In this Impact Report we interact with Ava’s volunteer reflection to explain what it takes behind the scenes to help Christians make an impact. We are aiming to train every Christian to begin the dialogue that ends unjust killing of the smallest humans, so I am going to ask you to give a special gift above your normal giving so that we can train more Christians this year. Are you currently supporting the work of a JFA trainer? Please give an extra gift this month to encourage your trainer. Are you currently supporting our Training Program Fund (General Fund) or our Intern Scholarship Fund? Please give an extra gift. Or, join our fundraising efforts by praying that God would bless this challenge. If you have not been giving or want to help in additional ways, we explain how you can help below. Use jfa1.org/may-2026 to share this challenge with friends!
-Steve Wagner, Executive Director
JFA trainer Andrea (NY hat) listens as Ava (second from right) interacts with a student at UNM). We’re aiming to raise $45,000 in extra support this summer for JFA’s trainers through personal support designations and JFA’s Staff Support Fund (support more than one trainer).
Ava (center) interacts with students at UNM. Your support helps us conduct events in New Mexico and the other regions where we regularly work. We’re actively adding other areas as finances and staffing allow!
In our April Impact Report (jfa1.org/april-2026), we shared short reflections from Summit Ministries’ Gap Year students. But how did that impact come about? Here’s a longer reflection from another Gap Year student, Ava, with some commentary from me about the critical pieces that helped cause the impact in her own life of being able to reach her peers and the impact she saw in their lives:
Ava: On Monday we began our work [at the University of New Mexico (UNM)]. I’m so grateful for how we were trained, because as the students came flooding out of dorms for classes, I felt at ease and comfortable approaching conversations.
Ava’s referring to our Sunday interactive workshop, led by a team of seven JFA trainers conducting small group mentoring for 40 participants. Andrea led Ava’s mentor group. It took hours of work contacting host homes, booking flights, and preparing speaking to help Ava feel “at ease and comfortable” in the hostile campus environment. Your support of JFA trainers and interns makes this possible.
Ava: I started out by walking around the JFA exhibit, reading the free speech board and studying the signs. Almost immediately I found myself in the mix of curious, furious, or confused strangers also looking around. So I turned to one and simply asked, “What do you think about all of this?” This line ended up as my primary first question; it was open ended, friendly, non-confrontational and felt genuine.
The Free Speech Board, signs, and other JFA outreach tools gave Ava a common reference point from which to begin the dialogue that puts an end to the unjust killing of the smallest humans. It’s starting the conversation that we’ve found is the hardest part for most volunteers, so we made sure to do the heavy lifting for Ava by setting up tools that would draw people’s attention. Your support of our Exhibit Research and Development Fund makes it possible for us to provide the best tools that make people want to stop and engage.
Ava: The first person I posed this question to was named Cole. He warmly answered by saying he was pro-choice leaning but didn’t feel comfortable having a say on the subject since it didn’t affect him directly. That propelled a conversation about what dictates who has the right to speak to these issues…I lost count of how many people I had a dialogue with during our time at University of New Mexico, but if I could ballpark it would be 18-25 intentional conversations…
That’s at least 18 conversations that would never have happened in the same way if JFA’s supporters hadn’t given so generously so that we could show up to support Ava in her desire to reach the people at UNM.
Ava: This was a transformative experience because not only did I grow in my heart for babies inside of the womb, but for the human I am facing who disagrees with me. I don’t want to see stereotypes and make assumptions, but ask with sincerity and curiosity to understand the person I am with. I learned a valuable lesson about how to adjust what I say and what cases I make for the pro life position to best serve the individual…At the end of the time with JFA, I had conversations with three people (Asher, Keona, and Jocelyn) that changed their mind on abortion, and the thing that changed each of their minds was vastly different. I say this because I want to remember the importance of not generalizing or thinking there is a one size fits all line to “convert,” but instead to “bait the hook to suit the fish” as Dale Carnegie puts it…I am forever thankful for this priceless experience and what it taught me. I applied for the intern position at JFA and have been talking with the full-time staff about how I can get more involved!
Ava brings her reflection full circle, telling us of the impact on her life, three minds she helped change, the principles she learned in the process, and how she’s hoping to help train others as a JFA intern! Thank you for considering helping us train more Christians like Ava by giving an extra gift to help us meet our summer giving challenge!
– Steve Wagner, Executive Director
