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The Secret Weapon in the Fight Against Planned Parenthood

The ark prcsaved Noah. Moses found refuge in a basket. The Israelites escaped by blood on the doorframes. Rahab’s security came from a scarlet cord tied on her window.

Each of these individuals faced a coming torrent of destruction. In the midst of peril, a merciful God provided a means of rescue.

If I could add another symbol of salvation for our day and age, it would be this one: A van.

A couple of weeks ago, the Pregnancy Resource Center of Charlotte dropped by for a visit with our staff team. We got to hear about their work, join them in prayer, and take a tour of their mobile ultrasound units.

These vans take daily trips to abortion clinics and wait. They approach women and their partners asking if they would like to have a free ultrasound of their baby. They do not yell, condemn, or shame. They offer the simple kindness of a choice. Before making a life-changing medical decision, isn’t it important to take a glimpse at what’s happening inside you? Would you have a broken arm set without seeing the x-ray? Would you have brain surgery without seeing the scan showing the tumor?

Planned Parenthood does not offer this choice. They turn the ultrasound machines away and silence the thump-thump of the heartbeat. They attempt to remove guilt or shame by ignorance, not through an educated choice. There is no excuse for this behavior. If it’s just a clump of tissue, why would there be anything to feel guilty about? No one feels conflicted about removing a wisdom tooth, tumor, or mole.

In contrast, these vans offer a window into the womb and a listening ear. They save women and babies. A few weeks ago, I wrote about a shower some of my friends threw for the PRC. At that event, my friend Jessica shared a recent rescue story:

Friday client story 7/15

This morning the tension as well as the temperature was high at the abortion clinic. There were three bouncers outside escorting clients in, client cars were driving as fast as they could into the parking lot, and the clinic workers were honking there horns for as long as they needed to while we talked to clients on the road. Although we could feel the heaviness of the day, we were hopeful that God had somebody for us to minister to.

Sure enough about 10 AM, one of our Mobile Liaison Volunteers stopped a car and began talking with a woman scheduled for an abortion. As our volunteer spoke with Angelica, she explained how much we wanted to help her. As they were talking, a clinic worker who was driving to the clinic pulled up behind her. Our staff recognized the clinic worker’s cars and we noted that usually this particular worker does not honk, she usually gives a minute to let the car move on and then she goes her way. However, when she saw one of their patients (Angelica) was considering coming on the unit, she immediately began to honk her horn and hold it in as long as she could.

The client was taken aback by the noise, and the MLV gently explained that this was the tension she was about to walk into, and that she should see us and have a moment of peace while we took a look at her pregnancy. The client pulled over and came on our unit. As we talked, Angelica explained that she had an abortion a few years back and that she had said she would never do it again. She has a two year old son, and even though he came at the “wrong time” she chose life with him because of that promise she had made herself after her abortion.

IMG_3466Now she found herself back on the road to an abortion after having been lied to by the father of her current pregnancy. When she told the father of her baby she was pregnant, he told her he was actually married and that she needed to get an abortion. Being a single mom she felt she had no choice but to abort once again. Her mother told her she shouldn’t do it; she was a great example to her of how raising children can be done even with hardships. Her sister prayed with her this morning before she headed out, letting her know that this was not God’s plan for her.

Then she ran into us, the last stop before making it to the clinic. She saw her baby and heard the little beating heart. Afterwards we talked about her future plans of becoming of becoming a health care professional and how she only had two more semesters to go. She cried as we talked about the cycle of abortion, the deception of the enemy, and all the signs, words, and noises that God put in her way to protect her and this baby. We prayed together, and she drove away today choosing life for her child. 

Entering the van felt a bit like beholding the basket that saved Moses or the ark that protected Noah. Lives are saved each week in this very spot.

These vans serve as a modern day symbol of hope. While we may not know how to stop the onslaught of loss from abortion, we can support these life saving devices. Last year over 1200 babies were saved through the mobile units in Charlotte. This year, they are hoping to save more than 1600. May we support them in their work and pray that their free offer is received. If you’d like to learn more, the annual Charlotte PRC banquet is October 8th.  All are welcome to attend.

A few weeks before their visit, I caught a glimpse of the PRC van outside of another church. I stopped briefly and quickly snapped a picture. When I got home, I noticed the van was parked just in front of the cross.

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Isn’t this a beautiful juxtaposition? All other symbols of rescue ultimately point to the cross. The scriptures tell us that judgment is coming and there is only one means of shelter. The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world bids us to find shelter in the refuge of the cross. It is our security, our hope, our only means of survival.

A basket, an ark, a scarlet cord, a van – they all point to a greater rescue story:

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. – Colossians 1:13-20

Here’s one more rescue story to encourage your day:

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Amen!

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