Impact Report January 2015
In this Impact Report, you’ll hear one of the classic JFA stories our trainers tell during presentations and seminars. It features a simple yet profound interaction between Charity Boaz and a young man on a commuter train. You’ll also hear the story behind the story.
I’m still intrigued by how quickly Charity developed new skills and confidence for the conversation on the train. It didn’t happen by accident. Through the faithful support of many, and by God’s grace, JFA’s training team carefully orchestrated a number of key experiences to help Charity grow (including Seat Work, Feet Work, and mentoring). How do we make abortion unthinkable for millions? We train thousands of pro-life advocates like Charity to change hearts, one person at a time, in everyday situations like the metro.
-Steve Wagner, Executive Director
Years ago a few members of our outreach team found themselves on a crowded Tuesday morning MARTA commuter train in Atlanta. They were headed to Georgia Tech for a second day of outreach. JFA’s Founder, David Lee, told the story from his own vantage point, drawing on a reflection from volunteer Charity Boaz:
A few hours after her conversation on the train, Charity (left) interacts with a Georgia Tech student using the JFA Exhibit Brochure.
I had to stand, but one of our new volunteers, Charity, found a seat beside a young man, “Darius.” He promptly asked if she was a Georgia Tech student.
“No,” she said, “but I am going to Georgia Tech for the second day of a pro-life outreach.”
Darius barely had time to nod before Charity asked him, “So are you pro-life or pro-choice?”
“I’m...(hesitating) I don't know. Which are you?”
“Oh,” Charity quickly responded, “I'm pro-life. May I show you why?”
“Sure,” he said. Charity gave Darius our two-minute tour of the first few pages of the JFA Exhibit Brochure, asking the key questions, “Is the unborn a human being?” and “Should wantedness determine how we treat human beings?”
As the train neared the Georgia Tech stop, Darius said, “I think I’m pro-life, too. May I have that brochure?”
“Sure,” responded Charity, handing it to him. “If you fill out the card in the back I’ll make sure you receive more information. Thanks for letting me share it with you.”
“Oh, thank you,” said Darius. “I plan to share this with my friends.”
Just a few days earlier, Charity didn’t have confidence to talk about abortion the way she did on the train. Referring to the first time she heard about JFA’s work, Charity said, “Immediately I thought it was amazing... But I didn't know that much about abortion and didn't feel brave enough to confront others about it…”
How, then, did Charity end up in a conversation convincing someone on the metro to oppose abortion? It began with joining JFA for a mission trip:
“The next training was in Georgia and I felt [it] on my heart to fly up and get trained. I was sure I would just stay in the shadow of those who have been doing this for years. I really didn't think I would be good at this whole thing…”
Charity’s mission trip began with preparation through JFA’s seminar (Seat Work):
Charity (right) gives two Middle Tennessee State students practical help in filling out the JFA Brochure response card.
“Well, my first day of training was an awesome experience. It kind of felt like drinking out of a fire hose. The JFA staff was so helpful. But I was still sure that I would let the others do the talking. I thought I would just kind of watch when we were at Georgia Tech the next day.”
During her first day at JFA’s outreach event (the Feet Work portion of the training), it was raining. Although she had planned to stand back, she ended up jumping in with both feet:
“I saw a guy [viewing the JFA Exhibit] and the other [members of the JFA team] were busy... So I decided someone had to talk to him, and it looked like it was going to be me. I was so nervous. We talked for a good 15 minutes and the guy seemed like he was really listening. I think at that point I realized I didn't need all the answers; and if I helped someone just get one step closer to being pro-life that was better than saying nothing. I talked to probably 15 to 20 more people that day. The JFA [staff members] were very helpful and supportive. I kind of felt like we worked together as one big family. It was awesome!”
“I think at that point I realized I didn’t need all the answers; and if I helped someone just get one step closer to being pro-life that was better than saying nothing.
”
Charity then met up with the JFA team in Murfreesboro, Tennessee for more outreach (pictured)!
Before attending the JFA seminar and outreach, Charity saw video of JFA conversations on campus and thought, “I could never do that. I could never just stand there and get yelled at and cursed at.” Reflecting after her outreach experience, she said, “It wasn't as hard as I thought to get yelled and cussed at. JFA teaches you a gentle strength.”
That same gentle strength enabled Charity to interact with Darius on the metro, reaching out in love for unborn humans and the human being in front of her. Truly, in more ways than one, there was Charity in that very everyday situation on the metro. Thanks for partnering with JFA to train thousands of volunteers like Charity to put millions of additional instances of charity on everyday metros in the coming years.
Notes: A portion of this report was written by JFA Founder, David Lee, in 2010. Jacob Burow, past JFA staff member and now President of Abortion Dialogue Academy, was instrumental in helping Charity become interested in a Justice For All mission trip.