From Crisis to Critical Point to Christ
By Evelyn Stone 6/12/03
As president of Centro Pre-Natal Vida Nueva-or the New Life Prenatal Center-in Lima, Peru, I had never sought media exposure to promote the center. When I looked at the price tag of $20,000 for a two-minute spot on TV, and hundreds of dollars for an ad in the paper, it seemed clear that we could never afford to consider it seriously. But in the last two weeks, God has brought us more exposure than we ever could have imagined, all as the result of a film.
A Courageous Film
Punto y Aparte (Critical Point) is a gripping film depicting two adolescent girls from vastly different social classes, each facing crisis pregnancies, family violence, and abortion. They are poised at the critical point. The film graphically shows the abortion that one chooses, and the family violence that results when the other chooses birth. The producer of the film, Francisco Del Toro, is a Mexican Christian who risked his media credentials and his capital to produce a story where the two protagonists are clearly presented the gospel and accept the forgiveness of Jesus Christ. As a result of this producer's courage, this dramatic Christian testimony is having an international impact in the Hispanic world through a medium usually dedicated to entertainment in the best cases and moral depravity in the worst.
Even before its first June showing at 14 major theaters in Lima, Punto y Aparte had a direct impact on our ministry. Panamericana Televisión, the major national news network in Peru, saw the previews and recognized that the film presents the sobering crisis that grips Peruvian society: the complexities and consequences of adolescent pregnancy and abortion. In Peru, the average age to initiate sexual relations is only 15. Forty percent of pregnant adolescents end their pregnancies in abortion, and 17% of them die from the abortion. The television channel had a preview of the film that showed dramatic footage of the development of the baby, abortion, and family violence.
Wanting to make a report that Peruvians would relate to, the press began to look for local adolescents who had faced a crisis pregnancy. A Christian in the right place at the right time gave them the number of the New Life Prenatal Center. Three hours later the press arrived at our Pregnancy Care Center.
A Television Interview
That was my first experience with "face time" on TV! They interviewed me, two of our Peruvian volunteers, and two adolescent girls. Each of these girls had come to the Center seriously considering abortion as the solution to a very difficult situation. They shared with the reporters how they had received counsel about the development of their babies and the consequences of abortion, and had been encouraged to choose life. Not only did each girl choose life for her baby, but she also chose to ask God for His forgiveness and salvation. Now each one lives a new life. María takes her one-year-old baby with her to the Chapel on the Rock of the New Life Baptist Church of La Capilla. Milly takes her one-month-old baby to church with her at the New Life Baptist Church of Rinconada. Both girls return to the New Life Prenatal Center each week for discipleship and counseling on the Christian life and child rearing. On national television, both single mothers expressed their confidence in making the right decision not to abort.
On June 5, Panamericana Televisión aired the six-minute report and ran it two more times on the weekend. They did cut out some important parts of the interview about our services and spiritual ministry, but for the most part it was a strong pro-life presentation. They stated clearly that God gives hope and that the New Life Prenatal Center gives help to the woman facing a crisis pregnancy.
God's Timing
The news report led to immediate blessings. The next day I met with three doctors from the Ministry of Health who had seen the TV coverage and called the Center for an interview. They told me that although the majority of Peruvian health professionals are very pro-abortion, there is presently a core group of pro-life people in the leadership of the Ministry of Health. They encouraged us to multiply our ministry all over Peru. They also warned us of the well-funded strong feminist pro-abortion groups that will likely direct their attacks against us now that we have become the focus of media attention for a brief time.
Then, the Expreso, a major newspaper, came to the Center to interview us for an article. Instead of attacking us, they offered a complete report focusing on the mission of the Center and the services we offer. I endeavored to make a clear case against abortion as well as express confidence in God's answers.
Throughout the four-year history of the center, we had never contacted the media. Instead, when it was God's time, they came looking for us. Pray for us as we strategize to maximize the positive media coverage we have received and at the same time minimize the effect of any negative attacks that may come. Our times are in God's hands. Apparently it is time to expand the ministry. In our first year we served more than 100 women, in our second 280, in our third over 300. Now, it looks as if by the end of 2003 we will have reached over 500 new women who would have never thought of visiting a church for help in time of crisis.
Tomorrow another Peruvian adolescent will face a critical point in her life. She may open the paper and read about the New Life Prenatal Center . She may recall seeing the abortion dramatized on the big screen. Pray that she will call 348-5100.we will be there to offer God's love and help.
Evelyn and David Stone serve with ABWE as church-planting missionaries in Coastal Peru.
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