by Andrea and Julianna Trudden

I began my journey with Heartbeat International just out of college. A few years before I was married and even more until I had my first child. (I'm dating myself, I know.) Like many who work in ministry, my children have been little helpers over the years. Writing notes to supporters, organizing envelopes, stuffing literature bags for conferences... you know, the fun stuff. The things that our children get to do to serve the movement as well.

This year, my 14-year-old daughter, Julianna, joined us in Washington, D.C. for our Babies Go to Congress event and the March for Life. She is a freshman in high school and there are many perspectives on a variety of social issues that she is exposed to. She has been looking forward to coming with us for Babies Go to Congress for a couple of years.

I asked Julianna to help us understand the events she participated in from her eyes. Here is what she witnessed:

Tell us about your experience of Babies Go to Congress:

Babies Go to Congress was something very different from anything I’ve experienced. We got to take three children, Lei’ Lani, Hezekiah, and Zoe, to meet with different Congressmen with their mothers to share their powerful stories. Seeing the kids and their mothers walk through the different rooms and halls of Congress, specifically, Lei’ Lani and her mother Danielle, was very inspirational, and Lei’ Lani was clearly enjoying the walk through the passageways and walking around outside the Capitol.

When we met with the legislative aids, they were all considerate and interested in the story that Danielle told them about herself and how the Paul Stefan Foundation had helped her. Everyone that we met there was very kind and treated everyone there equally and like adults, even Lei’ Lani and me.

Tell us about the March for Life: 

The March for Life was crowded and you really weren’t able to identify who all was there because there were so many people. It was hard to even move around during the rally, but when the March started, it was easier to walk around as you were following the crowd of people you were walking with.

Everyone was walking together and it seemed to be like a unity formed between everyone in the March. Schools that had come were praying, chanting, and singing while marching, and one woman who came was on crutches but still persisted through the March despite having difficulty moving around. Overall, it was really unified and peaceful; you could see the people around you talking with each other like it was just another day even though they were carrying signs or joining in chants and prayers periodically.

What does it mean to be pro-life?

Being pro-life means that you believe that everyone should have a chance to live, no matter what. Being pro-life doesn’t only mean that you are against abortion, it also means that you believe that no matter what a person has done, no matter the fact that they might be different from others, they deserve a chance to live and their life should not be taken from them.

Some pictures from Julianna's trip:

I am so grateful that Julianna got to see this side of our work and that we got this special time together. And a big thank you to my mom for joining the team as well! This is a trip we will always remember and perhaps the start of a new tradition!

EVALYNN'S STORY

Hezekiah — Born October 2021

Born to a crack-addicted and alcoholic mother, Evalynn was removed from her mother’s custody at the age of only 10. She had her first abortion at 19 and at 24 she almost died from a second abortion that led to her having an emergency D&C three days later.

At the age of 30, she found herself pregnant out of wedlock again.

“I was already a single mother of a 3-year-old and I was attempting to finish my Bachelor’s degree. I had no idea how I was going to support myself, two children, and finish college.”

Evalynn felt alone as the father of her baby was encouraging her to have an abortion and she had no one else to support her. Not knowing if she was going to choose to have an abortion or keep the baby, she reached out to the Women's Center of Ohio for an ultrasound.

That ultrasound changed her entire life, as it made the pregnancy real to her and empowered her to choose life for her baby! That choice also led to choosing life for herself as two months after that she surrendered her life to Jesus Christ.

Today, baby Hezekiah is a year old. Evalynn earned her bachelor’s degree and then married shortly after!

“In this age, the world tells women that to be happy and to have a successful life we must abort our unborn babies. That is the furthest thing from the truth! I have never lived a life that is so fulfilled physically, mentally, and spiritually. God used this baby's life to save mine and I am forever grateful!”

Support the efforts of pregnancy help organizations today so that moms like Evalynn are encouraged and equipped to choose life for their little ones.

Baby Hezekiah

DANIELLE'S STORY

At 20 years old, Danielle was terrified to find herself staring at two pink lines on a pregnancy test. She was immersed in a world of drugs, alcohol and risky behavior that she used to numb the pain of years of abuse and assault.

“I knew that I was carrying life - that it wasn’t just me anymore,” she said, “but I had no money, and my family refused to support me.”

That is when found a local maternity home, the Paul Stefan Foundation. It was here when she was welcomed with open arms and spent the next five years learning valuable life skills and gaining the education needed to get a good job for herself and her growing baby girl.

Danielle describes those years as the “hardest of my entire life, but they transformed me and my future in an incredible way.” She has remained involved with the home ever since, and today she serves her community as a foster care social worker in the Virginia Department of Social Services.

“So many women resort to abortion because they think it’s their only option, or that their baby will hinder their goals. I wish I could comfort those women, and tell them how keeping my baby motivated me to achieve every single goal that I set my mind on. I’d tell them that I named my daughter Lei’Lani, which means royal child of heaven. Why? I tell anyone who will listen – God sent her to me to save my life.”

Support the efforts of pregnancy help organizations today so that moms like Danielle are encouraged and equipped to choose life for their little ones. 

Lei'Lani and Danielle

KYLIE'S STORY 

Kylie* was a mom of two and had just started a new relationship when she found out that she was pregnant. She felt that she wasn’t ready, and even though her boyfriend was excited to be a dad, Kylie decided to have an abortion.

She quickly regretted this decision, especially as she and her boyfriend struggled to get pregnant again over the following years. She was overjoyed to find out she was pregnant in the summer of 2019 with a baby boy.

And then, when her son was seven months old, she found out that she was pregnant again with twins. Kylie felt overwhelmed and that she couldn’t go through with the pregnancy as her boyfriend was out of town quite a bit. The financial strain of raising five children on her own was just too much.

Hoping to get more answers, Kylie reached out to Real Options. She was still on the fence about getting an abortion, but after discussing the many resources that were available she realized she had all the support she needed!

Sadly, one of the twins passed before birth. Real Options was there for Kylie at that time as well, so she knew that she wasn’t alone. They provided her with counseling services and a baby shower. They gave her the support that she needed and became the family that she didn’t have.

“Now that my boyfriend is temporarily away, I still don’t feel alone. I know I have my family at Real Options and they are only one call away…If I didn’t come to Real Options, I would not have chosen life for my daughter. For that, we are forever grateful!”

*Name changed for privacy

Support the efforts of pregnancy help organizations today so that moms like Kiley are encouraged and equipped to choose life for their little ones. 

Baby Zoe

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Note: all times listed in the schedule are Mountain Time.
Each day will begin at 11:30 a.m. ET/9:30 a.m. MT

Click here to download and print a paper schedule of the Virtual Conference workshops!

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A big thank you to our Sponsors for helping keep Conference costs low for those working in pregnancy help.

We pray over our Conference Theme each year. We come together as a team to discuss what word or phrase captures the moment and then what scripture will complement it well to communicate the message we want to convey. It is a fun process!

As you may have seen, this year our conference theme is "BREAKTHROUGH." We chose this word because it allows us to both celebrate the "Breakthrough" we had with the Dobbs case while understanding there are still more barriers we must "Break Through" in order to truly live in a culture that embraces life.

Let's unpack this a bit.

We definitely have so much to be thankful for as a movement recently. In September 2021, Texas put the Heartbeat Law into effect which received a lot of criticism from the media and pro-abortion activists. The law was challenged very aggressively and with a lot of money. This moment was a "Breakthrough" for our country as the law was continuously upheld and other states began crafting language to mimic it in order to protect lives in, what we refer to now as, Life States. Since that bill was signed into law last September, it is estimated that more than 53,000 lives have been saved.

That moment reignited the excitement for the pro-life movement and carried us to the Dobbs decision which overturned Roe v. Wade, taking the abortion issue back to the states. Another "Breakthrough!"

Since June 24, 2022, we have seen various groups in a variety of states work to pass more laws to protect the most vulnerable. We've witnessed pro-life politicians speak more boldly than ever before about the sanctity of human life and how necessary it is to stand up for the most basic of all rights - the Right to Life. 

We have also seen pregnancy centers in the news more today than ever before. People are learning about this amazing network of care that exists nationwide to serve women and provide families with the compassionate care and practical support they need to help them through tough times. News outlets are sharing these encouraging stories of the life-affirming hope received at pregnancy help organizations. (See here, here, here, and here for a few, and feel free to share them!) Being on the Communications side of the pregnancy help movement, I can tell you THAT is a "Breakthrough!"

And yet... 

In spite of these great many positives, there is still so much to do! There are many barriers that we still must "Break Through."

Big Tech has censored and suppressed pregnancy centers, limiting a woman to find abortion as her only option on sites like Google and Facebook. Abortion States are enshrining abortion into states' constitutions. And more than 70 life-affirming pregnancy help organizations were vandalized and attacked this summer by extremists angry at the world with no condemnation by pro-abortion politicians, who have taken the opportunity to push their agenda against pro-life work. The abortion industry is fighting against any and all abortion regulations or restrictions while making egregious claims against the work of pregnancy help. 

We knew all along that if Roe v. Wade was overturned, the work of the pregnancy help movement would expand. Thankfully, we already span the nation (and world!) and are ready to serve. We continue to look onward (wait, that was last year's Conference theme...) as the battlefield is shifting. 

Throughout the Bible, God continues to give us reminders of His provision and constant hope. Our Conference scripture this year conveys this beautifully, it is from Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

With His guidance, we will continue to "Break Through" the barriers that come up while remembering to celebrate the many "Breakthroughs" we have witnessed this year. 

We are grateful to work with you in this mighty mission for life! And we look forward to seeing y'all in Louisville, Kentucky at the Heartbeat Conference.

I will leave you with this song that encourages me and makes me think of our Conference each time I listen. Do you hear the "Breakthrough"?

Watch as Katelynn shares her reversal success story.

We found out we were pregnant on Christmas day. At first we were really excited! It was the most amazing Christmas gift we could ever have. At the same time, it was really scary because we have other kids we needed to care for. I had lost my job and my husband was struggling with his business. I just couldn’t see how we could possibly feed and care for another child.

My husband said he would support me whatever my decision and my decision was that I needed to abort this baby. I talked to Planned Parenthood - they seemed so knowledgeable and I thought I just needed to push through and get it done quickly; that would be the easiest way. That was a big mistake.

I took the first pill. All that night, I was awake. I knew in my heart that what I had done was just wrong. “Is it too late? Can I do something else?” I Googled what to do if you want to reverse an abortion and that is when Heartbeat International came up.

While I waited for my appointment the Abortion Pill Rescue® Network helped schedule for me, I was just praying that there was still a Heartbeat... and there was!

Aubrey Lynn was born August 24 weighing 8 pounds and one ounce that included 10 sweet fingers and 10 cute little toes! We know she is going to have a great future. She has parents who love her. God sent her to us and I think she is going to do amazing things!

Interested in helping more women like Katelynn? Visit hbi.life/socialgive to give today.

Join us for a tour of our new office, talk with Heartbeat Staff and Board members, and enjoy refreshments.

Date: Thursday, November 3, 2022
Time: 3:00-5:00 p.m. ET
Address: 8405 Pulsar Place, Columbus, OH 43240

RSVP using the form below:

by Andrea Trudden, Vice President of Communications & Marketing
Heartbeat International

Have you heard the term "Reproductive Health Care Provider" before? If you are like me, the phrase brings to mind "Reproductive Rights" and therefore I automatically think of Abortion Facilities. But I would be wrong.

As a pregnancy help organization, you provide reproductive health care through a variety of means for women: abstinence education, pregnancy tests, limited ultrasounds, and in some cases, STI/STD testing and prenatal care. We are blessed to have healthcare professionals on staff or volunteering at pregnancy centers across the nation, using their God-given gifts to help the mission and care for women at one of the most delicate times in their lives. 

This nuance of language is important as we navigate new waters that are sometimes putting pregnancy centers in harm's way through abortion-related violent extremism. 

Leveraging the label "Reproductive Health Care Provider" properly appropriates language that actually applies more to us, who discuss all options, than those who only favor abortion. In fact, the Department of Justice (DOJ) identifies pregnancy help centers as "Reproductive Health Care Providers"  which empowers them (the DOJ) to do more to protect you from threats of violence under the FACE Act.To pull from our Protect Your PHO page: 

FACE Act

The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (“FACE Act”) likely applies to your center and could be a very powerful tool in dealing with protestors. The FACE Act prohibits violent, threatening, damaging and obstructive behavior toward anyone obtaining or providing reproductive health services. Violators of the FACE Act could be fined or even imprisoned. The Act also provides civil remedies to the victims, including compensatory and punitive damages, as well as injunctive relief. The FACE Act provides for statutory damages, making it even easier to recover money from protesters who violate it. If protesters outside your clinic attempt to block or impede access to the clinic, to intimidate your clients, or cause property damage, please contact Heartbeat to discuss your options. We have been informed that from the FBI's perspective, pregnancy help organizations are covered under the FACE Act.

It is important for us to be aware of what laws exist that we can use to help protect our organizations and push back against violent extremists. While we are glad that the physical attacks against pregnancy help organizations have lessened, it is important that we remain vigilant and have a clear understanding of our rights.

The work we do is good. Our clients know it, our supporters know it, and we know it. Keep up the life-changing work you do!

Practical Tip #1: Review Protect Your PHO with your staff and Board. 

Practical Tip #2: Sign up for tomorrow's webinar - The "8Ds" of Risk Management (October 12, 2022 at 12pm EST), presented by Darin J Goodwiler MBA, CCEP, Samaritan's Purse VP of Compliance and Risk/CCRO. In this webinar, you'll learn the methodology of a risk management assessment that measures and evaluates risks to people, facilities, infrastructure, internal controls, and reputations. This thorough assessment has been taught for 30 years and will provide you with an effective framework to help you ensure that you have all your bases covered to keep your organization protected!