HOME
January 2022 Prayer Letter
Click here to request our Newsletters
![Healing Hearts Ministries Internaional [LOGO]](https://www.healinghearts.org/nimages/HHLetterhead_Web700.png) Dear Friend,  Christians don’t have abortions...do they? The answer may unsettle you, but yes, they do. Abortion is not a sin exclusive to unbelievers. I know many Christian women who were teens when they faced a crisis pregnancy and, rather than face the shame of being outed as having sex outside of marriage, they turned to abortion as the solution to keep their sin a secret. In a time when they should have been able to turn to the love and care of their church for restoration and forgiveness, they instead allowed fear to drive them to take the life of their child. As we approach this month’s annual emphasis on “Sanctity of Life,” rightly seeking to shine a light on how God views and values each life He has created, I’d like to take a moment to help us (as the church) ask an important question relating to abortion and pro-life values: Do we bear some level of responsibility for others’ decisions to abort their child? Allow me to explain. Consider that the Bible tells us that the tongue is a violent weapon. Too often, we don’t stop to think about how our words can wound and instill fear in others. Rather than speaking words of love and hope, our words can be felt as critical, harsh and condemning, leaving little room for mercy. James 1:26 says, “If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.” We would do well to learn how to control our tongues. Take a moment to really listen to what one former Healing Hearts’ participant shared with us about her own experience with her family’s careless, unbridled tongues and the long-lasting impact on her life: “Wanna ruin a family gathering? Start a discussion about abortion. This, I am sure, is true for many families, not just mine. Let me explain. I have been silent for 30 years about my abortions. Yes THIRTY years. Plural, yes more than one abortion! My father works with many religious groups protesting abortions. My mother goes on and on about how awful those people are that have abortions. ‘How could they,’ she screeches, while I silently listen! I start believing their rhetoric. Doubting my identity in Christ! Doubting my salvation! I know I am not alone. I have three other close friends that also had abortions. I’m NOT alone. It hurts to hear these things. It hurts to think the sin of abortion is the worst sin EVER. It cuts me deep in my soul to think I am unforgiven and forsaken. It pains me that anyone reading this may feel alone. I’m not alone, you are not alone! When others have forsaken us, Jesus Christ our savior, who when facing the cross thought of ME He thought of YOU. Because of repentance Jesus has forgiven me. It was not easy. I had to take a good look in the mirror. I had to admit, not rationalize, my sins, all of them including the abortion. I had to look at Jesus and ask “please forgive me.” I have to daily ask the Holy Spirit to give me strength and He does. I am NOT alone. Neither are YOU! We have a really scary nasty enemy who wants you and me to believe we are alone, but we are not. Many women have walked the walk you walk. Most importantly the giver and creator of your and my life is right here alongside us each and every day. He offers forgiveness when family and friends will not. Cling to Him. Allow Him to heal these wounds. Thank you for this study.” -Angela Sadly, Angela’s experience of being left shamed and uncared for is not unique. But we praise God that her testimony of finding full forgiveness and redemption is also not unique! There is hope and healing in the Gospel of Jesus Christ for everyone—Christian or non-Christian—who has fallen into sinful choices. Because of the devastation that I have seen in the lives of Christians who have had abortions, I implore Christian parents and Pastors to watch their words carefully. We can educate our children about the sin of abortion and what abortion does to both a woman and her unborn child, while also teaching them that people make mistakes and need compassion to lovingly restore them. When someone finds themself in a crisis pregnancy, the first people they should turn to are their family, their church, and, most importantly, Jesus. Abortion is not the answer to a crisis pregnancy. Love and support from family and church is the only answer. Our children should never fear retribution because of our pro-life stance. We need to teach our children what it means to show a merciful, Christ-like love to their friends, Christian and non-Christian alike. I’ve known several Christian teens who, when they found a friend faced with a crisis pregnancy, had the compassionate response to bring them into the church or to the safety and support of their own family. Their love and true understanding of how the church should serve in these crisis situations truly saved lives. If you need help discipling your children in their Christian walk so that they understand how a Christian should respond to these issues, I encourage you to take them through one of our teen studies, First Love (girls) or The Fight of Your Life (boys). Form a small group with other parents and their teens and do the study together. Parents have testified that this intentional discipling changed their whole family dynamics as they watched their children grow in God’s Truth and Love! Learn more at www.healinghearts.org/youth. I also encourage you to visit www.healinghearts.org/sanctity-of-life to discover resources to share with your church and community for your “Sanctity of Life” events in January. PRAY WITH US: For the Good News to saturate our communities; for wounded hearts to be convicted of their sin and be healed; for churches to become more Christ-like in their response to those caught in sin. Thank you for caring for the unborn and the walking wounded who are living with their shame and regrets. As Healing Hearts trains and equips churches to continue Christ’s mission to “bind up the brokenhearted” by rightly teaching and applying His truth and love, we are seeing lives transformed forever. Your prayers and financial support are so appreciated and needed! Donate today at www.healinghearts.org/donate.
|
Ways you can help
|
To Make a DonationYou may use the donation form on our website to make a donation, or you may also submit your check to the address provided below. Healing Hearts Ministries is a federally registered non-profit corporation, all contributions are tax deductible. One hundred percent of all contributions made to Healing Hearts go directly toward supporting the various aspects of our ministry no "administrative fee" is collected by a fund-raising service. All donations and expenditures are internally and independently monitored and audited. Annual financial statements are available upon request. We thank you for considering contributing to our ministry. Your contribution will enable us to reach out and touch individuals who need the hope and healing message that only Jesus has to offer. To donate online click this link: https://www.healinghearts.org/donate Send checks to: Healing Hearts Ministries PO Box 44670 Rio Rancho, NM 87174 phone (505) 355-6922 |