A Woman's Last Chance to Choose Life

The hardest part of helping someone in an unexpected pregnancy is not having the perfect argument. It is being there, saying the first kind words, and building enough trust that real help can break through the chaos.

We sit down with Lauren Muzyka, founder and CEO of Sidewalk Advocates for Life, and Melissa Yeomans, Senior Regional Programs Manager, to explain what trained sidewalk counseling looks like in real life. They walk us through the rhythm of a typical outreach shift: prayer, a calm and friendly presence, quick conversations at the driveway, and the simple but powerful practice of asking and listening. Because there is always a driver behind the appointment, we talk about how advocates learn to identify the pressure points like money, fear, relationship dynamics, prenatal diagnosis, severe morning sickness, or even signs of trafficking and then connect women to local pregnancy resource centers and practical support.

We also address the tough questions people worry about: intimidation, harassment, abortion escorts, and staying law-abiding and peaceful on public sidewalks. Lauren shares why their four-and-a-half-hour training is built to equip ordinary people with a clear method, confidence, and legal basics, plus how men and women can both play meaningful roles in reaching couples and companions.

Finally, we look at the post-Roe reality and the rise of the abortion pill and mail-order abortion. Outreach cannot stay only in parking lots, so we explore the idea of “virtual sidewalk advocates,” church ambassador efforts, and meeting abortion-minded women where they search for answers online. If you want practical pro-life outreach tools rooted in compassion, clarity, and real-world experience, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review with one takeaway you want more people to hear.

Transcript

Why The Conversation Matters

SPEAKER_02 0:04

You can't deliver a woman away from the abortion facility into the arms of a life-affirming pregnancy center, for example, if you don't win the conversation. And then, in that conversation, if you don't win her trust, then you can't win her to a new solution.

Victor Nieves 0:27

Sidewalk counseling is one of the most important parts of pro-life outreach. Effective sidewalk counseling involves meeting women where they are, whether they're considering an abortion, unsure, or just seeking more information. The goal is for women to ultimately choose life and feel equipped to do so. Sidewalk counselors serve literally as the last line of defense for life, offering a loving alternative to women in the very moments before they enter an abortion facility.

Meet Sidewalk Advocates For Life

Victor Nieves 0:54

Welcome to Straight Talk on Life Issues. I'm Victor Nievis, president of Life Issues Institute. Today we have two very special guests. Today we're joined by Lauren Musica, the founder, president, and CEO of Sidewalk Advocates for Life, the nation's largest sidewalk outreach organization. We're also joined by Melissa Humans. She serves as Senior Regional Programs Manager for Sidewalk Advocates for Life, advising Sidewalk Advocacy Teams in the Western region of the United States. Lauren and Melissa, thank you both for joining us.

SPEAKER_02 1:24

Well, thank you for having us today.

Results That Change Communities

SPEAKER_02 1:48

In short, uh, Sidewalk Advocates for Life, we're America's largest peaceful sidewalk outreach organization. We train, equip, and support people just like you and me who have a heart to go to the darkest places in their local communities. And, you know, since people have responded to God's call to stand up and show up, to be there for these mothers and families in crisis, really who have been lied to by the abortion industry and sold this bill of goods, right? We have seen nearly 26,000 babies saved by God's grace. And we know behind that is a mother and family well-served. We're now celebrating 110 eternal souls who have left the abortion business with the help and witness of a sidewalk advocate. And then we just celebrated abortion facility closure number 72. So to God the glory, I tell people, you know, it's kind of a winning business plan against the abortion industry. You help enough moms, you're eliminating demand. You help enough workers leave the abortion industry. And we we refer to our partner, and then there were none, abortion worker ministry for healing, their healing program, right? But when you help enough of those leave, you eliminate supply. And together, it's really hard eventually for abortion businesses to stay open. And so the 70-second closure was just in Greensboro, North Carolina, a long time, wonderful team there with a mobile unit doing outreach, handing out literature, and just letting moms know about options and resources. And that's really what this is all about is letting people know that there's another way and that they don't need to choose the violent option of abortion.

SPEAKER_01 3:17

Yeah. What I love so much about Sidewalk Advocates for Life, I've been a sidewalk advocate on the sidewalk for over 10 years now. And just the robust training and the genuine support that the national team provides for local leaders and advocates, it's just been really incredible because that training piece is really critical to the mission. And so it brings like a cohesiveness to the sidewalk and really equips the body of Christ to engage effectively there.

A Real Day On The Sidewalk

Victor Nieves 3:46

You know, Melissa and Lauren, as you're talking about what it is that you do, I'm thinking of all of the ways that entertainment, culture, people in the abortion industry have intentionally, I believe, intentionally misrepresented the work that you do. Oftentimes we'll see maybe commercials from the abortion industry that depict sidewalk counselors as these like hateful people. They're they're screaming in the face of some, you know, poor woman who's scared and confused. Take us through a little bit of what you actually do. Melissa, I'm so glad, you know, you mentioned the training. These are not just willy-nilly people screaming on the street, unless I've misunderstood something. What is it like a day in the life of an actual trained sidewalk counselor?

SPEAKER_01 4:24

Yeah, so the day really starts with prayer, and that's the foundation of everything is Jesus at work in us. And so, you know, you're getting ready. You always face some sort of, you know, the enemy doesn't want us to go to the sidewalk. So whether it's something happens with family, cold, you know, and any other thing, you're always actually really leaning into Jesus as you head to the sidewalk for your shift. The time of outreach can really vary. It can be that a few people cross the drive and and don't stop, and you're there praying and you're there standing, and you're that invitation to life that's visible, loving, and friendly and clear. Or there can be mornings where it's just window after window, and you're what you're doing is you're smiling and waving, you're greeting in love. You are immediately letting that client know what the help available is and where they can go for that support. And you're asking and you're listening, you're learning what brought them in today. Sometimes that conversation ends right there. You've given them resources, you've given them a brochure that has a lot of great information where they can find the help and support they need. So that's okay. Then you continue to pray. And sometimes you see that client come out. Otherwise, sometimes that conversation continues as she opens up and shares with you what brought her into the abortion facility that day, and you respond from there, but you always give that invitation. You ask and listen, and then you you meet the need because there's a driver behind her decision for abortion. And so once you learn what that is, you can show her very lovingly that there's support in this community for her and that there may be some options and support she didn't realize existed. And I can tell you, I've had this experience once where my question in the driveway was Did you know that we have three wonderful pregnancy centers in this city that would love to walk alongside you? And this young lady said, no. And it just is like, it's heartbreaking to hear that with everything that the centers have available and praise God, the people who support those ministries, that there could be a woman in your city showing up to an abortion appointment or even just to find out what her options are. And she didn't know that pregnancy center existed for her. So we ask and listen, we meet the need, and we always end by letting them know they can cancel that appointment, they can leave the facility. They don't have to go in and encourage that decision to make a new commitment to explore options.

SPEAKER_02 6:56

And Victor, I think what Melissa highlighted so well is that this is peaceful, loving outreach at its crux, right? All of our volunteers signed something called a pledge of integrity, saying that when they're volunteering with Sidewalk Advocates for Life, they're going to be peaceful, prayerful, loving, and law-abiding. And each one of those things helps to keep us on the sidewalk, gives us a chance to interface with every eternal soul who may cross our path. And it really draws people into us. You know, I tell people that you can't deliver a woman away from the abortion facility into the arms of a life-affirming pregnancy center, for example, if you don't win the conversation. And then in that conversation, if you don't win her trust, then you can't win her to a new solution, right? She perceives the abortion industry to be the savior to the crisis that she's currently experiencing, her perceived crisis. Like Melissa highlighted so well, there's a reason why she's there. And yes, there's never a good reason to take the life of an innocent pre-born child. But this is what the enemy does is he comes in and he whispers to her, you have to do this, $100. Nobody will know. We can take care of the problem, so to speak, right? And that's the great lie that her life will magically go back to normal and there won't be anything to deal with on the other side of this. I mean, Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry have painted this path as, you know, something that's just going to be kind of a quick and easy fix. And yes, you might have some feelings afterwards, and, you know, we might throw a brochure at you or something like that. But, you know, then they send her on her merry little way and she's got to deal with the after effects of this choice. And so, you know, we're there to really stand in the gap. The research shows that that woman arriving at the abortion facility is in a world of chaos and confusion, and she needs somebody to kind of come in and say, you are not alone. You can do this to reconcile present with future self and show her how it's possible to still have her baby and reach her dreams, right? Even if just like any path, there's going to be challenges with that. But, you know, the media would love to paint us as these ugly, protesting villains, right? This is what the media does, is they'll zero in on a couple of bad actors at abortion facilities where they're just being ugly to people. And this, what we do here at Sidewalk Advocates for Life is true ministry. It really is. You know, it's going out there armed with life-saving options and resources, love and care. We journey still with so many of the women we met on the sidewalk. And we're here. We're here for our community and letting them know that they're not alone if they're facing an unexpected

Training That Prepares Ordinary People

SPEAKER_02 9:23

pregnancy.

Victor Nieves 9:23

You know, Melissa, as you shared the story of that woman who didn't know. I'm I'm reminded, you know, many times when we talk about this, average people, our listener, just, you know, somebody who's driving to work, they might be hearing your stories and they're inspired by the work that you two do, but they're thinking, well, what do I do? What can I do? Maybe they're too afraid. Well, maybe the place to start is to go and actually get trained and become a sidewalk counselor. But at the same time, you know, that might not be for everyone. Something that anybody can do, though, is to just share with their circle of influence, their church, their friends, their family. I mean, think of all of the people in that woman's life before she got to you, who could have said, yeah, you know, there's three. You said I think it was three of these loving, life-affirming centers that are happy to wrap around you and love on you. Anybody can help in the work that you guys are doing. Anybody can, you know, be involved in that. I'm curious though, because there is another level when it gets to what you guys do. And you mentioned the training. Talk to us a little bit about the training that the sidewalk advocates go through.

SPEAKER_02 10:18

Sure. So our training is really comprehensive. We sought to make it the most comprehensive possible. It's about four and a half hours of content and it's the A to Z of sidewalk advocacy. It covers everything from understanding the psychology of a woman considering abortion to how to reach out to the companion who's with her. You know, sometimes mom makes a beeline for the facility, but boyfriend comes out on the porch and he's milling around, or grandma or, you know, dad, right? We cover unique situations like prenatal diagnosis, severe morning sickness, signs of sex trafficking. You know, how do we, who do we contact when we see signs that this woman may be trafficked? And then we have a five-point method that we walk through in regards to how we reach out to her, how we talk to her, right? And facilitate a life-saving conversation. And so this kind of step-by-step guide helps anybody of any walk of life be able to have this conversation. It's research-based, it's based in our lived experience on the sidewalk. It's undergirded by testimony, right, from those who have experienced abortion. And so a lot of times people will go into the training curious, saying, Can I really do this? Right? Do I see myself doing this? And so many people come up the other side saying, you know what, now I see how this is possible. And we all we all have butterflies. I still do in over 20 years of doing this when I go to the sidewalk. But I remember it's just about serving and helping the person in front of you and just, you know, planting those seeds. And it's not our job to turn her around. We can't do that. That's God's job. You know, that's her job to say yes to the help that's offered. But we can do so much by being a loving presence and planting those

Fear Threats And Staying Peaceful

SPEAKER_02 11:57

seeds.

Victor Nieves 11:57

You know, Melissa and Lauren, you mentioned, Lauren, the butterflies, that you still get. We know that we live in a very dangerous time, unfortunately. There's political violence, there's there's all sorts of things, just senseless violence. Of course, we know that the abortion industry certainly does not appreciate the work that you are doing. And there are many very radical abortion advocates who might not like that you're out there. Do you ever have any threats against your life? Are you ever concerned? Is it ever, you know, something, even that people who want to become a sidewalk advocate, do you ever have to work through that fear with them?

SPEAKER_01 12:29

Yeah, so fear is something that often might keep somebody from even going to that basic training. We face a lot of different challenges, unique challenges as sidewalk advocates. First, we're kind of getting over that hurdle of, okay, we're gonna go to this place. You know, there's a place where abortions are actually happening and we're gonna be there at that tenth hour and, you know, offer, make this life-giving offer and love on people. And yet, like you said, we know that there's an abortion industry, there's what we call abortion escorts. They really work to try to get in between an advocate and a client and, you know, all different kinds of shenanigans that I've seen, both locally and as a regional programs manager with sidewalk advocates for life. And the fact is, is that when we go to the sidewalk, we go with that understanding that, you know, we don't really know what will happen that day. But what we do know is that that lives are on the line, that these women, they need our love and support. And that even those abortion workers and escorts, they need an example. They need to see the love of Christ in action and what an opportunity we have to sow seeds of love and life and Christ into their lives, even as they stand on the other side, you know, working to get in between us and those patients, those clients. You know, we've seen all kinds of things. And what I loved so much, especially about the national team, is, you know, before I was a part of the national team, I could make a call to my regional programs manager when something happened and just hear the encouragement that they had, the wisdom that they had, and they could connect me to legal support if that was needed. But honestly, everything that I've experienced at the sidewalk has really shaped my heart for life. And I've really grown in my faith through that experience. And those escorts, I remember even once I was at the end of a kazoo by a, you know, kind of a person who was very aggressive and it ended up going all the way to a courtroom in Iowa. But no, I've got nothing for love for that person. But it was just an opportunity to stand firm and to stand for those women who were heading. They were being literally led into that abortion facility and people, you know, trying to black out any word we might say to give them the truth about life and their options. So yeah, there's a lot of different levels of fear, but I would encourage anyone that, you know, if you feel called to this, just continue to seek Christ and take the next step because it's amazing with the support and with the training. It's sort of like a veil gets lifted and you see just how you could go to the sidewalk once you get through the training.

SPEAKER_02 15:18

And, you know, what Melissa highlights so well. Like I know even at the site that Melissa serves at personally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, they've had Antifa show up on the sidewalk. We have, as Melissa referenced, these trained volunteers called abortion center escorts that try to interfere with our outreach. They knock our gift bag out of our hands. We've had cowbells in our ears. They dance and jeer at us. You know, they try to jump in between us and clients. And but what I will tell people generally is that the sidewalk is fairly peaceful. I do think that we've been part of that, just really making it a place of prayer and peaceful outreach. But inevitably you'll have a character show up and start causing shenanigans, right? Or you'll have an abortion worker that will start to be ugly to you, or a hired so-called security guard by the abortion facility that's out on the public right-of-way telling you you can do this and you can't do that, right? And quite often they don't know the law, which is why it's important for us to educate our sidewalk advocates on their rights. But I mean, really, if you can have a conversation with another human being, you can do this. And we'll give you the tips and strategies to navigate around some of these kind of minor landmines, so to speak. You know, nothing we do in our faith walk sometimes is without challenge. Any path, any yes to God sometimes is going to have resistance. And this mission is so close to the heart of God. You know, these children who are made in his image and image and likeness, these mothers who are made in his image and likeness who have been lied to, right? And are in crisis and yes, are reaching for this thing at the time that is going to cause them great pain and consternation, right? But it's so worth it. That's what I tell people. It's so worth it. And when you see a life saved, you're hooked and you want to go back for the next one and the next one and the next one, right? It's like God hands you a blank check to do good on the sidewalk. And there's just so much opportunity out there to speak peace and hope into people's lives. And we're there for support if you need to navigate around some of these things. And, you know, the training goes over all of that as

Two Stories That Prove It Works

SPEAKER_02 17:15

well.

Victor Nieves 17:15

Lauren, you mentioned getting hooked when you see a life saved. I'm sure both of you, Melissa and Lauren, have amazing stories that you've acquired through the years. Would you share just a few of those with us? We love hearing the stories of lives saved and the incredible work.

SPEAKER_01 17:30

Yeah, God is truly at work and to him be all the glory for each and every one. And what's so beautiful is how like intimately he reveals himself and how he's involved in each one of these. So I have a very precious family that I now know very well. So one morning, there was a woman who was heading into the facility. She said, you know, no to my offer of help when she passed me, which is not uncommon. But as she went into that facility, she actually got to the ultrasound point. And seeing she wanted to see the ultrasound, that was very important to her. And as she was looking at that, her baby on the screen, she could see because she had had, she had been pregnant many times before. She could see that little seven-week-old daughter of hers had tiny hand buds and tiny little feet buds. And she knew right then she couldn't go through with that. And so as she came out, it was like she knew, you know, to come straight up to me. And I also went, you know, did you make a decision? Did you change your mind? And she let me know she did. And in that moment, what unfolded was, you know, her sharing with me some of her needs, like what brought her there that day. You know, she had borrowed money from her mother for that abortion. She had many children at home who, you know, she didn't know how she was gonna provide for those children. No vehicle, you know, and it went on and on. But what was so beautiful is I was able to pray with her and we continue to walk with her. The advocates in the community were able to help connect her to a van miraculously and insurance and a washing machine and a dryer. And it's just that I like the simple story because it shows how powerfully the Lord is at work. And sometimes just being there to make that offer of life is one more way the Holy Spirit is at work in that situation to say there's another way.

SPEAKER_02 19:21

Yeah, it's hard to believe now there's nearly like 26,000 stories of victory, right? And but we all have, you know, those that really stick with us. Sometimes the stories are as simple as, hey, we have this free help next door and we'd love to be there for you. And the woman says to us, Great, I'll go right now. I mean, it can be literally a 10-second conversation, all the way up to, wow, we have just finished an hour conversation and she's finally ready to go, right? But one of my favorites was when a few of us on the national team were on the sidewalk in Tampa, Florida. It was the North Tampa facility. And this mom and her sister and boyfriend were going into the abortion facility. And the story was that mom already had two little girls and she was pregnant with this precious little boy with this particular dad. But what was so beautiful was this dad was a new believer and he didn't want her to go through with it. He was very receptive in the beginning. Mom was about half shut down, and sister was a little bit more open than that. But we ended up getting into a conversation and just planting seeds, you know, we've got help for you. You're not alone. The pregnancy center is in the next parking lot next door. We can get you everything that you need. Pregnancy test sonogram and a plan that works for you and your family. She already had two little girls, and this isn't something I normally say on the sidewalk, but I really felt very strongly that it was appropriate to say, what if this is your little boy? You know? And it's funny now to look back. And that actually came true, right? The long story short is mom went into the abortion facility. And, you know, it's there's a famous sidewalk counseling priest named Monsignor Riley who used to say that about half the women who chose life with him eventually were women who had to hear that offer of help, go inside and experience the darkness of the facility. And with the contrast between the dark and the light, they wanted to be back out on the sidewalk with the sidewalk counselor, the sidewalk advocate, right? It's almost like they had to experience that to really make that solid decision for life. And so we never freak out when somebody goes inside the abortion facility because we know that prayer is powerful. And many of these women and families do come out. And so we maintain that peaceful, even professional disposition. And so this family went in, and it's so funny because again, not something I say every time, but hey, they're just gonna take your money, they're gonna send you on your way, and then you have to deal with the aftermath of this, right? And she said that inside it was all about money, money, money, that they were even saying things like, Hey, and if you can pay cash, even better. She was getting the idea that they were taking cash under the table, you know, so they didn't have to run a credit card. And anyways, long story short is she said, She went in the bathroom at one point and just started to cry and said, I really don't want to do this. And I still remember we had circled up to pray and we hadn't even said the word amen, it felt like. And this family was coming out. And I looked at them and said, You ready to go to the pregnancy center? And they said, Yes, absolutely. So they go next door and just a handful of weeks later, I get a message from mom because the phone number was on the pamphlet that we had given her on the in that gift bag. And she said, I just want to thank you for being there that day. I just found out I'm having a little boy and I'm ready to do whatever I need to for my son. And what was beautiful was mom and dad discerned that they were called to get married. He actually went to go serve our nation in the army. He went into the military. They're a military family now, and they went on to have another little girl. And so the most beautiful thing is that family is now thriving. And he's taken those two other little girls, you know, who were from a previous relationship as his own. And so we've seen not only that, you know, this life was saved, but this family came together and really, in essence, was restored. This mom was brought to faith in Christ because of that journey. And so, you know, there are many stories like that. But that one stands out in particular just because of the ups and the downs, the nuances, the father's role. It shows our importance on reaching out to the companion, Nate on our national team, a man on the sidewalk. And a lot of people think or wonder, can men be as effective in this ministry, right? Obviously, woman to woman, that makes sense. But we've seen men be very effective as almost like the brothers and the protectors and providers, so to speak, out on the sidewalk, but also connecting with the men. And he really connected with the dad that morning. And we're all still friends and we still get pictures of little Cameron. And there's just nothing like it. I tell people after more than 20 years, every victory, there's nothing like

The Abortion Pill Shifts The Mission

SPEAKER_02 23:47

it.

Victor Nieves 23:47

It's amazing. And like you said, there are literally thousands of those stories. And it's just such a blessing to hear. You know, I'm wondering, these facilities, as we've talked about briefly, are shutting down all across the country. And thank the Lord for that. We saw Planned Parenthood stripped of hundreds of millions of dollars of funding. What we're seeing, though, is unfortunately the abortion industry is quite crafty. I mean, they're not going to go down without a fight. They're looking for new ways, for one, obviously, to make money, to, you know, do these abortions. Now we see the abortion pill. Has that changed as we see these physical locations shutting down and the shift to this male order deadly drug? Lauren and Melissa, has that changed the work that you guys do?

SPEAKER_02 24:25

Yeah. So I'll jump in and Melissa, feel free to chime in. It definitely has. It's a different landscape. You know, a lot of folks don't realize that this idea of male order abortion-causing drugs now in this era, that was actually made possible because of a Biden administration FDA rule, right? Now that could flip back. This current administration could flip that back at any point. But the way that it's changed our ministry is that, you know, we've always been physical boots on the ground and will continue to be because women are still going into abortion facilities, obviously, all across the country. And they're also walking into these facilities called abortion referral facilities, often planned parenthood, quote unquote family planning centers that still refer across state lines in our pro-life state. So a lot of people don't realize that the abortion industry is still very much on the ground in our pro-life states. But now in this new era, we're having to think as if we are also virtual boots on the ground. You know, I tell people in post-roe America we are all sidewalk advocates. So some of the projects that are coming down the pike, we're looking to train a group of online sidewalk advocates that will take those sidewalk skills and go into chat rooms like Reddit and Baby Center and women who are asking, where can I get the abortion pills? Right. Then we're able to DM them and, you know, offer them optionline.org, which is, you know, one of the biggest pregnancy center helplines in the country. We have a church ambassador program that we're currently writing an operations plan for. Can we train our pastors, deacons, priests, elders, right? To be able to know how to have these conversations in their congregations and catch women before they order, you know, these pills, right? So we're looking to kind of help train the stakeholders, the societal stakeholders that will naturally interface with some of these women before, you know, they go ahead and make this decision. And, you know, many of them, once they, you know, have called into an abortion hotline, we do meet them at an abortion facility for one reason or another. Uh, we still have women that are being bussed or flown from, for example, my my state, which is Texas, and uh women are still getting abortion pills even physically at a facility, right? And so we have something called Maria's fund that provides a bridge of support. It'll launch a little bit later this year to provide that bridge of support so that when she gets home or she has the means to get home and then get set up with her home pregnancy center. And so, you know, as you're alluding to, Victor, like we're having to think outside the box right now in this kind of new

Your Next Step And Closing Charge

SPEAKER_02 26:46

era.

Victor Nieves 26:46

What is one thing that our listener, anybody, one thing that anybody can do following this conversation?

SPEAKER_02 26:53

I would just send you to our website to discern if you were the person who's supposed to do this kind of outreach, right? And again, there'll be virtual options coming down the pike here as well. The other thing is availing yourself of our free 45-minute training. That way you have all the basics, you're equipped to have this conversation. You can go to sidewalkadvocates.org slash 101, and that will take you to our website where you can register and partake of that training right away and see if this is for you. Again, at the very least, you're gonna know how to walk through a conversation like this.

Victor Nieves 27:26

Amen. Well, Lauren and Melissa, thank you both for one, for the amazing work that you do, but also thank you for sharing with us today.

SPEAKER_02 27:32

Thank you for having us.

Victor Nieves 27:45

As we've heard today, literally anyone, no matter who you are, where you're from, what skill sets you may or may not have, anybody can take meaningful steps to defend life. You can become a sidewalk advocate. You can speak to those in your community, your friends, your family members, et cetera. Share with them the truth. As we heard, there are so many men and women that might be abortion-minded that just don't know. They don't know the help that is available to them, they don't know the resources that are around them. Join us in our mission, share education, because you never know what lives you may save and what hearts you may change. You can find more information about this at lifeissues.org. Again, that's life issues. And be sure to tune in next week for another straight talk on life issues.