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'Abortion Started in Texas. We Want to End It in Texas': A Pregnancy Clinic's Mission

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San Antonio – Texas is the state where the landmark Supreme Court case Roe v Wade originated and now a medical clinic in San Antonio is working to end it using a different approach.

Each morning at Life Choices Medical Clinic, members of the staff begin their day in the Word of God.

" , for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," reads clinic Director Charity Farrar from her phone.

"Our sin caused a rift between us and Him. Without the sacrifice of Christ, you would have no restored relationship with God," she continues while standing alongside her staff of 16 around a conference table.

The women worship and praise.

"We finished abortion recovery with Angela and she – she's healed," announces a staff member.

Their devotion and prayer time prepare them for a calendar full of chances to save lives.

"Is she abortion-minded?" asks Ferrar about one of their appointments later in the day.

"Yes," is the response.

They join hands to pray and give the day to God.

"First we pray, oh God, that she will keep her divine appointment today at 1:00. That she would see that this is a child and not a product of conception and that she will give this child life. Father we pray for life for this child," prays Ferrar as her colleagues chime in, "Yes, Jesus."

Ready for Anything

The professionals at Life Choices Medical Clinic never know what needs they'll be asked to meet.

"Sometimes it's practical, sometimes it's spiritual, sometimes it's emotional," explains Penne Jaster, a Family Nurse Practitioner at the clinic.

"It's wonderful being in that we have the freedom to share our faith – it's by no means coercive but where we can live like human-to-human and really connect with patients," Jaster says with a smile.

Giving Women Something To Hold On To

Ferrar says when she started at the clinic nearly ten years ago it was great at handing out diapers to families in need, but when they started offering medical care to women and eventually men, their influence multiplied.

"This room here is our ultrasound room," she shows CBN News on a tour of the clinic.

"God does amazing things in this room," she explains.

At this clinic, women can get a pregnancy test, a free ultrasound to see pictures of their baby, prenatal care, and free counseling all within a few steps down a hallway.

"Our goal, really, at the clinic is to make sure they know they're fully supported throughout their pregnancy," says Jaster.

"That's sometimes a big help if they're choosing between life and termination knowing that they have that continuity of care gives then a secure feeling," adds Ferrar.

They even offer testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and infections.
        
"If they're here for STI testing and treatment then we talk to them about that and what are their risks and the exposure that they have and what can we do to prevent that and oh, by the way, what does God say about all of this?" Ferrar says.

The Need for Discernment

Back in the ultrasound room, the fast rhythm of a baby's heartbeat fills the air. 

In this room, Ellen Leone has honed her skills of discernment. 

This afternoon she gets the chance to show that abortion-minded mom pictures of her baby.

"It's really just letting God take over in the moment, too, because He's active in the room and just seeing the Holy Spirit move their hearts is just a blessing to see," she tells CBN News.

Proving Critics Wrong

This clinic and hundreds of others across the country are proving critics wrong who say pro-life activists stop caring about women after they choose life for their babies.

Life Choices supports some moms until their children reach kindergarten.

"Hands and Feet of Jesus"

Also last year the clinic witnessed nearly 120 professions of faith. That's more than some churches in the region.

"Our number one mission is to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ. Everything else is secondary to presenting the Gospel," Ferrar states.

"My personal philosophy is that if we save the mother eternally, we save that baby because the mom has a change of heart," she continues.

Ending the "Atrocity"

Now Ferrar wants to take the success she's seen from the clinic's hopeful model across Texas.

Working with four other organizations Life Choices aims to serve 100,000 women and save 10,000 babies in just five years. 
 
"Abortion started in Texas. We want to end it in Texas," Ferrar says.

"Abortion is an atrocity. Abortion is not health care, it's not health care for the mother, it's certainly not health care for the child, but life Jesus came that we might have life and have life abundantly. That starts now," she adds.

The staff at this clinic has learned the more contact they have with a woman the more likely she is to keep her baby and the better equipped she is for motherhood.

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About The Author

Jennifer
Wishon

As Senior Washington Correspondent for CBN News, Jennifer covers the intersection of faith and politics - often producing longer format stories that dive deep into the most pressing issues facing Americans today. A 20-year veteran journalist, Jennifer has spent most of her career covering politics, most recently at the White House as CBN's chief White House Correspondent covering the Obama and Trump administrations. She's also covered Capitol Hill along with a slew of major national stories from the 2008 financial crisis to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic and every election in between. Jennifer