{"id":323378,"date":"2024-12-21T13:45:45","date_gmt":"2024-12-21T19:45:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=323378"},"modified":"2024-12-20T01:02:59","modified_gmt":"2024-12-20T07:02:59","slug":"launched-pro-life-rv-god-show-serve","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/launched-pro-life-rv-god-show-serve\/","title":{"rendered":"She launched a pro-life medical RV ministry after asking God to ‘show me a way to serve’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Sylvia Slifko couldn\u2019t know that day as she listened to a Focus on the Family radio program that she would be inspired to embark on a God-driven journey to save babies from abortion. <\/span><\/p>\n

The host was discussing a video, \u201cThe Silent Scream<\/a>,\u201d which depicts a real-time abortion procedure seen through ultrasound. The images show a preborn child\u2019s mouth open, as if in a silent expression of horror, as a suction cannula inserted into the uterus pursues the tiny body.<\/span><\/p>\n

Slifko told Live Action News, \u201cI thought, this can\u2019t be. I never knew much about abortion, but at that instant, I prayed for God to show me a way to serve him for giving me salvation. I had no idea what that would look like, but I trusted God.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

She was standing outside a church one day waiting for her daughter, who was practicing for a concert, when a woman asked to be directed to the pro-life meeting. Slifko didn\u2019t know about the meeting, but told the woman that she was \u201ckind of pro-life.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c[The woman] smiled, gave me her card, and invited me to join a group of people who prayed regularly at Planned Parenthood, and I did,\u201d Slifko said. \u201cWe all got arrested that day. I couldn\u2019t believe I could get arrested in America for praying, and thought something needs to be done.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Although the charges were dropped, Slifko joined a local Right to Life group and continued to pray outside Planned Parenthood. One afternoon, a young girl walked by. Slifko pleaded with her not to go inside. She told Slifko that she had nowhere else to go.<\/span><\/p>\n

Slifko said, \u201cI was heartbroken to see her walk inside. I was determined to do something and knew we needed to establish a pregnancy support center.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

She continued to be active with the pro-life group and was subsequently arrested when participating in a rescue. <\/span>\u201cI was in jail for three days for that offense,\u201d Slifko said. \u201cWhile there, I spoke with the woman I first met outside the church and together, we decided to launch a pregnancy support center.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It was a time when ultrasound technology wasn\u2019t as readily available, yet Slifko saw God work in miraculous ways. <\/span>\u201cArmed with just the knowledge we had, we were saving babies,” she said. “It was all God.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Going ‘where the women are’<\/strong><\/p>\n

She eventually opened another pregnancy support center in the suburbs to reach women who couldn\u2019t travel downtown.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t see many abortion-minded women at this location, and I wondered if we should close the facility,\u201d Slifko said. \u201cI prayed about what to do and eventually, an idea popped into my head that we needed to go where these women are.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

While Slifko\u2019s husband Steve was excited about her idea, Slifko didn\u2019t know by what means she could reach women in different locations. She inquired with other pro-life organizations, but this concept had never been tested.<\/span><\/p>\n

Slifko said, \u201cI thought of using a recreation vehicle (RV), but they are expensive and not very well-equipped.” <\/span>A member from her church was visiting the Slifkos when he mentioned an uncle who owned an RV dealership. Slifko contacted him. While he said he couldn\u2019t assist her, he did later call her back informing her of a man selling an old RV at reasonable cost in southwest Ohio, several hours away. <\/span><\/p>\n

But Slifko was doubtful. <\/span>\u201cMy husband and I decided to go see the RV,\u201d Slifko said. \u201cIt had been used as a classroom and was in good condition. After negotiations, we got it for a great price. Only God could orchestrate that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Slifkos refurbished the RV, adding exam and waiting rooms. At Bible study one night, Steve sat next to a man who offered to produce a video for advertising. He suggested \u201cwrapping\u201d the RV with custom designed artwork, provided a large donation, and also donated his time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Slifko said, \u201cMore volunteers stepped up from area churches. When we needed an ultrasound machine and a sonographer, a woman from the pregnancy support center referred someone from her church who was an OB\/GYN certified technician looking to serve.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The woman assisted Slifko in purchasing an ultrasound machine. A friend heard Slifko was searching for a physician who could read the scans and recommended her obstetrician to be part of the team.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With all the pieces in place, the Image Clear Ultrasound<\/a> (ICU) medical mobile ministry was born.<\/span><\/p>\n