The people you are called to help to recover from a past abortion deserve a leader who is well-trained. These ladies wrote the book (literally!) on abortion recovery. Not to mention, they are two of the most amazing, godly women you will ever meet!

Reserve your spot today!

Abundant blessings in Christ,
Mary

Cal Zastrow wrote: "Two babies saved from murder today at the Mississippi death pit. Six mothers murdered their children. So great and common the slaughter, so few care or come out to offer help or pray. "Lord, call forth laborers into the ripened harvest field in front of America's killing centers."

When I responded with a call for love and compassion for these DECEIVED, hurting, panicked women, I was met with heavy criticism for my complacency, inaction, and Christian "mood music". One person even compared post-aborted women to Charles Manson....

Were there sidewalk counselors or praying Christians outside the clinic when you had your abortion? How did it make you feel then, afterward?

Did their presence let you know you were loved even if you went through with the abortion?

What perspective can you share with these sidewalk counselors that would help them better understand the women walking into these clinics?

While I respect Cal's passion for the unborn, and while some babies are saved through their efforts, I feel a greater harm is done where the MASSES are concerned, especially in light of how the biased, liberal media in this country has used our own words and actions against us.

Does anyone have any thoughts I can share with Cal or his followers?

I love you all deeply in Christ,
Mary

Life is about change.

Our son is getting ready to begin his last semester in high school; then in a blink of an eye he will be college-bound.

Our daughter is getting ready to drive.

Sometimes I just want the world to slow down.... But when you love someone (as the song says) everything changes. That's the way God ordained it. The change keeps us on our toes; it keeps us interested; it keeps us depending on Him.

So yes, as you probably have guessed by now, there are other changes to discuss here.

[The text above is an excerpt from Secret Sin: When God's People Choose Abortion; Chapter 6, Chart 6:1, page 54]

These reasons may be obvious to those of us in the church. If we are trying to help others understand these reasons, then we should communicate God's perspective to them--in a loving, non-judgmental, Biblical way. Explain how God creates each and every life-- and that creation of life begins at conception. Discuss God's sovereignty-- and that we are not to say whether or not some lives are worth living. With prayer and God's guidance, we in the church can shed light on the truth that abortion is never okay. We will look at three more reasons "why" in the next newsletter.

We at In Our Midst Ministries are here to help churches and other pro-life ministries gain an understanding of the abortion-wounded person as well as to develop a ministry standard for these hurting people. We will bring our one-day training to you. Contact Therese at tboschman.iom(at sign)gmail.com for more information.

Blessings in Christ!

To order a copy of Secret Sin, go to Amazon.com.

Hope it blesses you today!
Mary

Q: I was recently asked to give my testimony at a pregnancy center banquet coming up. I have never given my testimony on my abortion to a large group of people or given it to, to many for that matter. So, here I am feeling led and called, but still hesitate. I feel led to go into church throughout my area and come alongside pastors and share may testimony and plant healing groups in the churches for post-abortion women. I believe you are very familiar with this, so any input and guidance would be appreciated. - V.

A: Dear V, It's so good to hear you're being asked to share your testimony! That's exciting!
My first question for you would be (and forgive me if you have told me this already), but have you been through a recovery bible study, like Forgiven and Set Free? If not, that would be the first step, and I would recommend doing it with at least one other person familiar with this healing process.
Once that is done, prepare, prepare, prepare! Pray about what God would have you share then write out your testimony and practice it over and over. (Twenty or thirty times is recommended!) Also, be mindful of the time limitations you have been given by your host. Practice it in front of your mirror until it is second nature to you and until you can do so without "breaking down." It's okay to tear up; but you need to be able to continue to speak....
Then practice it in front of others. Your family is a good first audience! (Speaking of, if you haven't told your family, you need to do that before you go public with your testimony!) See if you can share it in front of other small groups -- a bible study class, Toastmaster's group, a local pregnancy resource center, etc. -- anyone that will sit still long enough to let you. Also, practice with a microphone if possible. (I used to use the mic that came with our karaoke machine back in the early days!) Your voice sounds strange to you over a mic and you need to be comfortable with that.
Beyond all those "practical" suggestions, pray, pray, pray! Pray that God would speak through you; that He would prepare you for what He has called you to. That is scriptural -- when He calls, He equips! (1 Thessalonians 5:24) Pray that He puts a "guard over your mouth" (Psalm 141:3) -- that you would speak only what He would have you to share. Take Him at His Word, and rest in that. Pray for Him to prepare the hearts of those in your audiences. Remember that this is not about you, but that it is all about Him -- for His purposes, for His glory! And second, that it is on behalf of those in your audience who need to hear it.
And for those moments when you may experience fear, read through the story of Gideon in Judges: 6. Gideon was "the least of the least" -- he was fearful, and yet God called him "mighty warrior!" It's God who makes us what He wants us to be; it is Him that gives us the courage to take these steps of faith, and it is Him that produces the results! You are called to obey in faith; He does the rest! God often calls us to things that are bigger than we are or that we feel incapable of doing. This is so He can grow our faith, our dependence upon Him, and remain humble in the process. :)
I hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any other questions, and DO let me know how it goes! I expect great things from our Great God through you. :) For His glory, Mary

"Several years ago a close friend of mine had a sore throat that just wouldn't go away. She had been examined by her doctor who had put her on antibiotics. She was on her second or third round of medication when a physician at church offered to take a look at her throat. He knew immediately something was amiss and recommended she see an ear, nose, and throat specialist.

What the first doctor didn't realize was that the irritation in my friend's throat was a very aggressive form of cancer. The antibiotics he prescribed were never going to heal her throat. In fact, had the accurate diagnosis been delayed any longer it might have been too late. What that doctor didn't know almost killed my friend.

[The text above is an excerpt from Secret Sin: When God's People Choose Abortion; Chapter 3, page 31]

The grip of abortion's aftermath is incredibly strong...and if left untended, it only tightens over time. But there is hope! By Christ's grace & love, the grip can be loosened and ultimately released.

If we truly desire to be the hands of Christ in the church, why wouldn't we extend a loving hand or a compassionate shoulder to the wounded in our midst? God could use each of us for His Glory as we help 'release the oppressed'---in what simple ways can we do that today?

We at In Our Midst Ministries are here to help churches and other pro-life ministries gain an understanding of the abortion-wounded person as well as to develop a ministry standard for these hurting people.
We will bring our one-day training to you. Contact Therese at tboschman.iom(at sign)gmail.com for more information.

To order a copy of Secret Sin for you or someone close to you (friend, family member, pastor, etc.), go to http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Sin-People-Choose-Abortion/dp/1600371485/ref=sr_oe_5_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254413996&sr=1-5.

Blessings in Christ!

"Greg was a Christian when he drove his pregnant girlfriend to have an abortion. His relief was short-lived however, and within the first twenty-four hours following the procedure he knew his life was forever changed. But where does a Christian go for help when s/he has just ended the life of her/his unborn child? If he had been a member of your church would he have been able to share his sorrow and regret openly? What kind of comfort and guidance would he have received?
Because having had or having been involved in an abortion is a shame-based sin, the accompanying emotions are incredibly strong. Those who live with this shame fear being judged harshly, condemned critically, or rejected completely. Thus it takes an enormous amount of courage for a post-abortion person to tell someone of their secret sin, and all the more when that other person is a Christian. Even with all the recovery programs established within many evangelical churches in recent years, most churches still operate under the guise that "we are fine because we're Christians." Instead of functioning like a hospital emergency room (which would be more appropriate in many cases), many churches continue to function more like a country club. People are ashamed of the condition of their lives, so they put on a happy face and pretend everything is okay for their brief time at church. It's no wonder then why few Christians share their abortion experiences with other Christians.

IS IT ANY WONDER?

Sadly, most Christians in this situation will seek help outside the church long before they will share this kind of secret with their Christian peers - if they seek help at all. Why? Don't they know we will love them in spite of their sin? Don't they know we will embrace them and show them the grace and kindness of Christ? No. The hard truth is that when abortion is the sin issue, they don't want anyone to know what they've done, and least of all their Christian peers. And honestly, the church does not have the best reputation for embracing sinners when the offense is of this nature. Sexual sin has always been the most devastating issue for the church to deal with, and understandably so.

In the days of Christ, the religious leaders were quick to stone those caught in sexual sin. Take the woman caught in adultery in John 8 for example. They brought her to Jesus with stones in hand. In more recent centuries churches have excommunicated those in their midst that committed such heinous crimes, shaming them publicly for their indiscretion and casting them out ceremonially. And more recently still, churches have split over such matters. No, sadly the church doesn't have the best track record in dealing with such weighty issues.

What that means, however, is that we have lots of room for improvement! As we begin to see and understand the truth of abortion we can begin to change our responses to it in our communities and in our churches."

[The text above is an excerpt from Secret Sin: When God's People Choose Abortion; Chapter 4, pages 37-38]

So I ask again: If Greg, an abortion-wounded father, had come to your church for help, what kind of reception would he have received? What kind of help would your church have offered him?

We at In Our Midst Ministries are here to help churches and other pro-life ministries gain an understanding of the abortion-wounded person as well as to develop a ministry standard for these hurting people. We will bring our one-day training to you. Contact Therese at tboschman.iom(at sign)gmail.com for more information.

To order a copy of Secret Sin, go to Amazon.com.

Blessings in Christ!

Below is an excerpt from Secret Sin: When God's People Choose Abortion pertaining to the ripple effect of healing that takes place when these wounded people are given permission to grieve - or be angry - and to find healing and freedom through Christ.

"Over the years as I've witnessed the healing of post-abortion women I have noticed a fascinating phenomenon. As these women and men are healed through Christ, they respond in a variety of positive ways - all of which are effective in changing hearts in this country and around the world. Some who've been healed through Christ begin sharing their story boldly with others, telling how their abortion(s) hurt them - which exposes the lie that says "abortion helps women." Others are so excited about this newfound freedom, forgiveness, and peace that they immediately want to help other victims of abortion find that same hope. As others accept God's forgiveness and their true identity in Christ, they are compelled to serve God and His people in numerous and powerful ways within their churches and communities. As people are healed, more people hear of the real story of the painfulness of abortion. The light of truth exposes the lies and more healing is perpetuated. The natural, organic growth of post-abortion healing multiplies exponentially; changing hearts (healing hearts) and turning the tide one ripple at a time."***

Many churches are intent on sending out the body of Christ to evangelize the world around them. While this is indeed in line with the teachings of Christ, I think a better model is to help those (who are wounded) in your midst to find healing and freedom in Christ. As they experience forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration according to the power of God they will become the most effective evangelists for your church and in your community. Once the bound are set free, they cannot wait to tell others about their amazing Savior! (Isaiah 61:1-4) Try it in your church and see if it doesn't work!

To order Secret Sin: When God's People Choose Abortion for yourself or a pastor at your church go to Amazon.com.

For more information about how to meet the abortion-wounded at the point of their need with compassionate understanding - and as a safe place for these people to share their abortion secret - contact us via email at staff(at sign)inourmidst.com. We will bring our one-day training to your area.

Abundant blessings in Christ!
For His glory.

***Secret Sin: When God's People Choose Abortion, Page 76

I have a number of devotional books that I use on a regular basis. One of my all-time favorites is My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. A second, new-to-me devotional is Echoes of Eternity by Hal M. Helms. Both of these books have challenged me, ministered to me, stretched my faith, and comforted me during times of deep hurts, attacks of the enemy, and even in times of refreshing.

It amazes me how frequently it happens that I pick up one of these devotional books and find the thing that meets me exactly where I am. Yesterday was one of those days.

I was privileged last week to attend a post-abortion training given by Kim Olson at Twelve Stones. Twelve Stones is a counseling and retreat center in the beautiful woods of Brown County, Indiana. Robb Besosa, the Co-Founder and Program Director of Twelve Stones attended the training with several of his staff. I found Robb to be a devoted man of God, a humble and learned minister of Christ. After getting to know him and his staff a bit, and after seeing their heart for families struggling in their relationships, as well as their unique ministry model, I can confidently recommend them to others.

The Mission Statement of Twelve Stones is as follows: The mission of TS is to return "soul care" to the church by helping the hurting, training those who will walk alongside them and encouraging both as they intentionally apply the life changing Word of God. One way they do this is by counseling whole families when one or more family members are struggling, in an effort to support the whole family structure.

Whether you are a pastor, church or ministry leader, or simply are struggling in your family relationships, I encourage you to check out the ministry of Twelve Stones. It's not often I run across a ministry so completely Christ and other-focused with integrity that runs this deep. Twelve Stones is such a ministry.

This tragedy is beyond words on so many levels, and I could write pages on my own thoughts and feelings. However, so many others have commented in more eloquent and concise ways. So I leave you with a press release issued by Life Issues Institute earlier today. Kudos to Brad Mattes for being a voice of sanity and reason in a world where we are faced with such tragedy.






CONTACTS:
Bradley Mattes, Executive Director
J.C. Willke, MD, President
Phone: 513.729.3600
Cincinnati, OH
Email: info@lifeissues.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 1, 2009

Life Issues Institute Condemns Murder of Late-Term Abortionist

George Tiller, a notorious late-term abortionist in Wichita, KS, was murdered yesterday morning while serving as an usher in his church. Police have arrested a suspect in the shooting. Life Issues Institute emphatically condemns this violent act of killing. Bradley Mattes, Executive Director, said, "Not only is murder a direct contradiction to the philosophy and mission of the pro-life movement, it works to make our efforts of protecting unborn babies and their mothers from abortion that much harder."

Mr. Mattes is the host of Facing Life Head-On, a weekly half-hour TV program on life issues, sponsored by Life Issues Institute. He and a film crew had recently been in Wichita, interviewing and filming for an upcoming episode on Mr. Tiller. "While there we were struck by the violence perpetuated on preborn children and their mothers, by this abortionist" Mattes said. "This added act of violence is another tragic chapter in the ongoing controversy over abortion, and it's not the answer to ending the violence inside abortion facilities."

Life Issues Institute encourages the media, politicians and the general public to not paint the peaceful pro-life movement with a broad brush of radical behavior. J. C. Willke, MD, President of Life Issues Institute, said, "What happened to Mr. Tiller is tragic and wrong. We must remember that violence inside or outside of abortion facilities is never the answer. We will continue to work peacefully and within the law to end the killing of unborn babies."

Life Issues Institute is dedicated to changing hearts and minds of millions of people through education. Organizations and individuals around the world depend upon Life Issues Institute to provide the latest information and effective tools to protect innocent human life from womb to tomb.

Please pass this along to those in your circle of influence and visit Life Issues Institute for more on this and other pro-life issues.

In Christ,
Mary

Abortion hurts. Christ heals. We can help.

Our church leaders are also unaware of abortion's effects on those in their care. How can they know when we don't recognize the problem ourselves? How can they know we are hurting if we don't tell them?

Can someone explain this to me? Why we choose to use language like this in regard to the abortion issue? Why must we be at war with them? Have we stopped to see what kind of impact this war has on those on the other side? Whether we started this war or not, we have become enthusiastic participants in it, proudly and loudly lobbing our weapons of warfare into their camps where many of them lie wounded already by their own past abortion decisions and post-abortion pain. (Tell me: What do wounded animals do when someone comes along to help them? They lash out violently. Does that mean we say to heck with them and leave them to die in their misery? I know that's not our intention, but is it what many of us in pro-life circles are doing? It's not our goal, but too often it is the result of our passionate defense of life. Interesting irony, don't you think?)

In honor of Abortion Recovery Awareness Month tell someone you know about the detrimental effects of abortion. Tell them abortion hurts everyone it touches. But also tell them that Jesus heals, forgives and restores lives wounded by abortion.

Tell your pastor.

Tell your friends.

Tell your neighbors.

Tell anyone who will stand still long enough for you to listen!

Speak the truth with the love of God and with confidence, compassion and hope.

Jesus loves those wounded by abortion...so much so that He laid down His life that they might live...and live abundantly and live free! There is indeed no greater love than this!

Blessings in Him,
Mary