The Countercultural Times

“There is a part of me that doesn’t want to celebrate [our organization’s] anniversaries because it means that the killing is still happening.” -Mark Harrington Outreach on our Spring Justice Ride with first-time rider Julia. So many years have gone by since the Supreme Court’s decision that legalized abortion across the states, and so many lives lost. That is what my boss, Mr. Harrington, is referring to in the quote above.  On occasion I worry about all the work that needs done before abortion will end, the minds that need changed, the necessary cultural shift in thought towards the value of humans, the hearts that need turned from sin and toward our Creator, when I stop and remember something vital. How little I am. I have no control in the lives of people I talk with. Every mind I see changed, every baby saved, every life repenting towards Christ: none of this is my work. It is the Lord’s.  I love what Charles Spurgeon said about our responsibility as Christians:...

Sam offering resources to a father choosing abortion This morning my colleague Sam and I were at the Founders abortion facility in Columbus. While we were there Sam talked to 2 different men who were dropping their girlfriends off for an abortion. One man said: "I understand. On any given day, I'd be out here with you but God is going to forgive me for this." He completely understood that this abortion would end the life of his innocent child, and his thinking was that he and his wife could do it anyway and be forgiven afterwards.  The first thing that went through my mind after Sam told me about their conversation was something from Romans 6 that my family had memorized when I was 4 or 5: “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? God forbid! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buri...

Jeffery Jeffery was the kind of guy that everyone wants to talk with. He was polite, reasonable, respectful, and it was enjoyable to have a conversation with him. Even after talking with him for a while he still thought of abortion as a valid option. We talked about the circumstances that may cause someone to consider having an abortion, and why, when we base our human rights on anything other than our humanity, we diminish human equality. After I was able to answer a lot of his questions, he admitted I made sense logically, and said: “I understand, but I still don’t think you’ve changed my mind.” What I didn’t understand was why he was having a hard time seeing truth, so I asked him why after understanding that every successful abortion directly and intentionally kills an innocent human, after seeing what it does to the baby, would he still support it as a valid choice? Outreach at Otterbein University We continued to talk for a few more minutes when he told me that he o...

The Justice Ride Team “I really appreciated you on the Justice Ride! I can't imagine how much effort you put in that week, but know that you made the week fantastic! … I really don't know how to describe to you how much you welcomed me and made me feel a part of the group! I can't wait for the next Justice Ride!” – Ellianna, a first-time Justice Rider Ellianna takes advantage of an opportunity to pray with a student at Florida State University. Our team just completed the most exhausting week of the year: the spring Justice Ride. On this trip, I had a new perspective instead of simply doing outreach. You see, we are a discipleship organization - raising up the next generation, equipping and preparing them to take on the culture of death and win. Some of my specific roles were overseeing/organizing outreach setup, watching for problems throughout the day, working security, that type of thing. One thing about this Ride that was special to me was that for the fir...

“…And such were some of you.” I Cor. 6:11 These words went through my mind, and I turned away from the rest of our team as tears began to drip down my face. I was thinking of how merciful God has been to me, the redemption I have experienced, and how lavishly He has poured out His grace on me.  This took place while our team was in D.C. at the Women’s March on Washington. After a turbulent day of outreach, we were heading out and our group had stopped to let the rest of our team catch up with us. As I looked across the masses, one thing that they all had in common struck me: they were all hurt and without hope of healing.  It started to make sense: their anger, violence, and hatred. They are a lost people, reacting to their wounds in the only way they know how. Christ is our healer, and people without Christ are also without healing. Upon this realization, I’m increasingly challenged to reach out to the hurting/wounded people around me and share the hope that we have in ou...

In just a few short days the Created Equal team and I will be in our nation’s capital – to stand together in solidarity for women, both born and preborn, and all babies who are vulnerable to abortion. We will be reaching out to the crowds at the inauguration, and conducting outreach at “Women’s March on Washington” - a protest of our president-elect and what he has claimed to stand for. This group of radical feminists says: “In the spirit of democracy and honoring the champions of human rights, dignity, and justice who have come before us, we join in diversity to show our presence in numbers too great to ignore. The Women’s March on Washington will send a bold message to our new administration on their first day in office, and to the world that women's rights are human rights.”  But what human rights are they speaking of? Born women, that’s who. It grieves me to see so many discriminating against the preborn. “H uman rights” they say, but equality isn’t equality if you only g...

This month I have been reflecting over what has happened in 2016, and the best word that comes to mind is: blessed . I’m blessed with an amazing family. I’m blessed with a job that I am not only passionate about, but also one that I love. I’m blessed with like-minded colleagues who love each other – they really have become some of the best friends I have. I am blessed with a Godly team of friends who stand with me, pray for me, and donate to support my work. I am humbled. Back in December of 2015, God was preparing my heart to move away from home to Columbus to do His work with Created Equal. Since then I have grown so much personally--in my walk with God, in my faith, in my ability to defend my beliefs, and many other ways. One opportunity I’ve had to share Christ was when I approached a homeless man at a laundromat. He had been using the laundromat phone to call someone and was telling them that he was going to turn himse...