Saved on a Sidewalk

Our broadcast with former Planned Parenthood employee Abby Johnson has resulted in many emotional phone calls, letters and emails to us here at Focus on the Family. (To listen to the entire two-day program, please click here.) Abby’s story is a beautiful picture of what redemption from sin can look like for those who repent, believe and put their faith in Jesus Christ.

One listener, Sandra, wrote with a beautiful testimony of what can happen when a pro-life advocate puts their faith into action. I’d like to share her letter with you now. It’s my hope that it will encourage and perhaps even inspire you to get (or stay!) involved.

For the last 2 days, I listened to your radio program about Abby Johnson leaving Planned Parenthood and how the people involved in the “40 Days for Life” campaign lovingly prayed for Abby and quietly allowed God to use them to draw Abby to healing and freedom. It was wonderful and compelling.

When I was in my early 30s and pregnant with my 4th child and living in California, my husband wanted to see what Operation Rescue was about, so he went to an Operation Rescue event. While there, a young woman, Joanie, and her boyfriend approached the clinic where they intended for Joanie to get an abortion since they felt they could not afford to raise a child. They were approached by a sidewalk counselor, Mary, who engaged them in a short discussion then gave them money to go get breakfast and coffee to discuss the options and consider choosing life. Mary requested they return later to talk with her, which they did.

My husband, Cory, became involved and discovered Joanie was homeless. He called me and asked if she could stay in our extra bedroom until she had her baby. I trusted Ed’s judgment–and God’s plan–and agreed. Joanie came to live with us, and a few months after I had my baby girl, Ellie, Joanie’s little girl, Katie, was born.

Katie & Ellie are now both 21-year-old beautiful women. Katie has a full life & lots of friends. As far as I know, her mother never told her she was nearly aborted. And, in fact, Joanie is still pro-choice. But the beauty is that God gave us the resources and timing to see that Katie had a chance.

So even now when I am involved in “40 Days for Life” in my city, I can recall the concrete example of how good can come from loving the women who are hurting and think they have no choice but abortion. It has created an unstoppable response for me when an angry person–who cannot grasp the magnitude of hurt and evil abortion imparts on women–demands to know what *I* will do to help the poor women who cannot afford to raise children born to them. I simply tell them what I have done, and ask them what *they* will do for those women.”

Amen, Sandra, Amen!