As a pregnancy counselor and prayer leader outside a Virginia Planned Parenthood, I have learned a lot over the years. Ministering to vulnerable women, men, and their preborn babies is extremely important, but can also be very overwhelming if you are unprepared.

If you do not have formal training as a sidewalk counselor from a reputable program or pregnancy center stop! Please do not go out blind to your local abortion clinic. Ministering without any training will not benefit women or babies. Actually, it could possibly lead to legal trouble if you say or do something inappropriate.

This is definitely not meant to deter anyone from ministering at clinics. In fact, ministering is a wonderful opportunity; one that should be met with zeal and love.

Romans 12 implores us to offer our lives as a “living sacrifice to God.” We are all parts of the one body. In being part of this “one body” we are asked to do simple tasks like getting a woman to a pregnancy center. We do not have to do the whole counseling session right there. Rather, we only have to be a witness, a part, just one small link in the bigger chain.

Here are some simple suggestions to help you get started in ministering:

• Your local Pregnancy Center can train and equip you with the tools you need to guide women toward true help. Many centers have annual or semiannual training sessions for around $25.00 per person. It is well worth the cost to learn how to properly minister to women in need.
• Form a small group and approach your local center with a proposal to trade training time and resources for help in guiding clients to their door.
• Once you are trained, know the local laws regarding abortion clinics.
• Always be polite and prayerful in your approach, never aggressive. A smile and a kind word go a long way!
• Do not yell at the women or abortion workers. No one listens to anger and shouting.
• Remember to work with your local Pregnancy Center - it is about the babies and the moms!

Know that God has prepared tools for you, so do not be scared to reach out to your area churches and CPCs to find them! You are not alone in your mission, so do not try to take the world on your shoulders. Be brave enough to admit when you need help.