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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
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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
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Open our eyes, Lord, that we may see the army
of heavenly warriors which joins with us in this
spiritual battle today.
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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
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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.
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.
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