Sanctuary Ministries Update
Orlando Women's Center killing place
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!
Revelation 5:13
It was an amazing morning. It has been so difficult the last few weeks. People's hearts have been so hardened. But oh, how we rejoiced and continue to rejoice for one little precious baby saved.
There was a long line of women and their companions lined up at the door of the killing place, waiting for it to open so that they could have their babies dismembered. We did our holy best and put forth Jesus' message of life and hope to everyone who arrived.
When Melissa and her mother Edith came by taxi all of us were shocked to see how very young Melissa looked. She was only 13 years old. Melissa gratefully took our ministry packet, but her mother snatched it out of her hands and demanded; "What is this?" and then "Don't listen to them!" and hurried her to get to the door. It was still early and the clinic doors hadn't been opened yet. We offered Edith and Melissa assistance of various sorts; medical, financial, adoption, etc, promising to do whatever we could to help. We asked ... no, we begged Edith to support her daughter through her pregnancy, saying; "Please, take her home and away from this place!" Edith was angry and acted very beligerent. It was obvious that Melissa didn't have a chance to speak with us, Edith totally dominated her daughter.
Gina took time to speak directly to Edith, saying; "My own daughter became pregnant when she was very young. I have been where you are. It is hard, but you can do this. It isn't the end of the world. I promise. We will help you and what is even more important, God will help you." With that Edith started humming very loudly, to drown out what Gina was saying. She literally leaned over in her daughter's ear and started humming straight into her ear so she couldn't hear us. Marian spoke up and said; "You need to be there to protect your daughter now more than ever," She begged, "Please don't set this horrible precedent for your daughter by killing your grandchild". The missionaris were all thinking ... What a terrible legacy for a family. Edith would have to live with the fact she had taken her young daughter to kill her own little baby. Melissa would share the memory of this awful day of death with her own mother ... forever.
Edith was loud and obnoxious during the entire time she was waiting to go into the killing place. Her daughter would just stare at her mom, and then at us, never saying a word. Poor little Melissa looked so scared -- like a lost little lamb without it's mama, without a shepherd. Dale let Melissa know the truth; "Your mother can't force you to kill this baby. We will help you. Please, come over and speak to us." Edith continued humming and chanting very loudly to drown out our words. Marian spoke to Edith directly; "You may drown out our words and you may be able to hide this abortion from others, but God knows what you are doing. You cannot hide this from Him." The missionaries watched helplessly as mother and daughter walked through death's doors with dozens of other abortion bound neighbors.
We continued to reach out to the forty neighbors who came to the killing place. Two hours passed and we had many chances to engage the lost. Mary Jo was able to give a powerfully thorough gospel appeal to Lucy, who had accompanied her sister who was aborting. We were blessed to serve Jesus in the heat of the morning. We were tired but thankful to have such a precious opportunity to obey the Great Commission while it is still day.
All of the sudden the door to the clinic swung open. It was Edith and Melissa! Edith was yelling at her daughter; "Melissa, if you don’t do this, you will not be able to live at home anymore!” Melissa walked over to us and came to a stop in front of 4-5 counselors missionaries. Edith plopped down in a chair on the porch yelled to her daughter; "Go! Go over to them! Let them help you!"
Of course, we were completely stunned. Melissa walked right over to us. She stood silently facing us, tears rimming her huge eyes. We asked her if she came out because she didn't want to have the abortion. Melissa shook her head "yes". Edith started yelling at us, telling us; "You take her! She can't come home with me! This baby can't live at my house so you had better figure out something for Melissa!"
Every one of the missionaries immediately started making offers to come alongside Melissa. Dale and Marian offered to have her come and live with them. They even offered to adopt her baby if she wanted. And so did Dave and Paula.
Jesse began to gently reason with Edith, asking her to come over and work it out with all of us instead of yelling back and forth from the porch of the killing place. Marian and Dale stepped forward and assured Edith that they had offered Melissa a place to live throughout her entire pregnancy. Their daughter, Mary Jo, turned to Melissa and said, “Yes, Melissa! I am an only child...there is plenty of room for you”.
We asked Evelyn if we could take Melissa home and she stiffly answered; "Yes, fine" and then went silent. As w were making intial preparations to care for Melissa, Edith started talking to us again. She started to shift. She said Melissa could go home with her, adding "You all need to give us all the info we need for adoption."All the while Melissa is just standing there with her eyes down. Still, we saw quite a bit of courage in that little 13 year old girl. Saying no to her dominant mom. We were amazed and impressed by this young lady's determination to save her baby.
Jesse gently asked Edith to come to talk with us so we could find common ground and work something out. Then it happened.
Evelyn seemed to soften just a bit. She began lamenting;“What are all my friends going to think of me? I have a 16 you daughter at home, pregnant, too. I am a bad mother! I taught them right, but I can’t watch them all the time! What will they think of me?” Just as we were going to respond, Edith stood up from the chair and looked like she was going to say something aggressive. Then suddenly, she broke down and began weeping. Edith said, “God brought you to me. I left God and He sent you for me!" With that Edith stumbled down the walkway toward us. She kept asking what others would think of her and one of the counselors said, “Ma’am, you will face God one day and He is the One you need to be concerned about.” Edith nodded and said, “Yes, and I will be responsible for this.” She turned to her precious daughter and asked, “Melissa, do you want this baby?” Melissa nodded quickly, a look of tremendous relief on her face. Edith turned back to us and said, “Well, I better figure out how all this is going to work out...I guess there will be two new babies in my house.”
Edith confided that she was so ashamed at what had happened to her 13 year old daughter. A 20 year old man was in jail for having sex with Melissa, who was only 12 years old when she became pregnant. Edith also shared with us her own mother had taken her to a killing place when she was 15 years old to kill her baby. Edith became so soft. She was so broken inside."I've stopped going to church," she said. "But I now know the Lord led me here today." We told her Edith to worry about what others would think but about what our Lord would think. She understood and nodded as tears streamed down her cheeks.
Edith said that she was profoundly affected by our presence and by our words. Although she acted as if she was not paying any attention, Edith heard every word that came out of the missionary's mouths. She said when she first came up the sidewalk she heard Gina saying those things to her about once being a mom with a pregnant daughter. She wept as she admitted that Gina's words REALLY touched her. Edith said that she knew they were words from God and she was trying everything she could to drown them out (the humming). At this point, Edith was like a completely different woman then the one we met just 2 hours earlier. She was compassionate and open. She told us that even though she was saying Melissa had to leave, that she never really meant it. She wanted Melissa to stay at home with her.
What started as a holy battle, ended with sacred unity. A mother and daughter are going to have a precious little baby. They are going to decide whether to keep the baby or give her up for adoption. Mary Jo is going to try to get Melissa and Edith to go to their wonderful church with her and her family.
We all exchanged phone numbers and hugs and sent Edith and Melissa away with money for the taxi and for a nice breakfast together too. The whole missionary team gathered in a huddle, weeping and PRAISING GOD for what we had witnessed!
1 precious little baby saved on July 15, 2006, for which we rejoice ... however ...
20 darling babies, whose names are known only to God, perished on July 15, 2006. They will be disposed of like garbage and tossed into plastic bags and dumped into a box marked "Medical Waste". There will be no grave for them. No place to mark that they had been alive and were murdered in Orlando. Their tiny little human bodies will be incinerated by Stericycle in a mass grave along with dirty pads. Perhaps some day our government will erect a monument in Washington, D.C. in memory of the 46 + million as a tomb of the unknown babies who have been slaughtered for profit in this country. What a legacy for the United States of America. With the blood of our own citizens saturating the soil and the sewers of our nation, we have no high moral ground to stand on. We should be ashamed.
May I ask you a question today? Who do you think is responsible for reaching out and intervening to save the children in Orlando from murder by abortion? Who do you think is responsible for sharing the gospel in our community? Is it not reasonable to expect that the holy work of reaching those who are lost and perishing in thir sins in our city is OUR responsibility? Yours and mine!
Don't expect the churches to be intentional about sharing the gospel outside the four walls. With a few beautiful and blessed exceptions, churches are simply not active in purposeful outreach to evangelize. It is a rare thing to see anything about evangelism listed in church bulletins or on their websites. Don't let that be your excuse. Today matters forever. Make your time and your life count. Don't be fooled into thinking that someone else will be there to try to save the babies. Don't think that someone else will reach the lost in your community. Take the bull by the horns,! Don't wait! Be intentional about sharing your faith today.
JESUS DID NOT DIE JUST FOR YOU ... Did He?
Join us on the streets of Orlando this week, won't you?
Together for Life & Eternity,
Patte Smith & Friends
Sanctuary Ministries
http://sanctuaryministries.blogspot.com/
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
If you would like to give to the inner city missionary work of Sanctuary Ministries please send your tax-deductible donations to:
Covenant Presbyterian Church
1231 Reformation Drive
Oviedo, Fl 32765
Attention: Vicki/Sanctuary Ministries
Make your check out to Sanctuary Ministries
Monday, July 17, 2006
Monday, June 26, 2006
*+* Voice for the Voiceless *+*
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you,
that I have set before you life and death,
blessing and cursing:
therefore
choose life, that both you and your seed may live.
Deuteronomy 30:19
The Christian,
who lends his voice to the Christ,
must set before this morbid gathering,
in the most concrete way,
Life and Death.
~ Carl Bibeau
Sanctuary Ministries Update
Saturday, June 17th, 2006
Sidewalk Counselors: Allura, Marian and Dale, Gina, Mary Jo and Ben, Carolina, Myra, Ricardo, Dave and Paula, Carl, John, Meghan, 5 prayer warriors
Another crowd arrived to stand at the doors of Orlando Women’s Center to end the life of their wee ones. Our own Sidewalk Counselor, Carl Bibeau, describes it like this:
“The Deceiver is active in the death mill gathering, twisting the God-given emotions of those who would sacrifice their own offspring on the altar of economic upward mobility. As sidewalk counseling is a unique form of street evangelization, and as the logistics of Orlando Women's Center is a unique stage upon which sidewalk counselors have access, so a particular *moment* every morning affords a direct spiritual duel, choreographed for eyes to see and ears to hear. That *moment* lasts no more than five minutes. It begins with a satanic procession which, in effect, mocks the gathering process of the Faithful’s call to worship. Parents, holding their mute hostages within, gravitate with the focus being the front door of OWC. They assemble, facing that door, with their backs to those who witness to the Truth. The godly part of each individual who has come to kill, longs to hear that Truth. Their minds are attentive to the voice emanating from behind, despite their conscious effort to attend to *the opening of the door* which marks the end of the five minute window. It is during this time of heightened tension that the fundamental option must be laid out. The Christian, who lends his voice to the Christ, must set before this morbid gathering, in the most concrete way, life and death.
This is the unique “procession” we witness each day we arrive to witness to those who are perishing. Sometimes, even the seasoned counselors find themselves starring at all the backs, wondering what they can say to change the hearts of these lost people. Carl goes on to say,
“The Deceiver wishes to build his own community to deny the Truth. He bastardizes the group's affinity to reach out in social support. He twists their urge from within to protect their offspring, into *protecting* each other from the Truth. Instead of relying on a script or tract, the designated voice chosen by the Holy Spirit, must be scrupulously attentive to the action of the demonic community builders, and rely SOLELY on the promptings of that Holy Spirit to attract the beleaguered toward God's Community. Unlike other times in the ministerial day at OWC - where appeals can be isolated individual encounters with persons going to-and-from vehicles - or sermonizing can be directed to a general unseen congregation within - whoever is called to speak for the Lord must *SEE* with spiritual eyes, the battle as it unfolds in that unique 5 minute skirmish.”
And how do we, the voice for the Lord, prepare for this “skirmish”? Here Carl explains,
“I believe we must prepare by specifically praying beforehand for Total Individual Humility. We all have assessed the general distinction of our current calling before appearing for duty at the killing center, whether it be Prayer Warrior or Sidewalk Counselor. Prayer warriors, though not witnessing through speech, nonetheless must be attentive to the unfolding drama, and direct their prayers to where they are needed, in real time. Those counselors who will be lending their voices to Christ during *the moment* must subjugate their wills to the Holy Spirit. There is no room for pride or competition, for it is not the individual's utterances that change hearts. It is the Lord who saves. We serve the Lord by offering our voices as blank waveforms for His modulation. It is only when He directs the sequence of utterances, from possible multiple sources, that God's will is accomplished.Pray brethren, that our sacrifice of humility brings forth the Word that will make a difference in this world. We pray in the name of Jesus, the Christ, in unity with the Father, bidding the eloquence of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
PS...One baby saved (that we are aware of), 35 present for killing.
All for Him,
Paula <)))><
http://sanctuaryministries.blogspot.com/
Equipping the saints in Orlando for works of ministry
I Thes 2:8
that I have set before you life and death,
blessing and cursing:
therefore
choose life, that both you and your seed may live.
Deuteronomy 30:19
The Christian,
who lends his voice to the Christ,
must set before this morbid gathering,
in the most concrete way,
Life and Death.
~ Carl Bibeau
Sanctuary Ministries Update
Saturday, June 17th, 2006
Sidewalk Counselors: Allura, Marian and Dale, Gina, Mary Jo and Ben, Carolina, Myra, Ricardo, Dave and Paula, Carl, John, Meghan, 5 prayer warriors
Another crowd arrived to stand at the doors of Orlando Women’s Center to end the life of their wee ones. Our own Sidewalk Counselor, Carl Bibeau, describes it like this:
“The Deceiver is active in the death mill gathering, twisting the God-given emotions of those who would sacrifice their own offspring on the altar of economic upward mobility. As sidewalk counseling is a unique form of street evangelization, and as the logistics of Orlando Women's Center is a unique stage upon which sidewalk counselors have access, so a particular *moment* every morning affords a direct spiritual duel, choreographed for eyes to see and ears to hear. That *moment* lasts no more than five minutes. It begins with a satanic procession which, in effect, mocks the gathering process of the Faithful’s call to worship. Parents, holding their mute hostages within, gravitate with the focus being the front door of OWC. They assemble, facing that door, with their backs to those who witness to the Truth. The godly part of each individual who has come to kill, longs to hear that Truth. Their minds are attentive to the voice emanating from behind, despite their conscious effort to attend to *the opening of the door* which marks the end of the five minute window. It is during this time of heightened tension that the fundamental option must be laid out. The Christian, who lends his voice to the Christ, must set before this morbid gathering, in the most concrete way, life and death.
This is the unique “procession” we witness each day we arrive to witness to those who are perishing. Sometimes, even the seasoned counselors find themselves starring at all the backs, wondering what they can say to change the hearts of these lost people. Carl goes on to say,
“The Deceiver wishes to build his own community to deny the Truth. He bastardizes the group's affinity to reach out in social support. He twists their urge from within to protect their offspring, into *protecting* each other from the Truth. Instead of relying on a script or tract, the designated voice chosen by the Holy Spirit, must be scrupulously attentive to the action of the demonic community builders, and rely SOLELY on the promptings of that Holy Spirit to attract the beleaguered toward God's Community. Unlike other times in the ministerial day at OWC - where appeals can be isolated individual encounters with persons going to-and-from vehicles - or sermonizing can be directed to a general unseen congregation within - whoever is called to speak for the Lord must *SEE* with spiritual eyes, the battle as it unfolds in that unique 5 minute skirmish.”
And how do we, the voice for the Lord, prepare for this “skirmish”? Here Carl explains,
“I believe we must prepare by specifically praying beforehand for Total Individual Humility. We all have assessed the general distinction of our current calling before appearing for duty at the killing center, whether it be Prayer Warrior or Sidewalk Counselor. Prayer warriors, though not witnessing through speech, nonetheless must be attentive to the unfolding drama, and direct their prayers to where they are needed, in real time. Those counselors who will be lending their voices to Christ during *the moment* must subjugate their wills to the Holy Spirit. There is no room for pride or competition, for it is not the individual's utterances that change hearts. It is the Lord who saves. We serve the Lord by offering our voices as blank waveforms for His modulation. It is only when He directs the sequence of utterances, from possible multiple sources, that God's will is accomplished.Pray brethren, that our sacrifice of humility brings forth the Word that will make a difference in this world. We pray in the name of Jesus, the Christ, in unity with the Father, bidding the eloquence of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
PS...One baby saved (that we are aware of), 35 present for killing.
All for Him,
Paula <)))><
http://sanctuaryministries.blogspot.com/
Equipping the saints in Orlando for works of ministry
I Thes 2:8
Monday, June 12, 2006
Ministry Update, June 8 2006
Sanctuary Ministries Update
Orlando Women's Center abortuary
Thursday, June 8, 2006 Late term (labor-and-delivery) abortion day
Marian, MJ and Ben, Paula and the boys, Rick DeVos and friend, John and Sue.
We have never seen such a busy late term killing day!!! One after another the women came in, all obviously far along in their pregnancies, many with cropped tops and low slung pants as if proud to show off their shapes. We offered each person a packet of information that explained the abortion procedure and the dangers to themselves and of course, the little one they were murdering. We also spoke to each about the WIN-WIN-WIN circumstances of adoption. The baby WINS by being given LIFE and a forever, loving family. The new family WINS because now they have the child that completes their family. The birth mother WINS because she can lay her head on her pillow each night, guiltless, knowing she did the RIGHT thing.
We spoke for almost three hours with one young couple, Jordan and Sheila. All of the sidewalk counselors found themselves pleading with this young couple throughout the morning. Jordan said that he originally wanted to kill the couple’s twin babies and had encouraged Sheila to set up the appointment, but now he didn’t want to go through with it. Sheila didn’t seem sure but just kept saying that she was in so much pain and so sick and had been recommended to “get rid of it”. I asked her if she had seen a doctor and she said no. I gave her a list of doctors near her home and she said she would ‘think about it”. Sheila made her way inside and the counselors encouraged Rick to go in and get her, to even propose marriage to her and to make the situation right. He said, “I would propose to her! But now she has all those people inside looking at me. She won’t listen!”. Sheila came out on the front porch and listened as different counselors told their testimonies from their own experiences. She wouldn’t say much, just listened and looked on, her eyes wide.
As the morning wound down, a man named Robert walked up and began to speak. He had been to Orlando Women’s Clinic this past Tuesday with his girlfriend, planning to murder their baby. He met a sidewalk counselor and very quickly they decided to not go through with it. He gave an impassioned plea to the couples on the porch. He pointed out repeatedly that abortion was forever and once they did this thing, they could never take it back. He said he felt sure God would help him through this and said he would pray for each of them on the porch to make the right decision. We all gathered around him and hugged him and prayed with him before he left.
We were struck by how many mothers bring their daughters to the killing place.
How may of these grandmother’s-to-be will never see a LIVE grandchild because of this selfish act?
A Catholic woman brought her two year old granddaughter of mixed race to the clinic today. She told us, “This grandchild, whom I never wanted to be born, blesses me more everyday than I can tell you” with tears in her eyes. She brought the little girl right up to the front of the sidewalk and her sweet voice rang out that she was “here to pray for the babies” as she held up her plastic rosary beads to the people on the porch. You could hear a pin drop.
We don’t know what ended happening with these folks today. We pray that our ministry of presence will be used by the Lord to glorify Himself and to convict the souls of the vileness of murder and shedding of innocent blood.
All for Him,
Paula <)))><
Orlando Women's Center abortuary
Thursday, June 8, 2006 Late term (labor-and-delivery) abortion day
Marian, MJ and Ben, Paula and the boys, Rick DeVos and friend, John and Sue.
We have never seen such a busy late term killing day!!! One after another the women came in, all obviously far along in their pregnancies, many with cropped tops and low slung pants as if proud to show off their shapes. We offered each person a packet of information that explained the abortion procedure and the dangers to themselves and of course, the little one they were murdering. We also spoke to each about the WIN-WIN-WIN circumstances of adoption. The baby WINS by being given LIFE and a forever, loving family. The new family WINS because now they have the child that completes their family. The birth mother WINS because she can lay her head on her pillow each night, guiltless, knowing she did the RIGHT thing.
We spoke for almost three hours with one young couple, Jordan and Sheila. All of the sidewalk counselors found themselves pleading with this young couple throughout the morning. Jordan said that he originally wanted to kill the couple’s twin babies and had encouraged Sheila to set up the appointment, but now he didn’t want to go through with it. Sheila didn’t seem sure but just kept saying that she was in so much pain and so sick and had been recommended to “get rid of it”. I asked her if she had seen a doctor and she said no. I gave her a list of doctors near her home and she said she would ‘think about it”. Sheila made her way inside and the counselors encouraged Rick to go in and get her, to even propose marriage to her and to make the situation right. He said, “I would propose to her! But now she has all those people inside looking at me. She won’t listen!”. Sheila came out on the front porch and listened as different counselors told their testimonies from their own experiences. She wouldn’t say much, just listened and looked on, her eyes wide.
As the morning wound down, a man named Robert walked up and began to speak. He had been to Orlando Women’s Clinic this past Tuesday with his girlfriend, planning to murder their baby. He met a sidewalk counselor and very quickly they decided to not go through with it. He gave an impassioned plea to the couples on the porch. He pointed out repeatedly that abortion was forever and once they did this thing, they could never take it back. He said he felt sure God would help him through this and said he would pray for each of them on the porch to make the right decision. We all gathered around him and hugged him and prayed with him before he left.
We were struck by how many mothers bring their daughters to the killing place.
How may of these grandmother’s-to-be will never see a LIVE grandchild because of this selfish act?
A Catholic woman brought her two year old granddaughter of mixed race to the clinic today. She told us, “This grandchild, whom I never wanted to be born, blesses me more everyday than I can tell you” with tears in her eyes. She brought the little girl right up to the front of the sidewalk and her sweet voice rang out that she was “here to pray for the babies” as she held up her plastic rosary beads to the people on the porch. You could hear a pin drop.
We don’t know what ended happening with these folks today. We pray that our ministry of presence will be used by the Lord to glorify Himself and to convict the souls of the vileness of murder and shedding of innocent blood.
All for Him,
Paula <)))><
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
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!
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 <
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)