Southern Nebraska Register
Training session for advocates, prayer partners to be held March 1.
Sidewalk Advocates for Life will host advocacy training – both for sidewalk advocates and prayer partners – Saturday, March 1 in Lincoln.
The training will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Lincoln (specific location provided upon registration). A $15 suggested donation helps cover the cost of a workbook and other advocacy expenses. Participants must register in advance. Contact Lisa McInerney at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 402-525-9360.
The mission of Sidewalk Advocates for Life (SAFL) is to train, equip, and support communities across the U.S. and the world in sidewalk advocacy: to be the hands and feet of Christ, offering loving, life-affirming alternatives to all present at abortion facilities, thereby eliminating demand and ending abortion.
Thankfully, no abortions have been performed at Planned Parenthood (PP) in Lincoln since March 2024.
“We are thankful for this great news, which is in part due to the prayers, presence and outreach of participants in the Sidewalk Advocates for Life and 40 Days for Life ministries,” said Lisa McInerney, SAFL-Lincoln program director and a member of North American Martyrs Parish in Lincoln.
In April 2024, all abortion services moved from Lincoln to the newly renovated and expanded PP in Omaha. They perform both chemical (pill) abortions and surgical abortions, about 12 days per month. There are also chemical abortions happening about two days per week in the Bellevue facility called “CARE,” which was owned by the late Leroy Carhart. CARE is run by Carhart’s family and has three different abortion providers who take turns coming from out of state to distribute abortion pills.
PP struggled to find a new abortion provider for the Lincoln and Omaha locations after its previous provider’s retirement in 2022. For a couple of years, a variety of abortion providers came and went from the location.
“We saw a lot of employee turnover and the abortion days were very inconsistent during that period, at both PP locations,” McInerney said.
“A shortage of employees was given as one reason to expand the Omaha facility and consolidate abortion services to one location. Unfortunately, Omaha PP seems to have hired an abortion provider.”
McInerney said she is often asked: “Are you sure they are not doing chemical abortions at PP in Lincoln?” and “Why are you still doing sidewalk ministry outside of PP Lincoln if there are no abortions happening?”
When PP Lincoln was providing abortions, she explained, sidewalk advocates observed certain patterns on abortion days. The number of clients increased to the point that the parking lot was very full. Now PP typically has about seven employees present, but only one or two clients in the building at most times.
“If they were doing chemical abortions,” McInerney said, “there would be many more clients.”
When abortions were performed in Lincoln, abortion providers were escorted into the facility about one hour after they opened on abortion days, and that has not happened. Also, in Nebraska, it is illegal for anyone but a licensed physician to distribute abortion pills. There is only a licensed physician working at PP when they are doing abortions. The PP Lincoln website also states they are no longer doing abortions at that location and refers clients to Omaha or Kansas.
McInerney added that PP clients are usually fairly open with SAFL staff about why they are there. On abortion days, some would say they were there for chemical abortion or for surgery.
PP in Lincoln is still a referral center, meaning they offer pregnancy tests and ultrasounds to date pregnancies, and then refer clients to their other locations. She said they counted five turn-aways, of women who were pregnant or suspected pregnancy, from PP Lincoln to the local pregnancy resource center since April 1, 2024.
“Even though PP Lincoln is not doing abortions,” McInerney continued, “PP is still the largest provider of abortion in the nation, so we want to steer all people away from them, regardless of the service they are seeking.”
She said most clients tell sidewalk advocates they are there for contraception or STD/STI testing.
“Some have told us they are there for transgender hormone therapy,” she added. “We have resources that can help all these clients have healthier relationships, bodies and souls.”
SAFL also sent gifts and notes into the abortion facilities encouraging the staff to reach out to abortionworker.com and participated in Exodus events which encouraged abortion workers nationwide to leave the industry.
The March 1 training will help participants join the work of sidewalk advocates, or become a prayer partner to spiritually support those reaching out to PP clients.
The Lent 2025 Campaign of 40 Days for Life (40DFL) will soon begin in Lincoln, as well. 40DFL is an internationally-coordinated 40-day campaign that aims to end abortion locally through prayer and fasting, community outreach, and a peaceful all-day vigil in front of abortion businesses. SAFL and 40DFL are compatible ministries that have been successful in closing abortion facilities in other cities.
Participants in Lincoln will pray peacefully outside PP March 5 through April 13. Volunteers will cover hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. More information can be found at 40daysforlife.com/Lincoln.
A kickoff for the Spring 2025 campaign will be held Tuesday, March 4, at 6 p.m. at Lincoln Right to Life, 5632 S. 48th St., Unit 4, in Lincoln. Attendees may park at the nearby Cornerstone Christian Church. Lincoln Right to Life will provide chili. Participants are encouraged to bring a side dish or dessert to share. RSVP to Cathy at 402.202.1614 with names and number of people attending.
McInerney pointed out that both SAFL and 40DFL are ecumenical in nature. Pro-life individuals of all faiths are welcome.
