Monday, September 21, Brooklyn Park Planned Parenthood
There is a small prayer group (usually consisting of Jean K., Rita F., and Dave M.) from Revive Church, which prays outside the Brooklyn Park PP on Monday mornings. Recently, a woman stopped by with a card for each of them. The woman had written beautiful messages, including, “Dear Amazing Woman, Many years ago I told myself if I see a person standing by the door to talk me out of having an abortion, I won’t go through with it. Thank you for showing up! We need you. Keep up the good work faithful servant.” The second note included, “Your presence is a noble act. And you are truly appreciated.” And the third one said, “Dear Brave Man, Thank you for showing up when others cannot. I see you as I drive by and am happy to see your presence as it speaks volumes for the unborn innocent baby.” This note included a request for prayers for “D. and his lost baby to Planned Parenthood and the mother and her family.” Despite the harassment we receive sometimes on the sidewalk, know that there are many others out there like this woman who support our efforts.
Saturday, September 26, Uptown Planned Parenthood
by Abby D., volunteer sidewalk counselor
Abortion Stopped on a Rainy Day — My husband Derek and I were sidewalk counseling in the afternoon in some rain. A young lady was dropped off at the front door and Derek held an umbrella for her and began to speak with her. She said she had an appointment for an abortion. Derek encouraged her to come down to the driveway and speak with me (I’m also pregnant). She shared that she already has a one-year-old and a two-year-old, and she thought it would be too hard to have a third. We asked her if she had ever been to a pregnancy resource center and described the help they could offer her and the pain the abortion would bring her. She ended up still going into PP to see how far along she was (turned out to be 5 weeks), but promised not to get the abortion before going to a pregnancy center. We arranged a time to bring her to the center the following Monday but unfortunately she stopped communicating. In the few messages she has responded to since then, to our knowledge she has not been back to PP and she got a new job. We are still grateful that she did not have her planned abortion on September 26 due to our presence though! We were also able to pray with her before she left Planned Parenthood — praise God!
Wednesday, September 30, Brooklyn Park Planned Parenthood
by Joanne N, volunteer sidewalk counselor
A woman pulled up and sat in her car on the phone. She got out of her vehicle and began walking around the parking lot on her phone and crying. I called out to her, but she did not look over or take any literature from me. She went into PP and came out in a short time and got in her car and left. In a little while she returned, along with two teenage boys (who we found out later were her sons.) Also, another car pulled up with an elderly man. They all went into PP together. This was the end of my shift and Lori M. took over.
by Debra Braun, Education Director
All four of these people came out about 20 minutes after Lori started her shift. One of the teens told Lori, “She changed her mind. She’s not going to do it.” Lori gave him literature, told him of all the help available and gave him her number, encouraging him to tell his mom to call her. She did not hear from the pregnant woman, but we are hopeful and praying that she has remained firm in her decision for life!
Wednesday, October 14, St. Paul Planned Parenthood
by Heidi M., volunteer sidewalk counselor
As I was on the sidewalk with Gary Gillet a car pulled up and the female driver waved me over. She said, “I want to show you a photo on my phone. This is my three-year-old nephew. Four years ago my sister walked into this Planned Parenthood and was going to take the abortion pill, but she decided to walk out.” She said that the people outside of Planned Parenthood had an impact on her decision. As she was showing me the photo of the beautiful boy, the PP escort came over to tell her to move on so she wasn’t blocking traffic. After she left, I shared the news with Gary who then proceeded to let the escort know that one other baby had been saved!
Editor’s note by Debra Braun – We love hearing stories like this from years ago! We may or may not have documented this as a baby saved at the time. If someone stops by to tell you a similar story, tell them that Pro-Life Action Ministries, who “organizes the volunteers out here,” would love to hear the story and ask if someone from here could call them. Then get their number and pass it along to me. This would help us either update a previous “baby saved” report or document a baby saved that we were previously unaware of! Thank you!
Tuesday, October 20, St. Paul Planned Parenthood
by Brian S., volunteer sidewalk counselor TWO mothers let us know that they chose to NOT get the abortion. Please pray for both. One is 11 weeks pregnant (from Alabama) and took my number after I said I know an amazing couple who want to adopt. She said she couldn’t go through with it. The other are an Indian couple who have three kids. They said they need to talk more about it. I said, “The fourth is the best, I mean…look at me!” We spoke the truth and pleaded with them to not murder their son or daughter. The mother was warm but the father seemed a bit less convinced. We encouraged them that they did the right thing and to continue to choose life for their babies. Pray with us that the Holy Spirit moves and they continue to choose life.