{{first_name|Friend}},
I pray you and your families had a wonderful Fourth of July, celebrating the many blessings God has given our nation.
Our Southwest Coalition family had another reason to celebrate. On Independence Day itself, Guiding Star Birth Center had the incredible privilege of welcoming not one, but two beautiful babies into the world. What a beautiful way to celebrate our nation's birthday by celebrating the gift of new life.
One birth was especially moving. As a young mother labored to welcome her first child, her own mother quietly prayed the Rosary while awaiting the birth of her first grandchild. The room was filled with peace, prayer, family, and gratitude to God for the gift of new life. It was a beautiful reminder that when a pregnancy is healthy and low risk, birth can be much more than a medical event. It can be a sacred family experience where a child enters the world surrounded by faith, family, and thanksgiving to God.
As beautiful as that celebration was, God wasn't finished giving us reasons to hope.
For months, many of you have faithfully prayed for the workers, contractors, suppliers, and everyone connected to the abortion facility under construction in Las Cruces. Some of you have stood beside us in the New Mexico heat. Others have faithfully prayed from home because health challenges have kept you from joining us in person.
Yesterday, God allowed us to see one of the fruits of those prayers.
Many of you know Juan and Elena Chavez from Santa Fe. For the past several weeks, they have faithfully driven over ten hours round trip simply to pray at the construction site and personally hand-deliver petition letters to companies involved in the project. This week alone, they delivered another 700 petitions to Carver Electric.
While they were praying, a steelworker named Martin Luna, from Socorro, noticed the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Juan and Elena's vehicle. He walked over to introduce himself and shared something remarkable.
He had just quit his job
He knew exactly what was being built, and he could no longer continue participating in it. Although he didn't know what tomorrow would bring, he knew he had to do what he believed was right before God.
Before leaving, he asked Juan and Elena for some holy water. He returned to the construction site and reverently sprinkled it throughout the property before heading home.
As I listened to his story, I couldn't help but think of the words of Christ:
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."
Matthew 6:33
Martin chose to put God first, trusting that the Lord would take care of the rest. Please join me in praying that God blesses his faithfulness, provides for him and his family, and opens the door to an even greater opportunity. If you know of an employment opportunity for Martin in the Socorro area, please call or text me at (915) 455-1344.
God wasn't finished encouraging us.
Juan and Elena also shared that someone they met at the construction site told them many of the people who live nearby are deeply troubled by what is being built there. Hearing that gave me hope. It reminded me that there are still many people who love God, cherish the gift of human life, and quietly long for something better.
A few days ago, someone asked us, "Why do you keep praying if the building is obviously still going up?"
Our answer was simple.
Because we don't pray until a building stops. We pray until hearts change. We pray until abortion becomes unthinkable.
When we see concrete and steel, God sees souls. While we often measure progress by what our eyes can see, He is working where we cannot.
How beautiful it is that God sometimes allows us to see the fruits of our labor. He doesn't have to. Our call is simply to be faithful. Yet, in His goodness, He occasionally lets us witness Him changing hearts. Martin's story is one of those beautiful moments.
Standing in the New Mexico heat, driving hours to pray, writing letters, gathering signatures, and making phone calls all require sacrifice. But compared to the value of even one human life, they are small offerings to God.
Whether this building is completed or not, our witness will never be wasted. We will know that we stood for life, prayed for the conversion of hearts, and proclaimed the dignity of every child. God alone knows how many hearts have been touched because His people chose to remain faithful.
I've also included a short video from the construction site, courtesy of Juan Chavez, so you can see what we're seeing on the ground.
I'll be at the construction site today at 1:00 p.m. If you're able to join me, I'd love to pray with you. If you can't be there in person, please continue praying from wherever you are.
Let's keep praying.
Let's keep showing up.
Let's keep believing that God is changing hearts.
Standing with you for life,
Jessica Sifuentes
President & CEO
Southwest Coalition
P.S. Please continue praying for Martin Luna, that God will bless his courage and provide abundantly for him and his family. Please also keep Juan and Elena Chavez in your prayers. Their faithful ten-hour journey each week reminds us that no sacrifice made for God is ever wasted. May the Lord continue to strengthen them and use their witness to change hearts.
P.S.S. Remember to click the link if you still need to download the letters. Download the updated letter pack at StopTheCenter.com. »