A Second Stork Bus Joins the Fight for Life
Photos courtesy Calvary Chapel Old Bridge
On April 12, 2023, Bridge Women's Center's second mobile medical unit, Joshua, made its highly anticipated maiden voyage onto the streets of New Jersey. Two babies were saved that first day—one in each of the center's units.
A second Medical Mobile Unit (MMU), Joshua (right), arrived at Calvary Chapel Old Bridge (CCOB), NJ, in February 2023; it has been employed by the Bridge Women’s Center (BWC) team alongside sister unit Hannah (left) in the battle against abortion. Over 1000 babies have been rescued over the last three years through the Center’s efforts.
A Year of New Arrivals
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14, 16
At the onset of COVID-19, Hannah, the first mobile medical unit of Calvary Chapel Old Bridge, NJ’s, Bridge Women's Center (BWC), made its inaugural journey onto the frontlines of one of today's fiercest spiritual battles—the battle for souls in the war on abortion. Staffed with a committed team of medical professionals and volunteers, the unit has been a persuasive presence at Planned Parenthood across New Jersey, "Always Caring. Always There for Life." And now, three years later, BWC has rescued over 1000 babies and facilitated over 120 professions of faith.
This past February, the center welcomed its second unit, named Joshua. And in March, BWC also welcomed a new executive director, Victoria Dean. She shared her vision: "We're not just giving them options, but Christ as well. Not everyone is going to come into a church or a clinic; that's why we meet them seconds before they enter an abortion clinic, where they are the most vulnerable."
Daily Ministry
Who then is willing to consecrate himself this day to the LORD? 1 Chronicles 29:5, ESV
As the ministry began, the Lord added all those needed in time for the work: nurses, ultrasound techs, and administrators. "God's work comes with God's supply," affirmed Lloyd Pulley, senior pastor of CC Old Bridge. "You would be surprised at the abilities and gifts of the people seated in your church each Sunday, each serving a unique purpose in the body of Christ."
On board Hannah, BWC’s Nurse Manager, Jeannie Orsag, scans a woman while Elisha McShane, BWC’s ultrasound tech, observes. The Center's team is comprised of Christian medical professionals and volunteers who also share the Good News of Jesus Christ with all who come aboard.
Jeannie Orsag, nurse manager at BWC, "look[s] forward to what God will do with two mobile medical units out on the road to intervene in women's lives, offering help, hope, and healing."
Amisty Madrid, an administrative assistant at BWC, said, "People's support is more than financial; it's also spiritual. It's prayer."
"The Holy Spirit gives us the words we pray with the women," commented Dawn Argentina, an intake counselor at BWC.
Serving as a weekly driver, Joe Hofmann believes that men must be involved. He encouraged, "All you have to do is be willing, and God can use you."
Left to right: BWC Medical Director Dr. John Lundberg speaks with Save the Storks CEO Dianne Ferraro and COO Annie Tang Humphrey outside Joshua on its day of arrival. Partnering with Save the Storks, CCOB was the first church to own and operate a MMU. “If the Church doesn’t step up, who will?” asked Dianne.
As an OB/GYN and a Christian, Dr. John Lundberg, the medical director of BWC, has the opportunity to help abortion-vulnerable women medically and share Jesus with them. He assured, "There is salvation in the name of Jesus, and Him only, and each person who enters our unit will be introduced to Him."
Intake counselor Elsy Varela, affectionately known as Ms. Elsy, described her first life-changing encounter: "I spoke to [one woman] and ministered to her. Nobody knew about my abortion, but I shared it with her. God changed her heart, and she chose life. From that moment on, I sensed that the Lord was calling me to minister to women facing abortion and unplanned pregnancy," she disclosed.
State-of-the art ultrasound technology captures fetal heart rate, gestational age (how far along the pregnancy is), and determines if the baby is inside the uterus and not ectopic—a potentially life-threatening emergency. While being scanned, women see their babies on a 42-inch flat-screen and hear life-affirming options rather than abortion. Many choose to give birth once they see the miracle of life growing inside them.
Stories of Life
The Lord continues to have His hand on this ministry, bringing physical and spiritual life. "There are so many amazing stories," observed John Orsag, an elder at CC Old Bridge. Following are just two of countless stories of God reaching hearts and souls with the message of life and the Gospel in the ripest harvest field today.
Victoria elaborated, "Our mobile medical unit was in Elizabeth, NJ, as one mom went inside the Planned Parenthood there. Her boyfriend, the baby's father, had to come back outside because he was not allowed to stay with the mom. Outside, our intake counselors took the time to talk to him. He said, 'I am here, I want to support her, but I want to keep my baby.' The intake counselors encouraged him to call his girlfriend. When she didn't pick up, he just walked in, brought her to the unit, and once they saw the ultrasound, they chose life for their baby.”
"A woman was headed to Planned Parenthood to receive a negative pregnancy test form to be cleared for toothache treatment. God used that toothache to bring her to our team. Our intake counselors shared Jesus with her; that day, she received Christ into her life!" exclaimed Jeannie.
Inside the privacy of a MMU, where expecting mothers often meet their baby for the first time via ultrasound, crucial decisions are made. The inviting waiting area allows fathers, often times the catalyst in the decision not to abort.
Changing Lives One Church at a Time
CC Old Bridge, the first church to own and operate a mobile medical unit, partnered with Save the Storks, a pro-life organization that, among other things, designs and builds these buses that provide free ultrasounds, pregnancy testing, and counseling. Dianne Ferraro, CEO of Save the Storks, exhorted, "If the Church doesn't step up, who will? Who's going to be there for these moms?” She encouraged all at the arrival of Joshua. "The church can be the hands and feet of Jesus and really make a difference in the pro-life movement."
Elisha McShane, BWC’s ultrasound tech, scans an expectant mother. With over 300 babies a year being saved and three or four people coming to Christ a week, CCOB Senior Pastor Lloyd Pulley encourages other churches to consider this ministry. Wildwood CC in Yucaiba, CA, took them up on the challenge, deploying their unit Grace in the fall of 2023.
Pastor Lloyd enthused, "I'm excited about the second unit, but now I'm more excited about the churches who will multiply this as we come alongside and encourage them: 'You can do this!'"
Wildwood Calvary Chapel in Yucaipa, CA, attended the center's first Bridge for Life Conference in February 2022; later that fall, Lloyd visited the body there, encouraging them in the ministry. The church then held an interest meeting, drawing over 300 people. Following the meeting, they had a fully funded unit of their own. Wildwood CC's mobile medical unit, named Grace, was deployed for the first time in fall this year. See Calvary Chapel Magazine’s story about Grace.
Rescuing Souls
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you. Jeremiah 1:5a
"In every life that's fertilized, there's already a unique handprint, the fingerprint of God upon that life. And who can tell what God will do with it?" Lloyd proposed. "One child could be like Moses and impact thousands, hundreds of thousands, even millions. "I am excited to see what the Lord will do and the further impact the two units will have. We desire to not only rescue babies but also to rescue souls, reaching the hearts of women and men during crisis pregnancies. We want to build bridges and create relationships."
Lloyd Pulley, senior pastor of CCOB, Diane and Annie view the CC Magazine article covering the BWC’s 2nd Annual Gala in 2021, a fundraising event specifically for their second MMU, Joshua. "I am excited to see what the Lord will do and the further impact the two units will have. We desire to not only rescue babies but also to rescue souls, reaching the hearts of women and men during crisis pregnancies.”
Inspired by the Lord, it is Lloyd’s desire to see this ministry multiplied throughout the country. "At a recent event involving nearly 800 children, youth, and adult leaders, the Lord impressed upon me to notice the impact of Bridge Women's Center. That's a school of children rescued! We went from an average of a dozen babies saved per year with three or four professions of faith in our sidewalk evangelism to over 300 babies per year and three or four coming to Christ weekly!" he announced.
Bridge Women’s Center hosted a Bridge for Life Pastors Gala and a "how-to" workshop at this year's Answers in Genesis Pastors & Leaders Conference at the Ark Encounter in Williamstown, KY. Over 300 pastors and leaders were in attendance and equipped to stand in the gap for the unborn. Michael Farris, former CEO of Alliance Defending Freedom, was the keynote speaker for the gala.
______________
Learn more about Bridge Women's Center at bridgewomenscenter.com
If you would like more information on how you can participate in the Stork Bus Program, follow this link: savethestorks.com/stork-bus/
______________
© 2023 Calvary Chapel Magazine (CCM). All rights reserved. Articles or photographs may not be reproduced without the written permission of CCM. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.® Used by permission.