Friday feature: Jerusalem, Samaria . . .

This week we presented our rationale for partnering with pro-life ministry overseas, but on Saturday our prayer partners will focus on pregnancy center ministries in our home state. Basically we're featuring Margaret Horvath, who heads up both a PCC and a statewide alliance of PCCs.

Margaret is the executive director of Heartbeat of Monroe, "a faith-based, non-profit, life affirming, pregnancy care and resource center serving the Monroe County Area since 1973." Alliance for Life of Michigan is a loose-knit coalition of PCCs that "works to promote, nurture, unite and expand" life-affirming organizations throughout the state.

Heartbeat of Monroe is one of 34 Michigan centers listed on our website as either an associate or one with which we have a close working relationship. We didn't help start Heartbeat, but Margaret has attended our Summits; we were instrumental in the establishment of the Alliance.

According to Optionline.org, there are at least 46 organizations offering alternatives to abortion within a 100 mile radius of Grand Rapids, our Jerusalem. The Pregnancy Decision Line lists 49 such services in the state, although their list doesn't include every PCC.

That's probably 49 more than are available in entire countries of the developing world. It's helpful to keep that perspective in mind, as a reason to go to "the uttermost parts of the world."

Prayer request: For Tom, Ray, and John as they wing their way to the Philippines today for two weeks of training and consultation with pro-life ministries.

Tuesday prayer: For pro-life ministries overseas

I've been "chatting" via Facebook with a friend in Kenya this morning. He opened the conversation thanking me for my posts, and said he enjoys emailing them to others. He wishes he could share them with even more people, but faces some limitations that are almost unimaginable to Americans.

In my musing yesterday I listed four challenges that overseas pro-life ministry must overcome in comparison to what we face. Here's a fifth: lack of electricity. 

Most people in places like Kenya don't have consistent, available electric power. Many also lack computers, cell phones, and Internet access. If they able to download pro-life resources, they might lack laser printers and paper, or the money to have copies made.

I asked what communication methods are available to him and he replied, "holding workshops."

When you think about it, that isn't a bad method. It's similar to the way the Gospel spread in the 1st century. Even here in the States, where everybody has multiple means of communication, one-on-one conversation is still the best way to share compassion and attempt to persuade. 

Please pray for Stephen, and others like him, who urgently desire to spread the message about the sanctity of human life and the dangers of abortion, but lack even the most basic resources that we take for granted.

Friday feature: Pennsylvania PCCs

Today our prayer partners will focus attention on two pregnancy care centers in the Keystone State: Lifeline PCC in Millersburg and Delaware County Pregnancy Center in Chester.

We've had a relationship with PA centers ever since 1987 when we helped establish Pennsylvania Baptists for Life & Families and trained their members for pro-life ministry.

Other PA centers that are (or have been) associates of Life Matters Worldwide:

Amnion Crisis Pregnancy Centers, Drexel Hill (Upper Darby)
Chester County Women's Services, Coatesville & West Chester
Cornerstone Pregnancy Care Services, Gap
Genesis Pregnancy Care Center, Pottstown

Thankful Thursday: God's Word

God's word not only forms the basis for the sanctity-of-human-life ethic and gives us the prime motive for pro-life ministry, it also holds out the hope of forgiveness of the sin of abortion.

But we also take so much comfort from it for the daily problems and trials of life. As we seek from Him our "daily bread," we remember "man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord." (Deut. 8:3 and Matthew 4:4).

Tuesday prayer: May God grant them repentance

In yesterday's musing we noted that, lacking the language of "good" and "evil," abortion advocates miss out on repentance and forgiveness of sins. Ponder these verses as you ask God to grant them repentance:

The Lord is not slow . . . but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

The kindness of God leads to repentance. Romans 2:4

The sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. 2 Corinthians 7:10

The God of our fathers raised up Jesus . . . whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance . . . and forgiveness of sins. Acts 5:30-31

You are witnesses that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in Jesus' name to all the nations. Luke 24:47-48

Christ came to call sinners to repentance. Luke 5:32

There is joy in heaven over every sinner who repents. Luke 15:7

Tuesday prayer: For advocates of abortion

We've prayed for the abortion doctors, nurses, and other clinic workers. Let's also pray for the Nancy Northrups, Cecile Richards, and Ilyse Hogues of the world.* These are leaders of some of the most powerful pro-abortion groups in America. They're backed by many thinkers and writers . . . too many to mention.

Salon writer Mary Elizabeth Williams is one of them. She recently put her name to, "So what if abortion ends life?" in which she admits abortion kills a human being and that she doesn't care. She's unfortunately not alone. Here's a summary of what other abortion activists have said or written in the past.

Rather than repenting in shame, they imagine they're upholding freedom. Religious abortion advocates give them cover, as noted yesterday. They don't know they're spiritually blind and peddling spiritual bondage.

Remember, the battle over abortion isn't just political or philosophical. It isn't an argument over semantics. "Freedom of choice" is a spiritual problem. Sadly, this worldview doesn't just affect the influencers; it's  sways young hearts and minds. Only the grace of God will turn hearts. Pray!

*Nancy Northrup is the president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights; Cecile Richards is the president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America; Ilyse Hogue is the new president of NARAL Pro-Choice America.

Friday feature: Billboard update

We featured Garden of Hope's billboard campaign back in October. Today, an email from them requested prayer for a new post-abortion Bible study just starting. This sentence was really exciting to read: "Three of the participants came because of our fall billboard campaign."

A leader of the group mentioned the women "seem to be at different places spiritually, but they still knowingly came to a Bible-based study." They'll be working through Pat Layton's Surrendering the Secret.

How you can pray:

• That all the participants will return next week and for the duration, even though their wounds are deep. "It is possible that they've avoided the truth for some time because it is so painful to remember.

• For group leaders Karen and Michelle

• For there to be no hindrances to healing and forgiveness

• For all to discover freedom and joy in Jesus Christ

Tuesday prayer: Abortion doctors

We missed our Monday Musing this week, but last week's Friday Feature was pretty thought-provoking as it reflected on how the news often casts the plight of abortion doctors in a pitiful light. Digging a little deeper, other writers have unearthed facts that lend themselves to a different interpretation.

It would be easy to despise these doctors and the people who work with them, but we must not. We must pray for them, asking God to turn their hearts to the children and toward Him.

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. . . . if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." --John 8:34,36

May they indeed find repentance and forgiveness!

UPDATE 2/5/13: Answer to prayer! Operation Rescue reports that two Michigan abortionists -- Alberto Hodari and his associate, abortionist Enrique Gerbi -- have retired and allowed their medical licenses to lapse. Other long-time abortionists -- Jacob Kalo and Theodore Roumell -- are replacing them. They all need Christ!

Blogger Jill Stanek adds a couple statistics from Right to Life of Michigan: "[A]t one time there were 72 abortion clinics in Michigan. Now there are 29 surgical abortion clinics, and two medical, or 31 total – 43% of what once was. In 1987 there were 49,098 babies killed by abortion. In 2011 that number had been cut to less than half, 23,366, or by 52%."

Friday feature: Abortion doctors

The media is always full of stories about abortion in January, but this being the 40th anniversary there seems to be an added focus. I've noticed a trend of feature articles putting a positive spin on the lives of abortion doctors:

• Forty Years After Roe, Abortion Doctors Still Fear For Their Safety
• Sundance 2013: 'After Tiller' puts a face on abortion doctors
• Inside an Oklahoma Abortion Clinic
• Roe at 40: ‘It’s never been this frightening before.’
• Abortions Are Safe When Performed By Nurses Practitioners, Physician Assistants and Certified Nurse Midwives, California Study Shows

This bias is countered by these stories:

• Pro-Lifers See 1,500th Abortion Clinic Close, Now Only 660 Remain
• Most doctors now refuse to do abortions
• “Beautiful, Immaculate, Clean” Abortion Clinics? Hardly
• Records: failed abortions at Muskegon clinic
• Pregnancy centers play key role in fight for life
• Even this, from the NY Times - Pregnancy Centers Gain Influence in Anti-Abortion Fight
• 3801 Lancaster - documentary on Kermit Gosnell's 'house of horrors' clinic
• Abortion abuses and state regulatory agency failure - RTL of Michigan
• Former Abortion Worker: I Held Up Feet to Check the Dead Baby’s Age

I could go on, but you get the idea. Just be sure not to miss these two articles:

• 10 Very Surprising Quotes From Abortion Doctors
• The real truth about abortion from the mouths of abortion workers

Please pray for abortion doctors and their supporters. They need the Savior. The truth will set them free (John 8:34,36).

UPDATE: Two stories from the week of 2/8/13 add to the pile of "things that abortion clinics must answer for" -- Carhart Patient Dead From Horrific 33-Week Abortion Injuries and Ambulance Transported Another Sella Patient to Hospital Moments Before Board Dismissed Negligence Charges. 

Tuesday prayer: To end abortion

This, the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, as thousands gather in our nation's capitol for the March for Life, let's all pray for the end of abortion. May God grant us the mercy . . . the will . . . the hope to see it done.

CORRECTION: The March for Life is Friday.

Tuesday prayer: Boldness

Pray for continued boldness among leaders of Hobby Lobby and other Christian-owned businesses as they face paying enormous fines or compromising their beliefs. Thank the Lord Hobby Lobby has found a way to avoid the $1.3 million/day fine . . . temporarily.

Pray for these pregnancy care centers in transition: 

• New directors  -- at Abiding Care PRC in Medford, WI; Modesto (CA) Pregnancy Center; Cradle PCC in Portsmouth, OH; 

• New facility - praise the Lord for Ankeny (IA) Alpha Women's Center's recent move

• New name - Harbor Lights Pregnancy & Information Center of Tawas City, MI, changed from "Caring Pregnancy Center"

• New volunteers - at Sav-A-Life Pregnancy Support Services in Picayne, MS

Tuesday prayer: Being ready

In life, we're certain to meet with disappointment. May we be prepared to give a gracious response.

Other prayer requests this week:

• Joseph Akakpo, one of our ministry partners in Togo, is struggling with a bout of malaria. Pray that God would raise him up to full strength

• "C" has returned to pro-life ministry in South Asia after a furlough and reports being faced with several challenges. Ask God to help her overcome them.

• Flint (MI) Crisis Pregnancy Services recently suffered a break-in at their inner-city location. Pray for recovery of stolen property and protection in this high-crime neighborhood.

• A staff member at HELP Crisis Pregnancy Center in Monroe, NC, needs a kidney/pancreas transplant. Pray for her health.

• New Life Pregnancy Resource Center in Gaylord, MI, requests prayer for families in financial crisis.

• A pastor friend in Bangladesh reports that country is experiencing record low temperatures. Poor people lack sufficient fuel and clothing. Ask God to help him supply them with blankets for warmth.

Tuesday prayer: Sandy Hook Elementary School

Pray that the families of the victims will take refuge in the heart of a God who grieves with them, Who gave up His own innocent Son to forces of evil, and Who accomplished victory over the grave in the Son's resurrection.

Pray that the teachers and students overcome the trauma of the memories of last Friday.

Pray that the hearts of our leaders will be moved to protect all children.

Related: The slaughter of innocents

Thankful Thursday: for Christ the King

This time of year Christians around the world are thinking about Jesus' birth in Bethlehem. Another scene in His life has been on my mind since I recently read 1 Timothy about "Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate." (6:13; don't miss this: the passage says God is the One who "gives life to all things.")

Jesus testified about Himself, and that was supposed to give Timothy courage for fighting the "good fight of faith." It's meant to give us courage too.

What did He say before Pilate? My impression of that incident is that He didn't say much. In English Matthew, Mark, and Luke record it as exactly five words: "It is as you say" (to the question, "Are you the king of the Jews?").

They were a sufficient number of words to get Him killed and to give us courage. Do we believe it? He's either the King or He's not.

In John, we're given a little more: "My kingdom is not of this world. . . . For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth." Ah, there is a Christmas connection!

Christ's testimony before Pilate is either true, or it's not. What do you do with it?

Pilate brushed it off: "What is truth?" But it's less a matter of us deciding and more about being called by God: "Everyone who is of the truth hears [His] voice."

We take courage in Christ's testimony about Himself -- before Pilate, before the High Priest, before the people of His day. We carry the message forth from there. We "keep the commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing." (1 Timothy 6:13)

Now I'm in the first chapters of Hebrews; from there we're taken back to Psalm 2, another passage about Christ the King. In it, we see rulers like Pilate put on edge by Jesus. They just hate Him! In light of God's power and fury, however, there's this recommendation -- for kings and everyone else:

Now therefore, O kings, be wise;

be warned, O rulers of the earth.

Serve the Lord with fear,

and rejoice with trembling.

Kiss the Son,

lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,

for his wrath is quickly kindled.

Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Oh come, let us adore Him, as did the wise kings of the east!

Postscript: Can the Stable Still Astonish? -- a poem by Leslie Leyland Fields

Friday feature: Pregnancy care ministry in Papua New Guinea

Lori Smith is a missionary nurse in the mountains of Papua New Guinea. She runs a clinic that sees many people every day -- people who've let an illness go on too long, victims of violence. People who can't make it to the hospital in town, or have been turned away from there. Each one hears about Jesus.

Many patients are pregnant women. A few years ago, Life Matters helped Lori get a used ultrasound machine to help them see and bond with their unborn babies. It's a wonderful tool for life. Many have turned from their abortion plans as a result. Here's a report from this week's newsletter:

Four moms . . . came to our clinic seeking abortions. Sharing God’s Word with them, praying with them, and encouraging rather than chastising them for their request made a huge impact on their decisions . . . all have chosen life for their babies. One is just weeks away now from delivery. It will be a choice she will be thankful about for the rest of her life.

Lori and her husband Bill, who teaches at and administrates Goroka Baptist Bible College, have also turned their home into a haven for premature or abandoned babies. Village women help nurture the premies until they're able to go home and the abandoned ones until adoptive homes are found.

I wish everyone read Lori's newsletters. They're jam packed with stories about moms and babies, about patients tended to in the clinic, about churches begun because Christians cared for a newborn belonging to that tribe. Life in PNG is hectic, often frantic, and sometimes frightening with physical and spiritual warfare going on all around. Please pray for Bill and Lori and their family.

• Find them on Facebook
• ABWE website
• Previous mention on this blog

Tuesday prayer: For enlightenment

In light of yesterday's musing, pray that Christians everywhere will continue to develop a biblical understanding of the sanctity of human life and godly ways of expressing it.

I've found that a "way in" to this huge topic is to study related biblical themes:

• Look at what the Bible says about violence and the destiny of violent people. There are many references found in Proverbs.

• Note what God's word says about injustice and how often it's tied to both the shedding of innocent blood and the neglect of widows and orphans.

In addition, our website lists numerous references that apply to any discussion about abortion. See What Does the Bible Say About Abortion?

This is our prayer for you:

We . . . ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

Colossians 1:9-12

Working Wednesday: Prayer calendar

This is Sue Ellen Doenier, working on the prayer calendar for January and February. It involves retrieving prayer requests from our pro-life ministry partners and arranging them in the grid. Sue also finds appropriate clip-art to embellish the calendar and writes an accompanying letter that helps our Prayer Partners appreciate their role.

That role is significant, and close to 1200 people have stepped up to fill it. Most receive calendars by email, the rest by post. Some are true prayer warriors, never wanting to miss a single day! It certainly is heartening to know they're with us in a spiritual battle that never gets a day off. We also enjoy hearing how God has answered requests that were highlighted in the calendar.

Would you like to join the ranks as a Prayer Partner? Please go to the sign-up page and fill out a brief form. You can access the current calendar here.

From time to time we post urgent requests on Facebook. "Like" us @ www.facebook.com/lifemattersworldwide to receive those updates. You'll also receive them by following us on Twitter.

Tuesday prayer: For our opponents

Yesterday's musing was about appealing to our opposition along the lines of 2 Timothy 24-26. We're exhorted to do so in such a way that "perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth." Not that they'll "come around to our point of view," but that they'll be saved!

It's a given we will have opponents (John 15:18-25). And Jesus said we should pray for them (Luke 6:28). Here's why we need to pray for them -- they're in a pitiable position, being held captive by Satan to do his will. And here are specifics of what we should pray for on their behalf:

• That God, in His mercy, will grant them repentance
• That He will lead them to know the truth
• That they may come to their senses
• That they escape the snare of the devil

Related: Tuesday prayer for our leaders

Friday feature: A question that makes all the difference

I've written about Metro Women's Center of Crystal, MN, in the past, but Director Colleen Tronson keeps writing such good reports that I want to share them with you.

(Hint to other PCCs that want to be featured in this space: Send frequent updates and make sure we're on your email list. It doesn't hurt if you also know how to write in a dynamic, compelling style.)

In her latest e-newsletter, she writes something that any PCC director could write:

The woman came into the office with downcast eyes and and a heavy heart. I prayed silently that I would be able to make a connection with her. My initial questions were met with one-word answers -- yes or no. Since her head was bent in discouragement, I longed to say, "Look up; there is help and hope for you here!" But I knew that this dear one needed me to go slowly and to use gentle words to help her. She gradually opened up and looked up. She shared her fear of a possible pregnancy. She was already struggling to raise her young daughter. My heart went out to her; there was so much to plow through.

Her test was positive. She was resolute. Abortion was her plan, and that was all there was to it! I asked, "What would have to change in order for you to choose life for your child?" She shared that her rent was behind due to unexpected car repairs. Even with working 50 hours a week, she was still overwhelmed. She stated that she knew abortion was wrong but it represented a way out for her. She needed $300 to catch up on the rent. I told her we could help with that amount through our aid programs. "Really, you would help me?" was her shocked response. I told her that if $300 would save her baby's life, we would be happy to help!

She began to cry and and to thank me for giving her a way out. We talked further, and I had the opportunity to share Scripture with her. She said she knew the Lord but had not chosen to obey Him. I John 1:9 was shared, and through prayer this dear one was restored.

$300 and compassionate words saved a baby's life -- amazing! This is why we are here.

It's a story true of any pregnancy care center. Of course, centers can't help women this way without the support and volunteers to make such offers.

They need prayer support too. I love how Colleen remembered to "go slowly and to use gentle words" to help the woman. This takes training and proper attitudes, but also prompting by the Holy Spirit in the moment to apply the appropriate response. 

In that same vein, we just received a prayer request from another pro-life ministry that's also been featured previously (which also sends frequent, compelling updates):

Please pray for a Garden of Hope caller who, even after finding out she is carrying twins, is seeking a place for an abortion. This young mother already has two small children and we believe is being pushed into this abortion by a very difficult boyfriend who seems very agitated that this decision is so hard for her. 

In talking with him he tells us she wants the abortion. His angry, hostile attitude in our conversations with him and her brokenness and tears and confusion in our conversations with her lead us to believe she is being pushed. Please pray that God would give her the courage to step away from this man and flee to the ones who have offered her help, love and care for all areas of her life. 

We pray that our words about the option of adoption would prick her heart, as well, and that she would turn from what she is about to do. Please seek God's intervention in the life of "B" and protect her and her precious little ones from Satan's snare.

You see how crucial prayer is to pro-life ministry? Lives are at stake!

Tuesday prayer: Our leaders

Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me legal protection from my opponent.’ For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge said; now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:1-8)

As we mused yesterday, political leaders are often less than what are to be desired. The question before us today is, will Jesus find us praying for them when He returns (1 Timothy 2:1-4)? "This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." 

So let's pray for President Obama and his cabinet. For Senators and Congressmen. 

For state legislators and assemblymen. City councilmen and mayors. 

Supreme Court Justices and judges of the appellate courts. 

For those who fear God and those who do not. 

For those who respect the sanctity of human life and those who are "pro-choice." 

May God turn their hearts to rule justly for the unborn. Whether they want to or not.

Related article by Russell Moore: Christians, let's honor the president