10 Oct International Mission Work – cheers!
LIFE Runners apostolate has grown in amazing ways since being formed out of prayer and devotion in 2008. By Christmas 2016, we are on pace to have over 5,000 teammates in 28 nations and all 50 states of the US. But did you know that we also have a LIFE Runners missionary family living and serving in the South Pacific? Karen Patnaude, LIFE Runners board member and communication officer along with her husband Ryan and miracle daughter Ella Mae live in the Fiji Islands where they lead the second largest LIFE Runners chapter in the world, 262 Fiji teammates. Although abortion is illegal in Fiji, except in cases of rape and incest, it still happens at an alarming rate. Abortions happen at a higher rate in developing nations verses developed nations: 37 per 1000 vs 27 per 1000 respectively (Guttmacher Institute). In countries like Fiji, not everyone has access to the Internet, not everyone has the ability to gain knowledge about abortion. Nearly everyone Karen has met knows someone who had had an abortion or had helped someone get an abortion.
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The Fiji chapter held a fundraiser carnival for a local orphanage, does an annual prayer walk/run in unity with the A-Cross America Relay, hosted a pro-life movie night with area pastors, and cleaned up a beach. Most every Saturday they gather for a weekly prayer walk/run and those who can’t make it are encouraged to wear their LIFE Runners jerseys wherever they go. Karen has spread the LIFE Runners mission to New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and most recently Vanuatu. The Fiji chapter has completed the Sidewalk Advocates for Life training to help reach abortion minded and women who have had abortions. Through the direct efforts of newly trained Fiji LIFE Runners they know of 5 babies that have been saved and lives spared the destruction of abortion.
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Karen’s approach: “Our goal is to answer the need in the crisis, to make abortion unthinkable. To serve God with our hands and feet and show the women in difficult circumstances that they are not alone. This is the advice my Mom, who regrettably had an abortion in 1975, would give to a woman facing unplanned pregnancy: “God has purpose for your unborn baby and He will provide a way for you to get through this.” We are there to reach out to those who don’t know the truth, who are scared, who are broken. We come with the message of hope that can only be found in Christ Jesus. We are All IN Christ for Pro-LIFE!”
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Karen’s recent mission trip blog: My Faith Journey to Vanuatu. Awesome!
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Karen’s appeal: “In America the youth are rising to the call and our school chapters are growing. With donations we are able to bless students with LIFE Runners jerseys to proclaim the powerful message “REMEMBER the Unborn, Jer 1:5” in their schools. Your donations give us the opportunity to bless Pregnancy Resource Centers by supporting 5k charity runs/walks. The LIFE Runners jerseys are often too expensive for those who join in our developing nations and donations help us provide them with jerseys to make a huge impact. We are also able to bring educational tools to them such as fetal models and brochures which are life changing in countries that don’t have common access to ultrasound or developmental education. The average startup cost to set up a chapter in a new country is $1000-2000 to secure screen prints and get set up with basic supplies. If you would like to specifically help us in our outreach in the South Pacific and other nations just ear mark your donation “international.” See all the ways your donation will help LIFE Runners grow (1 Cor 3:6) at liferunners.org/donate. Every dollar makes a difference as we reach further and further, All In Christ for Pro-Life! Contribute at liferunners.org/donate. Vinaka Vakalevu (Thank you very much) and God Bless!”
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“The fight for life is not the cause of a special few, but the cause of every man, woman and child who cares not only about his or her own family, but the whole family of men.” ~Dr. Mildred Jefferson
