Sanctity of Human Life

On this Sanctity of Human Life Sunday it is appropriate to remember all those that have lost their children to abortion. It is not only the babies' lives that are lost, destroyed. The lives of their mothers and fathers are forever changed as well. And the ripple (or is it a tsunami?) of destruction goes out from there.

If you know someone that has been touched by an abortion, give them a call or send them an email today. Let them know you are thinking of them.

By the way, THANK YOU, President Bush, for commemorating this day as National Sanctity of Human Life Day!!! Your recognition means the world to us and I pray it will help others to recognize that abortion doesn't help women - it hurts everyone it touches.

How my heart cries out for the leaders of God's church to become aware of those in their midst that continue to carry the wound left by abortion. To become aware...to become educated...to become involved in leading the people in their churches to embrace them, to listen to them, to help them find the hope and healing available only through Jesus Christ.

If you have been touched by an abortion, make an appointment with your pastor or minister or priest. Share with them what abortion has done to your life. Give them the statistics related to Christians and abortion. Let them know there are many in their midst that are suffering. Offer to help them begin to understand. Send them to our web site for more information, or better yet, give them a copy of my book, Secret Sin: When God's People Choose Abortion.

And if there is anything I can do to help, simply let me know. I am here to serve you.

For His glory...
On behalf of those wounded by abortion,
Mary

Secret Sin: When God's People Choose Abortion

Upcoming Event - Alert

Don't miss our upcoming Christian Leadership Conference: Equipping Leaders to Heal the Abortion Wounded at the AirTel Plaza Hotel in Van Nuys, CA, Thursday, June 1 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. In Our Midst is working in conjunction with Greg Hasek of Misty Mountain Counseling Center and Yolanda Gorrick of Joy for Mourning. Anita Dost, Greg Hasek and I will discuss how to identify the hidden effects of abortion while providing ministry tools that assist post-abortive individuals who desire reconciliation with God, their families, and their past.

Register now!

Why ProLife? by Randy Alcorn

I highly recommend the book "Why Prolife" by Randy Alcorn. It's an awesome book for anyone who would like to learn more about the abortion/pro-life issue or to reinforce what you already know about why we should be totally pro-life without exceptions. This book is very short but packed with great information. Click here to view a copy and purchase this book from Eternal Perspective Ministries (EPM). EPM is a great place to find other books and links on pro-life issues.

Great work Randy and a thumbs up from me!

Anita Dost,
VP - Project Development

Give Them Back! Conclusion

He Allowed the Consequences; Yet the People are in Denial: (v. 25)

25 So He poured out on him the heat of His anger
And the fierceness of battle;
And it set him aflame all around,
Yet he did not recognize it;
And it burned him, but he paid no attention.

God has already allowed the consequences to affect those that have chosen abortion. He has convicted many of them of their sin. Sadly, because most people are not aware how abortion affects those it touches (post-abortion syndrome), they do not always connect the consequences with the sin. Many times, the only way they have been able to survive this tragedy in their lives is to deny that there is anything wrong with it or that it hurt them in any way. They have been set aflame in their innermost being, but have not recognized it. They have been burned to the core of their being, but they have been unable or unwilling to pay heed to it.

When someone goes to the doctor with vague, nondescript symptoms, they may be shocked to receive a diagnosis of cancer. This is sometimes true of those that have been hurt by abortion. They know on some level that something is wrong, but they can’t put their finger on it. But when they learn that it is their abortion that has been the cause of their pain or destructive behaviors, many times they are relieved and can then begin the healing process.

Isaiah 43 (verses 7, 10, 12, and 25) go on to tell us that WE are His witnesses, created for His glory, and we have a job to do. Who will join with us in standing in the gap for those in our midst that have been plundered and imprisoned (and are suffering silently) because of a past abortion? Our responsibility is to take the knowledge we have and ask, "What would Jesus do?" Then go and do likewise. What a transformation will be brought about in our churches and in our world as we step out in faith and obedience and walk through the healing process with these fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to the glory of our Father in Heaven.

Who will stand with us and say, “GIVE THEM BACK!”?

For more information about how you can stand with us in this ministry, contact us at staff@inourmidst.com.

Give Them Back! Part IV

Today is the day I've been waiting for! The day we get to look at Isaiah 42:22 and the three words that resonate within me and those like me with a passion to help those hurt by abortion to find healing in Jesus Christ: Give Them Back!

God’s People: Plundered….: (v. 22)

22 But this is a people plundered and despoiled;
All of them are trapped in caves,
Or are hidden away in prisons;
They have become a prey with none to deliver them,
And a spoil, with none to say, "Give them back!"

God’s people within the Church have been plundered by the moral code of the secular world. As a result, we have been trapped in deep, dark caverns of shame and guilt. Our people have hidden this part of their lives away so no one will see; so no one will know. Our people within the Church have become prey to abortion and to the enemy of God that entices them then condemns them for doing it. But we at In Our Midst are here to say, "It's time to GIVE THEM BACK!"

Who Among YOU ...?: (v. 23)

23 Who among you will give ear to this?
Who will give heed and listen hereafter?

Again I ask, will you listen? Will you give heed…?

They Sinned Against God, Not Us!: (v. 24)

24 Who gave Jacob up for spoil, and Israel to plunderers?
Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned,
And in whose ways they were not willing to walk,
And whose law they did not obey?

Those of us that have never been involved in the abortion decision may find it difficult to be compassionate toward those that have. We are often hard-pressed to understand how they could make such a choice. We don’t understand. And often, as a result, we are tempted to judge them harshly or condemn them quickly.

I will be the last person to say their choice was not sin. It was sin. But it was a sin against God – not against us. (See Psalm 51:4) Ours is not to judge, but to love and restore them gently. (Galatians 6:1,2) It was His law they broke; our responsibility is not to be judge and jury but to be the hands and feet of our loving and merciful Savior. We have been called to love them like Jesus, and to stand against the enemy on their behalf and demand, "Give them back!"

Very few have had anyone to stand for them in that way over the past 33 years. But now we know they are suffering silently in our midst. Who of you will stand with us?

Join us tomorrow for the conclusion of this series.

Give Them Back! Part III

Today our focus on Isaiah 42 brings us to the servants of God. Take a look below to see what God has to say to those of us who serve in His name:

We are His Servant, His Remnant (re: the Post-Abortive): (v. 19)

19 Who is blind but My servant,
Or so deaf as My messenger whom I send?
Who is so blind as he that is at peace with Me,
Or so blind as the servant of the LORD?

Who among us -- the servants of the Lord -- are still blind to the truth of how abortion is affecting those in our midst? Have we heard their cries of agony? How could we when they continue to suffer in silence out of fear of being judged? Out of overwhelming feelings of shame and guilt? We have been blind to the fact that abortion doesn’t just end the life of an unborn child; it devastates the lives of everyone it touches! And Christians most of all! We have been deaf to their cries. We have served God the best we knew how with the knowledge and understanding we possessed; but now we know more. God has lifted the silence in the Church and now it is our responsibility to look, listen, take notice, and act.

The Wake-Up Call to the Church!: (v. 20)

20 You have seen many things, but you do not observe them;
Your ears are open, but none hears.

Are we willing to hear and see? Now that we know, will we embrace this new knowledge, roll up our sleeves and get to work?

Those of us who now know are without excuse. Abortion recovery is not political, it's personal. The wounds left by abortion affect every area of the post-abortive person's life -- their relationship with God, their relationships with others (spouse, children, friends, co-workers, etc.), their service to God, their view and treatment of themselves. It affects the choices they make and the way they live.

Now that we know, what will we do to help them? How can we not help them?

Join us tomorrow for part IV of this series.

Give Them Back! Part II

Yesterday we began looking at Isaiah 42 and how it applies to our work within the Church on behalf of the abortion-affected. Read on for more fascinating parallels to challenge and empower us to answer God's call to this unique mission field.

The Blindness of the People (Due to His Silence): (v. 14-15)

14 "I have kept silent for a long time,
I have kept still and restrained Myself.
Now like a woman in labor I will groan,
I will both gasp and pant.
15 "I will lay waste the mountains and hills
And wither all their vegetation;
I will make the rivers into coastlands
And dry up the ponds.

God has been silent in the Church where the abortion-affected are concerned. Our churches are suffering, its people limping along in atrophied service to Him because their wounds are not healed. Christians in this country are struggling to survive: our marriages are falling prey to divorce at the same rate as non-Christians; approximately 50% of our men and teen boys are addicted to pornography; our women and teenaged girls are oppressed by eating disorders and other addictive behaviors. Depression among Christians knows no gender preference. Our people are wounded, imprisoned, and the growth of our fellowships (not just in numbers but in productivity and influence) has suffered. Each of these destructive issues can be attributed to a past abortion. We are undone! Even so, God has promised not to leave us in that condition.

The labor pains have begun. The groanings of restoration and recovery are subtle now, but the more people I talk with the more convinced I am God is doing a new thing in the Church! So many people within the Church are beginning to see the neglect the post-abortive have suffered in the Church, and their hearts are pounding with a desire to help them.

His Promise of Guidance for “the Remnant” and Deliverance for “the Undone:” (v. 16)

16 "I will lead the blind by a way they do not know,
In paths they do not know I will guide them
I will make darkness into light before them
And rugged places into plains
These are the things I will do,
And I will not leave them undone."

Every day the realization becomes more profound: We are breaking new ground. We are carving a new path. But God has promised to lead us on this new path of unexplored territory. We do not go alone! This is His ministry and we are His hands and feet, the "Jesus with skin on" to carry out the task to which He has called us. He has promised to lead us, to go with us, and to bring light into the darkness (i.e. bring awareness to the Church of the abortion-affected in her midst) and He will not leave us undone (i.e. that includes both those of us in abortion recovery ministry and those suffering silently within the Church). He is the One upon whom we must depend for every step we take on this journey. His promises are sure. How faithful is our God...!

Join us tomorrow for Part III in this series.

Give Them Back! Intro. and Part I

Every now and then God shows me something in Scripture that makes my heart beat a little faster and the adrenaline certainly began to flow fast and furious when I read Isaiah 42 a few days ago. Over the course of this week we will examine this passage of verses.

The entire chapter of Isaiah 42 is awesome, but I will highlight only a few verses and passages from the whole (all emphases mine). We will begin today in verse 6:

God's Call on Our Lives: (verses 6-7)

6"I am the LORD, I have called You in righteousness,
I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You,
And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people,
As a light to the nations,
7 To open blind eyes,
To bring out prisoners from the dungeon
And those who dwell in darkness from the prison.

He has called US to be the people of His promise through Christ, to be a light to the nations, to open the eyes of those who do not see; to bring out the prisoners (that He has freed!) and those who dwell in darkness. But His call is not for us to simply go out on our own and do it; He has said He will “hold us by the hand and watch over” us. He will not leave us to our own devices. He has appointed us as a covenant – a promise – to His people… A light to the nations to open blind eyes and bring out prisoners. But He will go with us and work through us. First Thessalonians 5:24 supports this promise: Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.

Those Christians that have been wounded by abortion fit this description so perfectly! They are free in Christ, but they are still living in the dungeon of despair, guilt, and shame. They live under the cover of the secret in their own little prisons…in the darkness of their shame…suffering in silence, alone yet in our midst….

His Promise to Do It: (v. 13)

13 The LORD will go forth like a warrior,
He will arouse His zeal like a man of war
He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry
He will prevail against His enemies.

Bringing abortion recovery to evangelical churches in the U.S. is an uphill battle all the way. The stigmas and misconceptions about abortion that have taken root within the Church make for a nearly impenetrable wall in some circumstances. But God promises to make the way before us as a mighty warrior whose war cry can be heard above the roar of the battle! The time of His silence is over…. And He will prevail! For over 30 years of legalized abortion God has been silent within the Church (for the most part) where the plight of the post-abortive is concerned. Abortion is the last great sin issue to come out of the proverbial closet. We are the "zeal" He will "arouse." Now is the time. Listen for the war cry and prepare, for our God will prevail!

Join us tomorrow for as we continue to look at the next few verses in Isaiah 42.

Abortion and the Church

I found an interesting article on the Pro-Woman Pro-Lifer blog a couple of nights ago pertaining to abortion and the church. In it the author shares a startling perspective of how the church sometimes (unknowingly and unintentionally) impacts the decision to abort that a lot of people would rather not look at.

Kudos to this Pro-Woman Pro-Lifer for having the courage to tell this side of the story.

It's Not Political...It's Personal

Abortion has been politicized since Margaret Sanger began her legacy in the early 1900's. For those of you unfamiliar with Ms. Sanger, she was the founder of and inspiration behind Planned Parenthood. Even Ms. Sanger, were she alive today to interview, would tell you that although it has become political, abortion is and always will be first and foremost personal. (Of course that would probably be the only thing we would agree on!)

Sadly, those of us who have not directly experienced abortion have missed the personal aspect of it. We have acted with dogged determination in our desire to see Roe v. Wade overturned and to "save the babies" however we can -- whether by voting pro-life, holding prayer vigils, or protesting abortion and/or abortion clinics. For all intents and purposes abortion has been political to us.

But the Church...ah, the body of Christ.... Within the walls and community of the Church abortion should be treated as the personal issue it is. For those that have experienced it, our focus should be on loving them as Jesus loved the woman caught in adultery. Our responsibility is to be Christ to them, to restore them gently [Galatians 6:1].

Too many of our churches, pastors, and ministry leaders see abortion as a political issue and as such, they opt to distance themselves from it. I encourage them, however, to look at abortion as a personal issue and to treat it accordingly.

And lest I be misunderstood here, let me say how very much I value those who deal with the political side of abortion. People at organizations like National Right to Life that has fought for life issues with perseverance and integrity; LifeNews.com that keeps us informed of what's going on politically so we can be intelligently involved; Concerned Women of America that also informs and lobbies; Priests for Life that remains on the frontlines, standing for the cause of Life in Jesus' name in the public and political arenas. Each of these organizations has an inestimable value in the political arena, standing strong for the cause of Life. I shudder to think where we would be without these and other like-minded organizations.

However politics should never overshadow the personal aspect of abortion within the Church. That's where we have been, whether due to lack of information or due to God's silence.... But let it be known He is silent no longer. Those of us at In Our Midst and similar ministries across this country will testify that the voice of God is no longer silent on this issue. His heart cries out through our own. Abortion is personal. It is affecting God's people in destructive and detrimental ways and the time to begin the healing is now.

Let the healing begin!

Abortion: The Church's Lowest Priority?

Of the top ten needs of the evangelical church, abortion is the low man on the totem pole according to Discipleship Journal's most recent issue (Nov/Dec 2005). "More ongoing, passionate prayer in both personal and church life" won the spot for the greatest need of the Church according to the pastors that were polled. Only three "social" issues made the list: marriage ranked seventh, homosexuality ranked ninth, and abortion barely made the cut filling the number ten slot.

...Further evidence that we have our work cut out for us.

New Brochure for Post-Abortive Men

Fatherhood Forever has issued a new brochure for men that are suffering from the pain of a past abortion. Click here for access. Share it with everyone you know.

Post Your Abortion Secrets

There's an incredible web site called PostSecrets.com that has done an amazing job of allowing people a way to share their deepest, darkest secrets with the world in an anonymous and non-threatening way. I would invite everyone to take a look at this site. [Caution: Some of the postcards on PostSecrets.com are quite graphic in nature.]

In light of the significance and poignance of the PostSecret site, I would like to invite you to send your abortion secrets to us. We will post your secret in the same way, only your "audience" will be the pastors, ministry leaders, and abortion recovery folks that visit In Our Midst.

If you have an abortion secret or an abortion regret, I invite you to share that with us and those who visit our site either via email or by sending a post card to:

In Our Midst Ministries, Inc.
P.O. Box 30621
Edmond, OK 73003

Whether it is the first time or the hundredth time, share your secret or regret with us so we may share them with others in order to help non-post-abortive people understand how abortion has affected you.

Bringing Abortion Out of the Closet

As we have begun this work of equipping churches to minister to the post-abortive we have encountered some wonderful people…. People who understand the need for abortion recovery in the Church. People who are ready and willing to meet this hurting population where they are with the love of Christ and for His glory. These people, these churches have blessed us beyond what we could ever imagine!

But there have been a few that have rejected the idea for one reason or another. Either they are literally too busy to take on one more thing, they are too discouraged to think something of this nature would do any good, the job seems entirely too big, or they honestly do not see the need in their congregation. These are the more obvious reasons, but I believe there may be some other less obvious reasons at the root of this rejection. I think one reason may be fear.

When the Church is Afraid
People – even people within the Church -- are sometimes afraid of the word abortion. They are afraid it will polarize their people. They are afraid the topic will turn political. Maybe they are merely afraid they won’t know how to help those hurt by it or that they will be inundated with throngs of abortion-wounded people. Perhaps they’re afraid they won’t be able to put their own feelings aside regarding the issue in order to help them….

Overcoming the Fear
Whatever the case, those of us in ministry need to “get over it!” We have a job to do. Yes, it’s a big job, but God doesn’t call the equipped, right? He equips the called. If there is a shake-up in your congregation, go ahead. Some people need to be shaken out of their comfort zones anyway. And if there are people in your congregation that are pro-choice, they need to know the truth of why abortion is never the right choice. Our job as ministers of the gospel is to tell people the truth based on God’s Word. We don’t have to justify or defend the truth; we merely need to share the truth based on facts and allow the Holy Spirit to work how and where and in whom He will work.

Our priority should always be to please God, not man. We may offend some people in the Church as we discuss the truth about abortion, and as much as we don’t want to do that, neither should we choose to neglect those in our midst that are suffering silently due to a past abortion. Perspective is often a difficult thing to maintain, but the final plumb line must always be: Are we striving to please God in all we do regardless of others that may be displeased?

If abortion is brought out of the closet in your congregation, rest assured you will not be overrun with post-abortive people requiring immediate attention and/or counseling. Yes, some will come, but in a trickle usually. One at a time, little by little. There will not be a stampede during the altar call. It just doesn’t happen that way.

Becoming Informed
When they do come, yes, you need to know how to minister to them – which is what In Our Midst Ministries is all about. If you already know how to counsel others with Scripture – and hopefully you do!—the rest is just basics of understanding who has abortions and why, how abortion affects them, and the areas in which they need healing. And the best part is that you (as the pastor) probably will not be the one they need to walk with them through the healing process. The recovery process works best in small support groups with leaders that have been through the post-abortive healing process themselves.

So what do you, as the pastor need to do? You need to know the truth about abortion – not merely what you’ve heard through society or the media. You need to know why people “choose” abortion and how it affects them emotionally, spiritually, and physically. And you need to know how to create a “safe” environment within your church for those who have been wounded by abortion. “Safe” meaning that your congregation has been adequately informed about the abortion issue so that they have compassion (not condemnation) in their hearts for the abortion-affected. You will find that few people will come forward asking for help for recovery from this issue without first knowing they will be accepted and loved, not judged or gossiped about.

There are several ways you can prepare yourself for post-abortion ministry. One is to read up on the topics here at In Our Midst, in books, and on the Internet. (Use caution, however when surfing the web on this topic.) A second way is to invite us to come to your church to train you and your staff, as well as anyone else from your church or community that is interested in post-abortion ministry. The training can be done in a few hours.

Creating a Safe Atmosphere in Your Church
The next step is to begin creating a safe atmosphere in your church. Many people have misconceptions about abortion, who has them, and why. Your job is to inform your congregation about the truth of abortion. Dispel the wrong beliefs.

Treat abortion as any other sin and admonish your congregation to do the same. Jesus loved sinners. It was for the sinners that He came to earth in human form – to tell them about the Father’s love for them, to model that love for them, and to give His life as a ransom for their (our) sin. We must never forget where we ourselves came from, and each of us came from a life of sin.

Bring the sin of abortion into the light of the cross by the light of the Word of God. Show your congregation how Jesus defended the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11) – a sin punishable by death in those days. Show them how He defended her, shaming her accusers and saving her life before He ever confronted her sin. And even then He did not condemn her. He defended her, He shamed her accusers, then He freed her to go and sin no more. That is our model for dealing with the post-abortive…and how much more for the post-abortive Christians in our midst?

Reaping the Rewards!
God will so bless your church, your ministry, your people if you will answer the call to meet these hurting people at the point of their need. Abortion is a tough topic to grapple, and I won’t lie to you: post-abortion ministry brings with it a fair amount of spiritual warfare. Abortion is the enemy’s territory, one of his pet methods for destroying the people of God and their effectiveness for Christ. To bring post-abortion ministry into your church is to step on his toes. That in itself should be a good reason to pursue it! It is time to take back that territory, to tear down his strongholds on God’s people.

What a joy it is to see God’s people being set free from the pain and condemnation of a past abortion. What a thrill it is to see them go from mourning to dancing! And what a greater reward it is to witness them taking what the enemy meant for evil in their lives and using it to glorify God! That’s what this ministry is all about. Freeing God’s people, defeating the enemy’s hold over them, and watching as they go and do likewise with others similarly wounded.

Why wait another minute? Begin now and watch for God’s blessings. Contact us for more information about how to begin meeting the needs of the post-abortive in your midst. We are here to serve you.

No Time for the Abortion Affected?

Hooray for Progress!
Pornography has finally made it into many evangelical churches – as a ministry, I mean – and it’s about time. How I praise God that those with pornography addictions are finally being given a safe place within the Church to receive compassionate understanding, accountability, and assistance as they seek godly recovery. For too long either the Church didn’t believe or didn’t recognize how pervasive pornography addiction was within the Church. For a growing number of churches this is no longer the case, and I for one say, hallelujah!

More Progress Needed: Abortion Recovery in the Church
At the same time my heart breaks for the countless Christians suffering silently within the Church because of a past abortion experience. Statistics now report that at current rates at least one in three women will have at least one abortion by the age of 45. One in three. But as we know, abortion isn’t merely a women’s issue. It’s not merely about the baby and it’s not merely a women’s issue. A woman doesn’t get pregnant alone, and it is not her life alone that is affected when she aborts. No, abortion affects everyone it touches – from the grandparents to the children those post-abortive parents have years later, to the medical community…and everyone in between.

Just as abortion isn’t a baby or woman’s issue, it isn’t the “world’s” problem. Jesus said the Church is to be the spiritual hospital for all broken and wounded people. That includes those that have backslidden (there’s a term that takes me back a few years!) as well as those affected by addictions – drugs, alcohol, pornography – and yes, even those that have been wounded by abortion.

Worn Out, Used Up, Uninformed…Afraid
Yet there are still too many pastors that, due to compassion fatigue, because they don’t understand the issue, because of fear of how their congregation will respond, or because their ministry “plate” is already full, they feel they can’t possibly take on another ministry. When did Jesus ever instruct us to only meet the needs of those for whom we had time? When did Jesus ever direct us to only minister to those for whom we have a clear understanding of their sin? Of all the people that have ever walked the earth, if anyone was in a position to feel overwhelmed by the needs around Him or to experience compassion fatigue it was Jesus. Of course Jesus knew how to pace Himself. He knew how and when to steal away for a few hours for spiritual rejuvenation with His Father. [And in all fairness, He didn't have a wife and children at home depending on Him as well.] ;) He also knew the importance of training others with whom He could share the workload. And fear, well, there wasn’t a sin that intimidated Him. Why? Because His heart —and His ministry—was for the sinner. It was for the sinners He died. It was for the sinners He lived too. It was for the sinners He loved that He did it all. Not just certain sinners – but all sinners. From every tribe, every tongue, every nation, and every category of sin.

Of the pastors I know personally, I see many similarities of Christ in them, especially when it comes to ministering to those around them. They too see the needs of those in their flocks and want to give their best to help meet those needs. In that sense they are reflecting the heart of Jesus in amazing ways and I have the greatest respect for those pastors. Unfortunately, it's also those pastors that seem to experience the greatest degree of compassion fatigue and feelings of being overwhelmed. And sadly, I do not have an easy solution for that.

Passing By On the Other Side of the Road
Even so, I would challenge every pastor that would say, “That’s a great ministry you have there, but… (fill in the blank),” to examine the Word of God for support for that response. If Jesus were standing here before you right now would you tell Him you don’t have time for the abortion affected? That you’re too overwhelmed to help them? That your ministry “plate” is full? Again, of the pastors I know, that would never be their response. So what is the solution? I wish there was an easy answer to that question. I believe, however, that while recognizing our limits is good, we should never limit God's ability to minister through us. If He has brought this ministry to your awareness, perhaps it is worth pursuing; perhaps it is worth asking Him, "What would You have me do in regard to this ministry opportunity?"

Who should be ministering to the abortion-affected if not the Church? If we don't do it, who will be Jesus to them?

Another example from Scripture comes to mind… It’s the story of the Good Samaritan – and the religious leaders that passed by on the other side of the road, refusing to help the person that had been beaten and robbed. Did they not have time either? I encourage you (pastors and ministry leaders) to not allow the weight of your ministry burden to prevent you from seeking training and resources that could actually help lighten your load overall, even if it is in the "new" area of ministry to the post-abortive.

Contact us to learn how we can help. We are here to serve you.

Red Flags and Rabbit Trails

I wrote a few days ago about how many of the couples in our churches that are having marital problems can, with the right prompting, trace those troubles back to an abortion for one or both people involved. In addition to the intimacy issues, sexual dysfunctions, sexual addictions, infidelity, unforgiveness, etc. discussed in the recent entry, following are some other red flags to watch for:

Once in a Daydream

A Dream for those
Suffering in Silence in the Church
by Greg Hasek

One day I decided to take a blanket and book to my favorite spot overlooking a meadow of wildflowers. There I sat. The smell of buttercups and fresh cut grass seemed to drift past me in the breeze. I had decided that while I relaxed, I would read the new book I had just bought on post abortion healing. It was not long though that my eyes grew weary and I found myself drifting to sleep.

I began to dream. There I saw myself walking into this big church. It was the same church I had gone to for so many years but something seemed different this time. The inside of the church seemed much brighter and warmer than I remember. There were children playing and a peace and love that seemed to fill the air. I continued to walk down the aisle closer to the front. I stopped and could not believe what I saw. There to my right was a table. Men and women sat at the table across from each other. They looked as though they were giving communion to each other. I looked to my left and there was the pastor saying in a quiet voice to the congregation, “We welcome those hurt by abortion to the table. Men and Women come.” I suddenly noticed tears in the pastor’s eyes. As if we were the only ones there, I came to the pastor and said, “What’s wrong?” “What’s happening?” He looked at me as tears dripped down his face and said, “ For too long I have ignored those hurt by abortion in this church. I was always worried about what people would think. I am so sorry. Forgive me. I want this church to be a place where post abortive men and women come heal together. That when they walk in those doors, they will know they are welcome and accepted and will find a place of healing.” As he said this I could feel God’s grace like I never felt it before. I looked again to my right. Those at the communion table were men and women who have experienced abortion. They were offering forgiveness and love in Jesus name. They told me to come and join them. I began to cry as they offered me the bread and then the wine. They were hugging, crying, men and women. I knew something special was happening.

I felt the rain upon my face and I suddenly awoke. I had to remind myself I was only dreaming. I noticed I had been crying. I went back to reading the book about why churches are so resistant to reaching out to post abortive men and women. As I read, the dream seemed to fade into my memory at least for now.

Greg Hasek MA/MFT LPC is Executive Director of Misty Mountain Family Enrichment Center in Oregon and Washington. He specializes in working with post abortive issues and has a real passion for post abortive men and couples. He currently is developing new programs and curriculum for post abortive men and couples. Misty Mountain is in the process of building a retreat center in Washington State where couples will come for healing of post abortive issues in a retreat center experience.

[Reprinted by permission]