by a volunteer sidewalk counselor who wishes to remain anonymous in order to give all glory to God and the regular Friday morning prayer supporters
At about 8:15 a.m. on Friday, July 26, 2024, a woman drove into the St. Paul Planned Parenthood (PP) and parked in the visitor area. I was on the south side of the driveway holding one of the new signs of a woman and her baby. Jackie M. was on the north side of the driveway and called out, “We’re here to help.” Two prayer supporters, Leo P. and Alan D., were praying on the sidewalk. A third prayer supporter was kneeling and praying on the far side of the street. Jim D. and Barb K. arrived moments later also to pray.
At 8:40 the woman left PP, turned right and pulled over. I approached and offered her literature. She was in need of support, so I told her that Abria (the nearby Pregnancy Resource Center) was just on the other block. I offered to meet her over there. I met her as she was exiting her car and we walked to Abria. On the way, I asked if she was pregnant (about 24 weeks) and was she at PP to have an abortion (yes, she was). I then asked her what changed her mind. She answered, “I could sense the people were praying for me.” God and the power of prayer! She also said this was her third or fourth visit to PP. (I believe I saw her there two weeks ago.) Also, she said she was cautioned before she left PP to “avoid the protestors; they are mean.” “But,” she told me, “you don’t seem mean.”
Abria wasn’t open, so I called their number. The Abria employee who answered set up an appointment with the young woman for a few hours later. On the short walk back to her car, I assured her that she would receive good care. I mentioned that I had four daughters and that all of us on the sidewalk are concerned about mothers and their children. She told me that she has a son and that the father of her baby recently left her. She expressed remorse that she considered abortion, knowing it is wrong. She is grateful that she now has support to do the right thing for her baby.
