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In Touch With LifeSavers features in-depth accounts of babies who have been saved and women who have been helped by LifeSavers Ministries, along with news about upcoming LifeSavers events and other ministry news. In Touch With LifeSavers is published occasionally, when funds allow.
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Weekly Ministry Focus

Volume 3, Number 10
April 7, 2003

Weekly Ministry Focus
Divorce and family trauma endanger child's life

At least two babies were saved from abortion last week in Bakersfield, as Christians conducted "pregnancy evangelism" ministries on the sidewalks outside the Family Planning Associates abortion chamber (and in the LifeHouse pregnancy help center across the street). No abortions were committed last Monday, but a new abortionist (whose identity is unknown) arrived on Tuesday. Most of the pregnancy tests at the LifeHouse were positive, and the mothers decided to let their children live, praise God! Here are the stories of two of the women who were touched by these ministries last week:

Abandoned by her father in her time of greatest need, "Shana" turned to "Joe" for comfort and support. But when Shana became pregnant, Joe focused on manipulating Shana to abandon her own child.

When Shana's mother became seriously ill a couple of years ago, Shana's father left his wife and children for another woman. As the oldest child in the family, Shana became the caretaker of not only her siblings, but also her mother.

During this distressing experience, Shana met Joe. He seemed to share her pain, as his own parents were also going through a divorce.

Soon Shana became pregnant, but she was too busy caring for her family to recognize what was going on inside her own body. Halfway through the pregnancy, Shana finally realized that she was carrying a child. She felt that she was too far along for abortion (not realizing that some abortionists kill unborn children up to the moment of birth), so she accepted Joe's decision to let someone adopt the child.

Shana felt like she needed to keep this baby a secret as long as possible, considering the stress the family was already experiencing over her mother's illness. "My dad already hates me enough," she told herself.

When the family needed to move, Shana continued to shoulder responsibility, pretending that she was not pregnant as she and Joe moved all of the heavy furniture. Shana went into premature labor, delivering a dead baby boy.

Recovering from the trauma of her child's death, Shana continued her relationship with Joe, while using abortifacient "birth control" pills. Several weeks ago, she forgot to take her pills for two days, and soon she began to once again experience the symptoms of pregnancy.

Joe brought Shana to the LifeHouse for a pregnancy test, having already decided what he wanted Shana to "choose." Terri* welcomed Shana and Joe into the LifeHouse, and handed Shana an information sheet to complete. Joe took the information sheet from Shana and began filling it out for her.

Shana accepted Terri's offer to watch a video about abortion, but Joe tried to stop her. After having a private conversation with Shana, Joe reluctantly gave in. But after watching about two minutes of the video, Joe said "I think we have seen enough" and shut off the television.

"We really can't afford a baby right now," Joe told Terri, disclosing his income level.

"We support our family of 12 on half the amount you make," Terri responded, as Joe and Shana reacted in surprise. "Our heavenly Father promises to take care of His children, if we trust in Him," Terri continued.

"Well, we don't want our parents to find out that she is pregnant," Joe said, still determined to convince Shana to abort the child.

Terri noticed that Shana's attitude was beginning to change. "If you really care about each other, you won't want to let your baby be killed," Terri told Shana. Joe squirmed as Terri asked him "If Shana decides that she wants to keep the baby, will you support her decision?" Terri watched Shana's face as Joe tried to avoid Terri's questions. "I think she was beginning to wonder 'how much does this guy really care about me?'" Terri later said. Terri gave Shana a gift box filled with baby items, and invited her to call anytime if she needs any kind of help. "Thank you!" Shana responded. As they walked out the door, Shana held on tightly to the baby gift, as Joe followed behind.

When "Katie," 25, decided to abort her child, she knew that she had to make some travel plans. Katie was told that the closest abortion facility was about four hours away from her small town. So when Katie made an appointment with the FPA abortion chamber, she also reserved a room in a Bakersfield motel and arranged with a friend to accompany her on the trip.

After going to so much trouble to arrange for the abortion, Katie had no intention of changing her mind. So when Christians offered help to her from the sidewalks outside FPA, she ignored them and quickly hurried inside, knowing that she had already made her decision.

But once the door closed behind her, Katie became increasingly uncomfortable with the ramifications of her "choice." She reluctantly put on a gown, telling herself that it would be over soon.

As Katie laid on the abortion table, FPA staff member "Shy" came into the room and began to attach wires so that her vital signs could be monitored during the abortion. Katie stopped Shy, saying "I don't think I can do this!" Shy gently helped Katie tie her gown and get off the table. Terri invited Katie to come across the street to the LifeHouse pregnancy help center, suggesting that she should reinforce her decision by seeing a video about abortion. After watching the video, Katie said "I had no idea what abortion was like -- they said it was just a blob of cells!"

Linda* gave Katie a ride back to her motel. Within a few minutes, Katie returned from the motel to the LifeHouse with her friend, asking Terri to let her watch the video.

Katie and her friend then set out on the four hour drive back to their small town. In spite of the expense, Katie knew that her trip had not been wasted, because she received the valuable opportunity to save the life of a child: the baby growing inside her own womb.

* LSM team members
Scripture Focus: Nehemiah 1:5-7

"I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments, please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father's house and I have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against You, and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded your servant Moses."

As we seek to build a spiritual wall of protection around this satanic killing center, prepare the way for this great work by repenting before God for the sins which you, your family, your church, and your nation have committed by shedding innocent blood.


Prayer Focus
  • Open our eyes, Lord, that we may see the army of heavenly warriors which joins with us in this spiritual battle today.
  • Give strength and wisdom to "Shana" today (see report above) so that she will continue to protect her new child's life.

Additional seminar scheduled

Three pro-life training seminars will be conducted by Tim and Terri Palmquist in the next two weeks. Due to popular demand (and the fact that we neglected to notice "Easter" on the calendar), an additional seminar has been scheduled for next Monday, April 14.

SEMINAR SCHEDULE FOR
SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE:
AN INTRODUCTION TO
PREGNANCY EVANGELISM

Saturday, April 12: 1:30 - 4:30 pm
Two Sundays, April 13 and 20: 7:30 - 9:00 pm
Monday, April 14: 6:00 - 9:00 pm
The seminars are open to anyone who is interested in learning more about how to reach pregnant women with the Gospel of Life. Participants are not required to be LifeSavers Ministres team members, but all LSM team members are required to complete this training process.

If you are interested in attending any of these presentations, please contact Tim or Terri at 323- 2229 so that adequate preparations may be made.


Deputy brings prisoners to FPA
A Kern County sheriff's deputy brought two prisoners into the abortion chamber early on April 1, threatening to arrest Terri Palmquist as she offered help from the sidewalk.


MINISTRY SCHEDULE

This week we will focus our ministry efforts on the abortion days, Monday and Tuesday from approximately 7 am to 5 pm. Pregnancy tests were provided at the LifeHouse last week on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.