Andrea Trudden

Vice President of Communications and Marketing at Heartbeat International

Biography

Andrea oversees the public face of Heartbeat International and its network of more than 3,500 pregnancy help organizations worldwide as VP of Communications & Marketing. Beginning her professional career in radio while obtaining a degree in Journalism and Communications from The Ohio State University, she took the skills she received in speaking and writing and joined the noble cause of the pro-life movement. Andrea is one of the voices of Heartbeat featured in radio and television interviews, sharing the many ways that pregnancy help empowers women to make positive choices for themselves and their families. 

Andrea and her husband Dan have three precocious children who plan to change the world when they are grown.

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by Valerie Harkins, Director of Maternity Housing Coalition for Heartbeat International

As leaders in maternity housing, we often find ourselves giving so much of our time, energy, and love to our residents along with their own tiny residents (their children) in need. While this is a worthy and fulfilling calling, it can also take a toll on our well-being. Fatigue and feelings of isolation creep into our souls without our noticing while we are fast at work with our hands to the plow.

Take this note in your heart and tuck it away for a later date: God is faithful to provide His strength and His comfort in our time of need, but not necessarily an end to the difficulties or even the opposition pressing upon us. He is the miraculous God who does far beyond what our imaginations can even think to ask. While our souls may cry out for deliverance from the lion’s den, He is the wise God who instead gives peace that surpasses understanding while inside the den. How glorious and perfect, a solution that gently silences the powers of darkness at work around us that boast of their own strength while also creating a demonstration of His own nature before unbelievers. This creates an “altar moment” for all surrounding the den and watching you in the midst of a trial. It is an opportunity for all to be awed by Jesus, the One whom even the lions obey.

The life raft for your soul, is the deep remembrance that you are not alone. Never. God is always by your side, ready to provide strength and comfort. In Psalm 46:1 it says, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." Lean on Him and seek His guidance in moments of weariness. He’s proven Himself over and over throughout the Bible, throughout global history, and throughout your very own life. 

A little practical support for you while you’re in the den:

• Avoiding burnout is essential for us to continue serving effectively. Make sure to carve out time for rest, relaxation, and movement.
• Prioritize tasks and delegate when possible.
• Set healthy boundaries: Remember that saying "no" to some things allows you to say "yes" to what truly matters.

It is crucial to take care of ourselves physically, mentally, and emotionally. Connect with other leaders in similar roles for support and advice.

Heartbeat Affiliates: If you haven’t already joined be sure to submit a request to join our private facebook group Maternity Housing Coalition - Affiliates Group. Remember, it's okay to ask for help when needed, or even just when it’s wanted. Every housing affiliate has access to a cost-free maternity housing consultation per month. Hop on the schedule here.

May you find renewed strength and encouragement in your journey as a maternity housing leader. Remember, you are making a difference in the lives of many. Keep shining your light bright!

Cindi Boston

Vice President of Mission Advancement at Heartbeat International

Biography

 A long-time leader in the pregnancy help community at the local, state, and national levels, Cindi Boston was named Heartbeat International’s Vice President in January 2016.

Cindi previously worked at the Cincinnati Crisis Pregnancy Center where she coordinated their maternity home program and support groups. Between 2013 and 2015 she served on Heartbeat International’s Board of Directors and was recognized as a 2011 Heartbeat International Servant-Leader honoree. She chaired the board of Missouri’s Alliance for Life and played a role in passing a state resolution honoring the work of pregnancy help organizations, as well as directing funds for specific services covered under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

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by Sara Dominguez, Affiliate Services Specialist at Heartbeat International

I am always amazed by the way the year falls into its fast-paced rhythm as soon as we shout, “Happy New Year!” And for this high-speed pace to follow the quiet Christmas season makes it all the more jarring. That’s why I’m always taken aback by how swiftly our calendars turn to Valentine’s Day. And so, here we are—in the month of love!

My favorite thing about Valentine’s Day is that it offers us the opportunity to reflect on the many avenues for love that the Lord offers us every day. From our parents who raised us up in love, to our siblings who reflect authentic love, our friends who lovingly build up our village, our colleagues who link arms with us in missions of love, our spouses whose promise of love fills our lives with joy, and our children who serve as a reminder of the true depths of love.

There is always more room for more love.

Valentine’s Day also reminds us that “we love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). What a miraculous reality that we can know true and lasting love. After all, the One who created us loved us first. And it is in this truth of love—deeply imprinted within our hearts—that we are moved to outstretch our arms to those who are thirsting for that same love. And, in this mission of love, we find ourselves united in our pursuit to offer pregnancy help to our communities.

One of Heartbeat International’s hallmark lessons in love can be found in The LOVE Approach which captures and communicates the essence of what it means to reach a woman in the "valley of decision" with the life-saving power of compassion and hope. The LOVE Approach teaches the principles of service in a life-affirming organization so that helpers feel more confident when they work with women in need. The LOVE Approach offers 4 Steps of LOVE that can equip and embolden pregnancy help organizations in their pursuit of serving their clients in love:

1. L – Listen and Learn
2. O – Open Options
3. V – Vision and Value
4. E – Extend and Empower

Through the LOVE Approach, we take time to engage clients in each of these four steps.

Listen and Learn

First, by listening and learning about our client—the mom in our maternity home or the father in our fatherhood program. We focus on their situation, offering our total attention, developing trust, and forming a relationship first.

Open Options

Only after forming the relationship should you begin to help the individual examine options in a factual, loving, and caring way.

Vision and Value

As life-affirming organizations, we offer an opportunity that sets us apart—highlighting the individual’s vision and value. Here you can introduce a new and fulfilling vision for the individual. You see paths the individual may have never considered or thought possible and you give the individual a new or reawakened vision of the fullness of life, emphasizing to them that they are worthy of this vision.

Extend and Empower

Only after you have taken the time to build a relationship with the individual by listening and learning, have opened options, and highlighted the individual’s vision and value will you be ready to extend a plan for the next steps and follow-up. This last step empowers the individual to embrace a life of authentic love.

It's not lost on me of this remarkable privilege we have as pregnancy help organizations to meet people in a moment of great need and to extend our hand as a source of support on their journey. And, in our outstretched hands, I am reminded of Christ’s hands, outstretched for every one of us. We are truly blessed to be known and chosen for the very Love that created us!

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Click here for a deeper dive into The LOVE Approach and discover more ways to put these four steps into practice—great for the whole team!

by Andrea Trudden, Vice President of Communications and Marketing at Heartbeat International

As we embark upon the sacred season of Lent, we find ourselves drawn into a period of reflection, repentance, and renewal. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of this journey, symbolized by the placing of ashes on our foreheads, a reminder of our mortality, and the call to turn our hearts back to God.

During Lent, many Christians engage in acts of self-denial and sacrifice, echoing the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus Christ on the cross. In giving up something dear to us – be it sweets or social media – we strive to create space in our lives for prayer, introspection, and a deepened connection with God. This intentional sacrifice is a tangible expression of our commitment to remember and honor the tremendous sacrifice of Christ, who laid down His life for our redemption.

In this season of sacrifice, I am reminded of 1 Peter 2:21: "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps." As we willingly let go of certain comforts or indulgences, we are reminded of the selflessness that characterized Christ's journey to the cross.

For those working on the noble mission of supporting women and protecting the unborn, your sacrifice takes on a profound meaning. In dedicating your time, efforts, and resources to serve mothers in need, you embody the biblical call to care for widows and orphans as James 1:27 teaches us.

Each moment spent in advocating, consulting, and providing practical assistance becomes a living testament to your commitment to God's work on earth. By choosing to be the hands and feet of Christ in this critical arena, you participate in the divine narrative of love, compassion, and protection for the most vulnerable among us.

As you navigate the challenges inherent in this mission, remember the words of David in Psalm 27:14: "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Your sacrifices and efforts are not in vain; they are sown in the fertile soil of God's purpose. Take heart, for in your commitment to protecting life, you are aligning yourself with the very heart of God.

May this Lenten season be a time of profound spiritual growth and a deepening of your connection with God. Your sacrifices, both big and small, are seen and appreciated by the One who sacrificed everything for us. Be encouraged by the knowledge that you are making a difference in the lives of the unborn and their mothers, fulfilling the call to love and serve with a sacrificial heart.

by Lauren Bell, Extend Web Services

We’ve all been there. We visit a site or search for a product and suddenly it feels like we’re being followed around the internet by similar sites and products beckoning us to “click here” and “buy now." While this may feel a little odd—even slightly creepy—did it make you click?

Targeted Display Advertising is a type of digital marketing that targets potential customers or clients based on a large set of variables, such as demographics, keywords, online habits, and interests. 

While most of us have become accustomed to this type of marketing, many pregnancy help organizations have yet to leap into Targeted Display Ads. Perhaps you have a website with excellent SEO (search engine optimization), or you may have a blog where you regularly post content. You may have taken things one step further and created a successful Pay Per Click campaign. Targeted Display Ads take all the effort and bolsters your digital marketing to the next level.

When a potential client visits your website, it’s a win. However, when she clicks away without deciding to take action it can feel like a loss. Targeted Display Ads are designed to stay in front of potential clients who have visited your site even after she clicks away. This repeat messaging increases the chances of that woman returning to your site and acting, thereby transforming her into an actual client.

Targeted Display Ads also use search retargeting. Your ads will target a woman searching for certain keywords or phrases based on search volume and relevance to your campaign.

Targeted Display Ads are not limited to physical locations like other advertising tactics. If a woman is searching for the abortion pill, she can be reached by your ads without visiting an abortion business or leaving her own home.

Digital marketing can seem expensive and often feel frustrating and limited for pregnancy help organizations. However, now is not the time to give up. We must press on to find the most innovative and effective ways to reach women in need at their greatest hour of need to provide help and hope to choose life!

To learn more about Targeted Display Ads, and discover how this strategy may best serve your organization, please visit extendwebservices.com.

Jor-El Godsey

President of Heartbeat International

Biography

Jor-El Godsey is the President of Heartbeat International, leading a dedicated team that empowers and supports leaders of pregnancy help centers, maternity homes, and adoption services globally. He oversees the organization's core mission to reach and rescue as many lives as possible through an effective global network of life-affirming pregnancy help by providing essential resources, training, leadership development conferences, and daily support. His leadership in live-saving programs like Option Line and the Abortion Pill Rescue Network advances their reach to women facing unplanned pregnancies.

Jor-El comes to Heartbeat having served in the pregnancy help movement since 1988. He first served as a volunteer at Hope, the pregnancy help centers in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Then he joined their board, served as Chair, and then as Executive Administrator. In 1999, Jor-El became Executive Director of Life Choices in Longmont, Colorado. Six years later, in 2006, Jor-El accepted the call to help Heartbeat International meet the diverse and expanding leadership needs of the pregnancy help movement as Vice President.

Jor-El met his wife, Karen, at a volunteer training meeting for the Hope Center in Ft. Lauderdale. They now have three children.

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