Woman drove 700 miles for an ABQ abortion but chose life instead

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—In a powerful testament to the impact of peaceful, faith-based outreach, a woman who traveled more than 700 miles from Houston, Texas, to obtain an abortion at the Southwestern Women’s Options (SWO) clinic in Albuquerque changed her mind and chose life after encountering pro-life advocates on the sidewalk.

According to a statement from the Cherub Initiative, a local pro-life organization, the woman, identified as “Mama M,” arrived at SWO with her aunt after renting a car to make the long journey from Texas. The woman, who was six weeks pregnant, had initially intended to terminate her pregnancy at the facility, one of the few clinics in the nation that performs the latest-term abortions.

“Praise the Lord! Mama M chose life for both herself and her unborn baby because of both teams—the LIFE Runners Albuquerque Chapter and the Cherub Initiative Sidewalk Guardians For Life team!” the organization announced in an email celebrating the news.

Members of the pro-life groups gathered outside SWO for their monthly huddle and prayer outreach. “We began by putting on the full armor of God, being in prayer, public witness, peaceful, law-abiding presence, and doing outreach,” the email explained. When Mama M and her aunt arrived, the teams immediately began reaching out with words of encouragement and offered a “Mommy Hope Bag” filled with gifts and resources to support women choosing life.

According to the Cherub Initiative, Mama M initially went inside the abortion facility but soon returned to the sidewalk in tears, telling the group she had decided to keep her baby. “I don’t know what I was thinking about coming over here to New Mexico to get an abortion done,” she reportedly told the pro-life advocates. “I rented a car and everything, but I am so happy that you all are here because I changed my mind. I am keeping my baby.”

LIFE Runners and Cherub Initiative team members, including their mentor “Papa Phil” and Chief Operating Officer Christina Garza, prayed with Mama M and offered words of hope. “She also noticed that our COO is also pregnant—seeing another mom who is also pregnant on the sidewalks with the teams and giving her encouragement for motherhood and life was a great help to Mama M too,” the organization shared.

With tears in her eyes, Mama M and her aunt waved goodbye to the sidewalk counselors as they departed to return to Houston. “We love you all, we are praying for you all, be safe going home!” the team shouted as the car left the clinic’s parking lot.

New Mexico has some of the most permissive abortion laws in the country, allowing abortion up until the moment of birth with no state restrictions. Pro-life groups like the Cherub Initiative and LIFE Runners have maintained a prayerful, peaceful presence outside clinics like SWO, offering support to women and alternatives to abortion.

The Cherub Initiative reports that more than 300 women have chosen life on the sidewalks outside New Mexico abortion facilities since the ministry’s inception. To date, the group has distributed over 5,500 “Mommy Hope Bags,” which include gifts for mothers, resources for support, and prayers for both mother and child.

The organization is inviting the public to join their next outreach on Friday, May 9, from 9 a.m. to noon outside Southwestern Women’s Options, where volunteers will hand out roses and Mommy Hope Bags in honor of Mother’s Day.

“Everything we do, we do with, through, and for God as a team,” the Cherub Initiative said. “With the Lord, all things are possible. With Him, we are pro-life unstoppable.”

For more information on volunteering or supporting the ministry, visit liferunners.org/join-now-2. To donate to the Cherub Initiative’s life-affirming work, click here.