WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.960 So welcome to empower you podcast you guys I'm Steve Holt and we have with us today Rich 2 00:00:11.960 --> 00:00:18.000 Bennett and here's what's cool about Rich is that he is in Colorado Springs and been 3 00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:22.760 here a long time like me and we love this city and he has had quite a contribution in 4 00:00:22.760 --> 00:00:29.080 this city in the area of life and it's really exciting we just did a conference on God, 5 00:00:29.080 --> 00:00:33.640 sex and science which was kind of crazy the science part was kind of different yeah but 6 00:00:33.640 --> 00:00:38.920 all these pro-life groups were in you were here was awesome we started talking I said 7 00:00:38.920 --> 00:00:47.880 you should do a podcast with me and our church supports what Rich is doing and I just love 8 00:00:47.880 --> 00:00:53.840 who you are man so did you enjoy the conference I did enjoy the conference I appreciate you 9 00:00:53.840 --> 00:00:57.480 know there's not every church in the city that would say hey we're gonna take a weekend 10 00:00:57.480 --> 00:01:01.840 and we're gonna focus on the issue of life and why it matters to God and why it should 11 00:01:01.840 --> 00:01:06.920 matter to us and so I just want to say thank you appreciated the opportunity to do it and 12 00:01:06.920 --> 00:01:12.080 it was we were talking earlier it was energizing to be around so many other people who care 13 00:01:12.080 --> 00:01:17.760 about life made in God's image yeah man yeah man it was cool it was see to see the lobby 14 00:01:17.760 --> 00:01:22.200 and all those tables around and then see all you guys talking to each other and I feel 15 00:01:22.200 --> 00:01:30.080 like one of my goals with the road is to be a networker for others who are better informed 16 00:01:30.080 --> 00:01:38.120 more anointed more skilled in certain areas so we did like a thing with Sean Boyd Eric 17 00:01:38.120 --> 00:01:47.880 Metaxas Lauren Boebert Doug Lamborn and myself in September or something like that right 18 00:01:47.880 --> 00:01:54.760 before the election and we just had a blast you know with their perspectives on how we 19 00:01:54.760 --> 00:02:01.880 hold the line as it relates to the political arena so this was more the pro-life arena 20 00:02:01.880 --> 00:02:07.280 and those kind of relationships go without saying they're so important and it tends to 21 00:02:07.280 --> 00:02:11.760 be I don't know so much in pro-life but I know in certain arenas there can be a little 22 00:02:11.760 --> 00:02:17.640 bit of competition that's felt and I think that's certainly not what we want at all yeah 23 00:02:17.640 --> 00:02:23.040 I think that was more true you know I came to this position six years ago from Focus 24 00:02:23.040 --> 00:02:29.280 on the Family and definitely soften my focus seat unfortunately at times pro-life groups 25 00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:34.840 being a little more competitive you use that word I think that was that's a fair word and 26 00:02:34.840 --> 00:02:40.800 why we still see some of that honestly there's so much opposition now from people who are 27 00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:47.040 not just quote-unquote pro-choice but pro-abortion that I think it's helped refocus you know 28 00:02:48.040 --> 00:02:53.920 if we have competition it's certainly not each other. So Rich you've been in the city 18 years 29 00:02:53.920 --> 00:03:01.240 and that whole time were you with Focus were you on staff with Focus on the Family? I was so I 30 00:03:01.240 --> 00:03:06.360 had the privilege of being a part of the executive cabinet at Focus on the Family for 12 years so 31 00:03:06.360 --> 00:03:12.040 that's what brought my family and I out here at the end of 2004 the back half of that time at 32 00:03:12.040 --> 00:03:17.800 Focus I served as a volunteer board member for Life Network and so that just afforded me the 33 00:03:17.800 --> 00:03:24.920 opportunity to live out more directly that passion to see life valued and you know love the Ministry 34 00:03:24.920 --> 00:03:30.760 of Life Network cared about what we get to do and was doing that from a board seat and my 35 00:03:30.760 --> 00:03:36.400 predecessor in the fall of 2016 came to me then I was board chair and said hey I'm going to step 36 00:03:36.400 --> 00:03:41.480 down at the end of the year so you know we're gonna need to fill that seat and as I started 37 00:03:41.480 --> 00:03:47.280 to pray about the process for doing that felt God nudging me to step into that and so I did and 38 00:03:47.280 --> 00:03:52.920 started in the role as president and CEO of Life Network at the start of 2017 so just over six 39 00:03:52.920 --> 00:03:59.400 years now and it's just it is amazing Focus does important work Focus does amazing work but you're 40 00:03:59.400 --> 00:04:04.880 not as close to it you don't get to see people dedicate their lives to Jesus Christ you don't 41 00:04:04.880 --> 00:04:11.200 get to hear the story of somebody who walks in set on abortion and they leave our center an hour 42 00:04:11.200 --> 00:04:15.840 and hour and a half later choosing to parent and while they don't have it all figured out they know 43 00:04:15.840 --> 00:04:21.440 that we're gonna stand and walk with them and I still get the chills talking about it it's a 44 00:04:21.440 --> 00:04:27.760 privilege to be a part of and you know I just love what God is doing through our three centers well 45 00:04:27.760 --> 00:04:34.120 man it's really I mean it's taken off since you took over it's been amazing to watch because I 46 00:04:34.120 --> 00:04:39.320 was a part of it even before so ever since I've been in the city I've contributed to or helped 47 00:04:39.320 --> 00:04:45.200 out in some way but to see even lately the difference that your leadership has made is 48 00:04:45.200 --> 00:04:52.880 amazing so how did you come into a heart for the unborn and a heart for life and I mean that's 49 00:04:52.880 --> 00:04:59.880 that's pretty huge I mean and you've really invested yourself in this you know I appreciate that 50 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:05.960 And there's a number of things that God has just done in my life that I think have instilled 51 00:05:05.960 --> 00:05:08.200 in me a passion for life. 52 00:05:08.200 --> 00:05:12.800 And if I go all the way back, growing up in the Chicagoland area, I grew up in a heavily 53 00:05:12.800 --> 00:05:14.640 Catholic community. 54 00:05:14.640 --> 00:05:19.560 My family wasn't Catholic, but most of my friends were who I played sports with and 55 00:05:19.560 --> 00:05:20.560 went to school with. 56 00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:24.400 I actually went to a Catholic school for much of my schooling because our public schools 57 00:05:24.400 --> 00:05:26.440 weren't all that great. 58 00:05:26.440 --> 00:05:31.640 And you know, while we may have theological differences undoubtedly with our Catholic 59 00:05:31.640 --> 00:05:38.080 brothers and sisters, nobody values life as well as the Catholic church. 60 00:05:38.080 --> 00:05:43.880 And so just seeing that as a kid, as a child, and then growing up and recognizing the biblical 61 00:05:43.880 --> 00:05:46.800 importance of life, I think started then. 62 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:54.480 But it really wasn't until I got into a Sunday school class my first year in our marriage. 63 00:05:54.480 --> 00:06:00.000 So my wife, Stephanie and I have been married for 28 years, and we had the great benefit 64 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:04.920 and blessing of getting connected into a group of nine other couples. 65 00:06:04.920 --> 00:06:08.880 In fact, I just got to see a lot of them last week. 66 00:06:08.880 --> 00:06:12.560 And this older couple in the church said, hey, we're seeing all these couples getting 67 00:06:12.560 --> 00:06:13.560 married. 68 00:06:13.560 --> 00:06:15.760 We want to lead these nine couples. 69 00:06:15.760 --> 00:06:18.160 Eight of us were in our 20s. 70 00:06:18.160 --> 00:06:19.880 All of us were brand new married. 71 00:06:19.880 --> 00:06:21.840 And then we had a Sage Wisdom couple. 72 00:06:21.840 --> 00:06:23.680 They were in their 30s. 73 00:06:23.680 --> 00:06:24.680 I know. 74 00:06:24.680 --> 00:06:25.680 They were old, right? 75 00:06:25.680 --> 00:06:28.040 But they were married for the first time. 76 00:06:28.040 --> 00:06:31.080 And the guy in that couple is a guy named Mike. 77 00:06:31.080 --> 00:06:34.760 And one day he said something that I had never heard up until that point in my life. 78 00:06:34.760 --> 00:06:40.040 He said, you know, there's a lot of important, quote unquote, issues that as a Christian 79 00:06:40.040 --> 00:06:42.560 are important to me when it comes to voting. 80 00:06:42.560 --> 00:06:47.280 But in my mind, none are more important than where does somebody stand on life. 81 00:06:47.280 --> 00:06:49.840 Now I've heard that a lot since then. 82 00:06:49.840 --> 00:06:53.120 But as a guy, 23, 24, I had never heard that before. 83 00:06:53.560 --> 00:06:55.680 And I said, wow, tell me about that. 84 00:06:55.680 --> 00:06:57.680 And so he started to share why that was. 85 00:06:57.680 --> 00:07:02.920 And it actually led to a small group of us doing a Bible study for four weeks, just starting 86 00:07:02.920 --> 00:07:07.720 to unpack all that scripture says about life and why life matters. 87 00:07:07.720 --> 00:07:12.680 And Steve, I would say it was at that point that God really just further cultivated that 88 00:07:12.680 --> 00:07:17.240 passion and bred in me, you know, I need to be a part of this. 89 00:07:17.240 --> 00:07:22.080 And so my wife and I started supporting the Pregnancy Center in the Kansas City area. 90 00:07:22.080 --> 00:07:27.320 I would say that calling is part of what led me to focus on the family in 2004 and 91 00:07:27.320 --> 00:07:29.480 then being on the board and now in this role. 92 00:07:29.480 --> 00:07:35.160 And so it's just cool how God can use other believers in our life to speak to us and water 93 00:07:35.160 --> 00:07:38.000 those those passions that he's put within us. 94 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:40.040 But that's kind of my story of how I got involved. 95 00:07:40.040 --> 00:07:47.360 So Rich, did you feel like as you moved into this new position, or maybe it was even before 96 00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:52.200 when you went with focus, kind of a sense of calling that was that was somehow going 97 00:07:52.200 --> 00:07:57.000 to be related to life and pro-life stuff? 98 00:07:57.000 --> 00:07:58.080 Absolutely. 99 00:07:58.080 --> 00:08:04.000 And I know that we have all kinds of supporters, yourself included, that share that calling 100 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:06.580 and they may have other callings as well. 101 00:08:06.580 --> 00:08:13.000 But I would say what's unique about our staff, and I would include our volunteers, are just 102 00:08:13.000 --> 00:08:16.560 like this is a top calling in my life. 103 00:08:16.560 --> 00:08:20.560 And I look around and yes, competence is important. 104 00:08:20.560 --> 00:08:22.780 Yes, character is important. 105 00:08:22.780 --> 00:08:26.920 But if a staff member doesn't have calling, when things get tough, they're not going to 106 00:08:26.920 --> 00:08:28.400 make it. 107 00:08:28.400 --> 00:08:32.640 And I think it's the coalescence of those things that just I look across our team now 108 00:08:32.640 --> 00:08:36.580 and we just have it in spades and it's just it's fun to be a part of. 109 00:08:36.580 --> 00:08:39.280 How many staff do you have over at Black Network? 110 00:08:39.280 --> 00:08:40.760 Steve, it's crazy. 111 00:08:40.760 --> 00:08:47.560 We have 56 full and part time staff, and that's to do a lot of different things. 112 00:08:47.560 --> 00:08:50.120 That's to staff our three pregnancy centers. 113 00:08:50.120 --> 00:08:53.860 That's to staff our thrift store that opened three years ago. 114 00:08:53.860 --> 00:08:59.000 And it's also to live out our in-school program, Education for a Lifetime, which is now in 115 00:08:59.000 --> 00:09:05.160 26 area high schools, helping young people make healthy decisions when it comes to relationships 116 00:09:05.160 --> 00:09:06.640 and sexuality. 117 00:09:06.640 --> 00:09:09.360 So we do a lot and it requires a lot of people. 118 00:09:09.360 --> 00:09:13.720 And holy cow, 56 full and part time staff still doesn't get it done. 119 00:09:13.720 --> 00:09:19.320 We have over 150 volunteers that come alongside us to make all that happen. 120 00:09:19.320 --> 00:09:26.680 So I was so impressed with Sienna and I've known about it, but I hadn't talked to Sienna 121 00:09:26.680 --> 00:09:28.880 about it, even though I knew that she was doing it. 122 00:09:28.880 --> 00:09:32.640 But that was cool at the conference to have Sienna there. 123 00:09:32.640 --> 00:09:42.440 Now that's to me really revolutionary to take the message of even abstinence and what 124 00:09:42.440 --> 00:09:45.040 we would call even just health. 125 00:09:45.040 --> 00:09:48.440 It used to be called physical, what did we call that? 126 00:09:48.440 --> 00:09:51.680 I think we called it physical health class when I was in school. 127 00:09:51.680 --> 00:09:56.120 I don't know what they call it now, but it was called physical health back then. 128 00:09:56.120 --> 00:10:00.000 Now we didn't talk about STDs and STIs and all that. 129 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:08.400 kind of stuff back then. But now it's a big, huge, pressing issue. And you guys are in there. So talk 130 00:10:08.400 --> 00:10:13.520 to me about that, because I was super impressed with that aspect of what you guys do. Yeah, 131 00:10:13.520 --> 00:10:17.600 well, and you mentioned Sienna. And for those who couldn't be at the amazing conference, 132 00:10:17.600 --> 00:10:24.400 we've got a young lady in our team, Sienna Adams, who grew up in this church and grew up under your 133 00:10:24.400 --> 00:10:30.720 teaching. And she is now living out her passion to make sure that young people know, even if 134 00:10:30.720 --> 00:10:35.760 they've made unhealthy decisions in the past, they could make healthy decisions in the future. 135 00:10:35.760 --> 00:10:42.000 And she's just a young lady that totally gets the redemption that Jesus Christ offers. And 136 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:46.880 obviously, we can't express it in the way that I just did at a public school. But that redemptive 137 00:10:46.880 --> 00:10:53.360 message of you are not the sum total of bad decisions you might have made in the past. 138 00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:59.840 And she, and under the leadership of Alan Hunter, that team is living out that so well and just 139 00:10:59.840 --> 00:11:05.280 bringing hope to people that maybe didn't have what, I mean, I don't know the details of your 140 00:11:05.280 --> 00:11:11.440 background, but I grew up in a Christian home. I had parents who, while imperfect, like all of us, 141 00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:17.520 brought me up in the way I should go. And I knew at an early age what healthy relationships and 142 00:11:17.520 --> 00:11:22.720 healthy sexuality was supposed to be. And even as I tripped up in that, I at least had the benefit 143 00:11:22.800 --> 00:11:28.400 of that. There are so many young people that don't even have that. And so, if you grow up in that, 144 00:11:28.400 --> 00:11:35.520 you make unhealthy decisions, and then somehow somebody communicates, well, now you've done it. 145 00:11:35.520 --> 00:11:41.600 You've, you know, you're lost. There's no coming back from that. You know, that is not what our 146 00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:47.200 program teaches. And what's so exciting to me is when we look at the data points of what that 147 00:11:47.200 --> 00:11:53.360 program does, it's young people who have made unhealthy decisions, and they leave that program 148 00:11:53.360 --> 00:11:58.240 understanding that they don't have to continue down that path. And to me, that's one of the 149 00:11:58.240 --> 00:12:02.720 most important things about that program. And yes, of course, we want to get out in 150 00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:07.840 front of unhealthy decisions. And so, for young people who are eighth, ninth, tenth grade, 151 00:12:07.840 --> 00:12:13.120 and they haven't made those decisions, we certainly want to help them understand 152 00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:19.520 why the healthiest decisions for them, you know, revolve around things like sexual purity. 153 00:12:19.520 --> 00:12:24.160 And we can say that in a public school classroom, Steve, not because it's what the Bible teaches, 154 00:12:24.160 --> 00:12:27.200 although it is, but because it's what's medically true. 155 00:12:27.200 --> 00:12:30.320 That's right. And that's the scientific evidence is just catching up with things. 156 00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:30.880 Yeah, exactly. 157 00:12:30.880 --> 00:12:33.760 And we're talking about that. It's such a good way to approach it. 158 00:12:33.760 --> 00:12:40.720 Yeah. We can use federal data and we can use medical truths. And the reality is it's catching 159 00:12:40.720 --> 00:12:42.720 up to what Scripture has taught all along. 160 00:12:42.720 --> 00:12:48.480 Yeah. So what we're talking about is this ministry out of the Life Network and the 161 00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:54.000 Pregnancy Center here in Colorado Springs that Rich does, and he's the CEO and director of, 162 00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:59.920 but they actually go into not just private schools, but they go into public schools 163 00:12:59.920 --> 00:13:05.680 and teach on abstinence. And how many hours will they do, say, at one school? 164 00:13:05.680 --> 00:13:11.680 Yeah. And I'll correct you just because I don't want anybody to freak out. We actually call it 165 00:13:11.680 --> 00:13:19.120 sexual risk avoidance. Now, fundamentally, sexual risk avoidance. And it's really all about 166 00:13:19.760 --> 00:13:27.440 understanding what is true about sexual health. And then what does it look like to avoid unhealthy 167 00:13:27.440 --> 00:13:33.120 decisions? And so abstinence, I think over time became a loaded word. And I think quite honestly 168 00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:36.720 is the kind of word that might keep us out of schools if we'd let out with that. 169 00:13:37.440 --> 00:13:42.560 It's almost like now you can't say, you don't want to use abstinence and you don't want to use purity. 170 00:13:42.560 --> 00:13:43.200 Yeah. 171 00:13:43.200 --> 00:13:48.000 It's like this new thing that's kind of hit the culture the last five or eight years 172 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:52.160 that was never there before. I mean, I remember that not being a problem even with 173 00:13:52.160 --> 00:13:56.320 those who disagree with us, but you're right. So now I like the new way though. 174 00:13:56.320 --> 00:13:57.920 Yeah. Sexual risk avoidance. 175 00:13:57.920 --> 00:13:58.400 Absolutely. 176 00:13:58.400 --> 00:14:02.800 And the reality is in the church, you know, we could still use those other terms and we 177 00:14:02.800 --> 00:14:09.840 know what we mean. I think in culture, it is more precise to say sexual risk avoidance. 178 00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:16.640 And that's what we're teaching. And the reality is even those that might be pro-choice, even those 179 00:14:16.640 --> 00:14:22.640 that are going to be pro-contraception have to acknowledge the medical truths that those, 180 00:14:22.640 --> 00:14:26.240 that sexual risk avoidance is what's most healthy. 181 00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:27.680 Well, it's more descriptive. 182 00:14:27.680 --> 00:14:32.320 Yeah. And it's more descriptive as well. So yeah, we get the opportunity 183 00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:36.960 five days in a health class. It's typically in the ninth grade. 184 00:14:36.960 --> 00:14:40.480 Is it like when you say five days, would it be like one hour? 185 00:14:40.480 --> 00:14:44.880 Yeah. It's one hour. And then, you know, a trainer like Sienna is going to go in and like the teacher 186 00:14:44.880 --> 00:14:50.960 of that health class, she's going to see five or six classes one hour at a time for five days in 187 00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:56.000 a row. And let me clarify four of those days she will do. One of those days is actually done by 188 00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:59.760 a staff nurse who is a trainer who goes in and purely. 189 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:05.040 sharing from a medical perspective. And so we save some of the stickiest medical questions 190 00:15:05.760 --> 00:15:09.440 for the nurse that's on our team that goes and does that part of the training. 191 00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:15.440 Many of our trainers are staff members. Others are youth pastors in the city who are great with 192 00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:20.880 teenagers. They're not going in as the youth pastor of Church XYZ. They're going in as a 193 00:15:20.880 --> 00:15:26.160 trainer for Education for a Lifetime. And they understand what comes with that in terms of, 194 00:15:26.640 --> 00:15:32.000 staying true to our script and keeping within bounds of all that. Because we're in 26 high 195 00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:37.760 schools, we don't want to lose that opportunity. And so we do have to be mindful of how we're 196 00:15:37.760 --> 00:15:43.040 operating within that. So Sienna's almost got a full-time job. I was talking to her about it, 197 00:15:43.040 --> 00:15:47.200 and I know she works at a coffee shop or something else. But that is just like, 198 00:15:48.800 --> 00:15:54.000 is that happening around the country? Or is that unique to here of going into public schools and 199 00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:57.760 be able to teach this stuff? You know, it's happening around the country, but I would say 200 00:15:57.760 --> 00:16:07.200 you have to be wise as serpents about how you do it. And just honoring of the reality of the 201 00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:15.600 culture that we're in. We don't have to like it. We can lament the days where we could talk about 202 00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:20.480 then the biblical basis for what is also medically true. And we can do that in a Christian school. 203 00:16:20.480 --> 00:16:24.480 We can do that in a Christian youth group. We just can't do that in a public school setting. 204 00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:28.240 And I know, you know, there are some people who have thought about volunteering with us and like, 205 00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:32.640 that can be like, well, I don't know that I could do that. Well then, you know, this is probably not 206 00:16:32.640 --> 00:16:38.640 for you. But the reality is there are other programs like ours around the country. And I 207 00:16:38.640 --> 00:16:43.760 would say it just takes wisdom and discernment in how to operate that so you don't lose the 208 00:16:43.760 --> 00:16:50.080 opportunity for impact. Now you were mentioning the idea of being in a national organization like 209 00:16:50.080 --> 00:16:56.480 FOCUS. Then you came local and that was the transition six years ago. And you gave me some 210 00:16:56.480 --> 00:17:07.520 statistics here that were pretty, pretty cool. The last six years, 1600 babies saved from an abortion. 211 00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:12.800 I mean, we could just stop right there and close the program. I mean, if that doesn't get you 212 00:17:12.800 --> 00:17:17.520 excited. Steve, how many people on a typical weekend attend The Road? I should know the 213 00:17:17.520 --> 00:17:24.800 answer to that, but yeah. Do you know? Yeah. I mean, it's probably 1200. Okay. So imagine all 214 00:17:24.800 --> 00:17:30.000 of those are going to walk through your doors on Sunday as saved babies. I mean, like that, 215 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:37.200 that plus 400 is what we've seen in the last six years. So yeah. And that's sitting down with them 216 00:17:37.760 --> 00:17:43.600 a lot of times with a sonogram talking, maybe the only person in their life that's 217 00:17:43.600 --> 00:17:51.680 wanting her to keep the baby. Do most people come in with kind of a proclivity toward abortion or 218 00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:58.000 do they come neutral? It's a great question. And it is almost completely down the middle of 50, 50. 219 00:17:58.000 --> 00:18:04.400 Okay. So half of the women coming in are at least getting pressure to, if not all the way to 220 00:18:04.400 --> 00:18:11.360 determine to have an abortion when they come in. And in fact, just yesterday, a lot of times we 221 00:18:11.360 --> 00:18:15.440 will see somebody for an initial appointment. We'll have them back for an ultrasound a day or 222 00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:20.320 two later. And that was the case for this young lady who came in in this particular circumstance. 223 00:18:20.320 --> 00:18:26.320 Unfortunately, her boyfriend was absolutely adamant they had to have an abortion. This was 224 00:18:26.320 --> 00:18:30.560 not the time to have a child. They weren't married. They weren't ready to have a child. 225 00:18:30.560 --> 00:18:36.880 And he was just dead set. She was less sure. So we saw them on Saturday. They came back yesterday. 226 00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:42.640 And it was that sonogram, that meeting their baby via ultrasound, that softened their heart. 227 00:18:42.640 --> 00:18:47.280 And they have now chosen to parent. And of course their journey's not done. Our journey with them 228 00:18:47.280 --> 00:18:53.520 is not done. And one of the false lies out there, I guess there are no true lies. One of the falsehoods 229 00:18:53.520 --> 00:18:59.120 out there is that somehow as pro-life Christians, we only care about the baby. Not true at our 230 00:18:59.120 --> 00:19:02.480 centers, not true in our communities, from what I've seen. I don't think it's true in most cases. 231 00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:07.280 And yeah, our journey is just going to begin with that couple. We're going to offer each one of them 232 00:19:07.280 --> 00:19:11.680 a parenting mentor where they can meet every other week for the next two and a half years 233 00:19:11.680 --> 00:19:18.400 and train them up as parents. Most of the young people we see didn't have great parent role 234 00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:22.960 models. And so they get the opportunity to see what that can look like. More than that, 235 00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:28.000 especially initially, they're going to get material resources, crib, car seat, baby clothes, 236 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:32.800 diapers, formula, and more. And all of that is earned in the context of our program. 237 00:19:32.800 --> 00:19:38.560 And so the notion that somehow we're only going to be there until a mom chooses to parent and 238 00:19:38.560 --> 00:19:42.800 then we're going to step out of it, it's not true at our centers and it's not true at most pregnancy 239 00:19:42.800 --> 00:19:47.760 centers in our country. And just by the generosity of our community, we even have over and above 240 00:19:47.760 --> 00:19:52.800 services beyond that. We offer professional counseling. And so a coach can do a lot. 241 00:19:52.800 --> 00:19:55.120 But for a young woman who's experienced trauma, 242 00:19:55.840 --> 00:19:59.760 I mean, we just have some clients who have experienced some hard, awful stuff. 243 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:04.320 A coach can do a lot in that scenario, but a lot of them need professional counseling. 244 00:20:04.320 --> 00:20:10.320 We have a professional counselor in the building now four days a week at our center at Galley, 245 00:20:10.320 --> 00:20:14.000 which I think is our, you know, our highest traffic center. 246 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:16.840 And we have counselors available for other centers as well. 247 00:20:16.840 --> 00:20:22.520 And so again, we're caring about life, which means the life of that baby, the life of that 248 00:20:22.520 --> 00:20:24.720 mom and the life of that dad. 249 00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:28.560 And I think a lot of people are surprised that we're engaging with him as well. 250 00:20:28.560 --> 00:20:32.520 And even if they've gotten things biblically out of order, we want to love on that mom 251 00:20:32.520 --> 00:20:36.240 and that dad and provide support for both of them. 252 00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:43.560 So 18,500 plus conversations about Christ. 253 00:20:43.560 --> 00:20:48.240 So when you're talking to someone, do you guys, I mean, you must obviously kind of go 254 00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:51.560 after a discussion about their spiritual life. 255 00:20:51.560 --> 00:20:52.560 Yeah. 256 00:20:52.560 --> 00:20:55.040 And all of that is done in an honoring way. 257 00:20:55.040 --> 00:20:58.500 And I would say the phrase we use is a permission based way. 258 00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:02.460 And so none of our services are contingent on, well, first you have to listen to the 259 00:21:02.460 --> 00:21:06.460 gospel or first tell me about your faith journey. 260 00:21:06.460 --> 00:21:10.140 The very, the very first thing we're going to do is care for them, care for the situation 261 00:21:10.140 --> 00:21:11.140 they're in. 262 00:21:11.140 --> 00:21:16.060 But we don't want to miss the opportunity to talk about, you know, what a healthier path 263 00:21:16.060 --> 00:21:18.660 can look like beyond that. 264 00:21:18.660 --> 00:21:23.380 And certainly we would say as Christians, being involved in a relationship with Jesus 265 00:21:23.380 --> 00:21:25.380 Christ is critical to that. 266 00:21:25.380 --> 00:21:30.380 Again, we're going to do that very carefully in an honoring way, in a permission based 267 00:21:30.380 --> 00:21:31.380 way. 268 00:21:31.380 --> 00:21:36.660 And, you know, one of the other false falsehoods out there is the notion that, you know, this 269 00:21:36.660 --> 00:21:43.780 is just all a ploy to beat people over the head with, with scripture. 270 00:21:43.780 --> 00:21:44.780 Our staff didn't do that. 271 00:21:44.780 --> 00:21:46.540 That's not their heart. 272 00:21:46.540 --> 00:21:49.700 We don't want to miss the opportunity to share about the most important thing. 273 00:21:49.700 --> 00:21:54.900 And the number you just shared of 18,000 plus faith conversations in the last six years 274 00:21:54.900 --> 00:21:56.460 is indicative of that. 275 00:21:56.460 --> 00:22:00.460 But again, done with wisdom, done with the right timing. 276 00:22:00.460 --> 00:22:04.660 And we have clients, Steve, who, when they start with us, they say, I will take the parenting 277 00:22:04.660 --> 00:22:05.660 program. 278 00:22:05.660 --> 00:22:08.420 I've chosen a parent, but I don't want any of that Jesus stuff. 279 00:22:08.420 --> 00:22:09.620 And we'll honor that. 280 00:22:09.620 --> 00:22:14.220 The reality is over time in relationship with that coach, their heart starts to soften and 281 00:22:14.220 --> 00:22:17.700 then we can start to have those conversations in his timing. 282 00:22:17.700 --> 00:22:22.740 So there's a, there's a, I don't know, maybe pre evangelism. 283 00:22:22.740 --> 00:22:28.700 There's an aspect to this of, of building heart to heart connection at the most vulnerable 284 00:22:28.700 --> 00:22:32.380 time in a young woman's life. 285 00:22:32.380 --> 00:22:35.180 Talk to me about that because I don't see that. 286 00:22:35.180 --> 00:22:42.660 I don't have the privilege as a local church pastor to, I mean, I, I get it as far as marriages 287 00:22:42.660 --> 00:22:43.660 or something. 288 00:22:43.660 --> 00:22:44.660 Maybe someone's pregnant. 289 00:22:44.660 --> 00:22:47.420 They might come to me, but they're going to probably more or less gonna, they're going 290 00:22:47.420 --> 00:22:49.540 to go to you guys on that. 291 00:22:49.540 --> 00:22:55.260 So how do you train your people to really be sensitive to not being condemning? 292 00:22:55.260 --> 00:22:56.260 I can't even imagine. 293 00:22:56.260 --> 00:22:59.700 That's not even a word I can even imagine from Life Network because you guys just don't 294 00:22:59.700 --> 00:23:01.100 have that. 295 00:23:01.100 --> 00:23:08.220 But just that, that feeling that they probably have of condemnation maybe, and it's not always 296 00:23:08.220 --> 00:23:10.500 the right reasons, but they still feel that. 297 00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:15.840 How do you draw out enough of them that you can massage that with grace? 298 00:23:15.840 --> 00:23:16.840 That's a great question. 299 00:23:16.880 --> 00:23:19.680 And a lot of it starts with hearing their journey. 300 00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:24.760 I mean, you just think about outside of the context of a pregnancy center, the most effective 301 00:23:24.760 --> 00:23:31.160 thing we so often can do as believers is listen to somebody's story and share our story. 302 00:23:31.160 --> 00:23:36.240 And so we have staff and volunteers that I think are really wise about how to do that. 303 00:23:36.240 --> 00:23:40.960 And in one given engagement, it might be, let's talk to you about you. 304 00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:45.160 And for a woman who's facing an unexpected pregnancy, that's the most important thing 305 00:23:45.240 --> 00:23:49.360 out of the gate you can do is talking to her about her. 306 00:23:49.360 --> 00:23:54.280 And I've gotten the opportunity to share a message in churches in the last few weeks, 307 00:23:54.280 --> 00:23:57.440 and actually looking at the story of Mary and Joseph. 308 00:23:57.440 --> 00:24:01.680 And of course, we're rightly very focused on the birth of Jesus when we look at that 309 00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:03.240 come December. 310 00:24:03.240 --> 00:24:07.720 But if you step back and you actually look at it through the wide eyes of Mary and Joseph, 311 00:24:07.720 --> 00:24:13.540 and you look at the initial reaction that each one of them had, and it was about themselves. 312 00:24:13.540 --> 00:24:16.140 How can this be, since I'm a virgin? 313 00:24:16.140 --> 00:24:21.220 Or Joseph saying, well, plan A was we were going to get married, but now plan B is I'll 314 00:24:21.220 --> 00:24:23.060 quietly divorce Mary. 315 00:24:23.060 --> 00:24:27.140 They're thinking about the impact that it has on them. 316 00:24:27.140 --> 00:24:29.060 Our clients that we see are the very same way. 317 00:24:29.060 --> 00:24:32.100 They walk in and they see the death of their dreams. 318 00:24:32.100 --> 00:24:34.900 They see this is not something I'm ready for. 319 00:24:34.900 --> 00:24:36.740 This is not something I was planning. 320 00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:41.260 And so talking to them about them, hearing their journey, hearing their story. 321 00:24:41.260 --> 00:24:44.780 We just have a team that does that really beautifully. 322 00:24:44.780 --> 00:24:49.100 And then with permission saying, can I share a little bit of, you know, what I've seen 323 00:24:49.100 --> 00:24:52.600 in my own life, if that's appropriate, and if that connects. 324 00:24:52.600 --> 00:24:57.780 It is so that I heard somebody say just yesterday, you know, God will bring together the right 325 00:24:57.780 --> 00:24:59.980 staff member and the right patient. 326 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:05.520 the right staff member or volunteer and the right client, and we see that happen all over the place. 327 00:25:05.520 --> 00:25:13.120 And so some of it can be planned, but obviously the Holy Spirit is at work way beyond our plans 328 00:25:13.120 --> 00:25:17.840 and, you know, the best practices and everything else that we do to make sure our services are 329 00:25:17.840 --> 00:25:23.120 professional and medical and well done. There's still amazing work that God does, 330 00:25:24.080 --> 00:25:29.920 sometimes despite us, but certainly even amid all of those things that are good. 331 00:25:30.640 --> 00:25:33.440 But, you know, God is going to work well beyond that. 332 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:41.200 Well, Rich, every time I've been with you, you're so positive. You always have a joyful 333 00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:48.800 attitude. How do you keep that in the midst of a job that's kind of meeting people at some pretty 334 00:25:49.520 --> 00:25:53.440 difficult situations? And some of them are not going to make the right choices. 335 00:25:53.440 --> 00:25:58.400 How do you stay positive and joyful in your relationship with God, with Stephanie, with your 336 00:25:58.400 --> 00:26:03.040 staff? Man, that's a great question, because I think I've shared this with you before. 337 00:26:03.600 --> 00:26:09.200 We have high highs, and we've talked about some of those, and we definitely have low lows, 338 00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:14.960 appointments that don't go the way that we want. And I've heard our nurses describe it this way. 339 00:26:15.520 --> 00:26:22.320 When we do an ultrasound for a young woman and she's one of the 13 percent that doesn't choose 340 00:26:22.320 --> 00:26:27.600 to parent, that nurse has the realization that the only two people on earth that will ever have seen 341 00:26:27.600 --> 00:26:34.960 that baby are that mom and our nurse. And that's hard. It's hard to hear about. And, you know, 342 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:41.680 we cry together and that's tough stuff. And so I'm thankful that, first of all, we do have, 343 00:26:41.680 --> 00:26:48.800 you know, many joyful outcomes, and I think celebrating those. And also I think it's critical 344 00:26:48.800 --> 00:26:53.920 when serving with us, and most of our team really gets this, and this is what keeps us positive, 345 00:26:54.480 --> 00:27:01.840 is it's not us, it's God. And so, you know, we want to be faithful in the moment in sharing what 346 00:27:01.840 --> 00:27:06.240 we're trained up to share and sharing what God would have us to share and stepping into that. 347 00:27:06.240 --> 00:27:11.760 But then the results are His. And unfortunately, even people, you know, presented with all the 348 00:27:11.760 --> 00:27:17.520 right information and they see that baby and they see that beating heart, and they know on some level 349 00:27:18.480 --> 00:27:22.880 that they're making a decision that's not only unhealthy for them and their baby, 350 00:27:22.880 --> 00:27:27.600 but just not the right decision. They can't see past their circumstances. 351 00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:34.560 And, you know, you just have to release that. And I would say, you know, that's kind of key to 352 00:27:34.560 --> 00:27:40.560 keeping going is dwelling, not dwelling on those hard moments, entering into those, comforting one 353 00:27:40.560 --> 00:27:46.160 another, talking through those. But then, wow, we just have so much to be thankful for and to 354 00:27:46.160 --> 00:27:51.040 celebrate. And God does amazing things through our centers every day. And I think we kind of, 355 00:27:51.040 --> 00:27:57.040 at least I try to keep my focus there. Well, since the infamous decision, 356 00:27:57.040 --> 00:28:03.840 the Dawes decision in relation to dropping a Roe v. Wade and all that, what kind of an impact 357 00:28:03.840 --> 00:28:09.120 has that had positively? And what kind of an impact has that had negatively? Now, 358 00:28:09.120 --> 00:28:14.080 for some of you that are watching you outside Colorado, we're a very, very blue state. 359 00:28:14.720 --> 00:28:20.400 And so abortion is still legal here in our state. The states have the opportunity to make that 360 00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:32.320 choice. It feels like, at least in Colorado and to me, that the pro-abortion, pro-choice side 361 00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:41.440 has gotten more animated than ever. Is that true? Is that just my misperception? 362 00:28:42.160 --> 00:28:47.040 What's the difference since that ruling? No, I think that's right. And there is both 363 00:28:47.040 --> 00:28:53.920 challenge and opportunity in that. Colorado, for those who are here, they may know, but for those 364 00:28:53.920 --> 00:29:00.480 who are beyond our state boundaries, Colorado is one of six states that allows abortion until the 365 00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:07.600 moment of birth. And I'm not somebody that looks to data for what is right and looks to polls for 366 00:29:07.600 --> 00:29:14.080 what is right. But when you look at the polls, that's out of step of most pro-choice Americans, 367 00:29:14.080 --> 00:29:20.480 let alone those of us who are Christians and pro-life. I mean, we know life begins at conception, 368 00:29:21.280 --> 00:29:25.280 but in the back half of a pregnancy, when a baby can be born alive, 369 00:29:25.280 --> 00:29:32.960 the notion that we're going to abort that child is just barbaric. It's just so hard 370 00:29:33.600 --> 00:29:39.200 to wrap your mind around. And our nurses who know that life begins at conception, 371 00:29:39.200 --> 00:29:43.600 when we have those moments where we see, and we do see patients that are in the back half of a 372 00:29:43.600 --> 00:29:50.160 pregnancy, and they're still considering abortion, those are hard moments. And it's no more or less 373 00:29:50.160 --> 00:29:59.200 a life than at one day or one second. But there is something about it's just so evident and obvious. 374 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:04.480 medically true that that baby could be delivered now and yet abortion is on the table. So, 375 00:30:05.120 --> 00:30:09.520 you know, the opportunities for us as a state that's so pro-abortion 376 00:30:09.520 --> 00:30:17.280 is we've become a state where people from states like Texas, like Oklahoma, like Wyoming around us 377 00:30:17.280 --> 00:30:23.120 that have abortion restrictions, they're calling and contacting us. The reason that's happening for 378 00:30:23.120 --> 00:30:28.960 us- They're calling and contacting you? They are. And if they're considering abortion, 379 00:30:28.960 --> 00:30:33.840 one of the reasons why is we're very findable online. And so we've been very fortunate, 380 00:30:33.840 --> 00:30:39.200 you know, through the investment of churches like yours to make sure that our website is a very 381 00:30:39.200 --> 00:30:45.520 findable destination for women searching for desperate options. And if they search Colorado 382 00:30:45.520 --> 00:30:52.240 abortion or Colorado Springs abortion or Colorado crisis pregnancy, terms like that, 383 00:30:52.960 --> 00:30:59.200 we're very likely to come up in the first few results. So on average, since that June ruling, 384 00:30:59.200 --> 00:31:04.880 we get two calls a day from out of state. Our goal is not drive and come see us hundreds of 385 00:31:04.880 --> 00:31:10.400 miles away in Colorado, but it really has turned us into a regional ministry of our team knows how 386 00:31:10.400 --> 00:31:15.680 to immediately get them connected. Once we've had a conversation, which we've talked to them about 387 00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:22.560 them, once we've gotten them to understand, you know, a little bit of what state is at stake with 388 00:31:22.560 --> 00:31:28.160 that decision is get them connected to a pregnancy center that's well-staffed and well-serviced in 389 00:31:28.160 --> 00:31:33.920 their own area. And so, yeah, we're sending young people to centers in Dallas, Texas, 390 00:31:33.920 --> 00:31:38.800 and in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and in states that are far away. And we don't know what God does with 391 00:31:38.800 --> 00:31:43.760 those stories. But I mean, we get two a day now, which is just like, I would never have seen that. 392 00:31:43.840 --> 00:31:45.520 Do some of them drive out here? 393 00:31:45.520 --> 00:31:50.960 So we see that too. The typical scenario there is we might hear from them, they're on their way, 394 00:31:51.520 --> 00:31:57.440 and one or the other partner is struggling with that decision. And so they're still deciding what 395 00:31:57.440 --> 00:32:02.800 to do, or they get here and they're a day away from that abortion appointment. And they look 396 00:32:02.800 --> 00:32:07.760 online and they see that we offer free medical services like a medical grade pregnancy test, 397 00:32:07.760 --> 00:32:13.600 a medical grade ultrasound, services they're not going to have to pay for. And so from 398 00:32:13.600 --> 00:32:17.760 that standpoint, the stakes are low in terms of, well, let's find out where we are in this 399 00:32:17.760 --> 00:32:25.040 pregnancy and if it even is a viable pregnancy. And there is opportunity, even with the most 400 00:32:25.040 --> 00:32:30.640 abortion-minded individual, to talk to them about their situation. And so many people, 401 00:32:30.640 --> 00:32:35.680 it's hard to imagine this, but they don't see an option other than abortion. They just can't see 402 00:32:35.680 --> 00:32:41.120 beyond it. And so even just giving them the space to breathe and to think about that and talk about 403 00:32:41.120 --> 00:32:47.360 the implications of not only the abortion option they're considering, but parenting or making an 404 00:32:47.360 --> 00:32:53.120 adoption plan. It's a tremendous privilege to get to do that. And we are seeing people 405 00:32:53.120 --> 00:33:01.840 from out of state turn around and going home. So what's the future of the Pregnancy Center 406 00:33:01.840 --> 00:33:07.520 Life Network kind of coalition, the different ministries that are in that arena? I mean, 407 00:33:07.520 --> 00:33:13.840 is there some talk among executives that run the ministries about changing up 408 00:33:14.560 --> 00:33:20.080 strategies or anything like that as we move forward because of the changes that have occurred 409 00:33:20.080 --> 00:33:22.800 and the fact that some are in red states, some are in blue states? 410 00:33:23.520 --> 00:33:30.000 You know, I think I'll just say what's happening here in Colorado is I'm increasingly on the phone 411 00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:35.760 or on Zoom calls with other center leaders in Colorado. And one of the things I'm encouraging 412 00:33:35.760 --> 00:33:43.680 them is, you know, we need to be beyond reproach. That's always been true. But in a state like ours, 413 00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:50.960 where, you know, somebody is looking for a reason to condemn a pregnancy center, to see where, 414 00:33:50.960 --> 00:33:56.320 you know, we've stepped out of bounds on something and to come after us, that's very real. And like, 415 00:33:56.320 --> 00:34:01.360 we can like shrink back in fear for that, or we can like lament and be sad about that. But like, 416 00:34:01.360 --> 00:34:09.040 what I think God has for us is let's be confident that we're providing services that are worthy of 417 00:34:09.040 --> 00:34:15.040 the excellence of God's kingdom. And I think we're doing that. And it doesn't mean we always get it 418 00:34:15.040 --> 00:34:21.440 right, but I think we're constantly looking for ways to get sharper, to get better. We're stepping 419 00:34:21.440 --> 00:34:29.120 right now into not just that first visit, but early pregnancy care in that whole first trimester. 420 00:34:29.120 --> 00:34:34.639 And the goal is not, we want to be their medical outlet for that entire pregnancy. 421 00:34:34.639 --> 00:34:40.320 But the reality is, so many of our underserved clients don't get good pregnancy care after 422 00:34:40.320 --> 00:34:45.040 that first appointment. And it just breaks my heart that they'll leave our center, maybe they chose, 423 00:34:45.040 --> 00:34:49.760 for whatever reason, not to go on our parenting program, and then the next medical care they get 424 00:34:49.760 --> 00:34:54.560 is in the emergency room when that baby is due. That's not good for mom's health, and that's not 425 00:34:54.560 --> 00:34:59.360 good for baby's health. And so we're increasingly stepping into, and this year, 426 00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:05.980 We're going to be bridging more clients with the aid of government services that are available. 427 00:35:05.980 --> 00:35:12.820 And so, Medicaid, if they can't afford it, can fund what would be needed to make sure 428 00:35:12.820 --> 00:35:17.900 they get just the most basic pregnancy care so that mom can be healthy and that baby can 429 00:35:17.900 --> 00:35:22.260 be healthy. Because, again, to be pro-life is not just in that moment of the decision, 430 00:35:22.260 --> 00:35:27.460 but it's to be pro-life for those lives thereafter. And I just think there are more centers that 431 00:35:27.460 --> 00:35:32.180 are thinking that way. And for us, that's something that the board has approved and 432 00:35:32.180 --> 00:35:37.740 we're going to step into this year is not to go beyond that first trimester, but to 433 00:35:37.740 --> 00:35:44.580 be a bridge to getting them connected with good OB-GYN care after they've seen us. 434 00:35:44.580 --> 00:35:52.060 Do you have connections with doctors and stuff that you guys can rely on? Let's just say 435 00:35:52.060 --> 00:35:58.940 someone's going to go through with the pregnancy and they've been convinced that this is the 436 00:35:58.940 --> 00:36:03.780 right thing to do. Do you have certain doctors that you recommend they go to or hospitals 437 00:36:03.780 --> 00:36:04.780 or something like that? 438 00:36:04.780 --> 00:36:09.260 We do. And I'll start by saying, and I don't think I've shared this yet, we have a medical 439 00:36:09.260 --> 00:36:14.300 director that serves with us, Dr. Kevin Wehry, who's delivered, this is crazy, he's delivered 440 00:36:14.300 --> 00:36:15.300 over 6,000 babies. 441 00:36:15.300 --> 00:36:18.020 Oh, he's delivered some of my friend's babies. 442 00:36:18.020 --> 00:36:21.660 Yeah, I think he's coming up on 7,000 babies that he's delivered. 443 00:36:21.660 --> 00:36:24.460 He's got like 90 years old or something. 444 00:36:24.460 --> 00:36:28.500 No, he's like our age, dude. He's a young guy. 445 00:36:28.500 --> 00:36:29.500 Very young. 446 00:36:29.500 --> 00:36:30.500 Right. 447 00:36:30.500 --> 00:36:33.340 But yes, I know so many people that he's been their doctor. 448 00:36:33.340 --> 00:36:39.220 And everybody in that Academy Women's Health practice, just top-notch caring for women. 449 00:36:39.220 --> 00:36:43.620 That's a practice we're not going to hesitate to connect people with. It's not the only 450 00:36:43.620 --> 00:36:48.140 practice we feel good about, but we do have a special relationship, I think in terms of 451 00:36:48.140 --> 00:36:52.940 just knowing that women are going to get good care from them. And so bridging them into 452 00:36:52.940 --> 00:36:59.060 a practice like that. And certainly Kevin does a great job serving our medical director, 453 00:36:59.060 --> 00:37:04.820 overseeing all of our nurses and making sure that medical care remains at that tip top 454 00:37:04.820 --> 00:37:07.460 level that I believe we're at. 455 00:37:07.460 --> 00:37:13.740 So you and Stephanie would be classified in my mind as kingdom of God revolutionaries. 456 00:37:13.740 --> 00:37:20.140 You're bringing the kingdom of God into the arena of women who have probably thought about 457 00:37:20.140 --> 00:37:26.300 an abortion or unwanted pregnancy, and you're making a difference in thousands of lives. 458 00:37:26.300 --> 00:37:33.580 And if you are advising someone right now, this is called empower you. And so what we're 459 00:37:33.580 --> 00:37:39.340 trying to do is empower people to change the world. And something happened in your 460 00:37:39.340 --> 00:37:43.540 heart when you were in your twenties, where you heard that guy in your Sunday school class 461 00:37:43.540 --> 00:37:49.600 say something to you and it resonated in your heart. There's got to be tens of thousands 462 00:37:49.600 --> 00:37:55.580 of young people out there that have that same kind of burden that they're carrying. What's 463 00:37:55.580 --> 00:38:02.580 your advice to them as far as the steps involved in being a part of this kind of a ministry? 464 00:38:03.580 --> 00:38:10.340 Yeah, I think it starts with praying about it for sure, but not ignoring, number one, 465 00:38:10.340 --> 00:38:15.700 that stirring that God is doing within you and not letting the enemies lie. And we've 466 00:38:15.700 --> 00:38:20.540 all heard it in our own lives. At least I know I have, which is, oh, you can't do that 467 00:38:20.540 --> 00:38:26.420 because X, Y, Z. You don't have the time or you're not good enough or, you know, well, 468 00:38:26.420 --> 00:38:30.420 you know what you've done. I mean, all of those lies that the enemy uses in our life 469 00:38:30.420 --> 00:38:35.900 that keep us from doing what God has for us. And so understanding in my mind, when 470 00:38:35.900 --> 00:38:41.260 that starts to happen, that's the enemy trying to stop you from what God has for you. And 471 00:38:41.260 --> 00:38:46.820 so once you're able to press through that, you know, see, okay, you know, what is my 472 00:38:46.820 --> 00:38:52.400 calling in this? Is it to be involved in, you know, the legislative arena as it relates 473 00:38:52.400 --> 00:38:57.420 to life? That's not my calling. That's an important calling. I mean, you know, especially 474 00:38:57.420 --> 00:39:01.900 in a state like ours, you know, I really admire those people that are still fighting 475 00:39:01.900 --> 00:39:07.620 that good fight. You know, for somebody like me, it was getting directly involved in that 476 00:39:07.620 --> 00:39:13.100 frontline care for women and men who are facing unexpected pregnancies. We have people who 477 00:39:13.100 --> 00:39:17.180 start that training path and they knew they want to be involved in it, but they realized 478 00:39:17.180 --> 00:39:21.940 that they just don't have the giftings or don't feel like they have the giftings to 479 00:39:21.940 --> 00:39:25.020 do that in one of our centers. You know, those are people that are now serving at our thrift 480 00:39:25.020 --> 00:39:29.620 store or they're a part of our prayer team. We have people who come on site and pray over 481 00:39:29.620 --> 00:39:34.540 our ministry or they're praying at home. I mean, what does God have for you that you 482 00:39:34.540 --> 00:39:42.500 can do to step into seeing life valued if that's a calling on your life? And, you know, 483 00:39:42.500 --> 00:39:49.060 I do believe there is something uniquely important about life made in God's image. So all of 484 00:39:49.060 --> 00:39:54.820 us as Christians to some level need to care about that, need to pay attention to that. 485 00:39:54.820 --> 00:39:59.500 I also don't believe we're all called to work in a pregnancy center. And so you've 486 00:39:59.500 --> 00:40:00.000 got to discern. 487 00:40:00.000 --> 00:40:04.680 in that through prayer, through, you know, understanding your gifts and where God might 488 00:40:04.680 --> 00:40:10.200 be calling you to serve. But everybody can do something. And that's just my encouragement 489 00:40:10.200 --> 00:40:13.400 is, you know, somebody who's listening and they're saying, well, I'm a student right 490 00:40:13.400 --> 00:40:18.520 now. School's my priority. You know, wherever you are in your community, I guarantee there 491 00:40:18.520 --> 00:40:22.760 are women in your community right now that are considering abortion. Pray for them. I 492 00:40:22.760 --> 00:40:28.080 mean, you could just start there. And I'll also say this, you know, as there are ears 493 00:40:28.080 --> 00:40:33.040 outside of Colorado Springs listening, your local pregnancy center in all likelihood can 494 00:40:33.040 --> 00:40:39.480 use you because pregnancy centers particularly now need support, material resources for the 495 00:40:39.480 --> 00:40:44.240 moms they serve, volunteers plugging into their charity walk, you know, whatever it 496 00:40:44.240 --> 00:40:48.120 is that's happening in that community. There are really practical things that people can 497 00:40:48.120 --> 00:40:54.120 do to step into that. Well, I think the Galley location is such a great location. That area 498 00:40:54.120 --> 00:40:59.200 of the city is perfect for the pregnancy center. I love that. Yeah. And that is still 499 00:40:59.200 --> 00:41:05.840 our busiest center for sure. In fact, it's busy enough that they're about to push out 500 00:41:05.840 --> 00:41:10.560 and administrative people like me, just because like we're serving so many people, what a 501 00:41:10.560 --> 00:41:17.960 high class problem. And so, yeah, eventually some of us who have more office based jobs 502 00:41:17.960 --> 00:41:23.640 may need to find a new home, but that center is thriving. And every day we're seeing women 503 00:41:23.640 --> 00:41:28.720 and men who are facing pregnancies they weren't anticipating considering abortion and God 504 00:41:28.720 --> 00:41:34.240 is using us to see those young people choose life. And I think, you know, it's not as dramatic, 505 00:41:34.240 --> 00:41:38.880 but when a young person is coming in for an STD test and they use that as a moment in 506 00:41:38.880 --> 00:41:44.160 time to say, my unhealthy decisions have gotten me to this point. I don't want to stay here. 507 00:41:44.160 --> 00:41:48.760 What an exciting moment to help that young person. That's why we did the conferences 508 00:41:48.760 --> 00:41:54.160 for that. Yeah. Not only make a healthy decision, not only get them healthy in that moment and 509 00:41:54.160 --> 00:41:59.480 do treatment, which we do, but then help them see that there are healthier decisions ahead 510 00:41:59.480 --> 00:42:04.080 for them. And that same truth that we get to do in classrooms, we get to do in our pregnancy 511 00:42:04.080 --> 00:42:11.520 centers. And I mean, I get as almost as excited about that as babies getting saved every day, 512 00:42:11.520 --> 00:42:17.480 which of course is, is remarkable. Well, Rich, we could go on and on, especially like I was 513 00:42:17.480 --> 00:42:23.040 thinking about something you said and we didn't touch on it so much, but would you 514 00:42:23.040 --> 00:42:32.040 say that a lot of the people who come in have heard about, um, the pregnancy center because 515 00:42:32.040 --> 00:42:38.720 of someone else who you helped? Because I know that, you know, word of mouth is huge. 516 00:42:38.720 --> 00:42:42.440 I know that that's how we've grown our churches. Everything's through word of mouth, but you 517 00:42:42.440 --> 00:42:44.840 see that? Yeah. The top two ways somebody walks through 518 00:42:44.840 --> 00:42:52.400 our doors are they found us online or somebody told them or the two together. And so those 519 00:42:52.400 --> 00:42:59.040 two together account for, you know, at least 75% of the visits and yeah. So, you know, 520 00:42:59.040 --> 00:43:03.440 somebody coming in for, you know, today's STD patient could be the person tomorrow that 521 00:43:03.440 --> 00:43:08.620 says, um, you know, I hear you're on, you're facing an unexpected pregnancy. They took 522 00:43:08.620 --> 00:43:13.360 really good care of me. I would go here. And that's another thing that's made that service 523 00:43:13.360 --> 00:43:19.940 very strategic is, uh, it's another opportunity to be a women's health destination, get people 524 00:43:19.940 --> 00:43:23.840 healthy and that word of mouth factor that you just talked about. 525 00:43:23.840 --> 00:43:30.760 So there's 1600 people in our city or somewhere in the country, if they've moved that are 526 00:43:30.760 --> 00:43:36.600 alive today because of what you're doing. And that is awesome. And that's the revolution 527 00:43:36.600 --> 00:43:42.520 we need. So I want to just thank you, Rich, and you communicate to Stephanie too, because 528 00:43:42.520 --> 00:43:47.400 you guys are a team. You have that same mission together, but thank you. Thank you for what 529 00:43:47.400 --> 00:43:52.760 you're doing in our city. And thank you for being a model of a man. Cause I mean, a lot 530 00:43:52.760 --> 00:43:56.560 of times in your pregnancy centers, women are directing and it's kind of like in our 531 00:43:56.560 --> 00:44:03.560 school system, women are teaching the classes. It's so awesome to have a guy, a man in that 532 00:44:03.560 --> 00:44:10.520 role who cares. And I think that may be one of those, I don't know, maybe it's a indirect 533 00:44:10.520 --> 00:44:17.080 blessing that we don't talk about much, but a woman comes in, I'm imagining most of the 534 00:44:17.080 --> 00:44:22.720 time without the boyfriend, you know, we encourage her to bring the father of that baby. How 535 00:44:22.720 --> 00:44:27.920 many, what would you say? Um, it's over half now that I think are bringing in the father 536 00:44:27.920 --> 00:44:32.560 of that child. And the biggest factor there is having a guy for them to meet with. Uh, 537 00:44:32.560 --> 00:44:37.640 and we've grown that significantly. So you might be a father figure to them that they've 538 00:44:37.640 --> 00:44:41.480 never had. That's pretty huge. And I know you don't see them all, but they're going 539 00:44:41.480 --> 00:44:46.160 to see you walking around, you know, and then you're talking about, you've got men that 540 00:44:46.160 --> 00:44:50.680 they're sometimes meeting with that are involved in it too. Yeah. Yeah. So, so yeah, she's 541 00:44:50.680 --> 00:44:54.240 got an appointment. We didn't even talk about that, but our fatherhood program has grown 542 00:44:54.240 --> 00:44:59.920 tremendously. And I do think that that's a linchpin to her choosing to parent. 543 00:45:00.000 --> 00:45:04.120 Having the confidence to choose to parent is overcoming the lie of our culture that 544 00:45:04.120 --> 00:45:08.300 as men, we should be silent in that moment and that it's her choice and that you need 545 00:45:08.300 --> 00:45:09.840 to stay out of it. 546 00:45:09.840 --> 00:45:13.780 Yes, ultimately it is her choice. 547 00:45:13.780 --> 00:45:19.320 But if we as guys step into that and we communicate, I'm here for you. 548 00:45:19.320 --> 00:45:23.560 If we know that we want to see that baby born, asserting that and that I'm going to be here 549 00:45:23.560 --> 00:45:27.560 to support her and that child makes a huge difference. 550 00:45:27.560 --> 00:45:32.280 And just this factor, you know, I talked earlier about if a woman meets her baby via 551 00:45:32.280 --> 00:45:36.160 ultrasound 87% of the time she chooses to parent. 552 00:45:36.160 --> 00:45:38.820 Well this next piece is national data. 553 00:45:38.820 --> 00:45:43.960 If mom and dad are there together, that number goes to 97%. 554 00:45:43.960 --> 00:45:49.460 That is the power of a present guy, a guy overcoming the lie of the culture that says 555 00:45:49.460 --> 00:45:51.160 they're better off without you. 556 00:45:51.160 --> 00:45:56.040 The lie of the culture that I bought even as a Christian young man of life is a woman's 557 00:45:56.040 --> 00:45:57.040 issue. 558 00:45:57.040 --> 00:46:01.880 And it wasn't until that Sunday school class and Mike came along and said, hey, as men 559 00:46:01.880 --> 00:46:06.040 and women, we're called to value life and look at all that scripture says about why 560 00:46:06.040 --> 00:46:13.880 life matters, that I kind of had my eyes opened and overcame the false lies of the culture 561 00:46:13.880 --> 00:46:17.780 that said, you know, that somehow this is just a woman's issue. 562 00:46:17.780 --> 00:46:19.120 It's a woman's issue. 563 00:46:19.120 --> 00:46:20.160 It's a man's issue. 564 00:46:20.160 --> 00:46:22.480 And increasingly we're seeing more and more men. 565 00:46:22.480 --> 00:46:27.760 And really the linchpin there is inviting him into the conversation and having a guy 566 00:46:27.760 --> 00:46:29.120 for him to meet with. 567 00:46:29.120 --> 00:46:30.120 Wow. 568 00:46:30.120 --> 00:46:33.840 So, Rich, tell us how people can find the Life Network. 569 00:46:33.840 --> 00:46:36.800 Yeah, we are findable certainly online. 570 00:46:36.800 --> 00:46:40.960 Our website is the letter E for everyone, lifenetwork.com. 571 00:46:40.960 --> 00:46:45.560 So elifenetwork.com, you know, a Google search of Life Network Colorado Springs is of course 572 00:46:45.560 --> 00:46:46.780 going to pull us up. 573 00:46:46.780 --> 00:46:51.500 We also have a really active Facebook page that's for those who support life and support 574 00:46:51.500 --> 00:46:52.500 what we do. 575 00:46:52.500 --> 00:46:57.540 And again, if you search Life Network Colorado Springs, I think we're up to about 3,500 followers, 576 00:46:57.540 --> 00:46:59.340 but we try and stay active on that. 577 00:46:59.340 --> 00:47:03.380 And what's really encouraging about that is you're getting a lot of real time praises 578 00:47:03.380 --> 00:47:06.100 and updates of what's happening in our center. 579 00:47:06.100 --> 00:47:10.940 So those are probably two of the top ways that somebody can get more information about 580 00:47:10.940 --> 00:47:14.820 who we are, what we do, and maybe what God has for you to be a part of it. 581 00:47:14.820 --> 00:47:16.660 Well, Rich, I want to pray for you. 582 00:47:16.660 --> 00:47:20.020 I want to just thank you from the bottom of my heart. 583 00:47:20.020 --> 00:47:25.260 Having been here 28 years in the city, it really makes a difference. 584 00:47:25.260 --> 00:47:26.660 And I know you know that. 585 00:47:26.660 --> 00:47:31.340 I can tell that you know that, but from a pastoral perspective too, you really are on 586 00:47:31.340 --> 00:47:39.700 the front lines of something that the church by and large tends to miss, not want to talk 587 00:47:39.700 --> 00:47:40.700 about. 588 00:47:40.700 --> 00:47:43.060 It's the big A word that you don't mention in church. 589 00:47:43.060 --> 00:47:47.940 Well, that's not true in our church, and it shouldn't be true ever, but you're still 590 00:47:47.940 --> 00:47:48.940 doing it. 591 00:47:48.940 --> 00:47:53.940 And you guys are out there, a part of the spiritual warfare that's involved with it, 592 00:47:53.940 --> 00:47:54.940 all of that. 593 00:47:54.940 --> 00:47:57.940 So I want to pray for you, and I want to thank you for coming in. 594 00:47:57.940 --> 00:48:03.740 And I'm excited about, I hope you're going to keep doing this for like a long time. 595 00:48:03.740 --> 00:48:04.740 Yeah. 596 00:48:04.740 --> 00:48:09.860 I had a board member just the other day say, you know, where do you see, right now God's 597 00:48:09.860 --> 00:48:12.980 calling on my life is to be right where I am. 598 00:48:12.980 --> 00:48:16.700 Even if you went to KU, and you might want to go back to Kansas, I have no idea. 599 00:48:16.700 --> 00:48:17.700 You need to stay here. 600 00:48:17.700 --> 00:48:18.700 We need you in Colorado Springs. 601 00:48:18.700 --> 00:48:19.700 I appreciate that. 602 00:48:19.700 --> 00:48:21.100 I feel called to be here for sure. 603 00:48:21.100 --> 00:48:22.100 Yeah. 604 00:48:22.100 --> 00:48:23.100 Well, let me pray for you, brother. 605 00:48:23.100 --> 00:48:24.100 Thanks, Steve. 606 00:48:24.100 --> 00:48:26.540 Well, Father, I just want to thank you so much for my brother. 607 00:48:26.540 --> 00:48:29.340 I want to thank you so much for his love for you. 608 00:48:29.340 --> 00:48:30.740 I want to thank you for Stephanie. 609 00:48:30.740 --> 00:48:33.060 I want to thank you for his family. 610 00:48:33.060 --> 00:48:38.180 I want to thank you for the whole Life Network and the impact that the three different centers 611 00:48:38.180 --> 00:48:39.180 have. 612 00:48:39.500 --> 00:48:42.140 The outreach into high schools, it's just amazing. 613 00:48:42.140 --> 00:48:44.300 I pray a blessing over Rich. 614 00:48:44.300 --> 00:48:46.220 I pray he'd have joy. 615 00:48:46.220 --> 00:48:52.700 I pray he'd have righteousness, peace, and joy flowing through his spiritual veins. 616 00:48:52.700 --> 00:48:55.580 Thank you for the enthusiasm he brings. 617 00:48:55.580 --> 00:49:02.900 Thank you for this really growing team of staff and volunteers that are a part of the 618 00:49:02.900 --> 00:49:03.900 Life Network. 619 00:49:03.900 --> 00:49:07.180 And I pray, Lord, that the joy of the Lord would be a strength. 620 00:49:07.180 --> 00:49:13.260 And I pray, Lord, that as the years go by, we all here in Colorado Springs could be known 621 00:49:13.260 --> 00:49:15.220 as a Life County. 622 00:49:15.220 --> 00:49:17.860 We'd be a Life City and a Life County. 623 00:49:17.860 --> 00:49:23.220 People would know about it because we're all working towards saving every little baby we 624 00:49:23.220 --> 00:49:28.660 can and every mother that we can and every family that we can. 625 00:49:28.660 --> 00:49:32.940 So bless my brother in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 626 00:49:32.940 --> 00:49:33.940 Amen. 627 00:49:33.940 --> 00:49:34.940 Amen. 628 00:49:34.940 --> 00:49:35.940 Thank you, man. 629 00:49:35.940 --> 00:49:36.940 Thanks, Steve. 630 00:49:37.700 --> 00:49:38.700 Appreciate you. 631 00:49:38.700 --> 00:49:40.780 Appreciate your church and churches like it that care about life. 632 00:49:40.780 --> 00:49:43.220 It means the world to us for sure. 633 00:49:43.220 --> 00:49:44.220 Amen. 634 00:49:44.220 --> 00:49:45.780 Thanks for tuning in, everybody. 635 00:49:45.780 --> 00:49:48.380 There's all kinds of programs on Empower You. 636 00:49:48.380 --> 00:49:49.380 Check those out also. 637 00:49:49.380 --> 00:49:49.880 God bless you.