“I don’t want a test; I know I’m pregnant. Please help me, because I am so confused and everybody I have talked to doesn’t know what they are talking about. I don’t think they really care. I am a Christian and God is not happy with me right now.

I know what I did was not in God’s plan for my life, but I don’t know what I’m supposed to do now. Can you help me with what I should do? I have never believed in abortion, but I had such plans for my future and wanted to go to school. I wanted to BE SOMETHING! Can you talk to me about what would happen if I chose adoption? Will my baby think bad of me? What happens when my family starts (bleep) at me about my choice? Can I come to you? Would you be willing to talk to them for me, since they won’t listen to me? They call me stupid. I just want what is best for my baby. My boyfriend wants nothing to do with me or my baby, and moved away – to where, I don’t know. So I will have to make these decisions alone, really alone. I won’t be able to start school in this next term, because my baby isn’t due until later in the fall. Please help me.“

We hear stories such as this one almost weekly. An unexpected pregnancy forces a mother to make a choice when she does not want to. We know from experience that when a young lady such as this one – pregnant, scared and feeling very much alone and confused – reaches out for help, we can make a positive difference in both her life and the unborn child’s.

There are tens of thousands of mothers and babies the PRC has saved. Now those babies are grown up, alive and able to talk abut their mother’s CHOICE for their very life…the gift of life. To think, we may have had a tiny role in this by sharing the truth – God’s love and encouragement. Working with the mother during her pregnancy, helping her with her needs, her decision that would change her life forever. Each of us feel so privileged to have been called to be here at just the right time to speak to the one girl – like the girl described above – that the Lord lead to our office on that particular day.
If you would like to pray about serving in some way at the PRC, please know that there are so many other things to be done other than counseling. Contact us and see how the Lord could use you in a special way. By e-mail at info@anotherheart.org, or by phone at 850.763.1100

When she walked sheepishly in our door, she asked if she could just talk in private with someone.  I asked if she was pregnant, then gave her an intake form to fill out.  She shared with me that she was not from the Panama City area, but had heard from someone in the city where she lived that we were “very kind and non-judgmental… whatever it might be.

We walked back to a quiet room, where we could talk, when she began to share her story through her shaking and tears.  Most people think we only serve the homeless, or runaway teens, or the poor, or the “bad”.  Sometimes, it is easy for people to take the “us and them” point of view.  There is no stereotype for our client, as you will see from my encounter with “Dana” some time ago.  She began to tell her story.  I was told of her husband’s deployment overseas, and he knew nothing of the pregnancy.  In this case, would you would normally blame her, or would you  fault the father of her baby?  He does share the blame.  Who was he? A neighbor living close by.  He had noticed her, and had begun watching her comings and goings, apparently not remembering that he had a wife as well.  He lured “Dana” in.  He gained her trust, and now she was pregnant.  True, both are to blame.  However, he initiated things.  The man claimed to be a Christian, but like so many, even we Christians make huge mistakes.  The fact is there was a temptation there, and sometimes good people give in to temptation.  Maybe the man’s faith was simply an act he put on for her.  We will never know for sure – only the Lord knows, not us.  My first thought was this guy simply used his faith as a lure, and his sincerity for her was fake.

In this ministry, we have heard many stories.  Some tell us they have a strong faith in the Lord.  For my peace of mind, in praying with “Dana”, I soon found she was a Christian.  We openly spoke for some time about how God works through our lives in things we can’t understand.  You see, I realized her story is not about someone else, but instead is about all of us.  Her story, and his, is found in 2nd Samuel – David and Bathsheba. When I read their story again, I saw that no one – no one – is immune from temptation.  That is why we are here – because the “them’ that come in our door could be us.

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So many various needs have come our way lately.  With Spring Break coming to a close, (thank the Lord!), everything going on around the world and  the economy the way it is everyone seems to be in need and things seem to be exaggerated on many levels.

~ “I am pregnant and want to place for adoption. I am living in a hotel and it is so unsafe here.  I fear for my life because terrible things are going on around here. Is there anywhere you can help me move? I have terrible Asthma and can’t breathe because there is cigarette smoke in this room and black mold.”  I met with this girl on several occasions and after 3 weeks of praying with her, helping her with groceries and a little rent, she is now in a safe apartment and has found a job within walking distance! She even takes the trolley to her doctor’s visits.

~ “I found out I’m expecting after being told I could have no more children.  I was told the baby has a medical “disorder”, what do we do.”  Pray!  She and I sat and prayed together knowing that if our God can move mountains He can turn things into a blessing for this family through this child.  I got word less than a week later that further reports showed the baby does not have the “disorder after all.  Miracle?  She and I both choose to give God the Glory!

~ “Human Trafficking? Homelessness?  Rape?  Incest?  Forced Abortions?  Being Held Against My Will?  Prostituting For Food or Drugs?  Just Somebody To Hold My Hand?  DOES ANY BODY CARE?!   HELP ME….PLEASE!!!” The cries resonate in our minds…how could this be?  What can I do?  Simple?  I say YES, being obedient to the Lord by being AVAILABLE FOR THE CRIES OF THE WOUNDED, THOSE THAT FEEL HOPELESS…  (We hear statements like this, dig deeper, report if necessary but always suggest where to get help in all areas we are not trained to deal with or when the authorities need to take over.)

Will you make yourself available?  Will you be obedient to the Lord to hug someone, hold her hand and pray with her?  We could use you to join our volunteer team that makes a huge difference for life!  For more information, go to info@anotherheart.org

APRIL WAS ABORTION RECOVERY AWARENESS MONTH

Goals of Abortion Recovery Awareness Month:
“To encourage and extend healing opportunities to those hurting after abortion
“To enlighten society of the effects of abortion on individuals and families.

One of the saddest things we see are those young women and girls who enter our doors and say, “if only one person had told me ‘don’t do it’, I would have wolked away.” When an unexpected pregnancy enters a girl or young woman’s life, they feel a rush of hopelessness and fear come over them like nothing ever before experienced.  They want no one to know, but this is not something they know how to ‘do’. How does one make a life and death decision that effects the rest of their life?  What if she is 14-years-old? Or 40?  What do they tell their parents, boyfriend…anyone?  Do they try to hide it, until hiding it isn’t an option anymore?   There are things rushing through her mind like school, embarrassment, money, job (or lack thereof), sports…the list goes on and on. Her head is swimming with confusion and mistrust.  Now imagine when the one person she believes she can trust is her boyfriend or even husband, so she confides in him. And he walks away from her.  Now what?  Alone to make the decision of what to do and how. Who can they go to for answers?  What is the right thing for her? So she prays, “Oh dear God, PLEASE….PLEASE!!”
We are here for her. We have answers to calm her fears and questions. We share the TRUTH about her choices. What if her choice had been made for her by a parent, boyfriend or some other influence in her life. This is NO Choice. We are here for her. What if she says, “I have had one (or more) abortion(s) many years ago, and I still have a hard time dealing it?”  Textbook term most Christian women quote is, “God has forgiven me, I know this, but I can’t forgive myself.”  This is why Jesus willingly went to the Cross for us…Forgiveness.
Countless THOUSANDS of girls and women right here in our community have experienced the tragedy of abortion – one or more – during their childbearing years. Unfortunately, the pain of abortion manifests itself in poor relationships, alcohol and drugs to numb the pain, failed marriages, prostitution, allowing continued physical or emotional abuse (“because I deserve it after what I did”), trust in no one and there are many other symptoms.
We have GOOD NEWS they need to heal from this! We offer an free 8-week class and support group for those experiencing one or more past abortions called “Surrendering the Secret”. This is free, totally confidential and seats are limited.  Our class is the only one offered in Bay or surrounding counties. So many women continue to suffer, unaware there is hope.  We encourage you to tell your friends, family members or attend yourself. For details and registration, call Kay at 527-4000 or Elaine at 319-4396, or by email: kayandelaine@gmail.com.  Our class began MONDAY APRIL 25th.
We pray you will contact us for information of how you can begin to heal from this. Please don’t continue to try to deal with this on your own. We really do know and we understand.

We are always looking for volunteers at the center. If you like to enter data into the computer, organizing, answering phones, making appointments, etc. we may have a place for you. We have many volunteer positions with varying duties. Please call for an appointment with the Executive Director, Denise Miller. 850-763-1100