My name is Honey, and I'd like to share with you my story. In 1984,
I was 2 years out of high school, living with my boyfriend, (I'll call
him Joe) and I found myself pregnant. At first, we were excited, because
we thought were in love. The fact that we weren't married didn't seem
to matter. After hearing different opinions, Joe told his boss, who felt
we were crazy for even thinking we could take care of a child when we
could barely take care of ourselves. Joe and I were not very responsible
with money. Although we cared very much for each other, our relationship
was abusive and not healthy.
At this point, we decided to get an abortion. Joe's boss's advice seemed
to carry a degree of merit, and we felt like it was our only choice, because
although I was hurt by his low opinion of us, I believed it to be an accurate
one.
About a week later, I went to the local Planned Parenthood for a pregnancy
test and exam. While he was still examining me, the doctor told me that
the child inside me was at 10 weeks gestation, and that if I didn't have
an abortion performed this week, I would not be able to have one. He never
mentioned any alternatives. It seemed that he hadn't even considered that
I might not want an abortion. At nineteen years old, I was frightened
and intimidated. I felt that this was his intention.
I scheduled an appointment with the nurse. On that Thursday, February
16, I came back to the clinic. Joe dropped me off at the door, and drove
off to spend time with his friends. I waited in a room with a group of
women but I felt all alone and frightened, feeling that at this point,
there was no turning back. I was called into another room where I was
given valium. While the nurse waited for the drug to take effect, she
counselled me on different types of birth control that were available.
I was then taken to another room where the procedure was to be done. The
atmosphere was cold and impersonal. I was told to lay on my back and look
at the ceiling. They didn't want me to see the jar with the tube coming
out of it that would hold the remains of my baby. The procedure didn't
take long, but it was more uncomfortable than I was prepared for. Afterwards,
I was taken to another room to recover. I felt sick and weak. I wanted
to get out of there. My sister picked me up and took me home. The next
day, Joe moved to Virginia, and my life went on.
Early in 1987, my sister Mary invited me to her church. Surprisingly,
I said yes. Although I lived my life my way, over the last couple months,
I had felt an increasing need for God in my life. I met Mary in the back
of the "church". When we took a seat in the auditorium, I thought,
"geez, this is really strange." Then the worship music started.
Everyone stood up and started singing songs that were nothing like I had
ever sung in church. But I liked it. I saw people raising their hands,
clapping their hands, smiling, and looking up toward heaven. I couldn't
help but feel that they knew something that I didn't, and had something
that I didn't. I wanted to know what that something was. During worship
I was reading the words to the songs, and I was moved to tears, but I
didn't know why. I felt a struggle within me, almost like being pulled
from one side to another. I didn't realize it at the time, but now I know
that angels and demons were battling for my soul. At the end of the service,
Mary introduced me to some of her friends, who were all very nice. I then
went home, but I couldn't wait to come back the next Sunday. During the
week, I continued to live my life my way, but I felt such an urgency to
return to church. I remember being at a bar and telling one of my friends
how excited I was about this church. I continued attending every Sunday.
Each week I would cry during worship and feel the same struggle within
me.
Then on Sunday, April 5, I came to church, and the usual feelings came
over me. During the service, Bill Patton prayed a prayer. I was totally
shocked that the words he was praying were the same ones in my heart.
I remember telling myself, " If anything happens today, just go with
it, and don't hold back." At the end of the message, Bill said he
felt that there were people in the church that needed to get right with
God. He said that we were going to sing a worship song, and afterwards
he would call all of those who wanted to get right with God, down to the
front of the church. Halfway through the song, I walked down to the front,
waiting for the song to end. I just kept crying and found myself kneeling
down, and praying, "Oh God, make me white as snow." Immediately,
a woman was at my side with her arm around me. I felt as though she were
an angel of mercy, sent by God to comfort me. When it was all over, Mary,
who had been in children's ministry, found me and said "Honey, I
heard you got saved." I replied "Oh, is that what I did?"
I didn't full understand everything that took place, but I knew I was
changed. For example, I had completely lost my desire to smoke. I thought
to myself, "I can't smoke, I've got Jesus in me." Little did
I know, I was one week pregnant.
About a month later, I found out I was expecting. I thought, "This
is really crazy. Here I am, a brand new Christian, and pregnant. How can
this be?" My first thoughts were that maybe God had intended I have
this baby for someone else. So I looked into adoption. I spoke with Dave
Harvey and explained to him the situation. He encouraged me to wait until
later on in the pregnancy before I made a decision. As the months progressed,
and I felt the life stirring inside of me, the idea of giving up my baby
was no longer appealing. I knew in my heart that God had intended this
child for me. I also knew he had an excellent husband for me and a wonderful
father for my child. Although I was single and pregnant, I always felt
the support of the people in the church. On Christmas day of that year,
my beautiful Melissa was born to me. The first year was very hard. I lived
with my parents at the time. As much as they helped me, they still couldn't
take the place of a husband and father. However, it was in this time I
learned that God was my husband, and that he was a father to the fatherless.
In March of 1991 I married Jim. He has been the only father Melissa has
ever known. God's faithfulness is evident in how He worked all things
together for good in my life. In February of 1992, God blessed us with
twin boys, Daniel and Michael. We're not sure if our family is complete
yet, but we're leaving that up to our Heavenly Father.
God has shown me through this, that He redeems all things. There is neither
sin nor situation too horrible for God to forgive. I know that I am forgiven,
even for having an abortion. When we ask him into our hearts, He redeems
everything.
Looking back on my life since I became pregnant in May of 1991, I can
see so many undeniable evidences of God's hand at work. Even though I
had no idea at the time, God was powerfully directing my life according
to His will. During my pregnancy, God graciously shattered several preoccupations
in my life, which kept me from needing Him.
When I found out I was pregnant, I was 19 and on the path to becoming
a corporate lawyer, driven by my desires for self-glorification and affluence.
My pregnancy caused me to become so extremely sick that I had to drop
out of college. Being so sick also took a heavy toll on my mental state,
which was not very good to begin with. Pregnancy also meant a serious
blow to my obsession with my body and appearance. And last, but definitely
not least, I lost the two most important people in my life to each other.
The man I thought I was going to marry (who was also my baby's father)
and my best friend of seven years moved away together.
I never really considered abortion because I always basically believed
it was wrong as a result of my mom's passion for unborn babies. I personally
could not have had an abortion regardless of my moral view of it. I only
briefly wished that I could, because it would have made my "monumental
problem" disappear. Little did I know that what I saw as a monumental
problem in my life has turned out to be the second best thing that ever
happened to me - my precious daughter, Arielle. And because of her, I
have the most important thing of all, a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Not only did my pregnancy cause my life's direction to turn 180 degrees
and head for God, but Ari's presence in my life is what continually compels
me to depend on the Lord for grace to be the godliest mother I can be.
Being a single mum has very unique challenges, which can often seem overwhelming,
but because of my relationship with the Lord, I can honestly say that
I wouldn't trade it (single motherhood) for anything (except being a married
mum someday).
Hi, my name is Lee and I am a single mother. Four years ago, one year
after high school graduation, I discovered I was pregnant. I had always
been very much against abortion and had even volunteered at a local crisis
pregnancy centre. However, finding myself in this situation, I panicked.
Without telling my family members, I decided to have an abortion my reasons
being completely selfish. I scheduled an appointment for an abortion,
which was a two-day process. The first day consisted of tests and counselling,
the second day was the actual "termination of the pregnancy".
This appointment was very easy to obtain. I needed no parental approval
or medical forms. All they asked of me was two separate money orders.
The night before the first appointment, I became very uneasy about my
decision. By morning I had completely changed my mind. I found out later
that on that same night my mother (who had become suspicious of what I
was doing) was intensely praying for protection in my womb!
After this, I was seriously considering adoption. At five months pregnant
I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ, and shortly thereafter the Lord
made it clear to me that I was to become a mummy.
Two months later, on February 14, 1992, I gave birth to two beautiful,
healthy twin boys.
Being a mother has caused a dramatic change in my life. I have now thrown
aside my sinful lifestyle for the glory of walking with the Lord. I am
constantly aware of areas in my life that need changing in order to be
an example of Christ to my children. I love being a mother, and I am so
thankful to God that he used such precious gifts in order to bring me
to my knees. God is so sovereign!!
Jer. 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans
to prosper and not to harm you. Plans to give you a future and a hope.
AMEN.
When I came to Amnion, I was very confused and scared, 4 or 5 months pregnant,
and a senior at a Christian high school. I had been asked to leave school
because of my pregnancy, and I didn't know if I'd be allowed to graduate
with my class in June.
As I started to see Andrea at Amnion, I was able, for the first time to
experience God's forgiveness in my life. James 4:7-10 really comforted
me.
I went through workbooks at Amnion and faced some hard decisions, one
of which was whether I was going to place my baby for adoption or parent.
One of the factors in my situation is that my baby is biracial. God had
to break some barriers with that issue, but He has put people in my life
to encourage me. Andrea was always looking for ways to help.
I gradually decided to parent my baby and was very fortunate to have much
support from my family. My mother prayed over my baby every night. In
May 1992, God blessed me with a baby boy. By His grace, I was able to
be tutored during my pregnancy, and I graduated from high school when
my son was approximately one month old.
I still feel that Amnion is a support to me. They helped me to develop
a real relationship with God, and I have a different perspective about
my walk with Him now. I am learning how to totally depend on God everyday,
as my provider for everything.
