Why Pro-life Pregnancy Centers Need to Be Gospel-Centered - Interview with Tara Quinn, Director of HELP Pregnancy Center

WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.600 --> 00:00:06.440 I Am Yours, I am yours, I am yours and me Lord, 2 00:00:06.919 --> 00:00:11.630 I am yours. Welcome to the Gospel Center pro life podcast. This episode 3 00:00:11.630 --> 00:00:14.990 we're going to talk with Tara Quinn, director of help pregnancy center in Monroe, 4 00:00:15.070 --> 00:00:19.030 North Carolina, about the necessity of the Gospel in pregnancy center ministry. 5 00:00:19.429 --> 00:00:34.460 Stay with us. I felt show passish touch your use. Today I have 6 00:00:34.579 --> 00:00:38.770 with me Tara Quinn. She's with help pregnancy center in Monroe and they're a 7 00:00:38.810 --> 00:00:42.609 partner Ministry of ours. On the sidewalks at the abortion centers here in Charlotte, 8 00:00:42.729 --> 00:00:45.289 they bring their mobile unit out, and so tea, just real quick 9 00:00:45.369 --> 00:00:48.770 introduce what your role is at help pregnancy center. How long you been involved 10 00:00:49.369 --> 00:00:53.600 in that sort of thing? We're just celebrated twenty eight years of Ministry. 11 00:00:53.759 --> 00:00:59.920 I actually started the center and it's a pro life work to let women know 12 00:01:00.039 --> 00:01:03.640 they have other choices, and so my role is really anything that needs to 13 00:01:03.719 --> 00:01:07.269 be done as well. That's how it started and as it's grown, my 14 00:01:07.469 --> 00:01:11.189 role is very diverse. Sometimes I'll come out to the sidewalk, not often, 15 00:01:11.269 --> 00:01:17.189 but sometimes I've been out here. Sometimes I feels like I'm always in 16 00:01:17.230 --> 00:01:19.579 a car going somewhere to meet other people with the same heart. That's about 17 00:01:19.620 --> 00:01:23.739 the vision of reaching the unborn. And then, and then my favorite part. 18 00:01:23.819 --> 00:01:27.140 She's being inside our doors and helping to equip the people that are in 19 00:01:27.219 --> 00:01:30.260 their serving so that we can reach the community. Yeah, yeah, so 20 00:01:30.659 --> 00:01:36.489 are you? You're the executive director of help pregnancy center or the President or 21 00:01:36.530 --> 00:01:40.129 whatever? You can all of that. It's all of the above and the 22 00:01:40.209 --> 00:01:42.730 servant leader there. Yes, yeah. Well, so in leadership, you 23 00:01:42.769 --> 00:01:48.079 know you you wear many hats and it's can be challenging to try to get 24 00:01:48.079 --> 00:01:51.959 everything done. Understand that dynamic for sure. One of the things, you 25 00:01:52.040 --> 00:01:55.000 know, I've seen with you. We've known each other for I don't know, 26 00:01:55.519 --> 00:01:59.319 is it be ten years or more at least? Yeah, and one 27 00:01:59.359 --> 00:02:02.670 of the things I've always appreciated about you is sort of the servant leadership, 28 00:02:02.790 --> 00:02:07.189 The Servant Heart that you have and the end, the understanding that you know, 29 00:02:07.270 --> 00:02:10.949 we're in ministry, that we're not running a business, we're not running, 30 00:02:12.389 --> 00:02:15.189 you know, just five hundred, one, c three will, running 31 00:02:15.270 --> 00:02:17.699 a ministry. This is a ministry that's about Jesus and that's someone what I 32 00:02:17.819 --> 00:02:21.300 want to talk to you about because you have a heart, you've been running 33 00:02:21.300 --> 00:02:25.219 a pregnancy center for almost thirty years and that says something the successful pregnancy center 34 00:02:27.020 --> 00:02:29.699 with. I mean, you guys have got all kinds of stuff going on 35 00:02:29.819 --> 00:02:32.530 there. You've got a clothing ministry, you've got a prenatal clinic, which 36 00:02:32.610 --> 00:02:37.650 is awesome. You're doing the abortion pill reversals there now, which my wife 37 00:02:37.689 --> 00:02:40.849 is the nurse doing that, and then you had a mobile pregnancy center, 38 00:02:40.889 --> 00:02:45.960 which is the mobiultra sound unit that partners with us out on the sidewalks in 39 00:02:45.960 --> 00:02:49.439 front of the abortion clinic. You guys got a lot going on. Lord's 40 00:02:49.560 --> 00:02:53.599 obviously giving you some vision. The Lord's obviously given you some some backing from 41 00:02:53.639 --> 00:02:58.669 him, right and and that's that's awesome to see and I really feel like 42 00:02:58.870 --> 00:03:01.110 that you've got some things, which is why I wanted to have you on 43 00:03:02.030 --> 00:03:06.469 that you can speak to other pregnancy centers that you can speak near. This 44 00:03:06.550 --> 00:03:09.270 is Gospel Center pro life podcast. It's not just about sidewalk counseling. I 45 00:03:09.389 --> 00:03:14.139 want us to impact, you know, pregnancy center ministry, any any ministry 46 00:03:14.180 --> 00:03:16.500 that has anything to do with pro life. I want us to impact them 47 00:03:16.780 --> 00:03:22.180 with understanding that the Gospel is not just a sort of a side item in 48 00:03:22.300 --> 00:03:24.099 our ministry, but it is the focus. It should be the focus. 49 00:03:24.419 --> 00:03:28.330 It doesn't always mean we're shoving the gospel down. You know, doesn't mean 50 00:03:28.330 --> 00:03:30.889 that we're shoving the gospel down. People. Starts with everything we do a 51 00:03:30.930 --> 00:03:32.530 season with the Gospel and you have that heart. Will get into that a 52 00:03:32.610 --> 00:03:37.490 little bit as we as we get through the conversation, but I want you 53 00:03:37.530 --> 00:03:42.759 to share kind of how you got involved initially in pregnancy center ministry, maybe 54 00:03:42.840 --> 00:03:46.120 some of your story, some of your background and and yeah, just go 55 00:03:46.280 --> 00:03:51.199 for it. Well, I call myself if we're looking at my story, 56 00:03:51.319 --> 00:03:53.719 and I think my story reflects a lot of other women story. Yeah, 57 00:03:54.159 --> 00:04:00.150 I was one of those church girls, so I truly knew the Lord from 58 00:04:00.150 --> 00:04:04.710 an early age. But discipleship is what's so important. Yeah, it's not 59 00:04:04.949 --> 00:04:10.659 just a Sunday morning life style. It's what you do those other six days 60 00:04:10.659 --> 00:04:14.340 of the week, and so discipling is what makes a big difference for that 61 00:04:14.819 --> 00:04:17.420 in the heart of a believer. And so I was that girl that had 62 00:04:17.420 --> 00:04:21.579 gotten saved on an Easter Sunday and it was very vivid, very real and 63 00:04:23.860 --> 00:04:28.290 I remember it very plainly. But then the discipling and then life happens. 64 00:04:28.329 --> 00:04:32.850 And then we have people that go into high risk categories because of the struggles 65 00:04:32.930 --> 00:04:36.850 that can be in our homes and things. And so it's never about blaming 66 00:04:36.889 --> 00:04:42.240 other people, but God had a divine order and a structure and when that 67 00:04:42.480 --> 00:04:46.199 gets off balance, then it does put young girls at rest. Yeah, 68 00:04:46.720 --> 00:04:49.519 and so I really came from an at risk group of had parents, but 69 00:04:49.639 --> 00:04:55.509 alcohol was in my home strongly and and then there was some domestic violence within 70 00:04:55.670 --> 00:04:59.829 that and it wasn't towards me but between with my mother and father. And 71 00:04:59.990 --> 00:05:03.990 and so, you know, just those things were around me and and I 72 00:05:04.350 --> 00:05:08.779 there were. I had a good home on a lot of levels, but 73 00:05:10.100 --> 00:05:13.339 my parents sometimes I say they did the best they could. Yeah, and 74 00:05:13.699 --> 00:05:17.379 and so that's what I grew up in. And then when I got saved 75 00:05:17.420 --> 00:05:21.930 and I just I wasn't really discipled, I'd go to church even when parents 76 00:05:21.970 --> 00:05:26.970 and people weren't taking me. I take myself as a kid, and so 77 00:05:27.290 --> 00:05:31.490 I think it's always so important talking to Christians to understand your youth and kids. 78 00:05:31.610 --> 00:05:36.160 Ministries are so important. You don't always know. A child can come 79 00:05:36.319 --> 00:05:40.160 and look good at church and but you don't know what they're going back to 80 00:05:40.439 --> 00:05:45.040 and yes, sure, and so always have a heart for people to understand 81 00:05:45.040 --> 00:05:48.240 the power of working with our kids. And so I ended up in that 82 00:05:48.319 --> 00:05:53.550 act risk group, divorce and things in my home, and I never blame 83 00:05:53.670 --> 00:05:58.389 but I ended up pregnant as a teenager. Yeah, I dated somebody older 84 00:05:58.750 --> 00:06:05.060 and them we were engaged and I felt that that, you know, we 85 00:06:05.220 --> 00:06:09.779 justify seeing, don't wait. Sure, and and so he loves me, 86 00:06:09.939 --> 00:06:14.459 that makes it okay and all of that. And so I became pregnant and 87 00:06:14.860 --> 00:06:17.500 I went to the world for answers. Right. I didn't go to a 88 00:06:17.610 --> 00:06:21.449 youth pastor, I didn't go to parents. My parents loved me. They 89 00:06:21.490 --> 00:06:25.889 would not have thrown me away or kicked me out. But there's a lot 90 00:06:25.970 --> 00:06:29.610 of shame that goes with sexual seeing. Yeah, and a lot of guilt 91 00:06:29.730 --> 00:06:35.160 and condemnation and and so what happened? I ended up in the abortion clinic 92 00:06:35.439 --> 00:06:39.519 and I ended up in the one in Charlotte. There was a plan parenthood 93 00:06:40.800 --> 00:06:46.399 at that time and that's where I went. That was the only voice I 94 00:06:46.560 --> 00:06:48.550 was hearing. And I try and tell parents you need to be a loud 95 00:06:48.550 --> 00:06:51.509 voice with your kids, because the voices are out there and you need to 96 00:06:51.589 --> 00:06:56.189 make sure you're the one they hear the loudest. Yeah, absolutely. And 97 00:06:56.389 --> 00:06:59.269 so just kind of in the midst of that struggling, in the midst of 98 00:06:59.310 --> 00:07:00.310 that, you know, what am I going to do? The fear that 99 00:07:00.459 --> 00:07:05.540 comes from yes, you and unwanted pregnancy, and that drove you ultimately to 100 00:07:05.579 --> 00:07:11.899 the plan parenthood they did. And so what you immediately after that? Maybe 101 00:07:11.939 --> 00:07:15.620 there's a lot going on. You know, obviously may can't get into all 102 00:07:15.660 --> 00:07:19.170 of that, but sort of immediately after that was there was a regret. 103 00:07:19.529 --> 00:07:24.370 was there. You know, I needed to make better choices, I need 104 00:07:24.449 --> 00:07:27.610 to get right with God, get back right with God, and that sort 105 00:07:27.649 --> 00:07:30.079 of thing was going on in your heart at that time. Oh, Daniel, 106 00:07:30.199 --> 00:07:32.759 for me it was immediate. I mean before I ever left the abortionist 107 00:07:33.160 --> 00:07:39.000 table, I was convicted. And you know, repentance is a gift. 108 00:07:39.160 --> 00:07:42.920 brokenness is a gift from God, because as long as we're strong and we 109 00:07:43.040 --> 00:07:46.350 think we have this, then we don't think we have need God. Yeah, 110 00:07:46.509 --> 00:07:50.829 for me, I because I did know who god was. The brokenness 111 00:07:50.910 --> 00:07:56.470 was immediately for me. Yeah, and so and and you know, you'd 112 00:07:56.509 --> 00:07:59.540 like to think, oh well, good, life got back on track easy 113 00:07:59.660 --> 00:08:03.660 for you. It didn't, but I will say the mercy of God is 114 00:08:03.779 --> 00:08:07.180 what always Kelpt me in those hard places. And so for me that I 115 00:08:07.259 --> 00:08:13.529 remember that day. I was broken. I immediately knew that what I had 116 00:08:13.569 --> 00:08:16.730 done was wrong, and not just wrong, but as a believer, it's 117 00:08:16.769 --> 00:08:20.209 seein. Yeah, and that's different right and wrong. And then seeing us, 118 00:08:20.290 --> 00:08:22.769 they yeah, some sorry God. You know we like to tell God 119 00:08:22.850 --> 00:08:26.490 a lot. Oh, I'm sorry, but I don't think that's really what 120 00:08:26.610 --> 00:08:28.000 he's looking for. Right. Yeah, you know the word of God. 121 00:08:28.120 --> 00:08:33.159 You know it's about a brokenness, of repentance, of acknowledging you're Seein, 122 00:08:33.720 --> 00:08:37.559 and so I did immediately know that that that what I had done was not 123 00:08:37.720 --> 00:08:39.519 only wrong, but that it was sinful and I had taken a life. 124 00:08:39.799 --> 00:08:43.909 We see those women come out of clinics up here at latrobe. Oh yeah, 125 00:08:43.950 --> 00:08:46.470 on the regular basis. They're going in and and they have to do 126 00:08:46.629 --> 00:08:52.029 what they have to do and you don't understand my circumstances and we're like, 127 00:08:52.190 --> 00:08:54.629 but there's a better way. God's got answers, and they go, well, 128 00:08:54.740 --> 00:08:58.379 that's not for me. And then we see them come out in their 129 00:08:58.460 --> 00:09:01.059 heads are dropped. Yeah, they don't want to lick you in the eye 130 00:09:01.139 --> 00:09:03.220 or they're broken and they say things like Oh, I wish I would have 131 00:09:03.299 --> 00:09:07.460 listened. Yeah, for me, I didn't have the benefit of that that 132 00:09:07.659 --> 00:09:11.769 day. There wasn't a mobile unit parked outside of that plan parenthood. That 133 00:09:11.850 --> 00:09:16.049 day, for me, there wasn't a believer out there with a brochure. 134 00:09:16.570 --> 00:09:20.009 There wasn't a voice calling Tara, you don't have to do this, there's 135 00:09:20.009 --> 00:09:24.360 a better way. Yeah, I was a scared young girl that walked in 136 00:09:24.080 --> 00:09:30.480 and there wasn't anyone on the sidewalk. Do you think, and I'm it 137 00:09:30.559 --> 00:09:33.639 was hard to kind of look back and to know really what your response would 138 00:09:33.639 --> 00:09:37.399 have been, but you think if there would have been something will counselors, 139 00:09:37.440 --> 00:09:41.429 they're a mobile unit there offer Free Ultra Zone. You think that would have 140 00:09:41.509 --> 00:09:43.950 changed your mind? Oh, Daniel, that's why I believe in the power 141 00:09:43.990 --> 00:09:46.990 of that mobile unit that we have. I think that's why God was able 142 00:09:46.230 --> 00:09:52.740 to use me for that mobile unit to get started. Yeah, was because 143 00:09:52.860 --> 00:09:58.019 I did know the impact it could have made. See, I wasn't hardhearted, 144 00:09:58.340 --> 00:10:01.620 I wasn't like, well, bless God, you can't tell me what 145 00:10:01.779 --> 00:10:03.500 to do. Yeah, I didn't know what to do and you know what, 146 00:10:03.539 --> 00:10:07.090 I'm fifty six. I was sixteen. That's been forty years ago and 147 00:10:07.129 --> 00:10:11.850 Daniel, I didn't have a smartphone. I was asking if this is a 148 00:10:11.970 --> 00:10:15.769 life. But I remember the counselor. I had a plan parenthood that day. 149 00:10:15.769 --> 00:10:18.490 She was like, I said, is this a life? And See, 150 00:10:18.649 --> 00:10:22.120 I always wanted to be a mom. I was scared. I didn't 151 00:10:22.120 --> 00:10:24.799 want to be a teenage mom and if one person would have shown me a 152 00:10:24.879 --> 00:10:30.879 picture or said there are fingers and toes connected to this tissue, I never 153 00:10:30.960 --> 00:10:33.480 would have wanted to have killed a baby. Yeah, see, but I 154 00:10:33.679 --> 00:10:37.710 was buying the lie as this a baby or not, and my counselor said, 155 00:10:37.710 --> 00:10:41.750 will you define life? Yeah, and I thought, I'm sixteen, 156 00:10:41.830 --> 00:10:45.070 I'm asking you for questions, and you know when you're sixteen. She was 157 00:10:45.070 --> 00:10:48.230 probably about twenty five. She was. I remember that day. She's in 158 00:10:48.269 --> 00:10:52.539 a pair of jeans on a t shirt and I just remember she looked old. 159 00:10:52.059 --> 00:10:54.580 She seems so much older than me that I thought, well, if 160 00:10:54.620 --> 00:11:00.620 she does it, no, she's the expert here, she's there counselor whatever 161 00:11:00.740 --> 00:11:05.490 that meant to them. Yeah, and so I bought the lie because I 162 00:11:05.570 --> 00:11:07.850 needed to keep buying the lie to go through with what I went through. 163 00:11:09.450 --> 00:11:11.649 And the thing is is there's no truth that goes on in those clinics. 164 00:11:13.289 --> 00:11:16.570 Nobody wanted to tell me the trace of profit. It's a for profit organization. 165 00:11:16.769 --> 00:11:20.000 It is all about the money. It has never been about they cared 166 00:11:20.039 --> 00:11:24.360 about women. I think there are people in those clinics that are genuinely deceived 167 00:11:26.080 --> 00:11:28.879 and there might be some people in their thinking they are helping women, but 168 00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:33.629 it's really driven by money. Because you know what, Daniel, there was 169 00:11:33.750 --> 00:11:37.190 not a free abortion for me that day. Right sure, if, without 170 00:11:37.269 --> 00:11:41.029 my money, without a financial transaction, I would have had to have walked 171 00:11:41.029 --> 00:11:45.389 out that door that day because nobody had a had money sitting over there in 172 00:11:45.470 --> 00:11:48.500 the corner saying here, we love you enough, we'll do this for free, 173 00:11:48.539 --> 00:11:52.259 or will give you a some money to get this abortion. No, 174 00:11:52.620 --> 00:11:56.179 no, it's all about money. Yeah, of course. Now fast forward, 175 00:11:56.299 --> 00:12:01.299 you know, some years. Yes, that abortion and and you know, 176 00:12:01.610 --> 00:12:05.210 I'm sure, some struggles after that and then struggling with God and then 177 00:12:05.250 --> 00:12:09.929 ultimately your surrender to the Lord. And you surrendered your life early to the 178 00:12:11.090 --> 00:12:13.929 Lord. But really, you know, there's seems like their seasons and times 179 00:12:13.970 --> 00:12:16.960 in our lives where we recommit our lives to the Lord and then we commit 180 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:22.360 our lives to not just to the Lord in general but to particular calls and 181 00:12:22.559 --> 00:12:26.440 serve us to service. Yeah, and you committed your life to the Lord 182 00:12:26.679 --> 00:12:31.110 and service to women like you were at one point. Because, again, 183 00:12:31.149 --> 00:12:35.230 you know plan parenthood, they're not offering anything free, but there are literally 184 00:12:35.470 --> 00:12:39.429 thousands, tens of thousands of pregnancy centers around the United States of America that 185 00:12:39.590 --> 00:12:45.259 do everything they do for free. Current one of the things we actually are 186 00:12:45.340 --> 00:12:48.539 calling around in the area we have a resource guide for when we encounter women 187 00:12:48.580 --> 00:12:50.580 at an abortion clinic. I'm sure you guys have this, to different places, 188 00:12:50.659 --> 00:12:54.659 organizations that will help meet the needs that we can't, and so we 189 00:12:54.740 --> 00:12:58.250 actually called around medical places that will do like a sliding scale thing for women, 190 00:12:58.289 --> 00:13:03.090 and we call plan parenthood just to see what they would say and to 191 00:13:03.129 --> 00:13:05.809 see kind of if they had a sliding scale thing and and kind of contrast 192 00:13:05.889 --> 00:13:09.970 or some of the resources we found, and plan Brenthood, by the way, 193 00:13:09.129 --> 00:13:13.679 guys, does not offer anything for free. Everything that they offered there 194 00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:18.960 was a fee associated with it and we found at some of these sliding scales 195 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:22.879 is a complete rabbit trail. But but some of these sliding scale places, 196 00:13:22.919 --> 00:13:28.070 these medical clinics and what whatnot, were far cheaper than plan parenthood. But 197 00:13:28.149 --> 00:13:33.950 we with pregnancy centers, you know, with you guys with help pregnancy center, 198 00:13:33.990 --> 00:13:35.269 with the other pregnancy centers in the area and all over the United States. 199 00:13:35.429 --> 00:13:39.990 These are free services. That's these are free. You guys have a 200 00:13:41.110 --> 00:13:45.500 medical prenatal clinic, there's and all that stuff is free. I was not 201 00:13:45.700 --> 00:13:50.139 free. Obviously there has to be donors and people that that back that prays 202 00:13:50.139 --> 00:13:52.419 God for people like that, but for the women that come in it's free. 203 00:13:52.500 --> 00:13:56.529 And that was kind of your heart with open and hill pregnancy center. 204 00:13:56.610 --> 00:14:00.289 What was your heart? Maybe I'm just assuming, but well, my heart, 205 00:14:00.330 --> 00:14:05.450 Daniel, was I knew you're right. I didn't walk out of that 206 00:14:05.570 --> 00:14:09.649 clinic and just because I was convicted of my seeing, I did repent. 207 00:14:09.889 --> 00:14:11.759 I ask God to forgive me. But you have to realize I'm still a 208 00:14:11.960 --> 00:14:16.080 sixteen year old kid out here struggling, and so my life is a mess, 209 00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:20.480 but I have to go to back to school, I go to work 210 00:14:20.600 --> 00:14:24.629 the same day I had abortion, just to keep that lie up with my 211 00:14:24.830 --> 00:14:28.990 family that I'm good. I mean. So I had to keep pretending that 212 00:14:28.029 --> 00:14:35.629 I was good and inside I wasn't good. And so I struggled with yes, 213 00:14:35.750 --> 00:14:39.539 I knew enough of God's word. If I confess my sin, he's 214 00:14:39.620 --> 00:14:43.860 faithful and just to forgive us. That's a truth. That was true. 215 00:14:43.899 --> 00:14:48.740 It's still true, always be true. But so many times, with seeing 216 00:14:48.340 --> 00:14:52.250 we sit in judgment of our own self. Yeah, and and so we 217 00:14:52.610 --> 00:14:58.450 are trapped in that choice. We're not trapped about forgiveness, but we're trapped 218 00:14:58.570 --> 00:15:01.610 with the con sequences of that choice. Yeah, and the consequences of that 219 00:15:01.730 --> 00:15:05.409 choice, Daniel, is that I would always be a mom but I would 220 00:15:05.409 --> 00:15:11.360 never get to pair at that child on earth. Yeah, and so I 221 00:15:11.559 --> 00:15:15.799 went for about ten years because people didn't talk about it, even though I'd 222 00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:18.399 gotten into church and all of those things, serving the Lord, knowing the 223 00:15:18.600 --> 00:15:22.710 Lord. You did not talk about abortion and church and you were it was 224 00:15:22.830 --> 00:15:28.350 like putting this big unpardonable sin on your shirt, you know, and and 225 00:15:28.590 --> 00:15:31.590 you were that scarlet woman. So you didn't talk about it. So women 226 00:15:31.789 --> 00:15:35.740 have stayed so trapped in that aftermath and the pain of that. And so 227 00:15:35.860 --> 00:15:39.340 when I got freedom, you know me, I'm free about it. Yeah, 228 00:15:39.460 --> 00:15:43.259 I mean like I'm talking about it now and I don't. I'm not 229 00:15:43.379 --> 00:15:46.980 being judged by God and he loves me and he's forgiven me, and I 230 00:15:48.220 --> 00:15:50.450 just knew that what he did for me, Daniel, he wanted to do 231 00:15:50.610 --> 00:15:54.169 for other women. Yeah, and too many women walk in those clinics that 232 00:15:54.250 --> 00:15:58.129 should that they don't think they have other choices. When I was growing up 233 00:15:58.169 --> 00:16:02.210 in my town, there was not a pregnancy center. Yeah, had there 234 00:16:02.289 --> 00:16:04.960 of being, and I've walked in one and somebody would have lovingly sat with 235 00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:10.080 me and shown me that God had a plan for me and my baby and 236 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:15.159 that being pregnant didn't make my life over. Yeah, that I wasn't some 237 00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:21.389 bad girl. And so had somebody and come around me, put their arm 238 00:16:21.429 --> 00:16:25.110 around me, had shown me the truth and show me pictures of development, 239 00:16:25.149 --> 00:16:27.590 and I could never have gotten rid of my son or daughter. Yeah, 240 00:16:27.789 --> 00:16:33.220 so the ministry really got birth. I say it's Genesis Twenty of what the 241 00:16:33.259 --> 00:16:37.539 enemy intended for evil, God choosed for good. It was never God's plan 242 00:16:37.659 --> 00:16:41.220 for me to walk in see and get pregnant have an abortion so I could 243 00:16:41.220 --> 00:16:44.940 be here today. But in spite of all of that, because I turned 244 00:16:45.019 --> 00:16:49.210 to him then God can make good and turn beauty from our ashes. Yeah, 245 00:16:49.330 --> 00:16:52.970 it's also and so that's what he did with my life and I just 246 00:16:52.250 --> 00:16:57.049 was tenacious enough to say I can't be quiet any longer. And so it's 247 00:16:57.090 --> 00:17:00.049 like I say, I here, I am, Lord, Send Me. 248 00:17:00.330 --> 00:17:03.120 Yeah, I really didn't know what that meant when I said but I was 249 00:17:03.200 --> 00:17:08.079 twenty eight years old. And but it's been worth it. Yeah. So 250 00:17:08.920 --> 00:17:12.759 I want to talk about some of the things because you guys, you know 251 00:17:12.839 --> 00:17:17.190 you have a lot to offer at help pregnancy centers that some of the pregnancy 252 00:17:17.230 --> 00:17:18.910 centers that are just getting started may not have, you know, their pregnancy 253 00:17:18.950 --> 00:17:22.910 centers that don't you have the ultrasound capabilities and that sort of thing. But 254 00:17:22.950 --> 00:17:26.789 I believe with all of the pregnancy centers and just pro lifers in general, 255 00:17:26.829 --> 00:17:32.140 there are some things that you've learned and some of the things that you've experienced 256 00:17:32.180 --> 00:17:36.339 over the years just being involved in this ministry that would help you. Know, 257 00:17:36.420 --> 00:17:38.259 you can really I mean right now you have the opportunity to speak to 258 00:17:38.420 --> 00:17:42.420 literally thousands of people that would be listening to this podcast and speaking of the 259 00:17:42.460 --> 00:17:47.809 lives of a pregnancy center director that was like yourself. You know, twenty 260 00:17:47.809 --> 00:17:52.410 eight years ago and they're just getting started or they've been in this thing for 261 00:17:52.450 --> 00:17:55.730 a while. What are some of the things that you would just caution and 262 00:17:55.849 --> 00:17:59.400 some of the things that you would encourage a pregnancy center with? Well, 263 00:17:59.400 --> 00:18:03.319 Daniel, I think you started this podcast talking and calling about Gospel centered. 264 00:18:03.359 --> 00:18:07.839 Yeah, I think what we really have to realize and get back to. 265 00:18:07.079 --> 00:18:11.880 As wonderful as programs are, and you know we have a lot of programs 266 00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:14.990 in our ministry, we have a lot of classes, we offer a lot 267 00:18:15.029 --> 00:18:21.190 of discipling and as wonderful as those things are, we had three points in 268 00:18:21.309 --> 00:18:26.710 our foundation of building our work. It was one that it was to reach 269 00:18:26.829 --> 00:18:32.180 the woman that finds herself in an unplanned pregnancy and knowing that God has a 270 00:18:32.259 --> 00:18:36.819 plan, helping her and letting her defind what that is. We sometimes think 271 00:18:36.859 --> 00:18:38.980 the girls, the woman shows young and single own you know that's not true. 272 00:18:40.380 --> 00:18:45.369 You see married Christian women at the abortion clinic and and so it's to 273 00:18:45.490 --> 00:18:48.410 help that woman. She determines what an unplanned pregnancy feels like in her of 274 00:18:48.490 --> 00:18:52.849 what would desperately drive her to an abortion clinic. Maybe she's an abuse, 275 00:18:53.089 --> 00:18:59.359 abusive situation, Mary, maybe she's married to the abuser, or maybe she's 276 00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:03.680 not. Maybe maybe she is young and she feels her parents will disown her. 277 00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:07.160 You know, there's multiple reasons of why women end up here, but 278 00:19:07.200 --> 00:19:10.710 let's face it, it's because they feel hopeless, yeah, and helpless. 279 00:19:11.230 --> 00:19:15.269 And so it's so it's to help that woman. It's to help the woman 280 00:19:15.390 --> 00:19:21.829 that's already made that decision and then she has the penalty and the that she 281 00:19:21.910 --> 00:19:25.579 fills within her own life of the weight of that scene. And so she's 282 00:19:25.660 --> 00:19:30.019 broken and it's affected her life. So it's to help the posts aboarded woman 283 00:19:30.299 --> 00:19:33.779 to know that there's Bible Studies and God's word that we can put in an 284 00:19:33.779 --> 00:19:37.650 impart to her to receive healing. But really, the first call all should 285 00:19:37.690 --> 00:19:41.809 be on all pregnancy centers should be the gospel of Jesus Christ. Yeah, 286 00:19:41.890 --> 00:19:47.529 because, Daniel, I could not save myself. Yeah, I couldn't put 287 00:19:47.569 --> 00:19:52.000 myself back together, I couldn't heal myself. No other a husband couldn't do 288 00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:56.319 it, another person couldn't do it, even a preacher couldn't do it. 289 00:19:56.920 --> 00:20:00.519 Jesus was the only one that could bring healing. And if we don't all 290 00:20:00.599 --> 00:20:03.200 for these men and women that come through our doors Jesus Christ, then we're 291 00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:07.390 just a humanitarian work. Yeah, I'm not saying humanitarian works aren't good. 292 00:20:07.390 --> 00:20:11.789 I'm not being critical of them, but but the Lord early on for the 293 00:20:11.829 --> 00:20:14.950 work he's called me to. I know that opens a doorway for a lot 294 00:20:15.029 --> 00:20:18.990 of evangelism, but the Lord told me Tara, as good as humanitarian work 295 00:20:19.109 --> 00:20:22.099 is, and it's a good thing, as good as saving babies is, 296 00:20:22.579 --> 00:20:27.220 and it's a good thing, it's a humanitarian work without the gospel of Jesus 297 00:20:27.299 --> 00:20:33.619 Christ. Yeah, and so I think it's easy to get caught up in 298 00:20:33.740 --> 00:20:37.769 programs, but I think the Gospel. We have to keep it simple. 299 00:20:37.809 --> 00:20:42.410 We make it way too hard sometimes because we can go and make something look 300 00:20:42.490 --> 00:20:45.970 good. We live in a country where there's lots of resources. You can 301 00:20:47.009 --> 00:20:49.200 even get a lot of money and make something look pretty. But if we 302 00:20:49.319 --> 00:20:52.880 don't share the Gospel, then we really think we're the person that's going to 303 00:20:52.960 --> 00:20:56.359 fix them and save them. Yeah, and so only Christ can save this 304 00:20:56.519 --> 00:21:02.400 women. That's, you know, for Sidewall Counseling Ministry. You know, 305 00:21:02.519 --> 00:21:07.109 we have to always make sure that when we minister, we're ministering before the 306 00:21:07.230 --> 00:21:10.349 Lord, because it's easy. No, this is a kind of a little 307 00:21:10.390 --> 00:21:12.750 bit of a different dynamic. But it's easy for us to get caught up 308 00:21:12.750 --> 00:21:18.349 in ourselves and we get caught up in ourselves. The victories and the defeats 309 00:21:18.700 --> 00:21:22.220 we take ownership of. And so when that woman that we've poured into and 310 00:21:22.339 --> 00:21:26.420 we've shared resources and we shared truth about her baby and all that, and 311 00:21:26.539 --> 00:21:30.220 she walks into that abortion clinic, if we're you know, if we're not 312 00:21:30.740 --> 00:21:33.930 first minister into the Lord, we're going to get really discourage and we're going 313 00:21:33.970 --> 00:21:36.849 to think, you know, it's just, you know, whatever, whatever, 314 00:21:36.890 --> 00:21:38.569 we're going to blame it on. But it's not about blame and it's 315 00:21:38.609 --> 00:21:42.210 not about taking ownership of the ministry. It's about this is God's ministry. 316 00:21:42.410 --> 00:21:48.279 It is it's God's message that we're bringing. It's not our message and it's 317 00:21:48.359 --> 00:21:52.279 God's work in the hearts of these abortion mounted men and women that we encounter. 318 00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:57.839 And and so that's really kind of kind of Segue and into what I 319 00:21:57.920 --> 00:22:02.150 wanted to talk to you about, which is sharing the gospel with an abortion 320 00:22:02.269 --> 00:22:06.190 minded woman. What does that look like as far as a pregnancy center is 321 00:22:06.269 --> 00:22:11.470 concerned? Well, I think the I have so many of the the peer 322 00:22:11.589 --> 00:22:17.740 counselors there that say this is a wonderful place to share the gospel. They 323 00:22:17.779 --> 00:22:19.619 come to you. Yeah, you don't have to get out and go knock 324 00:22:19.619 --> 00:22:23.900 on their door. or it's just like the sidewalk counselors. They have to 325 00:22:23.980 --> 00:22:29.819 get out in the elements and the heat and the rank and all of those 326 00:22:29.859 --> 00:22:34.890 things and try and draw the me in where God's put us in a unique 327 00:22:34.930 --> 00:22:38.890 opportunity that they knock on our door. Yeah, they make appointments to come 328 00:22:40.009 --> 00:22:45.319 see us. So that's a unique place that we have. And so why 329 00:22:45.359 --> 00:22:48.839 would we not share the Gospel? Yeah, you know, for me instand 330 00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:53.079 why would we? It's why wouldn't we? Yeah, because their problems are 331 00:22:53.160 --> 00:22:56.319 great. You know, the women you serve on the sidewalk. When you 332 00:22:56.480 --> 00:23:00.869 hear why they want an abortion without Christ, you're like, well, her 333 00:23:00.950 --> 00:23:03.029 life's out of control. But we have to put we get to put, 334 00:23:03.190 --> 00:23:07.710 I tell people, we get to put hope back into hopeless situations. Yeah, 335 00:23:07.869 --> 00:23:11.029 so I can't fix somebody, I can't save somebody, but I know 336 00:23:11.109 --> 00:23:15.299 who can. Yeah, and so while I don't have all the answers, 337 00:23:15.339 --> 00:23:18.819 I know the one that does. And so they come in with so much 338 00:23:18.819 --> 00:23:22.460 brokenness. We have the good news. Why would be we be selfish and 339 00:23:22.859 --> 00:23:26.059 not share it with them? So for us it's just who we are as 340 00:23:26.059 --> 00:23:30.089 a ministry. So it doesn't mean we don't help somebody if they don't pray 341 00:23:30.130 --> 00:23:34.769 that prayer of salvation. We don't Bible thump them and beat them over the 342 00:23:34.890 --> 00:23:41.410 hedge and we don't like turn on them because they're not saying what we want 343 00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:45.200 them to hear. But we have to present the Gospel as believers. If 344 00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:48.039 we really do believe it's the good news, then why aren't we sharing it? 345 00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:52.240 So for us it's just an overflow. It's really the purpose of the 346 00:23:52.359 --> 00:23:56.589 ministry. And I say, you know the mission field, or the unborn 347 00:23:56.869 --> 00:24:03.190 and their parents of that, and it's like the Lord brings our people disguised 348 00:24:03.230 --> 00:24:07.549 as with unplanned pregnancies. Yeah, but but that's who we're called to are 349 00:24:07.589 --> 00:24:12.019 those women and men. Yeah, and so the the ultra saynds, the 350 00:24:12.099 --> 00:24:17.099 pregnancy test that close, the diapers, all that stuff. It's just like 351 00:24:17.460 --> 00:24:22.980 the it's the it's what draws them there. But the real thing that we 352 00:24:23.099 --> 00:24:26.890 want to give away most of all is the Gospel. And you know, 353 00:24:26.970 --> 00:24:32.089 Daniel, it's like you know, we have women that have come to US 354 00:24:32.089 --> 00:24:37.450 multiple times for multiple pregnancies. They've needed help and we share the gospel every 355 00:24:37.569 --> 00:24:41.480 time. And she may have come in twenty five times. See, she 356 00:24:41.559 --> 00:24:44.319 keeps coming back, so she does know we care about her. Yeah, 357 00:24:44.839 --> 00:24:49.359 and and you never know, it what part that it's their day for salvation. 358 00:24:49.400 --> 00:24:52.839 Yeah, so we don't pick and choose. So I don't want to 359 00:24:52.839 --> 00:24:55.829 tell her today. You know, I've told her ten other times because it's 360 00:24:55.869 --> 00:24:59.150 not about us. I think we make the Gospel be about US way too 361 00:24:59.230 --> 00:25:03.750 much when it's really about Jesus Christ. So you know, you never know, 362 00:25:03.910 --> 00:25:08.579 it could be that twenty second visit that she hears you and she's ready 363 00:25:08.619 --> 00:25:12.900 to accept the Lord. So we're just out there sewing. We're doing the 364 00:25:12.980 --> 00:25:18.059 kingdom work. We're doing I think we were told to go and make disciples 365 00:25:18.180 --> 00:25:22.809 and and I think it's just natural. It's what we all should be doing. 366 00:25:22.930 --> 00:25:26.849 Yeah, yeah, absolutely. One of the things that I see and 367 00:25:26.049 --> 00:25:30.049 just talking with, you know, pregnancy center directors or just kind of seeing 368 00:25:30.170 --> 00:25:34.089 things on a national scale, seeing stuff on social media and some of the 369 00:25:34.210 --> 00:25:41.839 things that I've experienced in prolife ministry. I've seen a lot of pregnancy centers 370 00:25:41.160 --> 00:25:47.680 sort of going away from a ministry gospel focused model to more of like a 371 00:25:47.960 --> 00:25:55.390 woman centered sort of almost position in themselves as sort of like a neutral voice 372 00:25:55.589 --> 00:25:57.670 in this thing. So when a woman comes to the pregnancy center, they're 373 00:25:57.670 --> 00:26:00.109 not really saying hey, don't have an abortion, they're just saying, well, 374 00:26:00.109 --> 00:26:04.980 here's your options and they're trusting the ultrasound, they're trusting medical facts, 375 00:26:06.259 --> 00:26:10.140 which are very powerful tools, for sure they are. They're trusting those things 376 00:26:10.299 --> 00:26:15.700 to change your mind rather than introducing this whole other, very vital element, 377 00:26:15.740 --> 00:26:18.690 which is the fact that there's a God and that God cares about that baby 378 00:26:18.849 --> 00:26:23.170 that they're considering happening an abortion and killing and God cares about them. Do 379 00:26:23.250 --> 00:26:27.049 you see that in pregnancy centers? Are you seeing that yourself and and if 380 00:26:27.170 --> 00:26:32.569 so, does that concern you and how you remedy that? It's kind of 381 00:26:32.569 --> 00:26:34.359 why I wanted you to have all have you on here actually? Well, 382 00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:38.839 yes, Daniel, after almost thirty years, I have seen some of those 383 00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:47.869 cycles and and I have had other directors really say you really mean you share 384 00:26:47.910 --> 00:26:53.390 the gospel with everybody, and to me it's foreign to think we would. 385 00:26:53.470 --> 00:26:57.349 And because what else do we really have to help them with. Yeah, 386 00:26:57.509 --> 00:27:00.740 I'm for me. If I understood the call that we were given as a 387 00:27:00.819 --> 00:27:06.460 ministry, it was to preach the Gospel. Yeah, so, okay, 388 00:27:06.660 --> 00:27:11.099 that's the call and pregnancy centers. But we don't do it well, I 389 00:27:11.220 --> 00:27:15.809 think then we're making the ministry be about US instead of about him. Yeah, 390 00:27:15.890 --> 00:27:18.690 and it's about God's kingdom and it's not about our own. And you 391 00:27:18.769 --> 00:27:22.930 know what, sometimes things are uncomfortable. Yeah, Jesus crosses all cultures, 392 00:27:22.970 --> 00:27:27.650 he transcends all of that. The word of God is true. You know, 393 00:27:27.769 --> 00:27:33.279 sometimes we change with different seasons and generations, but we don't change the 394 00:27:33.599 --> 00:27:37.200 truth of why we exist. Yeah, and so, yeah, do does 395 00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:41.920 it look different? Do you decorate different and all of that? Yeah, 396 00:27:41.960 --> 00:27:45.670 that's just the simple things. But sure, the Gospel has to say, 397 00:27:45.869 --> 00:27:51.630 center point. And I have been criticized as a director through the years that 398 00:27:51.869 --> 00:27:55.309 I'm too Gospel centered. And Yeah, and you know, you go to 399 00:27:55.470 --> 00:28:00.380 certain conferences and this group of people that are the professional somewhere say you shouldn't 400 00:28:00.380 --> 00:28:06.460 have scripture on your wall and because they feel like you're going to miss a 401 00:28:06.619 --> 00:28:11.700 group of people and defend and and I'm like, you know, the the 402 00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:15.849 we see so many prodigals that come through our doors. Yeah, you see 403 00:28:15.849 --> 00:28:18.690 them on the sidewalk. Yes, sure you're not the first time they've heard 404 00:28:18.690 --> 00:28:22.130 about Jesus. So when you're sharing scripture, you don't know that there's not 405 00:28:22.210 --> 00:28:26.930 a scripture that's been hidden in their heart as a little girl in Sunday school? 406 00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:29.960 And because you're going to give them odds word and not your own, 407 00:28:30.519 --> 00:28:34.440 that can be the very component he uses to stop that abortion. Yeah, 408 00:28:34.880 --> 00:28:38.759 so I think we don't have to rub it in their nose, we don't 409 00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:42.910 in their face. We don't have to be demanding with the Gospel. I 410 00:28:44.109 --> 00:28:47.150 just don't think we have to back down from it. Yeah, it is 411 00:28:47.230 --> 00:28:51.549 the power of God and to salvation. So there's no other way to say 412 00:28:51.950 --> 00:28:55.740 so. To me it's simple, but I have been criticized. I have 413 00:28:56.019 --> 00:29:00.180 seen through the years that they do want to make them look more like a 414 00:29:00.579 --> 00:29:06.380 woman's center, and I yes, women need help, but I think what 415 00:29:07.819 --> 00:29:14.250 we have overlooked in the early years and I do see a shifting and changes, 416 00:29:14.289 --> 00:29:18.049 and I know we have a stronger man's component at our work. This 417 00:29:18.250 --> 00:29:22.009 really should be a ministry about family. Yeah, you know, when we 418 00:29:22.130 --> 00:29:26.240 see more men come in with the women and I think as we make our 419 00:29:26.279 --> 00:29:30.279 centers more available for me and where they feel comfortable, like where we have 420 00:29:30.440 --> 00:29:34.400 a man counselor that's sitting there waiting on them to come in, they're a 421 00:29:34.559 --> 00:29:40.269 decisionmaker. Oh Yeah, this child is there's he is. I mean, 422 00:29:40.430 --> 00:29:42.829 we could go on and on. scripturally why his roles important, whether he 423 00:29:42.910 --> 00:29:47.829 knows how to fully step into it or not. But I think we've missed 424 00:29:47.910 --> 00:29:53.940 some things because we've not included the man component stronger and and so that is 425 00:29:55.099 --> 00:30:02.220 one thing that we've been doing the past year, is having male counselors available, 426 00:30:02.220 --> 00:30:07.250 peer counselors, and because it is so powerful, most men in our 427 00:30:07.329 --> 00:30:11.130 center will show up to see an ultra sound, right, yeah, and 428 00:30:11.329 --> 00:30:15.609 that's what they show up the most for, is that ultra sound. And 429 00:30:15.849 --> 00:30:19.849 so you know when another man can come alongside of them and they begin to 430 00:30:19.930 --> 00:30:26.400 hear the truth and reality of that's their son or daughter. Yeah, WE 431 00:30:26.519 --> 00:30:30.759 HAVE A we've missed, I think, that opportunity. But I think God's 432 00:30:30.799 --> 00:30:34.279 full circling that and I think he's stirring the hearts of pregnancy centers to encompass 433 00:30:34.359 --> 00:30:37.190 the men more. But we've missed it if we just say it's a woman's 434 00:30:37.349 --> 00:30:41.150 ministry. Yeah, yeah, I mean that's that's true. With you on 435 00:30:41.269 --> 00:30:45.109 the sidewalk and we see men show up with their girlfriends, with their wives 436 00:30:45.150 --> 00:30:48.869 or whatever. If I could reach him, then I can reach her and 437 00:30:48.950 --> 00:30:52.339 if I can reach him and persuade his heart to at least go in there 438 00:30:52.380 --> 00:30:56.339 and talk to her. I've seen men that I've talked to in the parking 439 00:30:56.380 --> 00:30:57.700 lot or you know that are standing in the parking lot. They come up 440 00:30:57.740 --> 00:31:02.019 the sidewalk and talk with us and I encourage him, which means I put 441 00:31:02.099 --> 00:31:06.089 courage into him. He's been deflated by the situation or by whatever is going 442 00:31:06.170 --> 00:31:07.890 on, and I put courage into him and I say, man, you 443 00:31:08.009 --> 00:31:11.970 can be the father God's called you to be. And I've put a pamphlet 444 00:31:11.009 --> 00:31:14.410 in their hand and I've watched them go into that door. Didn't happen all 445 00:31:14.490 --> 00:31:15.849 the time, but I've seen it. Where are they going that door? 446 00:31:17.210 --> 00:31:18.839 A few minutes later she comes out, they hug on the Front boarch and 447 00:31:18.839 --> 00:31:23.200 they've chosen life, because all she was wanting was for someone. She's scared, 448 00:31:23.880 --> 00:31:27.559 she's young, that's turn times and she doesn't have anyone that she thinks 449 00:31:27.720 --> 00:31:33.269 is on her side and if someone, especially that guy that she's submitted herself 450 00:31:33.349 --> 00:31:37.069 to in some way, would speak up, then she would leave that place. 451 00:31:37.109 --> 00:31:40.430 And there's a statistic out there and I always miss quoted it, but 452 00:31:40.509 --> 00:31:45.589 it's high, like eighty something percent of women that have had an abortion said 453 00:31:45.670 --> 00:31:49.420 that if the father, that child right would have spoken to them and in 454 00:31:49.740 --> 00:31:55.380 affirmed a decision for life, then she would have chosen life rather than went 455 00:31:55.420 --> 00:31:57.619 through an abortion. And so that that lets us know that this is not 456 00:31:57.660 --> 00:32:01.450 just a woman's issue. This is a man's issue as well, and I 457 00:32:01.490 --> 00:32:06.250 appreciate the fact you guys recognize that some. You know, I've heard of 458 00:32:06.289 --> 00:32:10.049 other pregnancy centers that are recognizing that and understanding the sort of the male component 459 00:32:10.130 --> 00:32:15.079 of this thing, because even after the abortion, men are affected. You 460 00:32:15.240 --> 00:32:20.079 see men who's you know whatever, I don't know if you call it a 461 00:32:20.160 --> 00:32:22.640 syndrome or whatever. You Have Post Abortion Syndrome that they've talked about for women, 462 00:32:22.680 --> 00:32:27.119 but have talked to men who have something going on in their hearts from 463 00:32:27.119 --> 00:32:30.190 abortions that they took part in or paid for or or at least knew that 464 00:32:30.349 --> 00:32:34.430 happened, for their girlfriend, you know, years and years ago and they're 465 00:32:34.470 --> 00:32:38.109 still carrying that weight of that, that decision with them. So this is 466 00:32:38.150 --> 00:32:43.109 a man's issue as well. I appreciate the fact you guys are are tackling 467 00:32:43.269 --> 00:32:47.259 on that, on that angle to you know, with that. I think 468 00:32:47.420 --> 00:32:52.380 you know just last couple of minutes here as we wrap up this this podcast, 469 00:32:52.779 --> 00:32:57.859 or there things that you would like to say in particular that we haven't 470 00:32:57.859 --> 00:33:04.369 touched on, to pregnancy center directors, to prolife ministers just in general that 471 00:33:04.450 --> 00:33:07.809 you think would be a great encouragement to him? I know, Daniel, 472 00:33:08.250 --> 00:33:12.730 we were the first in North Carolina as a pregnancy center to bring a mobile 473 00:33:12.809 --> 00:33:20.279 ultrasound unit to a sidewalk. Yeah, and and I think back during that 474 00:33:20.400 --> 00:33:22.480 time period people didn't understand that. They thought you had to choose, you 475 00:33:22.599 --> 00:33:27.309 had to be the sidewalk or be in a pregnancy center, and I don't 476 00:33:27.309 --> 00:33:30.190 think it has to be a choice. I think it's about the spirit in 477 00:33:30.230 --> 00:33:32.430 which we go to those places and serve. Yeah, so you know, 478 00:33:32.630 --> 00:33:37.789 I've had people want to be critical of sidewalk work and I just say, 479 00:33:37.309 --> 00:33:40.460 you know, if Jesus was walking the earth, that's where he would be. 480 00:33:40.779 --> 00:33:45.220 Yeah, that's where people are taking people to be killed every day. 481 00:33:45.779 --> 00:33:47.859 That's where he would show up to hurt these broken daughters of he has. 482 00:33:50.099 --> 00:33:54.890 And and so I think we get afraid of what others will think, community 483 00:33:55.049 --> 00:34:00.009 will think. I remember in the early years with our mobile unit, I 484 00:34:00.210 --> 00:34:06.250 had a very sincere director who was over a large, you know, a 485 00:34:06.329 --> 00:34:10.119 successful center, and another in South Carolina, and I remember her saying, 486 00:34:12.599 --> 00:34:15.639 well, what will your donors think? Yeah, I don't know how to 487 00:34:15.719 --> 00:34:21.280 think like that, Daniel, because I think we're called to be stewards, 488 00:34:21.320 --> 00:34:24.230 as leaders and we have to have accountability with funding and all of that, 489 00:34:25.030 --> 00:34:29.670 but we have to be obedient to Christ first. And I just looked at 490 00:34:29.710 --> 00:34:34.070 her and said it was a donor that gave us the money to buy our 491 00:34:34.230 --> 00:34:39.659 first unit. And and so I think it's about we have got to stop 492 00:34:39.780 --> 00:34:47.380 letting people that aren't inside our doors make the decisions for us. People who, 493 00:34:50.099 --> 00:34:53.090 I think guidelines and manuals and all those affiliations, I think they're great. 494 00:34:53.570 --> 00:34:58.570 We use them, we're affiliates with like heartbeat and some of those places 495 00:34:58.730 --> 00:35:01.210 they are and they do a great job with things. But we still have 496 00:35:01.329 --> 00:35:07.480 to let God speak to us about the work he's called us to. Yeah, 497 00:35:07.719 --> 00:35:12.599 and so it's great to have outside resources, but I would just challenge 498 00:35:13.119 --> 00:35:19.119 directors and board members to seek God about what he wants for your community. 499 00:35:19.119 --> 00:35:22.469 Yeah, and it's a great place to get the body of Christ involved, 500 00:35:22.630 --> 00:35:28.750 to serve and and we don't need to be working off of programs. We 501 00:35:28.869 --> 00:35:32.309 need to work off of God's heart and develop it around what he wants and 502 00:35:32.429 --> 00:35:37.980 not what we think. I've told people in our doors before as wonderful and, 503 00:35:37.500 --> 00:35:40.659 like you said, we've got a large clothing ministry. Some months we 504 00:35:40.820 --> 00:35:45.820 close the hundred plus children in our community. We have pack and plays and 505 00:35:45.980 --> 00:35:51.329 car seats brand new that we will purchase and they come and take classes. 506 00:35:51.730 --> 00:35:54.690 We have a lot of other things and I have always told everybody if we 507 00:35:54.889 --> 00:36:00.250 ever have to cut back on anything, as great as those things are, 508 00:36:00.690 --> 00:36:07.039 we weren't called to be the diaper factory. We weren't called to teach some 509 00:36:07.199 --> 00:36:10.519 of these other things. We first were called to the unboard and that will 510 00:36:10.599 --> 00:36:14.960 always be the call and the Gospel. Yeah, and so sometimes we go 511 00:36:15.079 --> 00:36:20.190 beyond what God called us to and we look it looks good, it looks 512 00:36:20.230 --> 00:36:24.230 successful, but true success is really only going to be what the Lord puts 513 00:36:24.309 --> 00:36:28.269 his seal on. Yeah, and we have to get past what man says 514 00:36:28.789 --> 00:36:30.789 and you have to hear the heart of God. For your own center, 515 00:36:30.829 --> 00:36:37.019 use the guidelines, use their resources, but just remember they're just some resources 516 00:36:37.300 --> 00:36:40.699 and nothing can ever substitute for what the spirit of God will tell you to 517 00:36:40.780 --> 00:36:44.619 do in your own community. Yeah, yeah, it's a good word. 518 00:36:44.739 --> 00:36:46.409 It's a good word not just for pregnancy centers. It's a good word for 519 00:36:46.449 --> 00:36:51.570 any ministry that we're involved in because ultimately, like you said, it's about 520 00:36:51.650 --> 00:36:54.050 Jesus. It's not about us, it's not about our personality, it's not 521 00:36:54.130 --> 00:37:00.329 about our our donors, it's about the Lord Jesus, and I appreciate that. 522 00:37:00.369 --> 00:37:05.840 I appreciate our friendship, appreciate the things that you've taught me just from 523 00:37:05.920 --> 00:37:09.480 your years of being in ministry, and appreciate, appreciate you guys. Heart 524 00:37:09.760 --> 00:37:13.760 again, the mobile unit. Having that in front of the abortion clinic is 525 00:37:14.119 --> 00:37:17.309 massively helpful, man. It's like a mobile pregnancy center right there. I 526 00:37:17.349 --> 00:37:20.469 don't have to say, Hey, there's a pregnancy center down the road, 527 00:37:20.510 --> 00:37:22.949 I say there's one right here. Just we've seen women step directly out of 528 00:37:22.949 --> 00:37:28.590 the abortion center parking lot and go on that mobile ultra sound unit and use 529 00:37:28.630 --> 00:37:31.579 life for their babies. Awesome, awesome resource, and I know it was 530 00:37:31.619 --> 00:37:35.940 a step of faith for you guys to do that. It was sort of 531 00:37:35.980 --> 00:37:38.139 like ignoring some of the opinions, I would say. You know, I 532 00:37:38.219 --> 00:37:42.300 can't prove this, but if I was a betting man, I'd bet you 533 00:37:42.500 --> 00:37:49.769 guys were probably the first, or one of the first pregnancy centers or organizations 534 00:37:49.849 --> 00:37:52.889 to put a mobile unit right in front of an abortion clinic. And and 535 00:37:53.250 --> 00:37:55.570 you know, it is an awesome resource. Now you have you know, 536 00:37:55.969 --> 00:38:00.519 there's saved the storks. There's a lot of pregnancy centers around the US that 537 00:38:00.599 --> 00:38:04.639 are doing this and, of course, with you, you know we talked 538 00:38:04.639 --> 00:38:07.199 about this before. You're like, this is sort of a no brainer, 539 00:38:07.239 --> 00:38:08.840 right. If we want to if we want to reach abortion minded women, 540 00:38:09.360 --> 00:38:13.429 where is the most consolidated group of abortion mine and women going to be? 541 00:38:14.309 --> 00:38:16.469 Not at a pregnancy center that they do come to us a lot. It's 542 00:38:16.510 --> 00:38:20.190 actually going to be at an abortion clinic. So if we have the ability 543 00:38:20.230 --> 00:38:22.230 to do it, let's park the thing in front of the abortion clinic and 544 00:38:22.710 --> 00:38:28.659 and it is awesome to see moms choose life instead of abortion. Right there 545 00:38:28.699 --> 00:38:30.500 on that side, I can choose Jesus to we see. Let's Roblems, 546 00:38:30.539 --> 00:38:35.260 come to know the Lord and and that's an awesome thing. So I appreciate 547 00:38:35.300 --> 00:38:38.579 you sharing you're well and with that will wrap this thing up. So we 548 00:38:38.619 --> 00:38:43.809 appreciate you guys who who listen to the PODCAST. Want to encourage you. 549 00:38:43.809 --> 00:38:46.610 If you want to connect with Tara. Maybe you're you're a pregnancy center director 550 00:38:47.050 --> 00:38:50.530 and you want to get some wisdom from Tara. I'm sure she would make 551 00:38:50.570 --> 00:38:52.130 herself available if you shoot her over an email. I think you can get 552 00:38:52.170 --> 00:38:58.239 in touch with them at what's the website? It's Monro Helpcom, Monroe helpedcom, 553 00:38:58.360 --> 00:39:00.559 and can they get your contact info there? Just go and yes, 554 00:39:00.679 --> 00:39:04.199 a contact. Yeah, but there's my emails. Just t quin at Monroe 555 00:39:04.280 --> 00:39:09.909 help. okay, t Quinn, Qu Okay at Monroe helpcom. Okay. 556 00:39:09.989 --> 00:39:15.550 So you can connect with Tara there. We'll put her website address in the 557 00:39:15.949 --> 00:39:19.750 the notes on the podcast. Also, you can connect with US Charlotte dot 558 00:39:19.869 --> 00:39:22.070 cities for Life Dot Org, and we always encourage you guys who want to 559 00:39:22.070 --> 00:39:27.139 get involved in sidewalk counseling. We have a website. Called sidewalks for lifecom. 560 00:39:27.500 --> 00:39:31.260 WWW dot sidewalks the number for lifecom, and that's just an equipping website. 561 00:39:31.619 --> 00:39:35.860 It'll help encouraging equip those who want to get involved in sidewalk counseling. 562 00:39:36.460 --> 00:39:39.090 But we do appreciate you listening. I'd appreciate if you would share this podcast 563 00:39:39.610 --> 00:39:45.329 and and if you have ideas about future podcast for us. Guess you'd like 564 00:39:45.449 --> 00:39:50.329 for us to to interview or subjects you like for us to tackle. We'd 565 00:39:50.369 --> 00:39:52.489 love to do that. We'd love to hear from you again. You can 566 00:39:52.570 --> 00:39:59.800 email me and we appreciate you. Guys and God bless use, mel use, 567 00:40:01.280 --> 00:40:23.980 give me, give me, costly my life, but too precious.