Children at the Gates of Death

Psalm 8:2 "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger."

Psalm 127:4-5 "As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.  Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."

Little ones are needed to be present at the gates of death when possible.  Here are a few thoughts as to why:

1. Because if they are there, then a parent is more likely to be there, and grownups are needed there too.

2. It is good for them to work with their family in doing service for the Lord Jesus Christ.  They can get to see the parents engage and learn many vital lessons.

3. Because they are a testimony to those who are committing murder upon the preborn, being a stark reminder that children are to be cherished, not crushed.

Children are often more tender towards the need than adults, not so apathetic, nor having been so hardened by sin and worship of convenience.

As someone who was included in Christian ministry and evangelism with my parents since I can remember, and as a parent now who has had and loves to have my own children with me at the mill, I can testify of much blessing, discipleship, and fruit it can afford to parent and children.

Years ago, long before I realized I was an abolitionist, I was one of very few (only two) Christians in Pensacola who regularly stood at the gates of death.

I remember a police officer telling us, "This must not be a big issue for Christianity, because Pensacola is FULL of Christians, and you are the only two here."

We became alarmed and brokenhearted over the silence, absence, and negligence on the part of our brothers and sisters in Christ concerning the slaughter in our midst.

We began to exhort fellow Christians in our church, and other fellowships, and invited them to join us.

After some time, we numbered four to six, coming just about every week.

Then, the pastor of our small Baptist church began to come out with his family.  He had eight children, not all of them "little children", but the majority were teens and younger at the time.  They came and became an incredible encouragement and asset in the battle for lives and souls.

But it wasn't just the pastor's family who came.  The church followed, and soon there were over 30 Christians every Friday (their kill day).  As a body, we started making signs and banners, we put up a billboard, exposing the abortion mill, we intentionally memorized hymns to sing as a group at the gates of death.

We saw fellow believers from over six different local churches standing regularly for Christ and the preborn.  My family and I moved membership to a closer church for the sake of my sister's commute, who was in college at the time, and soon the pastor and members of that church as well joined the engagement.

We stood united in Christ for life and life everlasting, taking turns preaching, pleading, provoking the heart, offering help, all praying and praising the Lord of heaven in song.  A book could be written about all the adventures and lessons learned outside that death camp.

The abortion mill was eventually shut down, and months later another abortion business opened up again, at least a new name and management, and then shut down for good.  It is now an empty lot.

There was another mill in the city that also shut down for awhile, reopened, and I know of at least three churches who sent members to plead and preach there, though recently I heard that it may be closed once more.

A couple years back, I was talking with that pastor, and thanked him for coming out and leading the body in righteous opposition of that evil in the city.

He told me that the reason he went in the first place was because of his children.  They kept begging him to let them go and stand with us.  He didn't feel right about letting them go alone, and eventually decided to come with them to make sure they would be safe.

Then he saw the people going in and killing their children, and the Lord gripped his soul in the necessity of being there.

And the church followed.  That was a MIGHTY turning point at the devil's doorstep.

I thank God for that pastor and that church, and I thank God for the children who kept asking to go and speak up for their neighbors.

Children are needed at the gates of death.

Abortion must be abolished.