Matthew Bartholome
Matthew like most Christians was raised in a Christian home and has gone to church most of his life. He would think of why am I Christian. It would be foolish to not believe in a divine creator, but why Jesus? He would discover that reason around the age of 14 when his dog passed away. 14 year old Matthew would the pray asking God for a furry animal, testing to see if God truly would answer his prayers. Surely in two weeks a cat showed up at the back door. He would feed him milk and that cat has been there since. At that point Matthew knew for a fact that Jesus without a doubt was alive. Also like most Christians, He would not take his walk seriously until he was 18. When sitting in service, Matthew would hear a voice behind him say "Matthew", he would then turn around and see nobody was behind him. He then heard the same voice say "Matthew", so he would turn around. No body was there but it sounded as if somebody was right behind him. The third time the voice said "Matthew, what are you doing with your life that is better than what I could be doing"? Instantly Matthew's spriit rose up and said "Nothing Lord", so the voice replied "Then what are you doing". He would then ignore rhat experience for 8 weeks. During those 8 weeks Matthew would feel no love, joy, peace, all of the fruit of the the Spirit would be void to him. Matthew would have enough, He wanted the fruits of the spirit, and decided to make the Lord his everything. Around that time Covid 19 occurred, and his church would be closed. In search of an open church, Matthew would come across Calvary Chapel of Chino Hills. In this Church, he would see a new level of Christianity, people completely on fire for the Lord, willing to sacrifice their time for any sort of ministry. This would be a good role model for his pro life movement perspective.
After a year of being involved at Calvary, Matthew's friend Paul would insist that he comes to an event called a prayer walk. Matthew would think why do I need to pray and walk when he can pray at home. Turns out, this would change his life's direction. He had no clue that the prayer walk would be at a planned parenthood. He would see the women being lied to and crying on their way out. The babies going in to be dismembered. The demonic forces doing their best to prevent the sidewalk counselors from showing Jesus to the moms who are about to abort their children. He knew that God was calling him to stand for the unborn as a sidewalk counselor.
This new ministry in Love Life would be more than just a small team on a sidewalk, but a huge lovin family. Everyone their showed love, compassion and engagement. Making sure they actually were interested in including Matthew. This showed him the heart of the pro life movement, caring. For people do not care how much you know, until they know how much you care.
A few years into doing Love life, Matthew was looking for people to car pool to the California March for life, he was unable to find a ride, until his friend Edgar told him about Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust. How for 60 bucks they would give him a bus ride there and back. He was so down to meet new people and get a cheap ride. It was cool, fun, and refreshing to see a different side of the prolife movement, Activism. Still however, he wouldnt think it made at difference. That would be until he was convinced to go to a DC bootcamp. And during that event was congress change their minds on certain bills. Who knew that holding signs and chanting would be effective but it was. He would also find enjoyment in doing so.
Do you believe abortion is murder? He was asked, "Yes of course". "Then why don't you act like it". That is the reason Matt is so determined in the pro-life movement, because abortion truely is murder and not many people truely act like it.