Conversations from Colorado: Open Invitation

In April, the Justice For All team went to Colorado. There we taught people skills for having productive conversations about abortion and we also held outreach events on a few campuses, using those skills to converse with hundreds of students. I believe that God was orchestrating a central theme through many of my conversations during those weeks. Here are a few highlights:

Melissa

            "Melissa" walked up to the exhibit at Metropolitan State University (MSU), just about as angry as anyone I’ve seen in my time with JFA. She pinpointed one of our male trainers, Jeremy, and verbally attacked him. Hearing her shouting from across the square, I edged into the conversation, letting Jeremy know that I was available to help by standing close by. As Melissa continued to yell at him, I listened and nodded calmly as she spoke. After a minute, she gestured widely in my direction. She said, “What about you? Do you want to add anything?” I immediately found common ground with her and invited her into a calmer, more private, conversation. She relaxed instantly and we discussed our views on human biology and dignity. After a few minutes of getting to know each other, she asked, “Would you like to ask me more about the unborn?” Along with this open door, she even added, “We can bring [Jeremy] in and see what he thinks, too.” I was amazed to see this woman who had been so angry, calmly invite both me and Jeremy into another conversation in which we discussed more aspects of the abortion issue.

Charlie

            After a few particularly difficult conversations at MSU, I walked over to a volunteer who was engaged in conversation with a pro-life student named Charlie. She was doing a very good job addressing some reservations he held about our display, and when he asked a question she couldn’t answer, she gestured my way. “Actually, Susanna would know better how to answer that,” she said, inviting me into their conversation. He told me what his situation was: “I have friends who have abortion experiences. I want to talk to them about it, but I don’t know how to let them know I care.” It was a beautiful relief to meet someone who cared so much. I shared with him the ways I have learned to help people who are hurting from abortion and be there for those who need to talk about their experiences. I invited him to our seminar that night, where he could learn how to have the conversation about abortion in a caring, loving way.

"Olivia" writing Genesis 1 on the Free Speech Board right before I spoke to her.

Olivia

            At Colorado State University (CSU), I had spent the morning in two long conversations mostly centered around the biology of the unborn. I sat down to think about those conversations and pray when I saw "Olivia" walk up to the Free Speech Board. She sat down in front of it and started writing. I was conflicted. I wanted to talk to her, but I didn’t want to interrupt her writing. I prayed, “God, if you want me to talk to her, please keep her around when she’s done writing.” When she finished writing, she just sat there, looking at her phone, so I walked over and sat down next to her. She had written much of Genesis 1 on the board. After introducing myself, I learned her name and that she was a Christian who was very appreciative of our work on her campus. She told me about how college was going and the different ministries in which she was a part. Before she left, she invited me to pray with her. Right then and there, we prayed for each other’s ministries and personal walks with God.

       

 At the University of Colorado of Boulder, Steve, JFA's executive director, and I talked to this young man who disagreed with us, but who was willing to stay and talk for an hour despite the snow.

God set each of these students in my path. Each of them invited me into their lives. Melissa asked me what I thought about abortion, so we had a conversation. Charlie asked me how to show his care for people who had experiences with abortion, so I helped him prepare for future conversations with his friends. Olivia asked me if she could pray for me, so I returned the favor and prayed over her life. These invitations all happened because I was there and I was available. Because I was invited, I responded.

This is my challenge to you: Respond. Respond to the invitations to share, listen, encourage, give assistance, pray. God puts these people into our lives all the time - people who invite us in unexpected ways.

I have an invitation for you. My internship with JFA ends in June, but the work of JFA continues on. You helped me do this work by providing financially, encouraging me and praying for me. Please help JFA continue this work by continuing to donate to the Intern Scholarship Fund. They did not ask me to ask you this. It just makes sense. You cared about this work enough to get me onto the field. I care about this work enough to ask you to consider supporting the organization as a whole. I would not ask you this if I did not think you cared enough to consider making JFA a part of your giving. 

Thank you. Thank you for getting me to Kansas, and from there to Indiana, Oklahoma, Minnesota, New Mexico, Georgia, and Colorado. Thank you for the support which helped me impact the lives of over 180 college students, with whom I spoke during these various outreach events, for the sake of the unborn. God used you to impact over 180 people just through me. I believe He will use you again to train thousands to make abortion unthinkable for millions, one person at a time.