Christian ministry and education has been a big part my life since I came to Christ in 1996. I think I had two main goals in my early Christian days: (1) to have a job where I could teach the Bible, and (2) to have that job be in youth ministry. From about 1998-2006, those goals were achieved. During that time I worked as a youth ministry intern in Boise, ID and as a Junior High Pastor in Burbank, CA. I also had the opportunity to receive seminary training. I graduated from both the Master’s Seminary and Talbot School Theology - with a Master of Divinity from the former and Master of Theology from the latter. I was well on my way to being the highest educated Junior High pastor in the country, no, the world, which I confess was actually my third goal. Pro-life work was nowhere on my radar.

Sometime around 2003, however, something changed in my heart. I was becoming less excited about youth ministry and more excited about Christian academics. This led me to acquire that second Master’s degree, which I started in the fall of 2003 and completed in 2006. It also led me to step down from my youth pastor position. It wasn’t that I couldn’t do the job, it was more that I didn’t think it was fair to the church to have someone ministering to the youth who wasn’t into it 100%. I thought for a while that I might end up being some kind of Christian educator or professor. I even taught a semester of 7th grade Bible at a private Christian school after I finished at Talbot. My heart though was still being led elsewhere.

My journey to pro-life work and Abort73.com started early on in 2006. I was in my last semester at Talbot, working as a substitute teacher, and constantly praying for direction in my life. I really had no idea what I wanted to do, nor did I feel particularly called to anything, except I knew I wanted to do something significant for the kingdom of Jesus. Well, quite unexpectedly, I received an invitation from a certain Michael Spielman (the founder and director of Abort73). We had breakfast one morning in Burbank and he just sort of dropped on me out of the blue that he wanted to hire the first full-time Abort73 staffer and for a variety of reasons thought I would be the perfect guy. I honestly was shocked. I never even would have inquired about such a position on my own. But since I had been praying so much about personal direction, I knew I had to consider it seriously.

Over the next year, as I completed my seminary studies and worked as a school teacher,

• NEW ABORT73 SHIRTS AND HOODIES - Over the last three months, we’ve added 2 brand new shirt designs and 17 new color combinations. Our apparel lineup is stronger than its ever been. Grab some shirts for yourself or a friend – online gift certificates are now available. Can anyone say perfect last-minute Christmas present? That’s the gift that keeps on giving all year long! In all seriousness, Abort73 shirts, hats, or hoodies can be that rare Christmas gift that actually results in a great deal of social good. The more Abort73 shirts, the more visitors to the website. The more visitors to the website, the more education taking place. The more education taking place, the more lives spared from abortion!

• ABORT73 ON FACEBOOK - Until recently, Facebook (the hugely popular social networking site) limited its memberships to individuals. Now they’ve opened their doors to organizations as well. Facebook users, just do a search for Abort73 to find our page (you can also join the Abort73 group or cause). The Abort73 Facebook page has close to 1,000 promo and event photos as well as our production video, Understanding Abort73. Spread the word!

• REVERSIBLE FLYERS & BUSINESS CARDS - This fall, a man in Nebraska asked if he could purchase Abort73 flyers to run in campus newspapers across the state. We accommodated and the new Abort73 reversible flyers and business cards were born. Smaller variants of our shirts, they’re a great fit for all sorts of marketing ventures. The possible applications are endless.

Financially, things looked pretty bleak on the morning of October 5. For three months in a row, giving had decreased, bottoming out in September when we received only a third of our budgeted need. We had to halt all advertising ventures and hold-off on cashing any paychecks. That morning, however, God smiled on us in the form of an email offer of staggering proportions. A young family of relatively modest means felt compelled to help Abort73 attract new donors. Husband and wife, praying independently, were led to the same conclusion and so they offered to match, dollar for dollar, whatever we could raise in new donations through the end of the month (up to $10K). By October 26, we’d received about $2,500 in new gifts. On the morning of October 31, we were sitting at about $4,500. By the time the day ended, that total had reached $11,154! Suddenly we’re back in position to finish the year on budget, something that seemed all but impossible just last month. God is good! You can help our work continue by sending a check in the envelope provided or visiting Abort73.com/donate.