Sidewalk Boot Camp at Chatham

CFL & Chatham Bible Church's Life Team Partner to Bring N. County a Sidewalk Supporter Boot Camp

Plenty of good food and fellowship at the beginning of the Boot Camp! "I really appreciated having the connection illustrated between the gospel and sidewalk ministry!" said one of over forty people representing over ten churches assembled on August 13, 2009. They were gathered to learn how to be gospel-driven champions of life on the sidewalk in front of an abortion clinic. This event was a special collaboration between the Life Team at Chatham Bible Church and Churches for Life. Many affiliated with St. Louis' 40 Days for Life Campaign came to receive training prior to the launch of their upcoming Fall '09 Campaign.

The evening started with a lavish covered dish dinner and some fellowship. Then, Rev. Doug Merkey, President of Churches for Life, shared how the gospel of Jesus Christ provides the motive and method for gospel-driven sidewalk ministry. One front-row student got slightly splashed as he squeezed a water bottle to demonstrate that "out of the overflow of one's heart, the mouth speaks" (Luke 6:45b). Rev. Merkey drove home the necessity for a sidewalk minister's heart to be captivated with Christ as He is presented in the gospel, and that this will naturally produce Christ-honoring posture, speech, and behavior on the sidewalk. Rev. Merkey shows how a water bottle is like our heart - whatever you put in is what you get out. If we want right behavior from out hand and lips on the sidewalk, it starts with being in right relationship with Jesus Christ via the gospel.

The entire class then traveled together to Women's Care, Inc. abortion clinic in Bridgeton to practice what they just learned in the classroom. Though the clinic was closed that evening, the group was able to get a feel for actual sidewalk ministry, including prayer, "noise" from passerby, and interacting with the police. In fact, the Bridgeton police were helpful and honorable with our group - a testimony to the work of the gospel in the group's heart and posture that night.

After about 40 minutes on the sidewalk, the group returned to the church for debriefing and prayer. The goal of this workshop was to equip students for gospel-driven sidewalk supporter ministry; a goal which God honored according to these student comments:

See the types of signs CFL promotes at its Boot Camps - ones that make a gracious relational connection with moms going in to the clinic.

"Practical experience and witness of cooperation with the local authorities" [was a strength].

"Being able to actually go to the clinic site and have real-time experience goes a long way to relieving any nervousness or 'I can't do this' feelings."