Rachel McGlade (18) - Bradenton, Fl.

I was recently asked to tell how growing up in "rescue" has effected my life. To tell you the truth, I can't think of an area that it hasn't influenced. Being a part of such an awesome move of God like Operation Save America (formerly Operation Rescue); being surrounded by brothers and sisters who are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, and having been under the teaching of such mighty men and women of God has had a major part in shaping me into the person that I am today. I count it such a privilege to have been able to grow up doing battle on the streets. I glorify the Lord that He allowed me to witness at such an early age the Church of God in action; and to experience, first hand, the gates of hell not prevailing when the people of God move forward. I praise His Holy name!!!.

I remember when I was just a little girl going with my family to the local abortion clinic. And even though I was young, I knew that what was going on beyond those closed doors was wrong - it was murder! It was black and white to me. And although I heard the words like "safe" and "legal", there was no justification in killing a child. Therefore, it was only natural for me to want to lay my life down for the helpless. I can remember thinking, if my Jesus was here, what would He do? I believe with all my heart that He would have been lying right next to me. And though I didn't see Him with my eyes, I can tell you this much, I felt His awesome presence. The fact was: I could stand at a place of utter darkness, and yet, sense fully an unexplainable peace in my being - a calmness in my soul. Something inside of me was awakened in the midst of the battle. My spirit was stirred and I knew, that this was what I was created for. I was actually living out my faith.

I can't tell you enough how wonderful it has been to have grown up hearing the Word preached with such power and might on the streets of this nation. Not only do these men of God "preach it," I've seen the good fruit of their lives manifested in their homes - and lived out in their families!!! They have continually poured out their hearts to us - the younger generation; challenging us to run the race with everything that is within us; encouraging us to go even farther then they; all the while, hoping and praying that we would hit the mark which the Lord has set before us. They have become like second "fathers" to me; my own father being my most ever present strong arm and protector. It has been such a pleasure to be able to follow in their footsteps, to stand in their shadows.

And now, as a young woman living in today's society, I can say that with the Lord's help, He has enabled me to stand strong midst a generation of young people who are aimlessly going the wrong way. He has been my strength to be able to go against the flow of society, in a land where good has become evil and evil has become good. I long to live out His truths in my life; to proclaim the name of Jesus and lift up His standard: and to follow Him wherever He leads. I pray that this small testimony of what the Lord has done in my life through those who have sacrificed so much to proclaim the gospel of Christ, might lift your hearts just a little; that you might proclaim with me - "Praise the Lord!" That you might dare follow Him to the very gates of hell, and together we might expose the deeds of darkness and glorify His name!