The Countercultural Times

Baby Monica. Read more about her story and others HERE After months of praying for “Tracy,” and her preborn baby “Monica,” who was almost killed by abortion, it brought tears to my eyes to read this message we received from Monica’s grandma: “I had the honor (and major heart tug) of wheeling her [Monica] down to her adoptive parents when she was only an hour old. The Holy Spirit was SO present in that room when I handed mom her new baby and the things that were said made the 3 nurses who went with me sob, in a good way! I’m writing her a letter and I’m telling her about Created Equal who helped save her life. God Bless all of you! Now go get ‘em at the schools, boy do they need you! Much love!” -Monica’s Grandma  A volunteer Jacqueline, listens in to my conversations as she learns how to respectfully create dialogue with the opposing viewpoint at Ohio State University. Tracy was being abused and threatened by Monica’s father. Thinking abortion was her o...

“ Thank you for clearing it up, because there were a lot of misconceptions I had about abortion .”   – Travis, Eastern Kentucky University Bystanders see what abortion does to the preborn babies on our JumboTron TV while they overhear our conversations. Travis first said he was kind of indifferent on the issue of abortion. I was able to share some information with him, and ask if he had any questions.  “I think you’re really starting to clear up everything about it… you covered it pretty good.”   As we shook hands and he walked away, he said:  “ Thank you for clearing it up, because there were a lot of misconceptions I had about abortion.”  My colleague Sam winsomely draws protesters in conversation everywhere we go – he’s like a magnet for our opposition – and they listen! This month I joined our travelling team on the road in Kentucky for three days, and had some great conversations. I know many of you are not able to join us during an out...

11-year-old Favour Agu Dear Favour, I wonder how your parents are doing. I wonder what would have happened if you had waited for the walk light. I wish I could have done more to help, though I know you were probably gone when I first saw you. Did you ever know your Creator, the God of the universe, and Jesus Christ, His Son? I hope so! Do your parents know Him? If not, I pray they will. I wish I had a chance to talk to them. My sister’s best friend was also killed in an accident when she was 11. I know that a tragedy like your family has dealt with has no quick resolution, though I also know how powerfully the peace of God and His comfort works in the lives of His children.  Love and prayers for your family, Rachel Burkey -------------------------------------------------------------------- On September 22nd, 2016, a middle school boy named Favour Agu was hit and killed as he ran into traffic crossing the street towards his school. The above note is what I wrote to leav...

It was a normal day of outreach in downtown Columbus, with some people stopping to converse, and others walking past. Downtown Columbus, OH Outreach In the afternoon, a man named Omar stopped to talk. When I asked for his view on abortion he said he had not really given it much thought but guessed that it was probably OK early on in a pregnancy. I asked if he was familiar with what the science of embryology shows concerning when life begins, and he replied that he didn’t know but would guess that life begins around 4-5 weeks (after fertilization). I then told him it’s actually fertilization when life begins. I explained to him a bit of how we know this, and told him that through the process of fertilization, both sperm and ovum give up their own identities and become a distinct, whole, living human, that has her own DNA – and is receiving/processing nutrients, maintaining homeostasis, and responding to outside stimuli: even before attaching to the uterine wall! “ Wow .” Was...

Lamont and I praying together downtown “Hello!” I greeted a passerby who was walking up from the bus stop. “I already have one,” he said, holding up one of our Created Equal brochures. He continued: “It’s actually a good thing you guys are doing, cause my conscience is affected by it .” I was downtown in Columbus, Ohio, just about to pack up and head back to the office with our team of interns when I met Lamont. I was struck by the comment he made about his conscience being affected by our outreach. He went on to explain that over 40 years ago, his girlfriend had aborted their second child without his knowledge while he was living in selfishness. I asked how he was doing after learning about his child that was killed by abortion, and he told me that over time he realized that he could forgive himself since God was able to forgive him. “You believe in God, don’t you?” he asked. “Yes sir, I’m a Christian!” I answered. “I already knew,” was his response. ...

One thing that I will never fully understand is God’s gift of friendship. You pick a person and decide that you like them or want to spend more time with them. It just seems strange.  I want you to know about a friend and colleague of mine, I call her "my Columbus sister.”  Sarah and Me I met Sarah (Jimenez) Harrington on my first Justice Ride back in 2015. I don’t really know how to describe to you what our friendship has become other than mutually encouraging, uplifting, and God inspired.  No one of our colleagues would have envisioned us becoming close – we just have so many differences and come from different backgrounds.  But as I got to know Sarah and our lack of similarities, the one thing that we do strongly share in common is the redemptive work the Lord has done in our lives! Challenging friends are hard to come by, so I am grateful for Sarah! She points me to Christ and encourages me in my growth as a Christian. You can’t know Sarah withou...

“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:...