In August, Be an Encouragement!

One of MWC's primary functions is ENCOURAGING people -- encouraging them to choose life for their babies; to choose spiritual life for themselves; and to choose abstinence before and faithfulness in marriage. Every day we are faced with people who are making choices. In one day at the Center this week we saw the following: an abortion-minded woman, a woman with a negative pregnancy test, and a woman trying to decide whether to make an adoption plan for her unborn child -- all had serious choices to make! All required encouragement, and it needed to be more than, "I'm praying for you!"

Everyone needs a little encouragement now and then, don't we? I am so grateful for people who are encouragers. Some write little notes, or send funny cards, or bake cookies and drop them off at the Center. Others write long essays on how to stay positive while battling a negative culture, or send financial donations, or bring in diapers or grocery store gift cards for our clients. Still others offer to come in and volunteer or help out with a particularly challenging client or project. One little boy brought me a baby bottle with a few pennies in it -- talk about encouraging!

I am specifically lifting up our churches and pastors in prayer this next month because I want to not only receive encouragement but to be an encourager as well. So, would you all join me in finding ways during the month of August to BE an encourager to someone else at least once per day? Let me know how it goes, or if you want to do it in secret, that is ok, too!

When faced with discouraging situations or tough choices in life, whether it is pregnancy-related or just with life in general, as Christians, we can rely on the Word of God to help us. Our problems may not disappear or be magically solved, but we can have confidence in the Lord's faithfulness. I love the passage in Ephesians about the armor of God; it is encouraging to me to know that I have all the resources of God's protection for my life and especially the "sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." My struggle is to remember to use the resources of God and not to rely on my own thoughts or plans. Our clients have the same challenge, and even more when they don't know the Lord, or when they know Him but have not been taught how to apply biblical principles to their lives. God is able: I need to remember this myself and communicate it to our clients.

40 Days of Prayer: Day 36

Praying today for children who are in the foster care system to be safe and well cared for until their parents are able to care for them again or else to find “forever” families through permanent adoption into a loving family.

40 Days of Prayer: Day 35

Praying today for men and women who choose to make adoption plans for their children to find the right family for their child, to be respected through the process, and to have peace and contentment in this life-affirming decision.

40 Days of Prayer: Day 34

Praying today that unmarried people, who become pregnant, would choose marriage as a way to form a family, so that the child will have stability and both parents in the home full-time.

Praise Visit!

We had visitors at the office today--one of our new babies born on the Fourth of July! Her parents say, “Thanks for all the help with baby items!”

Crystal Frolics: A Wonderful Opportunity!

We had a table at this year's Crystal Frolics over the July 24th weekend as a way to raise awareness in the community about MWC’s services! We had a great time. Thanks to Lindsay and Diana for helping with the day!


We made many contacts. One woman came back after talking to us and donated a bunch of nice baby items! A young pregnant couple stopped by. I was able to let them know about our HOPE program, and they were thrilled to be able to get some needed items for their baby. They even took a brochure to check out a local church and allowed me to share the Gospel with them. Another lady came by who had a previous abortion situation heavy on her heart. I was able to pray with her and for her!


We handed out balloons for the children and were able to distribute some Bibles! What a blessing! We even received some donations for the Amazing Grace Home and gave out some promotional CDs! Thanks for a beautiful day, Lord!

If you need a little encouragement, read this!

Ephesians 6:10-13
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

As a part of Christ’s Army, you march in the ranks of gallant spirits. Every one of your fellow soldiers is the child of a King.

Some, like you, are in the midst of the battle, besieged on every side by affliction and temptation.

Others, after repulsing many assaults and rallying their faith, are already standing upon the wall of Heaven as conquerors. From there they look down and urge you, their comrades on earth, to march up the hill after them. This is their cry:
“Fight to the death, and the City is your own, as now it is ours! For the waging of a few days’ conflict, you will be rewarded with Heaven’s glory. One moment of this celestial joy will dry up all your tears, heal all your wounds, and remove the sharpness of the fight with the joy of your permanent victory!
. . . And if the fight should be too much for you, your dear Savior stands by with reserves for your relief at a moment’s notice. He will not forget your faithfulness – and when you come off the field, He will receive you as joyously as the Father received Him upon His return to Heaven!”

(William Gurnall, The Christian in Complete Armor, p. 27)

40 Days of Prayer: Day 33

Praying today for grandparents who are raising grandchildren because the child’s parents are involved with drugs, alcohol, and/or the criminal justice system. This trend is increasing in our culture.

40 Days of Prayer: Day 32

Praying today for single parents, men or women, who are doing the sacrificial job of parenting their children alone, for whatever reason. May they find strength and have wisdom to meet each challenge and be blessed for their faithfulness.

40 Days of Prayer: Day 31

Praying today for President Obama that his heart would be softened to consider the vulnerable unborn children whose lives are being destroyed by abortion under our current laws.

40 Days of Prayer: Day 30

Praying today for government officials to see the importance of protecting the lives of the unborn through the passing of laws affirming the value and worth of all human beings from the moment of conception onward.

40 Days of Prayer: Day 29

Praying today for the governing boards of life-affirming ministries to have wisdom about how to direct and guide the work set before them.

40 Days of Prayer: Day 28

Praying today for maternity homes throughout the country that offer a place of safety and security to women who are not able to stay at home with their families during their pregnancies or who have lost their housing because they refused to have an abortion.

40 Days of Prayer: Day 27

Praying today for private families who open their homes as support homes for pregnant women at no cost to the women.

40 Days of Prayer: Day 26

Praying for those who minister to men and women seeking help through Biblical post-abortion healing outreaches. Praying that those who are seeking help would recognize that they have sinned against God and that forgiveness from Him is necessary, complete, and available.

40 Days of Prayer: Day 25

Praying today for the salvation of the souls of men and women involved in crisis pregnancy situations to come to know the Lord as their personal savior and turn from sin in general and from abortion in particular.

40 Days of Prayer: Day 24

Praying today that pastors would not be afraid to confront the moral issue of abortion from their pulpits and to have grace from the Lord to present it in a way that communicates the truth about abortion without condemning those who may be suffering because of its aftermath.

40 Days of Prayer: Day 23

Praying for women today who are having ultrasounds at pregnancy centers around the country to see the image of the developing child in the womb, hear the heartbeat of that child, and decide not to abort the child.

40 Days of Prayer: Day 22

Praying today for women who are victims of sexual assault (sometimes by a spouse or a boyfriend, not always a stranger) and who become pregnant as a result of the assault. Praying for these women to have the support they need to choose life for their child rather than to have an abortion.

40 Days of Prayer: Day 21

Praying today for the grandparents and other relatives of babies who were aborted. Families often try to stop an abortion being done by a loved one, but when they are unsuccessful in their efforts, there can be lots of sorrow. Sometimes this happens when a minor wants an abortion and her parents are unable to stop the process due to the use of a process called “judicial bypass”, where a judge grants permission to abort over her parents’ objections.

40 Days of Prayer: Day 20

Praying today for men who are experiencing post-abortion trauma, spiritually or emotionally.

40 Days of Prayer: Day 19

Praying today for women who are experiencing post-abortion trauma, spiritually or physically.

40 Days of Prayer: Day 18

Praying today for families that adopt children with medical and emotional challenges to have a special measure of grace and patience with these children.

40 Days of Prayer: Day 17

Praying today for the sidewalk counselors at abortion clinics all over the world to be encouraged in the challenging work of being the “last front line” as they offer options to those who are at the doors of abortion clinics.

40 Days of Prayer: Day 16

Praying today for those who invest their lives in the service of others at adoption agencies, both domestic and international, by offering FREE support to mothers and fathers who cannot, for whatever reason, parent their children.

40 Days of Prayer: Day 15

Praying today that women who never considered abortion for their child and who are now considering adoption will have discernment as they search out a family for their child.