe has good plans for her, he23000:17:57.720 --> 00:18:00.720wants her to trust in him.What God says about that baby, that23100:18:00.839 --> 00:18:04.559that baby is a precious gift fromhim, that that baby is made in23200:18:04.680 --> 00:18:08.079his image. Of that's kind ofwhat God says about it. Then the23300:18:08.160 --> 00:18:12.430humanity of the baby. It reallyhelps for US sidewall counselors to be informed23400:18:12.470 --> 00:18:19.029about fetal development absolutely and if youdon't know about fetal development, listen,23500:18:19.230 --> 00:18:22.509Google it. It's so easy tofind in our literature that we hand out23600:18:22.549 --> 00:18:27.099fetal development. It's there. It'sfrom secular sources. You can find fetal23700:18:27.099 --> 00:18:30.500debilt. What was the APP youmentioned the other day? Yes, see23800:18:30.619 --> 00:18:34.940baby and see sees baby. See, see, see with yours. See23900:18:36.180 --> 00:18:40.380baby baby is the name of theAPP and it's free. It is not24000:18:40.619 --> 00:18:45.250political, it doesn't take a prolife or a pro abortion stance. It's,24100:18:45.450 --> 00:18:49.009you know, it's just at probablyas unbiased. It just says the24200:18:49.289 --> 00:18:55.490fact. Yeah, but it showsvideos at every week of development and invariably24300:18:55.650 --> 00:18:59.680and their actual videos there, youknow, through ultrasounds. Yeah, babies24400:18:59.720 --> 00:19:03.200at every week of development all theway through to birth. And and so24500:19:03.359 --> 00:19:07.680many times when I show those momsthat video, those videos, that APP,24600:19:08.680 --> 00:19:15.509they're astounded because they don't know humandevelopment. Most of the pro abortion24700:19:15.589 --> 00:19:19.829people do not know the facts offetal development. And, yeah, and24800:19:21.029 --> 00:19:26.460most people are shocked at how developedat such a young age that little baby24900:19:26.900 --> 00:19:29.660is. Yeah, so that's youknow, that's sort of the second point,25000:19:29.660 --> 00:19:33.180the humanity the baby. And thenthe third point is the resources that25100:19:33.220 --> 00:19:37.700are available. And you know,locally we have connections with ministries all over25200:19:37.740 --> 00:19:41.490the city of Charlotte and beyond.But you know, in every city there25300:19:41.490 --> 00:19:47.250are organizations, their maternity homes,there are pregnancy centers, there are I25400:19:47.369 --> 00:19:48.930mean we even go for here inCharlotte and I know what it can be25500:19:49.049 --> 00:19:52.440like this across the nation. Andsure it is in some cities where we25600:19:52.480 --> 00:19:56.440have photographers that will give free babypictures and come and take baby picture.25700:19:56.440 --> 00:20:00.519I mean it's not a need,but it's like it just shows how people25800:20:00.519 --> 00:20:04.559are willing to take their skills andhelp women in need and whatever skill they25900:20:04.559 --> 00:20:07.549might have. We have financial counselors, yeah, that will sit down and26000:20:07.589 --> 00:20:11.990lay out a financial plan. Yeah, and I'm sure again that that kind26100:20:11.029 --> 00:20:15.869of stuff is available nationwide and youknow, and digging for those things can26200:20:15.869 --> 00:20:18.789be can be a little bit ofa challenge, but anyway. So there's26300:20:18.789 --> 00:20:21.900a sort of the three points thatevery sidewalk counselor should be informed. You26400:20:21.980 --> 00:20:26.460know. Another thing too, isunderstanding abortion procedures. Oh Yeah, you26500:20:26.579 --> 00:20:30.539know, one of the things Italk about a lot when I'm talking to26600:20:30.259 --> 00:20:34.220the women that are going into themen and they're going in is in the26700:20:34.299 --> 00:20:40.009reality is the abortion clinic knows itself. The abortion industry knows that the more26800:20:40.049 --> 00:20:45.690information you have about fetal development andabout abortion procedures, the less likely you26900:20:45.690 --> 00:20:48.529are to go through with an abortion. Therefore, when we give them that27000:20:48.609 --> 00:20:55.359information that talks about fetal development andtalks about abortion procedures and it's not graphic,27100:20:55.440 --> 00:20:57.599it didn't go into you don't haveto get an unnecessary graphic details,27200:20:57.960 --> 00:21:02.839but a mom does need to understandwhat her baby's about to go through and27300:21:03.000 --> 00:21:06.789she does need to understand that becauseshe's going to understand that after it takes27400:21:06.829 --> 00:21:10.630place and she's going to be horrifiedat what she had done. So that's27500:21:10.630 --> 00:21:12.349why they try to take that informationfrom them, that we get to them27600:21:12.349 --> 00:21:18.349and they try to squelch information.That's why plan parenthood vehemently opposed the videos27700:21:18.390 --> 00:21:19.779that came out back in two thousandand fifteen, I think it was,27800:21:21.180 --> 00:21:25.259when people went behind the scenes andthere were videos and they were descriptions of27900:21:25.859 --> 00:21:30.059these abortion doctors talking about, youknow, selling the baby parts. They28000:21:30.099 --> 00:21:33.849don't want that information to really getout in the public because they don't want28100:21:33.849 --> 00:21:37.490people to know that would potentially betheir customers, that they're actually killing babies.28200:21:37.490 --> 00:21:41.250They want people to still believe thatit's a Blob of tissue, clump28300:21:41.329 --> 00:21:45.769of sales and all that. Theystill use that garbage age old terminology,28400:21:45.890 --> 00:21:49.240Blob of tissue, clump of cells, which no embryologist was going to use28500:21:49.559 --> 00:21:52.400exactly. They don't. And theydon't use the word baby. It's product28600:21:52.480 --> 00:21:56.200of conception right, a room wherethey collect baby parts or pregnancy. They28700:21:56.240 --> 00:22:00.119do not use the word baby.Or in our facility they will be fine.28800:22:00.160 --> 00:22:02.150Yeah. Yeah, so, youknow, when we train, our28900:22:02.150 --> 00:22:04.309side will counsels, we training withthat sort of stuff. We the information29000:22:04.390 --> 00:22:07.069that we have. You know,I tell new volunteers, if you read29100:22:07.109 --> 00:22:11.549the information that we hand out andyou process that information and you memorize that29200:22:11.630 --> 00:22:18.420information, you will probably be moreinformed a field development and abortion procedures than29300:22:18.460 --> 00:22:21.700the people inside of the building,most of the workers, the worker bees29400:22:21.740 --> 00:22:26.019inside of that building doing the abortions. And that says a lot. But29500:22:26.140 --> 00:22:30.250we've had conversations with a lot ofabortion workers right and we know the limited29600:22:30.289 --> 00:22:34.289scope of information that they actually have. So yeah, so as far as29700:22:34.289 --> 00:22:40.529that's concerned, you know we havethat practical information, but we always encourage29800:22:40.529 --> 00:22:44.289our volunteers and any anybody. YouNo matter what context you're going to be29900:22:44.359 --> 00:22:48.079talking about the issue of abortion,you need to understand that this is a30000:22:48.119 --> 00:22:52.759spiritual battle. I mean it reallyis a spiritual battle. So us being30100:22:52.839 --> 00:22:56.359in the word, US knowing whatGod's word says, because, you know,30200:22:56.400 --> 00:23:00.710scientific facts are great. I thinkscience is on our side and this30300:23:00.910 --> 00:23:07.309area is no doubt. But ourfoundation has to be in the word of30400:23:07.470 --> 00:23:11.230God, because science can change itsopinion, it can do this and it30500:23:11.309 --> 00:23:14.380can do that. But if ourfoundation is in God's word and we see30600:23:14.380 --> 00:23:18.940what God's word says about human life, we see what God's word says about30700:23:18.019 --> 00:23:22.900even difficult situations. Right, heis our present help in time of need.30800:23:22.500 --> 00:23:26.500Psalm forty six, verse one.So on our shirts, right,30900:23:26.619 --> 00:23:29.849God, God is a refuge instrength, our present help in time of31000:23:29.970 --> 00:23:34.170need. Then we can speak faithin the situations and we can counsel from31100:23:34.170 --> 00:23:41.480a perspective of truth and a solidfoundation, which is God in his word,31200:23:41.359 --> 00:23:45.680to these women that are going intoabortion center. So we always will31300:23:45.720 --> 00:23:48.880encourage our volunteers to be in theword, to speak God's truth, speak31400:23:48.920 --> 00:23:53.799God's word graciously, in a waythat makes you approachable, but in a31500:23:53.880 --> 00:23:59.309truthful way, and that that mandoes so much work in a heart of31600:23:59.430 --> 00:24:02.509a mom who's in doubt when themor not she should go through with an31700:24:02.549 --> 00:24:06.630abortion. Yeah, just just theother day there was some mom who made31800:24:06.670 --> 00:24:11.180a hundred eighty degree turn around inher feeling about her child's based on the31900:24:11.259 --> 00:24:17.420council that she received car side.And when she pulled up she was crying.32000:24:17.859 --> 00:24:21.140She said she was frightened. Shehad a Bible in her car.32100:24:21.339 --> 00:24:23.329She claimed to know you, thecounsel she received Carside from, from you,32200:24:23.369 --> 00:24:26.529guess? Yeah, yeah, thatexactly from our from our team.32300:24:26.609 --> 00:24:33.289And and and so she was.She she felt trapped and in in the32400:24:33.410 --> 00:24:37.529decision to a board and she wasabout to pull in, but she was32500:24:37.609 --> 00:24:42.599count soled car side for fifteen minutes. Made a hundred eighty degree turn turn32600:24:42.720 --> 00:24:48.640around to where she actually said shewas not going to move from in front32700:24:48.680 --> 00:24:52.519of the driveway because no one shouldbe pulling into that place to abort their32800:24:52.599 --> 00:24:56.390child. So and she said beforeshe pulled away, she said, I32900:24:56.710 --> 00:25:00.549feel so much better now. Whatis the role of a counselor to lead33000:25:00.589 --> 00:25:08.660you to a mature, right decisionand plan for your life and so you'll33100:25:08.700 --> 00:25:15.819feel better about the choices that youmake and and o our measure of feeling33200:25:15.859 --> 00:25:21.529better, as if it is peace, contentment, joy what you have when33300:25:21.569 --> 00:25:26.970you are following the plans that Godhas set set for you. So,33400:25:26.049 --> 00:25:30.970so that was a successful sidewalk counselingsession. Yeah, you were able to33500:25:32.009 --> 00:25:37.640counselor from counsel her from death tolife and she left feeling a thousand percent33600:25:37.720 --> 00:25:41.960better because she knew she had madethe right choice. Yeah, yeah,33700:25:41.240 --> 00:25:48.079so it is, you know,counseling and trying to persuade people to make33800:25:48.119 --> 00:25:52.190a god honoring choice, a choicethat would honor there, their baby and33900:25:52.269 --> 00:25:56.910even honor there, there, there, themselves as a child of God,34000:25:57.069 --> 00:26:00.309as a person who's made in theimage of God. They may not be34100:26:00.390 --> 00:26:03.990a child of God at that time, right, but we certainly want to34200:26:03.190 --> 00:26:07.579a part of our counseling. That'swhy, you know, with Gospel Center34300:26:07.660 --> 00:26:10.579pro life, that's over, alwayspoint to the Gospel and we're going to34400:26:10.619 --> 00:26:15.299talk in in some future podcasts,maybe just do one in particular about how34500:26:15.339 --> 00:26:19.890to share the gospel with an abortionminded mom. But that's part of our34600:26:19.970 --> 00:26:23.730counseling, as well as bringing theGospel into the conversation. Yeah, and34700:26:23.890 --> 00:26:27.849showing how God can use the situation. It's not like every you know,34800:26:27.890 --> 00:26:30.650when a mom chooses life, everythingin her life is going to be Hunky34900:26:30.690 --> 00:26:36.000Dory. They're struggles, there's battles, but she has that solid foundation if35000:26:36.039 --> 00:26:40.519she surrenders her life to Jesus ofGod's truth and that relationship with him,35100:26:41.240 --> 00:26:44.880that we can, you know,in counseling, bring those truths to her35200:26:44.920 --> 00:26:48.190and she can, you know,put her give her heart to the Lord35300:26:48.349 --> 00:26:52.029and have that solid founder. Yeah, and I know when when I was35400:26:52.230 --> 00:26:56.390first reading about sidebot counseling them,like I said, I thought I didn't35500:26:56.390 --> 00:27:00.390know what it was and I thoughtit was presumptuous of them to call themselves35600:27:00.549 --> 00:27:04.460counselors. But the third thought was, do they have a right to be35700:27:04.779 --> 00:27:11.740there? I mean, these arewomen in crisis and my misconception was that35800:27:11.900 --> 00:27:15.769these women's mind their minds were madeup. They had already made a decision,35900:27:17.049 --> 00:27:23.329they had horrific circumstances, they werevictims and and who, why would36000:27:23.329 --> 00:27:30.480anyone feel they had a right asa Christian to be on the sidewalk at36100:27:30.599 --> 00:27:36.039this very terrible place in the inthese women's lives? But one of the36200:27:36.079 --> 00:27:41.319favorite verses that I think for me, addresses. That is proverbs eleven.36300:27:41.440 --> 00:27:47.950I'm going to going to read thatfor you. Where is it? Rescue36400:27:48.029 --> 00:27:52.150those? It's eleven and twelve.Actually rescue those who are being taken away36500:27:52.190 --> 00:27:56.549to death, hold back those whoare stumbling to the slaughter. If you36600:27:56.710 --> 00:28:00.099say, behold, we did notknow this. Does not he who weighs36700:28:00.180 --> 00:28:03.779the heart perceive it? Does nothe who keeps watch over your soul know36800:28:03.980 --> 00:28:10.019it? And will he not repayman according to his work? So we36900:28:10.140 --> 00:28:14.970are called, we are biblically called, to hold back those that that are37000:28:15.170 --> 00:28:18.009stumbling to the slaughter and we areto rescue those on their way to death.37100:28:18.049 --> 00:28:23.930How perfectly that describes these abortion mindedwomen and their little babies. And37200:28:25.609 --> 00:28:30.240we cannot claim we didn't know.Yeah, and this Bible says that.37300:28:30.519 --> 00:28:33.000Basically, you can't turn a blindof you cannot. Now, does that37400:28:33.160 --> 00:28:37.720mean everyone should be called to bea sidewalk counselor or is called to be37500:28:37.759 --> 00:28:41.109a sidewalk counselor no to I meanthere's a whole network of people that that37600:28:41.309 --> 00:28:48.190come together in in helping these theseMOMS, maybe once they choose life,37700:28:48.230 --> 00:28:52.349or in helping to prevent them fromever reaching the abortion center in the first37800:28:52.430 --> 00:28:57.140place, but to say we didnot know and just to pretend that abortion37900:28:57.299 --> 00:29:03.980is not the crisis that it is. God will judge us because we do38000:29:03.180 --> 00:29:07.140know. We all now. Yeah, yeah, that's a convicting scripture,38100:29:07.220 --> 00:29:11.569but it is you know, it'sbetter for us to know these truths and38200:29:11.690 --> 00:29:14.930to walk in these truths and tobe ignorant. You know, there's a38300:29:14.930 --> 00:29:18.089willful ignorance that I think, inthis day and age especially that Christians are38400:29:18.210 --> 00:29:23.319in if they're going to deny theslaughter that's taken place in our nation of38500:29:23.480 --> 00:29:27.119you know, sixty million plus babiesthat have died. And it is our38600:29:27.200 --> 00:29:30.720place, for those who have theword of God, like that Second Timothy38700:29:30.839 --> 00:29:37.240Passage says, it is our placeto bring correction and reproof, as it38800:29:37.359 --> 00:29:41.109says, those who have the scriptures. The scriptures are for doctrine, correction,38900:29:41.430 --> 00:29:48.869reproof instruction. So yeah, soit's good that we think we had39000:29:48.950 --> 00:29:52.099this conversation. Hopefully we cleared upsome of the misconceptions that people have and39100:29:52.859 --> 00:29:56.220you know, the goal is tohave people that are watching and people that39200:29:56.259 --> 00:30:03.220are listening equipped and in power togo and do whatever ministry God has called39300:30:03.259 --> 00:30:07.410you to do, bringing the Gospel, bringing the truth of the Gospel,39400:30:07.410 --> 00:30:11.369and wherever God has called you toin protecting the lives of the unborn.39500:30:11.930 --> 00:30:15.930So we appreciate all those who dolisten and those who watch and just pray39600:30:15.970 --> 00:30:18.450that you guys are blessed by theseepisodes. You can connect with us.39700:30:18.569 --> 00:30:22.160You can connect with me, Dparks at cities for Lifecom, as my39800:30:22.240 --> 00:30:26.920email address, Vicky is vicaci Orgat cities for lifecom. Go on our39900:30:27.000 --> 00:30:30.759website, CHARLOTTE DOT cities for LifeDot Org, actually, so it's a40000:30:30.880 --> 00:30:36.710dot org. Even there emails addressesorcom and you can connected with us there.40100:30:37.269 --> 00:30:41.950Also our sidewalks for life site,which, again was designed for equipping40200:30:41.150 --> 00:30:45.789and encouraging sidewalk counselors nationwide to justgo to your local Abortion Center and be40300:30:45.829 --> 00:30:49.140a Gospel Center presence there. Andthere's a lot of articles that were written40400:30:49.500 --> 00:30:55.259recently. A routin an article aboutunderstanding the mentality of an abortion minded mom.40500:30:55.420 --> 00:30:56.539We're talked about how they're under aspirit of fear. So go and40600:30:56.579 --> 00:31:03.819check that out. And that's sidewalksfor subwalks and number four LIFECOM and I40700:31:03.980 --> 00:31:07.009hope you're blessed by the information thatwe're putting out there. Hope you're blessed40800:31:07.009 --> 00:31:10.970by these episodes. Please you dropus an email, give us some suggestions40900:31:11.410 --> 00:31:15.970of future episodes that we could do, subjects that we could tackle, and41000:31:15.170 --> 00:31:19.079we again, we appreciate you,guys, watching and listening. God bless41100:31:22.319 --> 00:31:47.500use, mel use. Give me. Will cost me my life, but41200:31:47.700 --> 00:31:49.299now things too precious inside