by Julie Parton, Ph.D.

To:              Jesus Christ, Commander-in-Chief, Spiritual Armed Forces
Subject:      Request for Transfer

Dear Lord:

I am writing this to You to request a transfer to a desk job. I herewith present my reasons:

I began my career as a private, but because of the intensity of the battle, You have quickly moved me up in the ranks. You have made me an officer and have given me a tremendous amount of responsibility. There are many soldiers and recruits under my charge. I am constantly being called upon to dispense wisdom, make judgments, and find solutions to complex problems. You have placed me in a position to function as an officer, when in my heart I know I have only the skills of a private.

I realize that You have promised to supply all I need for the battle. But Sir, I must present you a realistic picture of my equipment. My uniform, once so crisp and starched, is now stained with tears and the blood of those I have tried to assist. The sole of my boots are cracked and worn from the miles I have walked, trying to enlist and encourage troops. My weapons are marred, tarnished, and chipped from constant battle against the Enemy. Even the Book of Regulations I was issued has been torn and tattered from endless use. The words are now smeared.

You have promised You would be with me throughout; but the noise of the battle is so loud and the confusion is so great, I can neither see nor hear you. I feel so alone. I'm tired. I'm discouraged. I have battle fatigue. I would never ask You for a discharge. I love being in Your service. But, I humbly request a demotion and transfer. I'll file papers or clean latrines! Just get me out of the battle, please, Sir.

Your faithful, but tired,
Solider

***********************************************

To:                  Faithful but Tired Soldier, Spiritual Armed Forces
Location:        The Battlefield
Subject:          Transfer Request

Dear Soldier:

Your request for transfer has been denied. I herewith present my reasons:

1. You are needed in this battle.
2. I have selected you, and I will keep My Word to supply your needs.
3. You do not need a demotion & transfer. (Believe me, you'd never cut it on latrine duty!)
4. You need a period of “R&R” - Renewal and Rekindling.

For this reason, I am setting aside a place on the battlefield that is insulated from all sound and fully protected from the enemy. I will meet you there and I will give you rest. I will remove your old equipment and “make all things new.”

You have been wounded in the battle, My soldier. Your wounds are not visible, but you have received grave internal injuries.

You need to be healed. I will heal you. You have been weakened in battle. You need to be strengthened. I will strengthen you and be your strength.

I will instill within you confidence and ability. My words will rekindle you with a renewed love, zeal, and enthusiasm. Report to Me tattered and empty, and I will refill you.

Compassionately,
Your Commander-in-Chief

Enter Academy  |  Upcoming Webinars  |  Featured Courses | Live Virtual Classes

Heartbeat International Academy offers life-affirming leaders, staff members, volunteers, and supporters with access to online webinars and courses on a wide variety of topics. In the Academy, you'll find trainings on our core foundational materials, as well as on topics on everything from the history of abortion in the United States to fundraising basics, and from prenatal diagnostic tests to implementing STI testing in your center.

Why Academy?

Essentially, with Academy, we hope to offer a one-stop shop where pregnancy help leaders can access sector-specific training that will help them and their organizations continue to serve their clients and communities with excellence. We recognize the difficulty of trying to research where to go get training on raising funds, leading organizations, and serving clients, while simultaneously doing all of those things so our goal is to come alongside you to make it a bit easier. With our new learning plans feature, it’s even easier to identify what you need to know about any given topic and locate those trainings and resources that you need to raise funds, lead your organization, serve clients, etc.

What’s in the Academy?

It doesn’t take much effort in today’s age to find a piece of information or training video online, but what sets Academy apart is our training goes beyond social work, Christian counseling, and nursing education, instead offering training and information through a Christian worldview specific to our pregnancy help community. With the expertise that we tap into through our faculty, we’re able to provide sector-specific training which means we’re not just training nurses in the physics and technical stuff on ultrasound, but training nurses to perform ultrasound in a pregnancy help organization as part of the process of building a relationship with that client. Not just the latest information on chemical abortion, but how best to respond to clients in this shortened window of opportunity. Now with our learning plan feature added in, even if you don’t know where to start, and don’t know what you don’t know you have a built-in guidance system of sorts to help make sure you find the right training for you.

Where does training happen?

When Heartbeat Academy was first launched, we focused on building the online piece, that was what we were missing, but we’ve been working really hard over the last 9 months to bring those virtual and in-person worlds together so that now by completing the surveys offered onsite you can receive credit for the training you’re doing in person with Heartbeat as well as online, recorded all in one place in the Academy. So for example, the individuals who attend the Heartbeat International Annual Conference or attend Pregnancy Help Institute not only receive LAS credit but also now have progress in their related learning paths to keep track of what they’ve learned so far and other areas to be aware of or look to for future training.  

Upcoming Webinars

Have you noticed? With each webinar in the Heartbeat Academy, we now include an affiliate bonus registration for another member of your staff! Each registration gives you access to the live presentation for yourself AND access for 1 additional person from your affiliated organization to access the recording through Heartbeat Academy! That recording access includes all the benefits of the webinar, including any CEUs offered. Just register for yourself, and when the recording becomes available, you'll have the opportunity to enroll your additional staff member. That's one more benefit of being a Heartbeat International affiliate!

Protecting the Religious Freedom of Your Pregnancy Center

Tuesday, December 5 at 12 p.m. ET

Presented by Kevin Theriot, senior counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom

Affiliate - FREE! | Non-Affiliate - $ 7.95

In the wake of the monumental overturning of Roe v. Wade, America is at a pivotal crossroads in the fight to protect life. As more women seek support from pregnancy centers like yours, the opportunity to serve and share the Gospel has never been greater. At the same time, pregnancy centers are also experiencing increasing legal threats. Now more than ever before, it is critical for you to proactively protect your center’s right to operate according to its biblically held beliefs.

Join the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) team for an urgent discussion on the evolving cultural and legal challenges ministries face today. This webinar will equip you with:

• An understanding of the threats posed by the courts, administrative agencies, and legislative bodies
• Knowledge of the protections available under the law
• Proactive steps you can take to minimize risks and safeguard your pregnancy center’s religious freedom

Don’t Miss the Live Q&A: Please bring your questions for the ADF legal team to answer live.
Register today to secure your seat and empower your pregnancy center to navigate these unprecedented challenges.

Live Q&A Call With the Religious Freedom Institute

Tuesday, December 12 at 12 p.m. ET

Presented by the Religious Freedom Institute

Free! (affiliates and non-affiliates)

Join in this live call with the Religious Freedom Institute to help you prepare for, mitigate, and respond to crises such as criminal attacks, lawsuits, or hostile media stories. RFI is ready to answer questions and comments that will help you best utilize their free Crisis and Security Toolkits (available as a free download).

This presentation will include RFI's Dir. for North America and Senior Fellow for Public Policy, Nathaniel Hurd; Communications Director and Research Coordinator, Nathan Berkeley; Crisis Toolkit co-author Ian Speir, one of America's finest religious liberty attorneys; and John Wyman, the former FBI Special Agent who's now the security manager of a $20 billion Fortune 500 company and a security consultant. Click here for the Security Toolkit and here for the Crisis Toolkit. We encourage participants to access and review both Toolkits in advance of this call. While you will have the option to ask questions live through audio or chat on the call, you can also submit them in advance by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. This call will not be recorded.

Starting a Maternity Home 101

Wednesday, December 13 at 12 p.m. ET

Presented by Maureen Nwoye from Mary's Choice RVA

Affiliate - $ 7.95 | Non-Affiliate - $ 9.95

Join Maureen Nwoye from Mary's Choice RVA as she gives you step-by-step information on how to navigate the process of starting a maternity home.

And remember, you can always access our recorded webinar archives by clicking here. 

Featured Courses

Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you need assistance locating your courses or migrating your account to our new home. 

Use the links below to explore the different ways you can use the Academy to enhance the knowledge and skills of you and your organization.