Pro-life advocates often use the imagery of the Holy Innocents – innocent babies killed for political and personal gain – in their work to defend the unborn children in the womb. Indeed, it is a particular kind of evil that intentionally destroys an innocent human baby. I, however, have been thinking about the Angel who warns Joseph that this place, Bethlehem, is not safe and that he should take his betrothed and the baby, fleeing to some place safer. That part of the story stuck with me today, because they echo the works I frequently hear spoken to men and women by our volunteers at the abortion clinic. I cannot praise enough our brave and bold volunteers, four of whom weathered today’s bitterly cold temperatures to stand witness at Founder’s and witness to the dozen women seeking an abortion. Please, keep them in your prayers this week and in the New Year.
A few weeks ago, we shared the story of a woman who had traveled far from home seeking an abortion at Founder’s. However, the words of one of our volunteers, “it is not safe in there for you or your baby” resonated in her heart. Instead of going inside to get the abortion pill, she went home for prenatal care. Initial scans suggested that she was carrying twins, but it was so early in the pregnancy it could not be confirmed. You could feel the excitement in her words when she texted our volunteer with an update and the note, “Keep doing what you are doing. You save lives.”
But that joy soon turned to apprehension and fear as the woman started to experience some light bleeding, suggesting a possible miscarriage. She went back to her doctor and the emergency room for observation and treatment with progesterone – a hormone that can help a pregnancy to continue and asked for our prayers. It is worth noting that this mom did a complete 180. She went from contemplating taking a pill to stop her body from producing progesterone to end her pregnancy to joyfully learning about the likelihood of twins to doing everything that she and modern medicine can do to prevent a miscarriage using progesterone. Today, just under a month later, she is still (we believe) waiting to see if her babies will make it. Please keep her in your prayers.
As this year winds down, there is much to do. Year-end is the busiest time of year for many nonprofits because so many people make charitable donations at year end – and the recently enacted tax changes may mean this year is busier than most (you can read our overview here). Indeed, if you have not yet made a donation to Greater Columbus Right to Life, now is a great time to do so.
But more importantly, please join us in praying that 2018 is the year that more step forward to say, “It is not safe for you or the baby, let’s go somewhere better,” to the mothers and fathers of unborn children, and pray that 2018 is the year that more hear this message and act to save the lives of their unborn children.
PS: We’ve heard that a few of you took a social media and email break for Christmas and missed the opportunity to register for the Building a Culture of Life Conference at a discount. Never fear. Now through midnight on January 1st, you can get $5 off your BCLC registration with the code “NEWYEAR.”