“And He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of people.’” —Matthew 4:19
Sometimes obedience looks ordinary—until the moment it isn’t.
Lynda was one of twenty-five participants in a Making Life Disciples course at her church in Virginia. For weeks, she and others gathered to learn how to respond with compassion, clarity, and courage when someone facing a pregnancy decision needed support. They studied Scripture. They practiced conversations. They prayed for opportunities.
On a Friday evening, the class held a commissioning celebration. There was joy in the room. They were not just finishing a course; they were stepping into a mission field that exists in every neighborhood, campus, and workplace. They were ready to serve women and men in their church and community who might be considering abortion.
None of them knew how quickly that preparation would be tested.
The following Monday, Lynda ran into a young woman she knew—Olivia. Something was different. Olivia appeared tense, distracted, and burdened. Instead of brushing past her with a polite greeting, Lynda paused.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
Olivia hesitated, then opened up. She was pregnant. She had an abortion appointment scheduled for Thursday—just three days away. She felt trapped between her plans and her circumstances. Graduation was in sight. A baby, in her mind, would derail everything. Abortion felt like the only realistic option.
Three days. That was the timeline.
Because of her recent training, Lynda did not panic. She did not argue. She did not shame. She listened.
Drawing from what she had learned, she responded with compassion and steady presence. She affirmed Olivia’s fears without affirming the lie that abortion was her only choice. She gently explored alternatives. She asked thoughtful questions. She communicated one crucial truth: “You are not alone.”
That sentence can change everything.
By the end of their conversation, Olivia had not made a final decision—but something had shifted.
“I’m still not sure what I’m going to do,” she admitted, “but I am going to sincerely consider placing my baby for adoption.”
That is not a small statement. It meant space had opened where there had been none. Hope had entered where there had been panic.
Lynda gave Olivia her phone number. She offered to connect her with a local pregnancy center. She assured her that supportive people in their church would walk with her, whatever came next.
Notice what Lynda did not do. She did not try to “win” a debate. She did not treat Olivia as a project. Her goal was not simply to persuade her toward a single outcome. Her goal was deeper. She wanted Olivia to experience abundant life in Christ. She wanted her connected to a community that would remain long after a decision was made.
This is what it means to be a fisher of people. When Jesus called His disciples in Matthew 4:19, He invited them into a mission that required readiness. Fishermen do not scramble for nets after the fish appear. They prepare in advance. They mend. They train. They position themselves strategically.
Lynda was ready because she had prepared.
The reality is that opportunities like this are unfolding every day. A classmate. A coworker. A niece. A neighbor. Many carry quiet fears behind composed faces. They are making decisions under pressure, often believing they have no real support.
Training matters because moments matter.
Because Lynda had been equipped, a young woman had a real conversation instead of isolation. Because she was attentive, an abortion appointment was no longer the only path forward. Because she was available, hope entered the story.
And that is how cultural change often happens—not only through policy or headlines, but through one believer responding faithfully in one ordinary moment.
The Great Commission is not abstract. It unfolds in hallways, coffee shops, campus sidewalks, and grocery store aisles. It unfolds when a trained believer recognizes fear in someone’s eyes and chooses to engage rather than retreat.
Lord, please continue to raise up men and women who are ready. Prepare Your Church to respond with truth and compassion. Multiply believers who are equipped to share hope with those facing pregnancy decisions. And when the moment comes, help us to pause, listen, and speak life. Amen.
Find encouragement like this post, along with many more days like it, when you download Care Net’s 365 Days of Pro Abundant Life devotional. This devotional is a daily invitation to grow in your faith, understand the sanctity of life from conception, and be inspired by Christ’s promises.