Your Encouragement, Support Appreciated
By Peggy Hartshorn, President
 The day the Waxman report was released (top story), I got an e-mail from one of our monthly LifeSavers, Ken, who headed his message, “Slander against pregnancy centers!” Dave, another faithful supporter, e-mailed me: “If you just substitute Planned Parenthood for pregnancy centers, then the accusation of being ‘misleading’ about women’s health and abortion is correct!”
It was so encouraging to know immediately that our supporters have no doubt that we are doing great work.
Our attackers are trying to discredit us because they are members of the abortion lobby. We are on their “radar screen” because we are making a difference and perhaps even cutting into the profits of the abortion industry. This is because many women and girls, when they know the truth about abortion risks, choose life. The pregnancy center volunteers help them think through all of their options and the ultrasound gives them a chance to bond with their babies. In fact, we estimate that our affiliates are the instruments that the Lord uses to save 2,000 babies per week in the United States.
But we are also under attack because we are doing the Lord’s work. He told us that as His followers we would be attacked as He was. So we are not surprised. Like Jesus, we speak the truth, and we try to share the Good News through our loving actions (in reaching out to and supporting those who are in distress) and through our words when we have the opportunity to let a client know that Jesus loves her and has a plan for her life and her baby’s life.
We ask your prayers for protection, wisdom, and resources as we continue to answer His call and follow Him.
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Abortion Proponents Smear the Good Work of
Pregnancy Resource Centers
By Virginia A. Cline
 In recent months, pro-abortion forces have launched a string of misleading attacks aimed at discrediting pregnancy centers that provide free and confidential services. It appears this is intended to protect the abortion industry profits by eliminating the “competition” of pregnancy centers.
The attacks on pro-life centers began with inflammatory reports by NARAL Pro-Choice Texas, National Abortion Federation, and other groups who are angered that pregnancy centers are competing for federal grants.
Now abortion groups are taking their attacks to Capitol Hill and coordinating efforts with abortion proponents in Congress like Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) who proposed legislation that accused pregnancy centers of using fraudulent advertising.
The most recent attack is a “report” issued by pro-abortion Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA) accusing pregnancy centers of providing false health information when they tell women that abortion has physical and emotional complications and is linked to breast cancer.
The pregnancy centers are on Waxman’s radar because some have received federal funding. The 30 million federal dollars mentioned as going to pregnancy centers is primarily for abstinence education, not health-related counseling. So the counseling criticized by Waxman is not the service funded by federal dollars.
“It’s a shame that taxpayer money is being used to hinder and smear the good work of life-affirming, faith-based pregnancy centers,” said Heartbeat President Peggy Hartshorn, Ph.D. “The report politicizes crucial women’s health issues and minimizes the pain and suffering many women experience as a result of abortion. And it ignores excellent research that shows the serious health risks for women who abort.”
The 2004-2005 Planned Parenthood Federation of America Annual Report lists a total income of $272.7 million in federal and state funding. Planned Parenthood is the largest provider of abortions.
The health risks of abortion are well documented. Many women suffer greatly after an induced abortion. In fact, the rate of attempted suicide increased ten-fold for teenagers who had abortions in the previous six months.
Romney Recognizes Good Work 
Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney recently announced that Healthy Futures, an abstinence program developed by Heartbeat’s Boston affiliate (A Women’s Concern) was awarded the contract to manage the state’s abstinence education program for middle school students. Rebecca Ray (next to podium) is the program director. |
A Scandinavian study (involving almost 600,000 women), found that the suicide rate of women within twelve months after an abortion was six times greater than the suicide rate of women who had given birth.
For more details on how abortion hurts women, visit www.silentnomoreawareness.org and www.afterabortion.org.
As noted in Heartbeat International’s manual, Talking About Abortion, 28 out of 37 studies show that having an induced abortion increases the risk of developing breast cancer. For a list of medical groups that recognize the abortion/breast cancer link visit www.heartbeatinternational.org.
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New Location Beside Abortion Clinic Offers True Choice
 “Location, location, location!” Many Heartbeat affiliates are acting on this astute business advice by opening up pregnancy centers next to or across from abortion clinics. The hope is to give abortion-bound mothers a true choice by offering compassionate life-affirming services.
Earlier this year an opportunity to buy the building next to an abortionist arose and the leadership at Heartbeat’s Columbus, Ohio affiliate responded quickly by raising the funds needed to make the purchase.
This fall, Pregnancy Decision Health Centers (PDHC) will open its seventh pregnancy center right next door to a major abortionist who provides abortions up to 20 weeks. (At this age the unborn child feels excruciating pain.)
“The single most important variable determining whether a woman gets an abortion is whether or not she feels she has any options,” said PDHC Executive Director Jeff Silleck. “Placing a pregnancy center next door to an abortion clinic provides options at the exact place and moment when it is most needed in order to save lives and secure the health of the woman.”
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God's Great Work Changing Hearts in Miami
by Rev. John Ensor, Executive Director, Urban Initiative
 To open and sustain new pregnancy centers in the neediest neighborhoods of Miami, where there are currently about 40 free-standing abortion facilities and only one ultrasound-equipped pregnancy center, is a great challenge. I believe it is a Great Work of the Gospel.
I recently spoke in two churches about “answering the call” and explained the Heartbeat of Miami project.
After speaking in one church, a woman approached me and told me of her three abortions. I was able to introduce her to another woman in the congregation connected to a post abortion Bible study.
A second woman handed me her business card. She currently works as an ultrasound technician in a local hospital. “Call me when you are ready to open,” she said, “I will leave my job and come and work for you and these centers.” What a tremendous asset now waiting in the wings. Several men pledged their support as well. Then something very special happened.
One of the points I shared in my sermon was that within a few miles radius of this church there were seven abortion facilities; exploiting the fears of women for cash on a daily basis! Afterwards a woman approached me and said, “Twenty-nine years ago my mother and I started one of those abortion clinics. We were the founders and it was very profitable. Sadly, it is now one of the busiest in the area.”
God has done a Great Work in her life since then and it continues. She will be one of the Founding Partners in the Heartbeat of Miami project.
We are praying for and looking for 1,000 Founding Partners who will pledge $30 a month for Heartbeat of Miami (www.heartbeatofMiami.org). If you respond, “Count me in!” you will be advancing one of the Great Works of the Gospel. Most importantly, I am asking for your prayers.
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Welcome!
Joan, one of our ePartners, recently shared her great grandson's ultrasound picture taken when he was about 15 weeks. We love his wave from the womb as much as we love that he was born on the Fourth of July. God bless America and her newest patriot, Emerson!
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ePartners for Life
Increase the Value of Your Donation by Giving Electronically
 Among the first to become ePartners were two sisters, who have been giving faithfully to Heartbeat for 10 years, Peg in Wisconsin and Joan in Ohio. Recently, Peg increased her gift to $50 per month in loving memory of her daughter. As ePartners, these two sisters have amplified their giving for God’s glory. Age is not a factor—we also receive electronic gifts from a teenager!
While we appreciate all gifts, your electronic monthly gift is the most effective way to strengthen our ministry. Call our office for more details.
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Option Line® Saving Babies, Changing Lives
By Joe Young, Option Line Director
 Walking around the offices of Option Line, it is easy to see the commitment for connecting people in need with the pro-life help that is available through our pregnancy resource centers. Each month we are in contact with thousands who are scared, hurting, or have questions. We provide the loving and compassionate voice they need.
We take their calls 24/7 and our goal is to provide the initial non-judgmental response and then move them to the next level of support by connecting them to a pregnancy resource center or maternity home in their area. Option Line handles nearly 700 calls, e-mails, and instant messages daily.
Due to the growth in our contact volume, Option Line has recently expanded its facilities. This allows for additional staff, live instant messaging, and more e-mail capabilities to serve a technologically savvy younger generation.
Looking to the future, we are piloting a project that aims at getting more clients into centers by helping schedule appointments. We continue to partner with key pro-life organizations willing to promote our website and toll-free number across the country.
Option Line (800-395-HELP) stands ready to help renew communities for Life. Please strengthen our ministry by publishing the Option Line number in your church bulletin or newsletter.
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Abortion Proponents Smear PRCs