The Best Text EVER... "I Have Decided to Keep the Baby."

On this year’s Justice Ride, March 2-9, we took a charter bus of 50+ students to FL, gave them training in pro-life apologetics, and brought them onto campuses to begin learning how to put their beliefs into action. My brother Joshua came on the Ride for the first time! It was SO good to spend the week with him. =) 
He along with many other first-time riders were way out of their comfort zone, but were making personal sacrifices to do what they knew was right. I love to watch our students grow in confidence, learn what it means to be a winsome apologist, give a reasoned defense, defend the faith, and actively engage our Godless culture. 
Also, the Lord allowed us to see some fruit of our work: 206 people - that we know of - changed their minds on abortion during those 5 days of outreach, and that’s only those who were humble enough to admit it! 
We also prayed outside of a Tampa abortion facility and offered help to the moms going inside. Because of our witness, a mom at the facility decided not to kill her child – ONE BABY was spared from abortion!

Last Thursday, my friend/colleague Austin and I stood praying outside a Columbus abortion facility, ready to reach out to the moms and dads planning or considering abortion. We stood there for an hour before some staff arrived, and after two hours, wondered if they were just having a staff meeting since patients had not arrived (which was unusual).
Austin and I decided to wait 15 more minutes before leaving, in case they did have patients coming. TEN minutes later, their first client walked inside, and we knew they were open for business, so we were going to stick around. One young lady walked up the alley and headed for the door of the facility. I called out to her, offered her resources, and warned her about what takes place inside this facility. She came over to the sidewalk to listen and took my flyer. As she turned around, she said:

“Ok, I’m gonna go ahead and cancel.”

This lady, “Dakota” walked inside, canceled her abortion appointment (PRAISE THE LORD) and walked right back out! As Dakota was leaving, I asked if there was any way we could help her. She asked about the PRC (Pregnancy Resource Center) that I mentioned and asked me to walk with her to the center. As we walked, she told me that she is 8 weeks pregnant, told me about her circumstances that brought her to consider abortion, and admitted that she knows abortion is killing a baby, but still does not want to carry this baby to term.
She scheduled an ultrasound with the PRC, and we’ve been communicating throughout the week. Monday morning she texted me:

“I have decided to keep the baby.” 

Praise the Lord! Pray for Dakota as we continue this relationship, meet any physical needs we can, and share the gospel with her. God has used our ministry to save at least TWO BABIES THIS MONTH! He is so good.

This is what the body of Christ is like. We all do the work we are called to, and God gives the increase. Your support makes it possible for babies like Dakota’s to be saved from abortion, for her to hear the truth of the Gospel, and to learn the value and dignity of image bearers of God.

In Christ,

Rachel Burkey

P.S. CLICK HERE to donate online, or to donate with check:  Make check out to “Created Equal” and write my initials, “RB” in the memo line. Mail to: PO Box 360502; Columbus, OH 43236.

ABOVE:
1) My brother Joshua creating conversation with students at the University of South Florida
2) Walking Dakota away from the abortion facility to the pro-life pregnancy resource center.

BELOW: 
1) Collage: Austin (mentioned in story) holding class outside a FL high school; Summer intern and first-time rider Lexie answers high school student’s questions and explains how we know abortion is always morally wrong; Reaching moms at the Tampa abortion facility.
2) My brother Joshua and me at a beach in Florida. It was very cold, but Joshua had not been in the ocean before so of course we both jumped in. =)
3) Team “B” praying before outreach