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 Vote your values
We can turn the tide in Washington, our courtrooms, and state legislatures by voting our values. We can bring change even faster by encouraging like-minded friends and family to vote their values, too. Over 201 million Americans are eligible voters this year. Of these, 138 million are people of faith! So, our job is to equip those who are close to us and who share our values. Read More... |
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 PRC’s unmask false accusations
After mounting a strong defense against a Planned Parenthood/NARAL driven piece of legislation in Maryland, Heartbeat International and our affiliates were greatly relieved when the bill died. Unfortunately, pro-abortion cohorts plan more attacks to vilify pregnancy centers by instigating anti-pregnancy center legislation. Read More...
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| Last Issue: April 2008 |
From the heart of a birthmother
At age 18, I was pregnant, frightened, ashamed and angry. I was pregnant because of making a wrong decision in a weak moment; frightened because of the life-changing decisions I was about to make. All options had been presented. What had happened to me was not the baby’s fault. Read more... |
* Message from the President
* 2007 Mission Results: REACH
* 2007 Mission Results: RESCUE
* 2007 Mission Results: RENEW
* 2007 Mission Results: We're READY
* Heartbeat's Mission: 2008 Goals
* EFT Provides Powerful Provisions |
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Vote your values - Send pro-life friends and family to the polls, too!
by Peggy Hartshorn, Ph.D., Heartbeat President
 This year, we will send a group of men and women to represent us at the state level and in Washington who will change our lives for generations to come because they will make laws and confirm or reject judges. We need only consider how the abortion industry has made recent inroads manipulating judges and legislators at the state level to understand this fact. In “Justice prevails” inside this issue, we share how Heartbeat’s Maryland affiliates and a host of supporters beat back legislation designed to hobble pregnancy centers. But first we faced an inquiry that included two sessions of legislative grillings based on false accusations.
June 29 and September 7
Voter Registration Sundays
For tips on organizing Voter Registration Sundays at churches of every denomination, visit PriestsForLife.org/vote. |
We can turn the tide in Washington, our courtrooms, and state legislatures by voting our values. We can bring change even faster by encouraging like-minded friends and family to vote their values, too. Over 201 million Americans are eligible voters this year. Of these, 138 million are people of faith! So, our job is to equip those who are close to us and who share our values so they can -- and do -- vote for candidates who are pro-life in every race and on every level. We can raise the numbers in our favor quickly if each of us would simply invite a pro-life family member or neighbor to go to the polling place together with us on Election Day. This is far more effective than trying to change the mind of someone who opposes our values.
But first, our pro-life family and friends must be registered to vote and understand which candidates share our values! Help is at hand. Click here for more information. Valuable, interdenominational information such as Voting with a Clear Conscience can be found also at: PriestsForLife.org/vote.
Last but not least, we must keep our elected officials in our prayers, those who live in darkness as well as those who proclaim the dignity of life.
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Heartbeat Strategic Partners make 2008 Conference special
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| Conference keynote speaker Dr. John Diggs, Jr., board certified internist with 20 years of clinical experience, is co-chair of the Massachusetts Physicians Resource Council. |
A cadre of Strategic Partners and prospective Partners joined the 700 pregnancy resource center participants and close to 40 representatives from pregnancy centers around the world to learn about the latest developments in the pro-life movement and pregnancy center management. Our Strategic Partners met international leaders of the pro-life movement. They visited our exhibitors for valuable educational information for their families and friends on subjects like Christian family values and sexual integrity programs for adolescents. They greeted and encouraged the men and women who operate pregnancy centers around the world.
Our Strategic Partners found inspiration in the keynote speeches of internationally recognized authorities such as Dr. John Diggs, Jr. and pro-life leaders like Fr. Frank Pavone.
Donors and Strategic Partners alike can take advantage of the knowledge and insight of the excellent Conference speakers by ordering recorded copies of their keynote speeches and workshops. To order your conference CDs, click here.
We extend a cordial invitation for you to join like-minded Heartbeat supporters at the 2009 Heartbeat International Annual Conference, May 18-21 in historic Richmond, Virginia!
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Cross-bearing for the child-bearing
By Reverend John Ensor, Executive Director, Urban Initiative
Laura Hope Smith entered the wrong door on September 13, 2007 and died as a result. Heartbeat’s affiliate, A Woman’s Concern, with six offices in eastern Massachusetts, operates a Pregnancy Help Clinic next door to the only abortion facility on the Cape. Laura’s own church was one of the founding supporting churches. But she was caught in the grip of a paralyzing shame over her pregnancy and panicked.
According to Laura’s mother, Eileen Smith, the doctor put Laura under anesthesia. But not having anyone monitoring this dangerous procedure, Laura’s heart stopped while the doctor was busy aborting her baby. By the time that he noticed, Laura was dead. Laura’s mother, in grief beyond words, has since dedicated her life to ending legal abortion. “I was nominally pro-life,” she told me. But she will spend her life now seeking justice for women and their babies. Eileen has met with the doctor who killed her daughter through his medical negligence. As a result of Eileen’s push for justice, the doctor has surrendered his license and the abortion facility is now closed. But even this good news is tempered. By surrendering his license, all medical records are sealed, making criminal prosecution extremely difficult.
Eileen recently attended Heartbeat’s Annual Conference and shared her story to encourage steadfastness in this Great Work. Whatever you and I labor to do and sacrifice to give is but a small token of the full measure of her loss and the full sacrifice of her time and earthly treasure now dedicated to ending abortion. But for the sake of young girls like Laura, let us do it!
The Urban Initiative in Miami is growing fast, with a second Pregnancy Help Medical Clinic opening this summer; and a third due in 2009. We are now turning our focus toward the mega-abortion hot-zones of Los Angeles’ poorest neighborhoods. To succeed means cross-bearing for the childbearing. I am carrying Laura’s picture in my Bible, to remind me to not grow weary in this good work.
Your partner in a steeper and deeper work,
Rev. John Ensor
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Justice prevails - PRC’s unmask false accusations
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| Virginia Cline, Heartbeat Director of Public Relations/Policy, supported Heartbeat affiliates during the Maryland hearings. |
After mounting a strong defense against a PlannedParenthood/NARAL driven piece of legislation in Maryland, Heartbeat International and our affiliates were greatly relieved when the bill died. Unfortunately, pro-abortion cohorts plan more attacks to vilify pregnancy centers by instigating anti-pregnancy center legislation.
This episode began in March with Maryland House Bill 1146 and its companion, Senate Bill 690. Both Bills responded to an incendiary report that NARAL developed to discredit pregnancy centers. The Bills would have forced pregnancy centers to post a disclaimer: “The center is not required to provide factually accurate information to clients.” In a packed House of Delegates committee room, 48 people testified on behalf of pregnancy centers. Learn more.
“House Bill 1146 would hurt women and families throughout Maryland by discouraging them from taking advantage of the many services our centers provide,” according to the testimony submitted by Heartbeat President Peggy Hartshorn, Ph.D. “The pregnancy centers’ mission is to make sure that women have access to a variety of free services including information about positive alternatives to abortion.”
Heartbeat’s Maryland affiliates, joined by former clients, medical experts, attorneys, and representatives from our sister organizations, unmasked the false accusations during four hours of grilling by the House Health and Government Operations Committee. Their confident, articulate, heart-moving testimonies revealed the true, critical role pregnancy centers fill in their communities.
Now is the time to share our values with elected officials. Take your state representative and state senator to lunch and let them know that you support the vital work of pregnancy centers. Pregnancy centers provide hope through free and confidential services, so women can choose life for their unborn children.
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From the heart of a birthmother (part II)
by Alyson, mother of Julie Stobbe
At age 18, I was pregnant, frightened, ashamed and angry. I was pregnant because of making a wrong decision in a weak moment; frightened because of the life-changing decisions I was about to make; ashamed and angry because of disappointing myself and my parents, even though they were understanding and supportive. All options had been presented. What had happened to me was not the baby’s fault. I chose adoption.
I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl with dark hair and porcelain skin. She took my breath away. I was totally captivated by this precious little one. Holding her was an indescribable experience of joy. I would have that privilege only once more before her adoption.
Three days later, her new mother and father came to add her to their family. I learned she would grow up with a brother. The nurse brought my baby to me with two sets of “going home” dresses provided by her new mom and dad – one pink and one white. I remember she told me as she was closing the door that I was about to make a family very happy. While I told my baby what a wonderful home and life she would have because of these very special people, I slipped the white dress over her dark brown hair.
Twenty minutes later, the nurse returned to take my beauty and introduce her to her new family. My decision was right to have her become a member of this caring, loving family. They could give her what I could not. I knew that. I whispered in her ear that God would take good care of her and laid her in the nurse’s gentle arms. Maybe one day we would meet. It was in His hands. The nurse smiled. She told me she admired my courage and that I set a good example for others to follow. I’ll never forget that.
That was 39 years ago. Twelve years ago that precious dark haired, porcelain-skinned baby called me. I have met her parents and brother. She has created her own unique, successful, non-profit organization, ACT OF LIFE, advocating adoption. We have become fast friends. God is good to us. Isn’t life amazing?
For part I of this story, click here or refer to your January 2008 issue of LifeLines.
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Heartbeat Servant Leader Award
Each year, Heartbeat International recognizes leaders who possess a servant heart for the pro-life movement. Each recipient is given a gold heart and his/her name is added to a plaque that graces in the Heartbeat office.
Heartbeat asks you to join us in saluting this year’s Servant Leaders: Alveda King, Heartbeat Board Member and founder of King for America; Pat Layton, founding President of A Woman’s Place Ministries, Inc. and author of Surrendering the Secret: Healing the Heartbreak of Abortion; Edward and Barbara Mwansa, Directors of Silent Voices Resource Center; and Julie Parton, founding Director of the Prestonwood Pregnancy Center, formerly with Focus on the Family, and current Heartbeat Board Member.
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Heartfelt remembrance
Dr. Eric Keroack, M.D., founding Medical Director of A Woman’s Concern, died unexpectedly on April 4th. A pioneer of ultrasound use in pregnancy centers, he served on the Heartbeat Medical Advisory Council. His pro-life advocacy of women’s health issues earned him the Heartbeat Servant Leader award and a feature story in Readers’ Digest.
Please pray for Dr. Keroack’s family.
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Option Line® (800-395-HELP)
where women find truth and hope
Option Line’s caring, trained consultants are reaching more and more women in need, thanks to your support. This 24/7 pregnancy help line, Heartbeat’s national marketing campaign and outreach, offers life-affirming alternatives by phone and internet. Option Line connects callers to their nearest Heartbeat affiliate. More than 71,000 women have contacted Option Line so far in 2008.
Phone: 62,750
Email: 5,105
Instant Messages: 3,700
Phone contacts have increased by more than 15% in the past year!
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Address: Heartbeat Int., 665 E. Dublin-Granville Road, Suite 440, Columbus, OH 43229, USA
Phone: (888) 550-7577 | Fax: (614) 885-8746| Email: vcline@heartbeatinternational.org
©2008 Heartbeat International, Inc. All rights reserved. |
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