Approaching women at the abortion clinic - what to say

• Opening lines (as you hand the woman a gift basket): "Merry Christmas! Here is a gift for you and your baby. Please choose life for your baby. There is help for you!" "We have help for you", "This is important information to protect you", "Read this before you make this decision", "There are other options". Get literature into her hands. Don't ask if she wants it, just hold out the literature.
• If you have time: Open the literature up for her and point out the facts you wish to emphasize. Hand her a fetal model. Point out the phone numbers of organizations in the area that offer free help to pregnant women.
• Continue the conversation as long as possible: "Abortion isn't safe", "I'm here because I care about you", "They only want your money", "Please don't kill your baby", "This will haunt you the rest of your life", "Look how perfect these tiny feet are", or "You can see that this baby in this picture is a boy." Ask the woman questions that do not require "yes" or "no" answers. Try to ascertain her situation and find out what she needs to help her through this crisis time in her life. Points out the resources that are available to her that will help meet those needs. Suggest adoption, if appropriate. Offer to be her friend but be careful not to make promises you can't keep. During this time you can share personal stories about an abortion, family and/or crisis pregnancy.
• Do not ignore the husband or boyfriend: Often he is the key to turning her around. Include him in the conversation and explain his responsibilities as the man of the family. Make him an ally, if possible. If you can convince him, frequently the woman will gladly follow. Appeal to his pride as a man. Remind him that it is his child too. If the man is hostile, focus your attention on the woman as it is ultimately her decision.
• Encourage her to leave the clinic: Offer to drive or escort her to a nearby crisis pregnancy center. Ask her to go home and think about it some more. Invite her to a nearby restaurant for a cup of coffee where you can talk comfortably. (Once she eats she can not have an abortion that day.) Invite her to your home if you live nearby. Once the women leave the clinic only one out of four will ever come back according to Planned Parenthood's own numbers. Getting her away from the abortion mill should be your primary goal.
• If a woman does decide to leave the clinic: Encourage and praise her for making the right decision and offer to pray for her. It is important to exchange names and phone numbers so you can follow up with her if she desires. Sometimes she may feel uncomfortable you her number, so give her yours and encourage her to call you later.
• Once the woman starts walking into the clinic: Keep talking until the door closes behind you. You never know if those last words will be the ones to prick her heart and cause her to come out. Pray for her that God would convict her and help her to changer her mind.
• You must be aggressive: You are the last line of defense of the unborn child. Do not worry about hurting someone's feelings. You can apologize later. Your popularity is not worth a child's life. Remember that the people entering the abortion mill are on their way to kill their baby. They need to feel bad about that. Be sensitive to the situation, but do all that you can to save the child's life.

The clinic worker gift bearers should be cheerful and pleasant even if the staff is not. They are there to deliver Christmas gifts and share the love of Christ. Gift bearers should walk right up to the receptionist's desk and place the clinic worker gifts on the desk/counter, and begin talking to the clinic workers about salvation through Christ and the fact that there are other places to work than abortion clinics. While the clinic employees are employed in evil work, they are not a lost cause. Through the grace of God, numerous abortion clinic employees have turned their lives around as a result of the loving outreach of pro-lifers.

Continue speaking with the workers as long as you can, giving the carolers time to minister to abortion-minded women (carolers should be singing just outside the door, and someone should be talking from the door to the women inside, encouraging them to leave and come get a gift basket). If you are asked to leave the facility, acknowledge that request (only respond to a direct request, however - don't turn around and run just because one of the workers says to another, "these people should leave!"), and slowly walk out the door.

Remember: once you are asked to leave, you must leave. However, it is not trespassing until you have been told to leave and refuse to do so. So once you are asked to leave, you can respond slowly and still be within the letter of the law. Every moment you have to witness to the waiting women through words and song is one more opportunity for them to reach out and save a baby's life.

If police are called to the abortion clinic, refer them to the designated police liaison. You should assign someone as police liaison who feels comfortable in that role and is willing to stand up for your carolers. The liaison should tell the police that everyone left the clinic when they were asked to do so, and indicate that your group is willing to work with the police if there is a problem. Generally, the police won't arrive in time to see your group inside the abortion clinic, so you just need to make sure that you have been within the law (your group left the waiting room when asked to leave) and stick to your story even if the clinic staff make up outrageous claims. This is where a video camera is helpful. Emphasize that you have no desire to break the law; be sure to leave room on the sidewalk for pedestrians to walk and don't block the entrance to the clinic - don't give the police a chance to find fault in your actions.