Through the Lord's blessing and guidance, Karen Black developed a counseling method which has helped save over 2000 babies in Atlanta, Georgia. CALL recommends her method as effective, but also encourages you to research other methods and to employ the one you feel is most appropriate.

Anyone can sidewalk counsel, but it is important to prepare yourself for the hardship it entails. You will face much failure; however, god graciously requires not success but faithfulness.

Before you begin, it is important to ask yourself why you want to sidewalk counsel. In order to be an effective counselor, you must care about each woman, the heart of Christ, who aches for the pain filling a mother who is contemplating abortion. She may seem cold and uncaring to you, but truly she is crying out for mercy. if she is to understand that you must show her Christ in your actions and your manner.

Research the mill: You need to know the days and times a mill kills so you can counsel during those times. Look in the yellow pages for mill locations. Call the mill and schedule false appointment asking about different times and days to see when they kill. Ask directly the name of the abortionist, and call the Board of Health to obtain information on malpractice suits.

Know the local Crisis Pregnancy Centers: Know the CPC location and business hours so you can direct women there. If no CPC is open during killing times, give her a national hotline number, such as, 1-800-634-2224. Get to know the CPC staff and what they can provide.

Pray: Pray that God will break your heart for the woman who feels abortion is her only choice. Without His help, you will not have the love to help her or her child.

Avoid the picket: Numbers will put her on the defensive, and signs will make you n instant enemy. You are most effective when you are with only one or two others, because you are not threatening.

If anyone wants to picket while you counsel, they should carry signs that address her needs, such as "Abortion Risks: Bleeding, Infection, Sterility," Protect Yourself: Know Your Risks," or "Information Available on Alternatives."

Smile, make eye contact, look professional: Your first goal is to gain her trust. Your smile is an important part of body language, and eye contact is important for showing trustworthiness. She may have been warned by clinic staff to avoid you, so look approachable in order to counteract this. Be well groomed, wear a skirt or nice pants. Look like you know what you are talking about -- rest assured, the clinic receptionist looks like she does!

#1 Priority -- Get the literature in her hands! As soon as you approach her, put the literature in her hand. Hold it out until she takes it. Don't ask her if she would like it, because she might say "no". If she seems to ignore you, but takes the literature, rejoice! The literature can say it better than you can. Don't give her too much to read. Suggested materials are listed at the end of this section, and can be obtained through CALL. Once you put the literature in her hand, NEVER take it back!! Use your own copy if you want to show her what is inside.

Basics of talking to the abortion bound woman:

• Never begin with a question
• Speak calmly but with urgency
• Realize that every moment to her is precious
• Never bring up the baby immediately
• Watch your tone of voice
• Address anyone with her and ask them to take her away from the mill

Be pro-woman: Use words that will acknowledge her 'right' to make a choice regarding her pregnancy. Address immediately the risk to the woman herself. Obviously if she is seeking an abortion she is concerned about her own well-being - not her child's. Do not bring up the child until you have established your trust-worthiness and she is listening to you.

A Model Opening Statement: "Hi. There is no way you could know this, but you're taking a big risk going in there. The choice of an abortion is very dangerous. If you choose to talk to me, I can help you...abortion can cause severe, painful bleeding, infection, and even sterility." With this statement you have acknowledged the fact that she has thought about her 'choice,' but that you have information of which she is not aware. It plants the seed in her mind that abortion isn't safe. It conveys compassion, and gives specifics on what can happen to her.

It would be a good idea to tell her about any specific malpractice suits against the killer. Make your concern for her apparent. Watch her body language for clues to her reaction. Let her talk if she will - this can give clues to her particular circumstances so you can address them. Warn her before you show her a fetal model by telling her what you are about to show her. Put the model right into her hands so she is holding it. You could talk to her for a long time and she still might go into the mill, even if she doesn't want to. Tell her to get as far away from the mill as fast as she can. Tell her she needs to leave immediately.

Offer to take her to the CPC and tell her about its services. Make sure she has a number to call if she doesn't want to go.

Do Not Preach: You are evangelizing by your works. If you save her child, you will have plenty of time to preach the Gospel to her.

Do not appear to attack the clinic unjustly: This insinuates that she was unwise in her 'choice' of medical care and she will wall up. Say, "I know you care about your medical care and choose wisely, but there is no way you could have known about.

Do not talk amongst yourselves: Stay focused and prayerful, or you will be distracted at just the wrong moment. It will also seem to the women that you don't care that much.

Do not ever interrupt another counselor: Even if you know exactly the right thing to say.

Do: Make sure you are knowledgeable about abortion risks, fetal development, abortion procedures the mill where you counsel , etc. Know what your pamphlets contain. Always be loving and persevere!

Resources:

It's Your Turn, by Karen Black
Very good SC pamphlet. Details physical/emotional risks, non-confrontational approach. Available from CALL.

Problem Pregnancy: A Perspective for Men, by CALL
Speaks to the father of what his wife/ girlfriend might experience with abortion. Available from CALL.

Simple fetology tract
Your pro-life group may already have one of these, but they are also available from CALL. Should provide quick, easy reading with good pictures of developing children.

Has Abortion left You hurt or Empty? by CALL
Post-abortion pamphlet that can help women find counseling and healing after an abortion trauma. Can be custom made with local CPC information. Available from CALL.

Fetal Models
Contact Womanity, 1700 Oak Park Annex, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523