Life and It's Changes
By Kathie Archer
Watching the news can be somewhat disconcerting at times; there are so many problems in the world that just watching the TV, reading a newspaper or surfing internet news can be overwhelming and disheartening. Our country is going to experience many changes during the next four years. Some of those changes will heighten our determination, passion, and belief that all life is sacred and valuable to God. In the days ahead of us, we need to be a church that stands in readiness, filled with grace and truth, empowered by the Spirit of God and available to be used in His service. We need to be focused on His calling and His purpose rather than the turmoil and anxiety that fill the world. God has promised that He is our refuge and our strength...our help in times of trouble.
What could all these changes mean for our crisis pregnancy center? Based on the information that I am receiving from national affiliations to which we belong, it has been strongly recommended that a pro-active strategy be developed in order to defend our CPC against legislative attacks.
Over the past several years, the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) and Planned Parenthood have stepped up their attacks on crisis pregnancy centers/pregnancy resource centers. In 2000, these organizations produced a handbook entitled, Unmasking Fake Clinics. This handbook provides a step by step guide and attack plan for destroying and discrediting crisis pregnancy centers. The goal of these prochoice organizations it to bring an end CPCs by passing anti-pregnancy center legislation. It encourages their volunteers to enlist the help of supportive state legislators.
In addition, this handbook provides guidance and scripts specifically designed by NARAL for use by pro-choice supporters who pose as fake clients. The supposedly factual information that these fake clients present to CPCs for help with their crisis pregnancies, will be used in investigative reports. The reports will be used to promote lawsuits and anti-pregnancy center legislation. Within the past two years, 5 states have had legislation introduced specifically targeting pregnancy centers. One bill, if passed, would have required CPCs to post a sign, or hand information to their clients, stating they were not required to provide clients with factually accurate information. The abortion industry has made it very clear that it is going to continue to make efforts to pass legislation that will harm the work that CPCs do...and the industry will have the blessing of the current presidential administration.
As a center, we may be propelled back to the time when we first opened our doors in 1983. We met quite a few fake clients whose sole purpose was to prove that we provide false information and do not let them leave until they watch graphic abortion videos and listen to what we have to say. I myself was accused by a fake client. Planned Parenthood paid for her to appear before a legislative committee in Washington DC and testify that I locked her in a room, pushed her against a wall, and forced her to listen to me. She also testified that another volunteer kept her young children from her. I learned about this through a phone call that I received from a Washington Post reporter who wanted to write an article about the occurrence. He wanted to be fair and hear my side of the story.
We must be on the alert and prepare for the coming attacks...whether that is at a federal level or at a state level. Please continue to read the rest of this newsletter in order to find out how you can help us stay alert!
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Taking a Pro-Active Strategy to Defending Crisis Pregnancy Centers
or Pregnancy Resource Centers by National Institute of Family & Life Advocates
Historically, the pregnancy center movement has purposely remained underground, avoiding the limelight and the controversy of pro-life activism for the sake of reaching abortion-vulnerable women. Over the past 20 years, this movement has grown tremendously. Without a pro-active and advocacy strategy , the movement has inadvertently allowed itself to be negatively defined in certain circles by it opponents such as NARAL, Planned Parenthood and other pro-abortion organizations. For the sake of God's glory and protecting the ongoing work of pregnancy centers, we intend to bring the work of pregnancy centers into the limelight. Matthew 5:14-16: 'You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
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HUGS GRADUATES
Due to confidentiality policies, names can not be printed, but I would still like to congratulate the mentors and their young women who completed the 8 week incentive earning H.U.G.S. Bible Study. 26 women graduated in 2008! That makes a record breaker for this program! Please be in prayer for the young women who go through HUGS this year. Jesus promised that His Word will not return void!
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2008 Statistics
# days open - 138
# of client visits - 994
# of babies rescued from abortion - 44
# of women who made commitments to Jesus Christ - 94
# of non-diagnostic ultrasounds done - 76
# of HUGS Bible Study Visits 193
2009 Statistics
# of days open - Jan - 10 Feb - 12
# of client visits - Jan - 88, Feb - 90
# of babies rescued from abortion - Jan - 6, Feb - 6
# of women who made commitments to Jesus Christ - Jan - 7, Feb - 5
# of non-diagnostic ultrasounds done - Jan - 16, Feb - 10
# of HUGS Bible Study Visits - Jan - 13, Feb - 28
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HB1113: The Partial Birth Abortion Ban
Sponsor: Representative Dawn Creekmore (D)
Senate Sponsor: Senator Cecil Bledsoe (R)
On January 16th Representative Creekmore filed HB1113 which would ban partial birth abortions at a state level. 27 other states already have their own law banning this method of abortion. Up until now the state has been going by the federal law which bans partial birth abortions. President Obama has already promised that if the Freedom of Choice bill reaches his desk, he will sign it. If signed into law, every piece of legislation protecting the unborn since Roe vs Wade would be eliminated. Representative Creekmore decided it would be better to be proactive than reactive. The bill rapidly passed through both the House and the Senate. Governor Beebe signed the bill into law and it is now Act 196. Thank you to all those who contacted legislators!
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Defeating the Freedom Of Choice Act
(Information for this article is taken from an interview Scott Klusendorf, President of Life Training Institute.
Surrendering is not an option. We have work to do. With the federal executive and legislative branches of government being deeply committed to the belief that an entire class of human life can be killed for what ever reason, President Obama can easily deliver on his promise to sign the federal Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA). This Act will provide federal funding for destructive embryo research (to include cloning), place activist prochoice judges in the federal courts, and propose a national health care plan that will include abortion coverage.
FOCA is the most dangerous piece of pro-abortion legislation so far. FOCA will guarantee a right to abortion through all nine months of pregnancy. It will destroy all laws protecting the unborn...parental consent, informed consent, restrictions on tax-funded abortions, physician conscience laws, along with both state and federal bans on partial birth abortion.
You might wonder how President Obama will successfully persuade the American public to support FOCA. He will justify it by first stating that abortion is a tragic choice for a woman to have to make, but laws regulating abortion do not seem to be working. (Even though between 1992 and 2000, many states who passed legislation controlling abortion reported a decrease in abortions by 21% or greater). Klusendorf stated that Obama will explain what's needed are social programs aimed at reducing the underlying causes that lead women to abort in the first place. Apply this logic to another serious situation such as spousal abuse. Instead of passing legislation that would make it illegal for husbands to beat their wives, it is decided that the root of spousal abuse is psychological. Instead, the solution would be to provide federally funded counseling for men.
What can prolife Christians do to help defeat FOCA? We should commit ourselves to engage and stand firm in one of the toughest battles there is. Christian leaders should purposefully preach and teach a biblical view of human value and do it often. Christian leaders must not only preach about human value; they must equip their people to engage the culture (Gregg Cunningham of the Center for Bioethical Reform said there are more people working full time to kill babies than there are working full time to save them because killing babies is very profitable and saving them is very costly). Lastly, something that doesn't cost money but is just as effective, is that you can contact your federal legislators telling them you would like them to oppose The Freedom of Choice Act.
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Way to GO!
God has been busy placing this ministry in the hearts of people who have said to Him, Here I am, send me. We would like to give an official welcome to some new volunteers! (Some of these have been here for a few months, but we would still like to publicly acknowledge their gift of dedication and service).
Dysle Butts: counselor & mentor
Dianna Pyle: counselor & mentor
Debbie Glenn: mentor
Laura Robertson: mentor
Michelle Jones: mentor
Ardary Taylor: mentor
Robin Zakrzewski: mentor
Mary King: mentor/receptionist
Gwendolyn Price: mentor
Dianne Hogue: counselor & mentor
Tammy Stamp: counselor & mentor
We would like to welcome and thank a new supporting church:
Covenant Presbyterian Church located in Little Rock
Welcome New Board Members!
Mike & Laurie Biggs
Laura Robertson
