Let me begin by introducing myself, Elisa, as a strong, independent woman who is not one to ask for help. But when I relocated to a new city as a single parent of a new infant, I started to feel overwhelmed. I reached out for help after realizing that raising a baby while also trying to complete school was a bit more than I could manage on my own at that given moment in my life. I was surprised when I was referred to Blue Water Pregnancy Care Center. Although I was no longer pregnant, I was informed that they might still be able to assist with my needs.

My initial feelings of anxiety upon walking through the doors of the center quickly vanished as I took in the calm and inviting environment. The staff and volunteers assisting me with my concerns exhibited nothing but sincere kindness, compassion and professionalism. My various interactions with staff made it evident to me that they had a true passion and dedication to their mission.

I was offered to participate in their Earn While You Learn program. This offers individuals a chance to engage in prenatal classes, parenting classes, bible study, and/or educational DVDs in exchange for baby bucks to purchase a wide variety of baby items such as formula, diapers, car seats, strollers, etc. In addition to the knowledge and spiritual growth I have been able to obtain through participation in the program, I have earned an abundance of supplies for my daughter. Because of the assistance I have received from the center, I did not have to utilize other resources for childcare, and have managed to attend school full-time from home while raising my daughter.

I am just one of countless women and men who have been helped in some way by the Blue Water Pregnancy Care Center. For those women and/or couples who are feeling scared as they are faced with the challenges ahead, the center can be a source of immeasurable support and comfort. A wide array of support services include the following: free pregnancy testing, free limited ultrasounds, physical, emotional and spiritual support, information on pregnancy and abortion alternatives, confidential peer counseling… and so much more!

When I think back to a year ago and the doubts I had about attending my first appointment at the center, I feel nothing but encouraged. I have attended the center on a weekly basis. And not for what I had initially started there for! I go to learn, grow spiritually, continue healthy established relationships, and to be an encouragement for other attendees. The Blue Water Pregnancy Care Center has impacted my life on so many positive levels. The staff and volunteers have such a warm, welcoming love for life. I will be forever grateful for each and every one of them.

I am 22 years old and March of 2016 my entire life was flipped upside down. At the time, I was taking pre-pharmacy classes, finishing up my junior year. I was still involved with a guy I dated for 2 years. We had broken up a while back, but I still “loved” him and continued hanging out with him and sleeping with him, in hopes that maybe one day he would want me back (he didn’t).

I was with my ex-boyfriend when I took the pregnancy test. Seeing that test read “Pregnant 1-2 weeks” was the beginning of a huge change in my life. I immediately showed him the test and we both began to cry. All these mixed emotions and thoughts start flooding my head “I am only 21 years old. I am still in school. I still have a life that I want to finish before having a child.”

I’m going to be honest; my first response was to get an abortion. I would go in, it would be a quick procedure and I’ll never have to think about this pregnancy. The ex was relieved with my decision and began looking up clinics nearby for more information. Throughout that day I thought more about my decision, contemplating between having an abortion or not. I did research on abortion and the mental effects of having an abortion. The “famous” PlannedParenthood.org definition of abortion using vacuum aspiration is “dilating the uterus, and using a small, hand-held suction device or suction machine to take the pregnancy tissue out of your uterus.” My own definition of this is killing your child. There’s no way to sugar coat it; an abortion is a procedure where you terminate the life of your child. If I did this, it would not be a quick fix. This is a life changing procedure that would haunt me for the rest of my life.

I went to my ex later that week and told him about my change in decision. He tried changing my mind with the typical concerns people have with an unexpected pregnancy. “Our life will be over if you have this baby. We’re still in school. A baby isn’t a part of our plan right now.” I stayed firm with my decision. God doesn’t make mistakes and I knew there was some reason God decided to get me pregnant before I was ready. My ex finally suggested going to a pregnancy center to explore our options. The next week we went to Hand of Hope pregnancy center.

All the staff members are committed to helping women, as well as their unborn babies. Right when I walked in I felt a sense of relief. These women were here to help me make the best decision for me. One of the counselors sat down and talked to us about the pregnancy. One of the first things they did was showed me a bible verse from Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” They assured me that this baby was not a mistake. God had planned this baby to come during this period of my life. God had even made plans for the growing baby inside me. God loved me so much that he gave me the amazing gift of a child. He trusted me to be a mother to this baby, whether I planned to be a mother or not.

After talking with the counselor, we went into a room to get an ultrasound. The ultrasound screen showed a tiny grey area which was my baby. The biggest thing I noticed during this was that inside my baby was a strong heartbeat, flickering on the screen. I was only 6 weeks pregnant at the time. Yes, my baby not yet looked like a baby on the ultrasound screen, but there was strong heartbeat, that you could easily see, flickering on the screen. That heartbeat of life that God gave me and trusted me to take care of, love, and eventually raise. I saw true love for the first time on that ultrasound screen. 

The last day of exams, right before I went home for the summer, the ex and I sat down with his mother. I will never forget one of the last things she said to me “If you choose to keep this baby, just know that will be the most selfish thing to do.” Starting to already fall in love with this growing baby, I was heartbroken.

Communication between my ex and me ended that day. Reality set in that I’m going to be a single mom. My child may never know who his dad is. But I knew that with my parents support, my son Noah would have the necessities and I could give him a good life.

Three weeks before his due date, on November 24, 2016, Thanksgiving Day, my beautiful, 7 pound 10 oz. healthy, baby boy arrived. At 3:24 pm, I met my true love. An innocent human being that I had created and had the honor of bringing into the world. I wouldn’t change my decision for anything.

This boy has changed my life. Having this baby was the best thing that ever happened to me. My child has pushed me to be the best mom I can be. He has pushed me to go back to school in order to give him the best life possible. My plans in attending pharmacy school went as planned. I am currently in pharmacy school now, with my precious baby turning a year-old next month.

I hope my story helps other women out there that may be in the situation I was in. You may feel alone and scared. Remember that God doesn’t make mistakes. A baby is a gift that shouldn’t be taken for granted. 

.           .           .           .           .

Robyn Chambers - Focus on the Family

Bernadette Tasy - Alliance Defending Freedom

Melissa Ohden - Abortion Survivors Network

Eric Scheidler - Pro-Life Action League

Jeanne Mancini - March for Life

Sarah Gabel Seifert - EveryLife

Kristan Hawkins - Students for Life

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Like these? Check out videos from past Pregnancy Help Appreciation Weeks. You are loved. And the work you do is admired.

And don't forget to check out the deals of the day and share the love on social media!

International Women’s Hope Center - Ghana  

The mission of the International Women’s Hope Center (IWHC) is to care for the well-being and education of women particularly those experiencing unexpected pregnancy through medical education and support services.  IWHC can provide help for the complete person-body, soul, and spirit.

The International Women’s Hope Centre is a community-based facility designed to meet women’s health needs as well as touch their hearts.  We exist for girls and women who find themselves in unexpected pregnancies.

Our commitment is to help our clients understand their options, so they can make a critical decision armed with truthful information about their health, their children, and their future. We offer an array of medical, educational and support services, which are always free and confidential.

IWCH also offers youth-development programs that teach responsibility and character.

We utilize Relationship Under Construction (RUC) curriculum which teaches youth the blueprint for strong future families.  This program addresses character development, goal setting, how to recognize healthy and unhealthy relationships, and dating violence while exploring the issues of fatherhood, motherhood and healthy family formation.  

In the last year, we have reached more than 2000 students and young people in rural areas With RUC program. We have also served about 56 girls facing an unplanned pregnancy.

Client Testimony

My name is Juliet Kolanbik.  I am 20 years old final year student of Bolgatanga Senior High School in the Upper East Region of Ghana offering Business as a course. I come from the village from Bumbruku a village in the Northern Region and hail from a family of eight siblings.  I got pregnant in my final year at the senior high school and delivered a baby girl on the 29^thof April 2018 whiles writing my final exams.  My parents are not able to support me due to having many children so I have to find ways to support myself by getting with a man who promised to help me to adjust to life in the Senior High School hence but he left when I got pregnant. 

I have no one to help me so someone introduced me to the International Women’s Hope Center (IWHC) for assistance. The center supported me emotionally, and with maternity, clothes and baby clothes and baby personal care items.  IWCH also counseled me and encouraged me.  I thank IWCH for helping me and my baby. 

Pregnancy help heroes are championing life every day across the European landscape. The venues for such life-affirming efforts vary from telephone/email/hotline/and online to actual office space.  The daily, compassionate outreach to women and men dealing with an unexpected pregnancy is affected by but far removed from the political wrangling. Those called to this work are facing great challenges in answering the call to save and defend life. We invite all pregnancy help workers, and especially leaders, to gather together to share information and understanding as well as to gain insight from others. 

Who should attend?  Anyone involved in life-affirming pregnancy help – direct service to women facing an unexpected pregnancy – is welcome. 

Along with plenary sessions that will inspire and inform, there will be breakout forums on vital topics that challenge all pregnancy help efforts – issues on leadership, fundraising, client care and the use of technology to more effectively reach clients and donors. These breakouts will be participatory in nature; as you plan which ones to attend, please come prepared to share your knowledge and experience as well. 

English will be the primary language for plenary sessions and breakout facilitation.

2018 European Pregnancy Help Summit

What: Pregnancy Help Summit for anyone involved in life-affirming pregnancy help across Europe.

When: 17-19 October 2018

• 17 October: Registration opens at 1700 with the evening introduction and plenary session at 1800, followed by dinner. 
• 18 October: All Day Summit
• 19 October: The Summit schedule finishes with lunch on Friday for ease of travel that afternoon. 

Where: The Crystal Hotel, Belgrade, Serbia 

Click here to download a printable European Pregnancy Help Conference flyer.

Heartbeat International, the largest pregnancy help network in the world with affiliates on every populated continent, is pleased to sponsor this Europe-focused conference in recognition of the importance of growing relationships among all pregnancy help leaders. Pregnancy help leaders can find out more about Heartbeat at https://www.heartbeatservices.org.

Since last year, the left-wing party (FMLN) in El Salvador led by Congresswoman Lorena Peña (currently the majority party in Congress), attempted to legalize abortion. 

Inan international campaign, they claimed that in our women’s prison there are 17 innocent girls who had spontaneous abortions with a sentence of 30 years. This is simply not true. The girls they reference were each sentenced for the homicide of a child delivered at term. The crime was discovered when these girls went to the hospital bleeding and claimed they didn’t know they had given birth. Of course, the doctors had to report them. Killing a baby is murder. Period. 

The new law supported by the FMLN would allow abortion under the following conditions: 1) when the mother is at risk, 2) when the mother is pregnant through rape or “stupor” (pregnant by a family member or someone close to the family). 3) in a case of ectopic pregnancy, 4) when the mother has a terminal illness. 

The FMLN was clearly hoping to gain a majority vote on this issue, but the March 4^th elections proved disastrous for the party as they lost 8 seats.

When they saw that the people had voted against the governing party, Lorena Peña decided it was urgent to pass the law before May 1^stwhen the right-wing party would take the majority of Congress. Not finding the other votes, Johnny Wright decided to re-write the law with only two allowable cases for abortion:1)Abortion in the first 12 weeks if the mother is a minor and she is pregnant through rape or stupor, with the consent of the parents and the doctors, and 2)when the mother is in danger and the doctor is indicating an abortion. 

When individuals raised their voices to help to approve the law, the silent pro-life people started talking. In the newspaper, you could find the doctors association speaking out saying they did not need the law to try to help the women in difficult situations like pregnancy outside the womb or when the mother is sick because it is already their duty to try to save both patients. They said they were against abortion of any kind. TheGynecologist Association spoke and the Pediatricians too, defending life. Even the Private Enterprise Association spoke up! Different Pastors of all denominations came together to make a march on April 7^th where Catholics and Evangelicals marched together. Different columnists wrote in the newspapers, college students also spoke up making a video in social media defending life. 

Two weeks before the new members of Congress would take office, outside congress we had a party! Hundreds of pro-life people got together shouting, “Life yes, death no! Life yes, death no!” That was the day that the law was going to be discussed: April 18! 

Thousands of people were praying that the law would not be discussed. 

That day, a miracle happened. There was no discussion because the congressmen and women who were in doubt if they would give the vote to pass the law, talked and decided they were pro-life.

Every life is important and as our constitution says, we recognize life since the moment of conception. 

April 25^thwas their last day in Congress and last opportunity. The pro-life party did not want to take any chances, so, again hundreds of people went to Congress to rally against abortion. Pro-life congressman (and women) congratulated all the crowd for coming and the law was not discussed.

So for now, abortion is not legal in El Salvador and life prevails!

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L.O.V.E. Approach - A simple, memorable, life-saving guide that is used in pregnancy help centers every day, but can be used anywhere by everyone.

10 Things - You can help make abortion unwanted today and unthinkable for future generations by what you say and do! 

Option Line Brochure - Learn more about Heartbeat's 24/7 lifesaving emergency contact center, Option Line.

Heartbeat International Annual Report - Discover all Heartbeat is able to accomplish to save innocent lives this year! 

Pioneer Booklet - Check out the ways Heartbeat is a leader in innovation in the pregnancy help community.

Click to download the Life Trends Report 2018

Lydia - A Beating Heart - Macedonia 

Lydia – A Beating Heart is the first and only pro-life pregnancy resource center in Macedonia. Abortion is used without a second thought as the primary form of birth control in Macedonia and throughout the Balkans. Often, when a woman is asked why she wants an abortion, she simply shrugs her shoulders and says she doesn’t really have a reason other than she wasn’t planning on getting pregnant at this particular time. Most of the women having abortions in Macedonia already have a family. Having more than two children is very anti-cultural, so most women abort all pregnancies after the first two. Many women will have multiple abortions in their lifetime.

From 2013-2019, there were some laws in place restricting abortion.  A woman less than 12 weeks pregnant was required to wait 72 hours, have counseling, and get an ultrasound.  If she was over 12 weeks pregnant, she must obtain the signatures of three physicians approving the abortion. In 2019, these laws were reversed. Currently, unrestricted abortion is allowed up through 22 weeks of pregnancy, and late-term abortions are allowed after approval by a medical consultation with two physicians and a social worker. The abortion pill also became legal in 2019. 

We were so grateful for the more restrictive laws, but regardless of legal status, our goal is to change the cultural concepts surrounding abortion and adoption. The Lydia Center is dedicated to counseling and helping women while promoting the value of life and the rights of the pre-born baby.  Our goal is to love, support, and assist women facing unplanned pregnancies, post-abortion trauma, and other family-related crises.

Client Stories:

“C’s” Story

To experience a reproductive loss is hard, but to go through three miscarriages is unthinkable and very hard to describe.

A few months passed when “C” came to us for the first time. She and her husband were trying to get pregnant, but they were experiencing miscarriages one, after another. “C” s husband was the one who initiated her visit. They were having marital problems for a while. In the beginning, she wasn’t open to talking about her losses, and she didn’t believe the counseling would help her. But with time, she started to open up and she realized she really needed someone to talk to, to share her emotions, and her feelings, to talk about her relationships with her husband and everyone around her. Through a creative task, “C” was encouraged to allow herself to mourn and grieve her losses.

One day she decided to get a balloon and together with her husband and daughter write letters to their angels in Heaven. They put the notes in the balloon, took a walk, and they let the balloon into the sky.

She shared that she never knew she is allowed to grieve the loss of her three children. She never knew that she is allowed to make significant losses. “C” was encouraged to continue to come and together with her husband to work on themselves, on their marriage so they can understand each other better and give the mutual support they need.

Client testimonial

"I look at myself and I can't believe that this is me.

In just a few months you have made a different person

  out of me, you brought me back to life, back to normal...

You are my light at the end of the tunnel.

Just when I thought I was finished, you showed up,

you gave me back my faith, hope and love for myself.

I can't believe that there are people who still want

  to help. In the most difficult time you helped me a lot.

I don't know how to thank you.

If I had 100 lives, it wouldn't be enough to repay you!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you

have done for me. Be blessed!”

All financial gifts received designated for our approved “alliance” affiliates will be forwarded to them in a reasonable timeframe (usually upon exceeding $250US). Heartbeat International deducts $30 plus 3% from the transfer, to help defray internal cost for money transfers, currency conversion, clerical costs, bank fees and any processing fees that might be charged. Should any funds be unable to be forwarded – primarily related to the recipient - they may be re-allocated for similar international work.

Hand of Hope Pregnancy Resource Center is a place that changed the direction of my life, forever. I was a junior in high school, 17 years of age, when I found myself in the bathroom starring down at a positive pregnancy test. I couldn’t believe it, I took another test, and then another, all positive. I was very shaken, to the core, with no idea what to do next. My boyfriend was extremely supportive from the very beginning, but we were still teenagers with no clue of what raising a child might look like. That is when a friend told us about Hand of Hope Pregnancy Resource Center. Hand of Hope is a place where mothers of unexpected pregnancies receive counseling, guidance, and help with providing supplies for the baby. The most important aspect of the Pregnancy Center wasn’t all of the things that I just listed though, it was the fact that these volunteers shared with every woman, or couple, that they encountered the gospel of Christ. When I first walked into Hand of Hope I expected to be judged for the position that I found myself in, but instead I was embraced, and loved. Little did I know then, how much walking into those doors would still be impacting my life four years later.

            As my boyfriend and I attended Hand of Hope the volunteer counselors taught us what to expect with our new baby, how to parent biblically, they counseled us in our relationship with each other, and they shared the gospel with us. My boyfriend and I were both already saved (though clearly living in sin at the time), so they helped us sort through the guilt and shame that came from our sin while reassuring us that our child was not a punishment, but a blessing. Ultimately they taught us how to seek God in every aspect of our lives. They walked with me and Chris (my boyfriend) every step of the way through my pregnancy and even after I had our daughter. They showed us the love of Christ at a time when we felt so far from God and his plan for our lives.

            In 2014 Chris and I were married at the courthouse in our hometown. In part, because we knew from our counseling at Hand of Hope, that the right thing to do was to get married and provide a stable home for our little girl. We loved each other dearly, and through Christ we were able to be a Godly example of love to our child. I began to pray that God would lead me to where he wanted me to be, and I felt a continuous tug on my heart to return to the pregnancy center, but this time to give back. So I set up a meeting with the director, Tonya, and we caught up on what had been going on in my life and what I felt God was calling me to do. It was then that I shared with her that I wanted to go to school and become a pregnancy center counselor.

            Tonya then shared with me that Hand of Hope knew of a scholarship opportunity to offer one four year scholarship to Regent University to a former client of a pregnancy center (out of 1,200 pregnancy centers). Tonya suggested that I apply for this scholarship so that I could be at a Christian university, which was my dream, but very unaffordable with a toddler at home. I was so excited to hear this, and slightly relieved that I could possibly receive help paying for school. At the time I kind of put the idea in the back of my mind and moved on.

            My husband and I then began praying that God would bless us with another child. Around my 20th birthday, in 2014, we found out that we were expecting! We were beyond excited at the little blessing we had received and could not wait to welcome this baby into the world. I was about nine weeks pregnant when it began, the sickness, weakness, and I just knew something wasn’t right. We rushed to the doctor to make sure everything was okay, and as she touched that cold gel to my belly, I was terrified as to what we were about to find out. I just knew that she wouldn’t be able to find the heartbeat, and I was prepared for my heart to break in two. Then I heard a loud, thump, thump, thump, thump, and the nurse, “Looks like we have a very strong heartbeat here.” My face flushed with relief. That wasn’t the end of it though. The doctor informed us that I was at risk for miscarriage and I needed to take it easy. Later that night as I laid my two year old to bed, I was greeted with what I feared was coming. Just one gush and a run to the bathroom, and I was holding my nine week baby, looking right into his eyes. There are simply no words to describe the grief and then sudden peace that I felt. My baby was with Jesus now, though I wanted him with me, he was with Jesus.

            On the way to the hospital that night I told my husband, “You know God did this for a reason, and I think that he just made it very clear to me what he wants me to do.” In the midst of the horror and grief I was feeling, all I could think about were the moms who are post abortive. The hurt and pain they must feel has to be overwhelming. I knew that through this experience God was preparing my heart to enter into the pregnancy center ministry, to be able to reach not just expectant mothers but post-abortive mothers as well. God broke my heart in order to wake me up to the reality of abortion and the enemy we are fighting.

            I was then determined to go to school and do what God was telling me to do. I began speaking for Hand of Hope at fundraising events, and volunteering at any event that I could. Tonya helped me to prepare my scholarship submission for Regent, and I began praying desperately that God would see me through this. If I would be able to attend a Christian university, it would be because God provided it. In August 2015, just one week after what would have been my due date for my second baby, Tonya called me in to her office telling me that she wanted me to shoot a video for a fundraising banquet. We began videoing while she asked me a few questions about why Hand of Hope was important to me. At the end of the video she asks me the question, “What would you say if I told you that you won the Regent scholarship?” It took a minute for me to soak in what she had just asked me, and then, “Are you serious?” seemed to be the only words that would come out of mouth. My face turned a bright pink, and my heart was pounding. “I am so serious, you won the scholarship!” Tonya said. Wow, what a blessing! I was in such shock. God surely has a way of redeeming our sorrowful moments and days. He takes our deepest hurts and pains and uses them for his glory! God blessed me immensely through this entire experience.

            This was just the beginning of this new chapter in my life. After winning the scholarship, I began speaking at churches and sharing my testimony of choosing life and receiving help from Hand of Hope. I was able to share with others God’s grace and mercy in my life. Through my child, God gave my husband and myself a second chance at life. I’ve received so many kind words, and prayers as I have begun my school and as I embrace this journey. Sharing my testimony with others truly blesses me more than people may realize. I feel honored that God chose a sinner like me to pour blessings upon and use as a voice for life in the Pro-Life movement.

            Last year I was invited to speak at Hand of Hope’s annual fundraising banquet to share my testimony with over a thousand people in attendance! Not only that, but I would also be opening for the famous quarterback, Tim Tebow’s mother, Pam. Pam became known for being Pro-Life after her Pro-Life football ad aired during a super bowl half time show several years ago. She now goes around to pregnancy resource center banquets sharing her story of choosing life for Tim, despite doctor’s advice to abort. I felt like I was dreaming, to have the chance to not only share my testimony, but to share it while opening for someone like Pam was a true blessing. She was the absolute sweetest lady I have ever met, and her words were so inspiring. After the banquet she came to me and said, “I will never forget you or your family.” I thought to myself ME? I will never forget this opportunity and getting to meet such an amazing woman.

            Sometimes I sit back and think that without my daughter, and without being directed to Hand of Hope four years ago, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I wouldn’t be the person that I am today, and I don’t even know if God would have been able to get a hold of my heart the way he has. I wouldn’t be writing this paper right now, and I would not have had any of these amazing opportunities. It makes my heart well up with joy. The goodness, and the faithfulness of God when we choose life, and through all of our experiences we choose it abundantly. You can see his goodness in every journey I have been on since walking into the doors of Hand of Hope. Before my daughter I was headed down a very bad path in life, but her life has given me new life in Christ. It changed the entire direction that my life was headed in and for that I could not be more thankful.