Testimonies - Post-abortion and Volunteers
KauaMany years ago I began living with my boyfriend. A few months after we moved in together, I became pregnant. I wasn't prepared and I did not want to go through with it. My reputation was at stake, and I didn't want to bring further shame and embarrassment to my parents, as well as myself. I was experiencing so much fear and anxiety, that the only solution I could think of was to have an abortion.
The pregnancy was terminated, and no one knew what I had done except the doctor, my boyfriend and myself. Every day for the following two years I could not stop thinking about my abortion, or the child that would have been born. In the mean time, my boyfriend and I eventually married; but shortly thereafter I discovered his adulterous affair with another woman. It was during this very hurtful time of my life when the Lord used my younger sister to share the gospel with me. I had become angry and bitter towards my husband and recounted all the wrong things he had done to me. "Yes, you were sinned against," was her response, "but did you know that you too have sinned? Sinned against God. "Me? A sinner? But, he's the adulterer."
As she continued to share that all have sinned and are in need of God's forgiveness, my self-righteousness grew into sorrow as I remembered the many sins that I had committed--including sexual immorality and abortion. I was a sinner, deserving God's wrath. Romans 5:8-9 says "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!" What good news! I prayed and asked God's forgiveness that day, and thanked Him for his son's sacrifice on my behalf, and began living a life that would honor God. By God's grace, I was able to forgive my husband. However, his unfaithfulness kept him away from our marriage and we finally divorced.
When I became a member of a church, I joined a post-abortion Bible Study organized by Sanctity of Life Ministries. It was through this Bible study that I was able to come to terms with my abortion-to grieve, to recognize my selfishness, to forgive my ex-husband, and to be free from the guilt and secret I'd hidden for so long. Psalm 103 says "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." God has healed me and forgiven me. There is no more pain no more anger, no more guilt, no regrets.
As a volunteer at Sanctity of Life Ministries, I've had the privilege of leading post-abortion Bible studies and helping other women receive healing and forgiveness from God. It's been a wonderful means of grace for women to open up and allow God to minister to their hearts and to their abortion experience.
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."
SusanSusan and her husband Jim have been involved with Sanctity of Life Ministries for a number of years. They have been faithful friends of the ministry and have served as wonderful church representatives for us to the church they attend.
Many times, Susan has arranged for SLM to use the church facilities for SLM trainings and for us to present during Sanctity of Human Life Sundays. It is due in large part to Susan and Jim's consistent efforts to make opportunities known to the churches' various ministries, that we have seen such enthusiastic support from their friendly, caring church.
Susan is creative in the ways in which she assists our efforts. Even before she took our counselor trainings, she would help our clients by bringing in supplies to the new Alexandria office and by helping find solutions and benevolence for clients who had needs. Now that she has completed our counselor training, she volunteers at the office in Alexandria. We are so grateful to Susan, and Jim, for their dedication and service to Sanctity of Life Ministries.
JennyJenny has served as a devoted SLM volunteer. After taking our counselor training, she began as a volunteer at the Fairfax center and later switched to the Alexandria center. Jenny served as a member of the APHC Steering Committee and helped with the Grand Opening in September 2002. She began seeing clients on Saturdays, and as God planned it, she saw a majority of Hispanic clients. Jenny soon became the Hispanic coordinator for APHC and has helped numerous clients as well as established a support group that meets once a month. She has also connected her clients to local Christian churches. As a result, two of her clients have received Christ shortly after attending church.
She has also connected clients with immigration specialists, and in one case, a client was able to immediately apply for a visa. Jenny has helped with community and ministry fairs, has served on our banquet committee and has helped with baby showers. Jenny attends Faith Evangelical Presbyterian Church and her husband, Jim, is involved in the SLM Men's ministry. When not volunteering, Jenny works at the Pentagon and is a full-time mom to daughter Alyssa. We are blessed to have Jenny serving at SLM. Mucho gracias Jenny!