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by Deb Bird and Aubi Martinez
Over several months, The Lord kept speaking the same things separately and privately over both of our hearts. For Deb it was to help women who find themselves facing an unplanned pregnancy. He kept urging Aubi to get involved with pro-life pregnancy centers in some capacity, or bring this aspect of care to the Care Ministry that she served with in her local church.
Our backgrounds help explain how we were specifically wired to do just this. Deb had the honor of walking through the challenges of an unplanned pregnancy herself at the age of 20. Though at the time it was very difficult, she looks back and sees all the ways The Lord has prepared the path for her to now use her testimony to encourage other women in the early stages of the journey. Her and her husband are the true definitions of the term Overcomers! Aubi was raised in a family that always passionately supported the pro-life movement. She remembers times where her parents would give financially to pro-life organizations, pray specifically for an end to abortion, and overall just interceding for The Lord to protect the sanctity of life in our generation. Those seeds were planted deep in her soul from a young age. After much digging and seeking His plans for their lives, Deb and Aubi launched Abundant Life knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that is exactly why their lives collided 17 years ago.
We firmly believe that several events took place ever-so-strategically by The Holy Spirit to enable this to all come about. While He was stirring up Aubi's heart, she began reading a book, "The Principles and Power of Vision." The message was very encouraging to anyone seeking to understand why God has made them a certain way, and how to do something about that. After encouraging Deb to read it, they decided to discuss comparing notes, in a meeting they called a "Vision Meeting." This all took place in the midst of a time of prayer and fasting that their church encouraged every January to seek God and what His desires were in your life for the year. At this Vision Meeting Deb had so much written out that she was going to accomplish in her life: start her own business, open a non-profit, support a young woman in her unplanned pregnancy by taking her in or something, she wasn't quite sure what it all looked like. All the while Aubi felt stuck, unsure why the stirring in her heart was there as she was currently living her dream of homeschooling her five children. Her Vision page was empty - she felt like all she had ever wanted to do in life, she was currently doing! Which left her confused as to why there was this push inside of her to step out...
More prayer and fasting, more long discussions and just seeking His direction. Finally, on a beautiful Saturday morning two hour walk, The Holy Spirit revealed His plans in the midst of our tears - for us to open a pregnancy resource center serving the Southshore Community. The vision wasn't simply to provide physically for these mamas, but to care for the emotional and spiritual needs they have as well. We heard Him speak so clearly that it's not just a matter of meeting their physical needs - but to truly love them, encourage them, and lead them to Christ. We want to come alongside these ladies and do life with them - something few people are able or willing to do.
As if they needed any more confirmation, The Lord then dropped their very first Mama right into their laps through a close friend (and now Board Member for Abundant Life) just a few days later on 1/23/21.
The following morning 1/24/21, Aubi awoke to some rather intrusive, negative thoughts regarding this BIG dream. To silence them, she opened her Bible to Proverbs 24. Although she reads the corresponding chapter in Proverbs for every day of the month and has been for years, she read it quite differently on this day, specifically verses 10-12:
“If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?” Proverbs 24:10-12
Seeing our support and love walk our very first Mama through the initial shock and decision to Choose Life, a challenging pregnancy, delivery, and the first year of her motherhood is the greatest gift we could have ever received. Aubi was able to even be there the moment this sweet baby girl was born as she became a doula this same year! He is SO so good, He is faithful! We know without a doubt that this is exactly why He brought us together as roommates in college all of those years ago. It is such an incredible feeling to know you are right in the middle of His purpose for your life. We just love the verse in Revelation 12:11. It is such a good reminder as to why we need to share our testimonies overcoming the obstacles to step into our purposes!
"And they have conquered him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death." Revelation 12:11