Good News from the "gates of hell" in Charlotte

Good News from the "gates of hell" in Charlotte

For those who joined us at the National Event in Charlotte in July 2003, you will remember that there was hardly a Christian presence outside the three abortion mills in that city. Today, there are between 30-40 gentle Christian warriors every Saturday at the mills. During the week there are now several precious saints giving moms and dads a real choice at the "gates of hell." The Gospel is being preached. Children are being rescued from the slaughter. Moms and dads are giving their hearts to Christ. And the "gates of hell" are crumbling in the face of the One and only Truth - Jesus Christ! Be encouraged and enjoy Sheryl Chandler's report. - Flip

Baby Marc Israel, saved from abortion. Born 9/18/2004 weighing 7lbs 3 oz and 21" long. A miracle baby!

Baby shower cake created by Kathleen Dellinger.

Our August baby shower was a huge success! The London Broil dinner was lovely and the guests were honored and blessed. Kathleen Dellinger made the most gorgeous cake I've ever seen! The gifts were abundant. God provided for the practical needs in a rich and overflowing measure. Word spread to several area churches and we were swimming in baby gifts! So much was received that we need to store a large portion of the items for “next time.” It was a sign to me that God has many more babies to save through this ministry.

We had a long wall lined with strollers, car seats, swings and a crib. A huge area was filled with gift bags brimming with clothing, blankets, toys, diapers, wipes, formula, bottles and other baby items.

A happy family receives many baby gifts.

Over the last 15 years through this ministry literally hundreds of children and their families have been spared the horrors of abortion. I've coordinated several smaller showers over the years, but certainly none on this scale...with 7 honorees! I had a large number of ladies all coming due within 2 months of each other, so I decided to have one HUGE shower for them all.

It was a great time of food and fellowship and mercy and evangelism. Relationships were further established. We intentionally and purposefully had a time of worship and praise to God who creates all life. Ante Pavkovic led our time of praise and also gave a short, succinct Gospel presentation. I've talked to each one about the Gospel over the months and I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to communicate it once again to them and their families/friends.

We prayed for each baby, mom, dad and family.

Juan, Maria's boyfriend, even professed new faith in Christ as Savior and Lord! He has always displayed tremendous humility and an eagerness to please the Lord. He did NOT want Maria to abort their child and was happy to stop the car that fateful day in January 2004 and listen to my appeals and message of life. He painstakingly translated my words into Spanish for Maria. He was, and still is, involved in a local church in Monroe NC. He had even been to the Monroe CPC to get information on abortion and alternatives. He had their literature in the car. Maria was set on abortion, but slowly, God penetrated her heart that morning. I knelt on the asphalt street and talked with them through the open car window for over an hour that morning. Their baby was saved! They came to the shower and brought Maria's mother, Fran, Maria's 3-year old daughter, and an English/Spanish-speaking friend, Jennifer, who translated for us all. [Note: baby Marcos was born 9/18/04. See his adorable picture included with this story!]

Fran called me over near the end of the shower and said, through Jennifer, that she had something to tell me. She said, with tears running down her face, that she was so glad that Maria did not abort the baby. She thanked me for being there that day and for telling them the truth. She hugged me tightly and my face became wet with her tears.

Later, Maria and Jennifer pulled me over in the same manner. Maria said she wasn't sure she wanted an abortion that day. Rubbing her 8-month pregnant belly, she said, “I now know that God is big because He sent you to me at the clinic. Thank you for being there. Thank you for talking to me. Thank you for your help. Thank you for telling me about God. She gave me a big, warm hug. We both cried.

Allysa and her mother, Sharon, came from Columbia SC. Allysa has been a joy to get to know over the months. She is a very smart and talented young lady. She is engaged and they plan to marry this fall. She is expecting a boy November 8, 2004. As we have spoken over the months I have consistently presented the Gospel. She always tells me that I sound like her mother, so I was thrilled to meet her mother! It quickly became apparent that her mother is a Christian. She lifted her hands and praised King Jesus during our time of worship. She also told the whole assembled group that she knew Allysa was coming to Charlotte for an abortion that morning. She said Allysa had asked to borrow her car and she flatly refused her. She said she was praying mightily that Allysa would NOT abort. She was interceding and asking God to use anyone and anything to stop her. And Sharon thanked us all for being there and obeying God and letting Him use us in her daughter's and first grandchild's life.

Allysa thanked us all for being there for her and her baby. She said that both she and her fiance are so glad that they are having their son. They plan to marry this fall before the baby is born.

Dorothy was very appreciative and thankful for all the baby items. Her circumstances are the most dire of the group. Since the shower, she has been living with Ante and Kathy Pavkovic in Statesville. Thankfully, she is under their care and also under their Christian example of a Godly family, something she's never seen before. She does not know the sex of her child due in mid-November. Her family was really pressuring her to abort and has now abandoned her. Thankfully, she stood strong amid the pressure. Her grandfather, a surgeon in Kansas, completely withdrew financial support when she would not abort (at 4 months!) I've talked to her several times about the Lord and the Gospel. She professes Christ and admits to making bad choices and backsliding. I pray that she will come fully to faith in Christ under Ante and Kathy's witness and example.

Baby gifts filled our home. This is only a fraction of the total. They were in every room!

Lois, at the last minute, chose not to come to the shower. She had decided unbeknownst to me, to place her baby for adoption. She is working with Charlotte Pregnancy Care and an adoption agency. She was “too embarrassed” to tell me of her decision until recently. She has a 2-year old daughter by a different man. She is 19 years old. She recently started working and loves her job.

It has given her new confidence and hope for the future. I was hurt that she was too embarrassed to tell me of her decision! I told her that I think adoption is a wonderful solution in her situation. I had talked about adoption at the abortion mill when we met on Mother's Day weekend 2004. [Note: Lois delivered a healthy baby girl on 9/17/04 and lovingly and selflessly placed her for adoption in a family. She is doing well and said through tears that she believes she did the right thing. I sent her a "pampering" gift of bath and shower items and will keep in touch with her. I asked if she had been reading the Bible that Tim Hanline gave her and she quickly said, "Yes!" I again invited her to my church. Pray that God will use this major life event to draw her to Himself.]

Mary Ann did not come to the shower. We still do not know why. She is Kathy's contact, a save from the LaTrobe clinic and I've never met her. She lives in Georgia and it was to be a 4.5 hour trip. She was planning on coming with a friend. She is expecting a boy September 29. Kathy told her we had all kinds of things for her, including a car seat, stroller and swing. I hope she returns Kathy's calls soon. Kathy is willing to take all her gifts to her.

Five of our seven shower honorees.

We had two other shower honorees who are from our ministry group. Asha and Craig Martinez and Victoria and Tim Hanline. They recently had baby girls in early and late July respectively. We showered them with love and gifts, rejoicing in God's goodness to their Christian families. It was a wonderful time in the presence of the Lord.

This abortion clinic intervention ministry is 3-pronged. First, it is prophetic in nature, confronting people in their sin. We confront them with the truth and hold up God's standard. Second, it is evangelistic. We boldly and unapologetically proclaim the life-changing, life-saving message of the Gospel of Christ. The power of the Gospel is what changes hearts and minds. Third, we minister mercy and give practical help and aid in the name of Jesus who bestowed great mercy on us. It is because of His mercy that we give mercy. We offer financial help, medical help, a place to live, whatever they need. We offer to share the burden with them. The shower was a small demonstration of His mercy.

More gift giving!

The shower also served us in the ministry! It was a tremendous time of encouragement and fresh-envisioning for the future ministry He has given us.

Sheryl Chandler
Charlotte NC

First names of the shower honorees and their families have been changed.