Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Ministry Update, May 27th,2006

In God, whose Word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.
What can mortal man do to me?
- Psalm 56:4

Sanctuary Ministries Report
Orlando Women's Center abortion clinic
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Gina, Larry, Marian, Dale, Dave and Paula, Carolina
3 Prayer Warriors

14 mothers came to kill their babies, 2 left with their babies still inside their wombs. Catherine (one of the clinic workers who has become friendly with us) commented that there were 12 inside (aborting)...”a slow day”, were her words.

We spoke to every person going into the killing place and offered them holy counsel and a Good Samaritan hand to make it through their pregnancy.

Sidewalk counselor Gina shared that she spoke with a Spanish-speaking man that kept telling us; "I do not want to be disrespectful." When Gina reminded him that he was the "man" in the family, all he kept saying was, “I wish it could be different”. Gina wonders, “Why are men such cowards to allow their wives and daughters to murder rather than stand up to them?”

Sidewalk counselor Dale reports: ”I don't have any real stories to add to the report, other than to say, I continue to be transformed by the witnessing at the mill (abortion clinic) on Saturdays. A year or so ago, when we first started coming to the mill, I sat in my car and prayed. I never imagined that I would be preaching to these folks with a bullhorn. In that time, I've gone from feeling it was a bit of a chore to take Mary Jo (his sweet 16 daughter who faithfully comes to minister each week), to looking forward to being there on the front lines, engaging those who worship the god of this world, sharing the Word with them to make them aware of their spiritual blindness, and praying they will spare their unborn children and themselves from death.”

We saw a young lady climb back into the car with her mom. Her toddler was there in the back seat, and drive away. We pray it is forever. We also saw a young couple drive away in their SUV, giving the sidewalk counselors a wave and a little ‘thumbs up’ as they pulled away. Thank you, Jesus.

There is a train that runs very close to the mill. Frequently, the car changes are made as we are making our way to Orlando Women’s Clinic in the wee hours, blocking the way for blocks and blocks. As we were struggling to find a way to get through, I couldn’t help thinking about a story I read recently in one of my Prolife publications about the parallels between the Jewish Holocaust and the Infant Genocide of today. It is told that as the trains carrying the Jews to the gas chambers rumbled by the churches, the Christians in pews would sing louder to drown out the cries and block the wails of the people being led to slaughter. They didn't want to hear. They didn't want to know. They wanted church as usual.

Please don’t just “sing louder as the killing train passes”.

We were all once scared to do anything about the holocaust in Orlando but “God does not give us a spirit of fear, but of POWER and of LOVE and of a SOUND MIND” (1 Timothy 1:7). That scripture alone should give any Christian the confidence to step out in faith and speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. We can overcome any fear or apathy with God’s POWER. We can talk to the lost with the LOVE God gives us. We will speak God’s truth from our SOUND MIND. Please believe that God will not abandon you to your fear! Read again what Dale says above. Every sidewalk counselor will testify that what was once a burden, God changed to a BLESSING. Only Jesus could do that!

All for Him,
Paula <)))><
Inner-city missionary to the pre-born
Orlando, Fl

Discussing vs. DOING

There is a wonderful Irish proverb that says:
You can't plow a field by turning it over in your mind.

Modern churches, teachers, pastors, small groups, even evanglism MINISTRIES do a lot of talking, conferencing, retreating and fund raising obstensibly with the so-called goal of 'reaching the lost'.

While D. L. Moody was attending a convention in Indianapolis on mass evangelism, he asked his song leader Ira Sankey to meet him at 6 o’clock one evening at a certain street corner. When Sankey arrived, Mr. Moody asked him to stand on a box and sing. Once a crowd had gathered, Moody spoke briefly and then invited the people to follow him to the nearby convention hall. Soon the auditorium was filled with spiritually hungry people, and the great evangelist preached the gospel to them.
Then the convention delegates began to arrive. Moody stopped preaching and said, “Now we must close, as the brethren of the convention wish to come and discuss the topic, ‘How to reach the masses.’”
Moody graphically illustrated the difference between talking about missions and evangelism (ie; missions conferences, mission 'plans') and going out and doing it.
Together for Life & Eternity,
Patte Smith
Sanctuary Ministries
Equipping saints to reach the lost TODAY!

Monday, May 22, 2006

Ministry Update, May 20th, 2006

"But these are innocent children we are talking about! These poor little babies don't have a voice. They are weak and helpless and utterly dependent. For heaven's sake, have pity! They are wee ones, fresh from God, created in His image. Poor tiny infants. How can we not show mercy to these babies by being there to do our holy best, with God's help, to intervene? Does not James 2:13 tells us "For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy." Did not the prophets speak of God's judgment when His people walked through formal acts of worship (did "church") while neglecting the orphans and the widows? Are we to tell these little boys and girls, "Go and be safe"(James 2:15), without offering them the shelter of our presence? Their moms and dads are children of wrath, shall we not bring the gospel to them while it is still day?"

Patte Smith
Sanctuary Ministries

... wisdom gives life ...
Ecclesiastes 7:12

Sanctuary Ministries Update
Orlando Women's Center abortuary
Saturday, May 20, 2006
About 15 Christians laboring side-by-side through prayer & counseling
We began the day when we received a one finger salute! We praised God for the persecution (even one so small) and gathered together for a precious time of prayer.
We saw about 14 women arrive to kill their little ones today. It appears two left without killing.
We offered God’s hope, help and support to every person walking through the clinic doors today. We had a few good interactions and we pray seeds were planted and that perhaps people even left after we were gone for the day. (We have heard from the clinic workers that a full HALF of people who arrive for abortions end up leaving!) We remain in continuous prayer that the words the Lord gives us to say will reach there mark in each person going in.
We talked with “Brian” and his girlfriend “Wendy” who were sitting in their car. Wendy was crying softly. They sat and listened, window down, as we talked for about 10 full minutes. They would give short responses and wouldn’t look at our faces. Finally Dave shared something with Ben that he and I had been discussing on the way to the clinic that morning. We were musing that if airplanes crashed through buildings like happened on 9/11 everyday, this country would shut down...literally...until we got control of the situation, yet, the same amount of babies are being killed each day in America as died in 9/11. Ben became angry at this and told us, “Don’t tell me about 9/11! I just got back from Iraq! You have exactly 2 seconds to get away from my car!” We told him that he was free to drive away or shut his window but as long as he was he open to listening, we would talk. He did listen another minute more and finally rolled up his window and DROVE AWAY. We never saw them return.
Dale and Dave gave the gospel to everyone in the clinic. Each and every person heard scriptural proof of the sin of their intended wrong doing. They heard the Law, which is the schoolmaster to Christ. Each and every person was told about their need for repentance and for the Savior. Each and every woman was offered a ‘good Samaritan’ hand to get through her pregnancy.
We thank God for the opportunity to serve him today.
All for Him,
Paula Risler <)))><> Psalm 40:4 <

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Jesus Is Enough...


But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you:
but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him.
1Jo 2:27

I've been thinking a lot about what role "the church" (individual congregation/particular local church) plays in our lives. The church is not our source of power and it is not supposed to be our object of worship. I notice that for many Christians the church is the center of their life, not Jesus. Everything becomes "all about church" and the "fellowship" of the church, instead of all about the Savior and in living in obedience to His revealed will and commands and utter dependence upon Him. Indeed, I have observed that the "church" can be a hindrance to walking a life of true dependence upon Christ because people tend to "follow the church" and live as if church involvement is their sufficiency rather than following Jesus and seeing Him alone as their sufficiency. Many seem to be dominated by and dependent upon church and it's "activities", most of which have little or no spiritual value whatsoever (Matthew Henry calls them "novelties"). I have actually witnessed the church becoming a distraction to the geunine labor of following hard after Christ and His salty example of holy living in the real lost world. Although the means of grace play a role of nourishing and nurturing our faith, we can find all of them outside the church, with the exception perhaps of the Lord's supper. We can listen to sermons, pray, read the Word, fellowship, worship, and we certainly can and should share our faith without the church.
I guess what I am saying is that where you worship is not that big a deal. It's WHO you worship that is the key. Jesus is your King. Act 17:28 powerfully and poignantly reminds us: "For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring." By the Spirit of Christ & through His Word, He will be your ever-present source of comfort, wisdom, power, peace & renewal.
In Christ, not in the church or even in the precious fellowship of the saints, is the power of an endless life. 1John 2:27 says: But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him.
In a commentary on the above passage of holy scripture Matthew Henry
notes:
And you need not that any man teach you, v. 27. You were instructed by us before you were anointed; but now our teaching is nothing in comparison to that. Who teacheth like Him? Job 36:22. The divine unction does not supersede ministerial teaching, but surmount it.
Many are too tied up in the life of the "church", possibly out of a sense of misplaced "duty" and a desire to belong. Dear ones, trust and entrust yourself into the hands of the living God. You are already afixed to Jesus Himself. He is the cornerstone, your cornerstone ... your everything! If you have truly and genuinely repented of your sin and put your faith in Jesus Christ to forgive you, cleanse you and give you the power to live a life of holy obedience, you already belong to Him
Lean into the Savior each moment. Don't let anything distract you from Him. Feast upon His Word every day. Surrender to Jesus, the lover of your soul and your eternal Husband. Although you cannot trust men, you can trust Him. He will feed you and sustain you and guide you day by day by day, unto eternity ... BECAUSE ...

Jesus is enough ...
Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
Hebrews 7:16
Matthew Henry comments:
But the high priest of our profession holds his office by that innate power of endless life which he has in himself, not only to preserve himself alive, but to communicate spiritual and eternal life to all those who duly rely upon his sacrifice and intercession. Some thing the law of the carnal commandment refers to the external rites of consecration, and the carnal offerings that were made; but the power of an endless life to the spiritual living sacrifices proper to the gospel, and the spiritual and eternal privileges purchased by Christ, who was consecrated by the eternal Spirit of life that he received without measure.
I have repeated the headline scripture below with a commentary by Matthew Henry following it. I hope that this will serve as a precious devotion for you as you consider the incredible blessing and sufficiency of belonging to Jesus the Christ.

Together for Life & Eternity,
Patte Smith
Sanctuary Ministries



But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you:
but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him.
1 John 2:27
Matthew Henry comments:
Hereupon the apostle advises and persuades the disciples to continue in the old doctrine at first communicated to them: Let that therefore abide in you which you have heard from the beginning, v. 24. Truth is older than error. The truth concerning Christ, that was at first delivered to the saints, is not to be exchanged for novelties. So sure were the apostles of the truth of what they had delivered concerning Christ, and from Him, that after all their toils and sufferings they were not willing to relinquish it. The Christian truth may plead antiquity, and be recommended thereby. This exhortation is enforced by these considerations:
*From the instructive blessing they had received from heaven: But the anointing which you have received from Him abideth in you, v. 27. True Christians have an inward confirmation of the divine truth they have
imbibed: the Holy Spirit has imprinted it on their minds and hearts. It is meet that the Lord Jesus should have a constant witness in the hearts of his disciples. The unction, the pouring out of the gifts of grace upon sincere disciples, is a seal to the truth and doctrine of Christ, since none giveth that seal but God. Now he who establisheth us with you (and you with us) in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God, 2 Co. 1:21. This sacred chrism, or divine unction, is commended on these accounts:(1.) It is durable and lasting; oil or unguent is not so soon dried up as water:
it abideth in you, v. 27. Divine illumination, in order to confirmation, must be something continued or constant. Temptations, snares, and seductions, arise. The anointing must abide. (2.) It is better than human
instruction: "And you need not that any man teach you, v. 27. Not that this anointing will teach you without the appointed ministry. It could, if God so pleased; but it will not, though it will teach you better than we can: And you need not that any man teach you, v. 27. You were instructed by us before you were anointed; but now our teaching is nothing in comparison to that. Who teacheth like him? Job 36:22. The divine unction does not supersede ministerial teaching, but surmount it.
(3.) It is a sure evidence of truth, and all that it teaches is infallible truth: But as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, v. 27. The Holy Spirit must needs be the Spirit of truth, as he is called, Jn. 14:17. The instruction and illumination that he affords must needs be in and of the truth. The Spirit of truth will not lie; and he teacheth all things, that is, all things in the present dispensation, all things necessary to our knowledge of God in Christ, and their glory in the gospel. And, (4.) It is of a conservative influence; it will preserve those in whom it abides against seducers and their seduction: "And even as it hath taught you you shall abide in him, v. 27. It teaches you to abide in Christ; and, as it teaches you, it secures you; it lays a restraint upon your minds and hearts, that you may not revolt from him. And he that hath anointed us is God, who also hath sealed us for himself, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. 2 Co. 1:21, 22.










Monday, May 15, 2006

"No One Tried to Reach Me"

Patte,
Don't ever stop what you are doing. I have had 2 abortions and I could have written Amber's crazy letter. I'd be more than happy to share if it means it is somehow useful to save even one baby's life. When I was going to the abortion clinics... and I went 4-6 times in and out for different reasons (paperwork, ultrasound, making appt, etc)...I think I only remember one time seeing Christians across the street. The only reason I even knew they were because is because they had a few signs. No one tried to reach me.
I was AFRAID of those people though (from what pro-choice people say and how they've been portrayed in the media).I thought if they talked you out of the abortion...that was it. There was no help from that point on - no care - no love and certainly no financial help. So - it just seemed unreasonable to even talk to them (you) - because I was scared and alone and broke. The abortion clinic offered me a way out...I thought Christians only offered me guilt. I never found out until AFTER I was saved that there is so much help - so many choices. Pro-life is pro-choice - there are options and people who care.

Pro-choice is just one stinking, ugly, embarrassing, horrendous, painful, stupid, selfish choice!!

Have you seen the DVD "They Sold Their Souls FOr RocknRoll"? (http://www.goodfight.org/) by Fight the Good Fight Ministries? The first disk has a great anti-abortion message. It is graphic. One friend I showed the video to confessed/repented of ever even considering that someday she MIGHT have an abortion if circumstances had turned out that way. This woman is now married with 2 children and never had an abortion...but she saw just how evil that thought was that she had held b4 marriage! I just really wanted to stop by to say thanks...to encourage you that what you are doing really matters.
My 2nd abortion...it took me 3 appointments to go through with it. Every time I'd get to the waiting room I'd break down sobbing and they would make me leave. I would sit in the parking lot and cry. OH - if only someone had come to talk to me those days...I know it's not anyone else's fault but my own...but I'm saying what you do is so important. I could go on writing all night...
God Bless you, Sara

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Burn Down the Barracks!

Do you feel ordinary? Does your life seem insignificant? Do you sense your own commonness? Has your church-driven life become routine? Good! That makes you a candidate for the transforming grace, power and influence of a mighty Savior!

What is the single most important ingredient for a life of spiritual power and authority to be used by God to change your community and the world? Is it seminary training? Raising support as a "missionary"? Impressive church programs? A polished presentation? An attractive building? Brilliant marketing schemes? Starbucks coffee? Is it all about "you"? Is it all about your church? No, I tell you! Even the spiritually bankrupt Sanhedrin (like a council of today's seminary graduates and "professional Christian" leaders who hold degrees in theology and church studies and lead and control the visible church) perceived the true source of genuine spiritual power! In Acts 4:13 the religious elite marveled over the boldness of Peter and John, who, unlike themselves, were "uneducated and untrained men" They drew a very insightful conclusion. They recognized the key to the tremendous holy influence of the humble fishers of men;
"And they realized that they had been with Jesus."

Beloved, notice that the scriptures don't say "And they realized that they had been to church" or "And they realized that they had been to seminary" or "And they realized that they had been to a retreat " or "And they realized that they had been to a Christian conference? or "And they realized they had been to a crusade? or even "And they realized that they seemed like nice and decent synogogue-going fellows" . What first brought the lost to any observations of the disciples in the first place was their behavior. Were they struck by the fact that the disciples gathered together from house-to-house? Were they impressed that the Christians worshipped pleasantly and in tune? Were the community leaders impressed by their fellowshipping? By their bible studies? Were the unregenerate taken aback by the fact that the disciples were taking the Lord's supper? Were the lost bowled over by the zeal of the disciples psalm-singing? Were they discussing the prayers of the followers of Christ? Were they abuzz that they had just filled a Coliseum? No, dear brothers and sisters. To be sure, all of that behavior could have been for the glory of God and the benefit and spiritual nourishment and preparation of the disciples --- but what the Lord used in the lives of the lost community was the behavior of Christians on the street. The children of the devil were impressed by the courage and ready witness of these humble fisherman as they intentionally came face-to-face to engage a hostile (and religious) world with the eternal words of the gospel:
"Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out!"

Being with Jesus is the origin and the destiny of all of those who have been redeemed and are being sanctified by the Truth. We have reason to be confident and courageous! Don't stay in your church pews and pot-luck suppers! There is a battle going on! Our church services and myriad fellowship and bible studies are to be like bootcamp, preparing us to embark on our mission as ambassadors for Jesus Christ to our own Jerusalem, our own lost cities. The church buildings are the barracks, but as Catherine Booth, co-founder of the Salvation Army said: "A barracks is meant to be a place where real soldiers were to be fed and equiped for war not a place to settle down in or a comfortable snuggery in which to enjoy ourselves. I hope that if they, our soldiers, do settle down God will burn their barracks over their heads!"

The souls of countless millions of lost neighbors hangs in the balance! The means that God has chosen to awaken those who are dead in their trespasses and sins is the spoken gospel of Law and Grace through the instruments of His own redeemed sons and daughters. Jesus deserves, indeed our King COMMANDS to be visibly, verbally glorified outside the four walls of our church, seminaries, Christian colleges, bible studies, singles, youth and old-folk ministries. Our culture is full of sin, death and wickedness. Amen?!

Beloved, it is a moral and spiritual disgrace that babies are methodically slaughtered at abortuaries in Orlando through all nine months of pregnancy in the shadow of a thousand church steeples. Our city and our world sorely needs to be invaded by men and women who have been with Jesus. How long must we feather the nests and stroke our beards in the comfort and safety of the local church? When will we have enough of "retreats" and "advance"? Our Savior has already, once and for all, given us the Great Commission to "Go!" (Mark 16:15). I'm afraid that by-and-large those who attend church intentionally spurn Jesus' command. In the sin of the Great Omission we have insisted on obeying the whisper of the world, the flesh and Satan himself to "Stay!"

How many sermons must we hear before we "Go!"? Is there a magic number? How many Sunday School classes must we attend before we "Go!"? How many worship songs must we sing, how many bible studies, how many home fellowships must we attend, how many retreats and conferences, how many biblical degrees must we obtain before we obey the command of the Master and "Go!"?

Let us not be ashamed of the gospel. Press into the Savior today and I beg of you, do not stop there! Follow the example of Jesus! Go out with boldness sharing the Gospel, having confidence that like our uneducated, untrained brothers Peter and John, that Jesus, our Immanuel (which literally translates "God with us") will be with you still. For hath not Christ promised ...

Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Patte Smith
Sanctuary Ministries
____________________________________________________

WHY WAIT? Orlando Gospel Opportunities abound NOW!

Sanctuary Ministries: We have been providing a "ministry of presence" and witnessing to abortion-bound women and men (and abortionists and clinic workers as well) on the sidewalks outside Orlando killing places for over 13 years. Join us this week and every week as we engage those who are perishing outside our city's most notorious child-killing bu$ine$$:
Thursday 8:15am-10:30am (late-term labor-and-delivery abortion day)
Saturday 6:15-9:30am (biggest baby killing day of the week)
Many opportunities to serve, including online counseling ministry and follow-up gospel presentations. Contact Patte Smith at ProChristi@juno.com for information and to be added to e-mail updates.

The Great News Network: Christopher Owen Local Leader in Orlando has helped organize and leads several evangelism teams going out every week. Contact Chris at hlthyman@cnonline.net to be added to his e-mail updates. Go to his webpage at: WWW.thegreatnews.com/localleaders/US_FL_Orlando.html


Weekly College Campus Outreach: Scott Smith (also associated with The Great News Network) A team of local Christians meets and engages students through one-on-one witnessing and open-air preaching. Contact Scott at ProChristi@juno.com

Get equipped to share the gospel today!

Listen to The Fire & The Hammer radio program with Dr David Downs (pastor of Cornerstone Church in Oviedo) on 1520AM Mon-Fri @ 8:30 & Sat @ 8:30am on 950AM. Pastor Dave personally leads Christians out to witness to their neighbors door-to-door every Saturday morning. Visit Cornerstone for worship on Sunday at 10am. Call 407.568.2688 for directions to the church.

The Way of the Master: Go to www.wayofthemaster.com and watch episodes of the award-winning evangelism televsion program hosted by Ray Comfort & Kirk Cameron. Listen to Way of the Master radio online as well. See www.livingwaters.com to order tracts and listen to powerful teachings on evangelism such as "Hell's Best Kept Secret" and "True & False Conversions".







From Ordinary to Extraordinary

4/25/2006 2:54:12 PM--> God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise,
& God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;
& the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen,
& the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,
that no flesh should glory in His presence.
I Corinthians 1:27-29

... while the disciples were ordinary in one sense, they were also extraordinary in another sense. As far as their innate talents and their human backgrounds are concerned, they were genuinely ordinary, and deliberately so. It was only Christ’s work in the disciples’ lives that gave them such remarkable power and influence, so that what they became was something quite uncommon—and what they accomplished ("These who have turned the world upside down ..." Acts 17:6) was something truly extraordinary.
Most of them were unremarkable in and of themselves. They were ordinary, common, and in some cases shockingly low-caste — In each instance, what made them extraordinary was a memorable, life-changing encounter with the God of the universe.
In other words, all these ... ultimately became extraordinary not because of any natural qualities of their own, but because the one true God whom they worshiped is great, mighty, glorious, and awesome, and He refined them like silver. He redeemed them through the work of an extraordinary Savior—His own divine Son—and conformed them to His image (Rom. 8:29). In other words, the gracious work of God in their lives made each one of these ... truly extraordinary. They therefore stand as reminders of both our fallenness and our potential. Speaking together as one, they all point us to Christ. In every case, He was the One to whom they looked for salvation ... Every one of them therefore testifies to us about Christ. My prayer for you is that ... you will share their faith, imitate their faithfulness, and learn to love the Savior whose work in their lives made them truly extraordinary. Your life can be extraordinary, too, by His wonderful grace.
~ Above are excerpts taken from a recent article by John MacArthur, which together with the Word of God and Ray Comfort's book "How to Win Souls and Influence People" inspired me to write the article "Burn Down the Barracks!"

Saturday, May 06, 2006

This time it's not a possum...

One of our missionary team members preached outside the abortion clinic this morning using the "Not My Job" bookmark tract as his inspiration. (It's a very good tract to challenge Christians to share their faith, see http://www.livingwaters.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=532&Category_Code=Miscellaneous

Dave talked about how the employee who drove the truck that made the yellow line couldn't be bothered doing what was necessary to avoid hitting and killing the possum as he crossed the road. He also obviously didn't think it was his job to pick up the dead animal before continuing on his way. Dave read from the tract which says: "If we allow another human being to die when we have the ability to save them, we are not only morally responsible, but we are guilty of what civil law calls "depraved indifference". Then Dave went on to say: "This time it's not a possum that is in the way, it's a baby." He explained to the women and men who had come to murder their infants that because we knew that babies were in jeapordy of harm this morning, we made our way here to do what we can. "But now, what about you? A child is God's way of getting your attention. This is a wake up call." It was very powerful ... especially as we all couldn't help but think of how few Christians have any concern for all the people who will be murdered by abortion in their cities. All the Christians who sleep late and refuse to make their way to the killing place to do what they can to intervene, in Jesus' Name, to rescue those who are perishing. What we often hear is: "That's not my calling." Since when does obeying the command of God to rescue those being led away to slaughter NOT constitute a calling? "Deliver those who are drawn toward death, and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, 'Surely we did not know this,' Does not He who weights the heart consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?" (Proverbs 24:11-12) If God's eye is on the sparrow, and His angels do watch over the children (Matt 18:10 ) how much more is His love and concern directed toward the little ones in the womb who have no voice? A dear friend of mine who has been a missionary witness outside killing places for more years than I have, says: "The need is the call." Another precious young mother who has recently joined us in witnessing at the killing place speaks to her friends at church, urging them to join us in a manifold witness for Christ. When they hem and haw and make excuses and complain about the early morning witness, she looks them in the eye and says: "How many babies are you willing to allow to die while you do as you please this Saturday morning?" Tough stuff ...

Matthew Henry's comments on Proverbs 24:11-12 are so inspiring that I felt I should include them here: A great duty required of us, and that is to appear for the relief of oppressed innocency. If we see the lives or livelihoods of any in danger of being taken away unjustly, we ought to bestir ourselves all we can to save them. ... Though the persons be not such as we are under any particular obligation to, we must help them, out of a general zeal for justice. If any be set upon by force and violence, and it be in our power to rescue them, we ought to do it. Nay ... it is our duty, though it be with peril to ourselves, to hasten with help to them and not forbear to deliver them, not to be slack, or remiss, or indifferent, in such a case. Thou wilt say, "Behold, we knew it not; we were not aware of the imminency of the danger the person was in ... else we would have helped him.’’ It is easy to make such an excuse as this, sufficient to avoid the censures of men, for perhaps they cannot disprove us when we say, We knew it not, or, We forgot; and the temptation to tell a lie for the excusing of a fault is very strong when we know that it is impossible to be disproved ... It is not so easy with such excuses to evade the judgment of God. ... This is a good reason why we should be tender of the lives of others, and do all we can to preserve them, because our lives have been precious in the sight of God and He has graciously kept them. He knows and considers whether the excuse we make be true or no, whether it was because we did not know it or whether the true reason was not because we did not love our neighbour as we ought, but were selfish, and regardless both of God and man. Let this serve to silence all our frivolous pleas, by which we think to stop the mouth of conscience when it charges us with the omission of plain duty: Does not He that ponders the heart consider it? He will judge us accordingly.

I urge you saints, in the Name of the One who "makes alive" (I Sam 2:6), the One who knows us BEFORE He forms us in the womb (Jeremiah 1:5), if there is a place where babies are killed in your city, make haste to bring the gospel of life there. You are already prepared and equipped to share the gospel. No need to give those you will meet the Good Person Test ... the Sixth commandment is all that you need

Together in the Field of Souls, Patte Smith
Sanctuary Ministries

Friday, May 05, 2006

Ministry Update, April 1, 2006

The life of faith is not merely the absence of evil,
but the presence of good deeds.


Sanctuary Ministries Update
Orlando Women's Center killing place
Saturday, April 1, 2006
Sidewalk counselors: Dave, Paula, Larry, Shari, Joan, Patte, Dale, Marian, Elizabeth, Mark
Prayer Warriors: MANY, MANY precious women and men came out to pray with us and for us! We are so grateful for these humble servants of Christ from many different Catholic churches who give their Saturday morning time so faithfully!

Paula reports:
This past Saturday we had two woman turn away from the abortuary and decide to keep their babies. One of them, Janine, arrived with her husband and mother. She approached the abortuary in tears and all of us called to her with great compassion, pleading with her to come over and talk with us. Janine’s mom stopped to talk to Patte for a few minutes and kept wiping tears from her face as she explained why they were there:
Rita explained that her daughter Janine has 4 children at home, ages 9 years - 4 months. She took out a beautiful photograph of Janine's new baby, precious at only 4 months old. Rita told us that Janine suffers from hyperemesis gravidorum (HG causes pregnant women to vomit relentlessly and requires frequent hospitalizations for dehydration, see http://hyperemesis.org/). Janine just did not think she could handle this pregnancy. Janine’s mom, Rita, felt like Janine needed to make her own decision. We offered to support Janine through her pregnancy with every resource we could muster. We explained that Ashli, one of our extraordinary Sanctuary counselors, suffered through HG pregnancies herself and has just completed a book on the subject. Rita cried and shook her head and went inside.
About an hour after going in, Janine burst through the doors crying and said, “I CAN’T DO THIS!” Her husband was there and took her into his arms. They stood there a few minutes, a tight huddle, and climbed in their car. Marian and I went to them and found that they had decided to head back home to Palm Bay. I gave them my name and phone number and encouraged them to call me for any reason.
On Sunday night, Rita called me to tell me that Janine had definitely decided to keep her baby! She had just left her, joyfully chattering away about her plans for the baby and nursery. They have a doctor’s appointment today to go over treatment options and we are networking to find people in Palm Bay who will befriend and help her with her household chores when the HG incapacitates her. We are also connecting Janine with Ashli, who understands this terrible condition and can give Janine genuine encouragement and support and help.
Rita shared what it was that changed Janine’s mind…She said that it was a young man calling softly to Janine, “Don’t be the mommy of a dead baby”. She said that those words kept repeating over and over in Janine's mind as she filled the papers out. (The ‘young man’ was my husband, Dave, who had felt like he wasn’t making a difference that day!!! We just never know when the Lord will use our mouth to be His instrument!)
Interestingly, the abortuary counselor Larissa, whose task it is to make sure the women understand what they are about to do, is the one who sent Janine out to us! My friend Shari and I had the opportunity to talk with Larissa when she was on break earlier in the morning. Although we will never be ‘relieved’ about anyone working in an abortuary, at least we know that when Larissa is there, she will not permit a woman to move forward in the process if she is having doubts. (In the interest of brevity, I will write about the interesting exchange with Larissa in another email!)
All for Him,
Paula
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A Holy Plea

March 28, 2006
Dear Friends,
I struggled as I wrote my report, below, and am sending it with a sense of reluctance. I hope that my motive is clear and above reproach for why I send out this newsletter. I hope you know that it is so NOT ABOUT ME or about any of the other people who minister there. I pray you understand that I write this so you will get a glimpse of what is really going on in our society.

A year ago, the most I ever did to try and stop abortion was to give a check to Carenet, elect government officials who were anti-abortion and pray when I remembered. Mostly, the whole thing made me uncomfortable and I tried not to think about it. I had no idea what was really going on. My daily prayer is that everyone who reads this will feel the conviction of our Savior to GO and experience what this is like first hand. My reports and anything else ‘safe’ and ‘distant’ will not give you understanding. When you stand in front of the building and witness the TRUTH of what is happening inside, God changes you. And it is not in the ways you think! As long as babies are being ripped from the safe haven of the womb, WE MUST BE THERE TO STOP IT. Look at the “good” that you do and then ask yourself…”How does it compare to saving the lives of babies?” 4,000 aday, just in the US. There are 10,000 abortions committed every year,just in Orlando. Do you think an hour here and an hour there offering support and help and alternatives are WORTH it?

What is a baby’s worth?

I want to tell you about a young mom who is taking steps to make adifference. She is 6 months pregnant and suffers from a blood disorder that causes her blood to react to the blood of her babies. She is the mommy of 4 precious children and the wife of a busy minister. Her bestfriend died from cancer a few months ago. Her sister is fighting cancer. This young mom is experiencing TRIALS. Yet, every other week as she goes to her doctor appointment she purposely drives to the abortuary, alone. Sometimes she gets out and encourages the counselors, sometimes she can only sit in her car and weep, but she GOES. Do you think God looks down and sees the tears of this young mom? What do you think would happen if thousands and thousands of moms wept on the steps of the abortion places? Do you think the abortion industry is judgment on our land? How can it not be judgment when God is allowing its citizens to KILL THEIR OWN YOUNG? (Take an Old Testament cruise through the Bible, if you doubt this character of our God)

I believe with all my heart and soul that God will require CHRISTIANS to stand this evil down in DROVES before He will lift this judgment from our land. I spoke to a gal in my church Sunday that has a passel of precious adopted children. We brainstormed ways that her children could help bring the message of ADOPTION to the clinic. Do you think it would help an abortion bound woman to see a line of children on the sidewalk with signs that say,” LOOK! I AM ADOPTED!” Lord, let it be so! and May never a day go by when a woman is permitted to walk through the abortuary doors and abort her infant IN PEACE. NEVER.

Did you know that abortions take place 7 days a week on Lucerne Terrace? I can only be there one or two days a week. Could you go once a week? Once a month? What CAN you do? I pray you will forgive my impassioned speech. I don’t want my friends and relatives to run and hide when they see me or my emails. I don’t want you all to think, “Uh-oh, Paula is getting fanatical !” but I do want you to know that this is IMPORTANT and deserves our attention. Would you make a difference today?
Paula

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Welcome to our new Pro-Life Blog

If you are thinking about abortion, we would like to tell you about alternatives.