August 30, 2010
Last week, SFLA launched our 2010-2011 Field Program! We now have three full-time Field Agents and one part-time Medical Students for Life National Coordinator. Our Field Agents spend the school year traveling between high schools, colleges and graduate schools in their region helping to start new pro-life student groups and grow those that already exist.
One of the techniques we teach students and Field Agents is “clip boarding.” “Clip Boarding” is an easy way of finding pro-life students on campus by polling students, asking simple questions, and gathering information. We use this opportunity to either introduce the pro-life message or recruit students to the new pro-life group on campus.
Last Monday, Steve Macias, our West Coast Field Agent, started his first day on campus “clip boarding” and had a remarkable experience:
“As you know, a large part of the Field Agent’s job is rather unglorious, we spend a lot of time getting a feel for the campus and meet hundreds on students in a matter of hours. But some interactions truly stand out and show the real need for Students for Life on these campuses. One such interaction happened while I was “clip boarding” Sacramento City College students this week.
I approached a young woman who was walking between classes on her first day of college. When I asked her if I could talk with her for a moment, she was eager to say yes. I then asked, “What do you think about Abortion?” and immediately she began to tear up. “How did you know?” she asked. I assured her I didn’t know anything about her and apologized for upsetting her. For the next few minutes, she began to pour her heart out to me. She told me that she was pregnant and her boyfriend wants her to abort their child. She told me, “I know it’s not right but I just don’t know what to do, I don’t have anyone to go to.”
So, I sat down with her and showed her some literature about child development and what her baby probably looks like right now. I prayed with her and then gave her the information for a local pro-life Pregnancy Resource Center. When we parted ways she thanked me and promised to visit the center.
It is short moments like this that make all of our work worthwhile.”
When Steve called us with this news, our office was full of cheers as we realized that this young woman was set on the path to giving her child life! We are so excited that Steve was able to be at Sacramento City College that day to speak with that young woman.
This just shows that our Field Agent program is the most important thing we do at SFLA. Field Agents are the bridge between the national pro-life movement and students. The Field Agents are also the models for many student pro-life groups on how to build relationships with peers and local pro-life groups in order to save lives.
These young people are having tremendous impact in their regions saving lives and training students to do the same.
You can go here http://www.studentsforlife.org/about/staff to find the Field Agent in your area to contact!