Choices Medical Clinic
by Pastor Daniel Thompson
"Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare" Psalms 75:1
I had a wonderful thing happen that I would like to share with all of you.
Tuesday morning, Pastor Philip Woods and I were walking in front of the gate talking and praying as cars entered into the clinic. We noticed a young couple in their car pass by the gate and turn into Choices Medical Clinic located next door. My first thought was they had missed the drive and had turned into the wrong place as we all know often happen. As we walked towards the parking lot I was trying to think of what I might say to them before they realized they were in the wrong place and turned back around. But to my surprise, they had parked and were getting out of their car! I noticed the countenance of their faces was very different than most of the people we see driving into the clinic...they appeared happy! Not knowing exactly what to say, I gently asked the young woman, "Are you in the right place?" She kindly said to me "Yes". I then asked, "Did you change your mind?" She said these words: "Last week it was that clinic (pointing to George Tiller's) but this week it is this clinic (pointing to Choices)." Overwhelmed with joy, we commended her for her decision and said "God bless you" as they walked into Choices.
A few moments later we saw this same couple out in the parking lot smoking a cigarette while waiting for their appointment. So Philip and I went back over to talk with them. I asked the woman if we could talk with her briefly about her experience. She was very pleasant and willing to talk. I asked the question why she had changed her mind and she said she really didn't know why. She just decided to keep the child. Then with tears in her eyes, she said that she had aborted another child last January at George Tiller's clinic. It was obvious that the pain of the first abortion remained deep within her heart. She said she had come last week to George Tiller's with the intention of aborting this child, but after the sonogram she changed her mind. She also mentioned a handout that is given inside the clinic on fetal development that she thought had some effect upon her decision. I then asked her how she felt when she pulled down the street with all of us outside the clinic. She said we made her "very scared". I then explained why we had to be there and she said she understood. She also mentioned how "helpful" and "wonderful" the people at Choices had been over the last week. There is a nurse working for Choices that has helped her a great deal since she made the decision to keep her child. Before they left for their appointment with Choices, I introduced Philip and myself as pastors and told her we wanted to help and support her, her baby and her friend in any way that we could. After giving her our phone numbers I asked if we could pray for them. They said yes. So we all bowed our heads and thanked God for what he had done. We blessed her and her beautiful child. There was a wonderful sense of the Lord's presence. We thanked them and said goodbye.
I was so excited over what the Lord had done. I felt like one of the disciples when they had returned from the mission field....they were filled "with joy".
We all know why she changed her mind even if she doesn't. It was not the sonogram or the literature.... It was the Mercy of our God acting in response to the prayers of His people. We often ask in prayer "Please, Lord, change a woman's mind". And He did exactly what we asked.
I was also reminded of how important it is to be sensitive to difficult situation those that are considering an abortion find themselves. Most are scared, confused, and have no real awareness of the great tragedy of aborting their child. We must remember to always "put on bowels of compassion" as we seek to help people.
Finally, the ministry of Choices Medical clinic that is located next door to the clinic greatly impressed me. We must remember to hold them up in prayer as we are "laboring together as God's fellow workers with Him..."
Thank you so much for your service to the Lord.
God bless you,
Pastor Daniel
