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July 2023 Prayer Letter
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Healing Hearts Ministries Internaional [LOGO]

Dear Friend,




My journey with Healing Hearts really began when I was a young teenage girl. My father had immigrated to America in 1916 from the Philippines and at the age of 51 married a young Native American girl 18 years his junior. Unfortunately, my parents divorced when I was 7 years old, and due to my mother’s alcoholism, my father was awarded custody of my younger sister and me. My mother was devastated.

My father was a laborer at Burlington Northern, and it was hard for him to raise two girls under the age of 10. He had a sister in the Philippines, and he petitioned her to come and be our caretaker. My aunt came and did her best to care for us, but she was not our mother. I felt abandoned and lost.

Growing up, there was a biased cultural belief that Native Americans were mostly alcoholics and were not a proper race to be associated with. Since my sister and I were partially Native American, we believed the lie that we were never going to amount to anything because of this prejudice in society. At any social function, it was a struggle to keep our hearts from breaking because we did not fit into the Filipino culture. In our family, hugging and showing affection were not allowed. My sister and I were starving for love.  

I began to look for love by any means and thought that I had found it when I met a boy in junior high. I was only 15 years old when I gave my virginity to him. Shortly after that, I became pregnant and was sent to an unwed mothers’ home where I miscarried. Needless to say, I felt like a disgrace to my family, mostly to my aunt. She wanted to hide me far from the family I had dishonored. Upon attending another school, I became pregnant again. I was sent back to the unwed mothers’ home, and at the age of 16, I had my baby girl, whom I gave up for adoption.

After this, my aunt convinced my father to send me away. At the time there was a school for troubled girls, and I was sent there to finish high school. It was a blessing in disguise, as I now see it. God had me there for His glory because that is where I came to know Christ. Even though it was hard living with about 100 other girls in an extremely close and structured environment, I worked hard for 18 months and graduated in 1970 as Valedictorian in a class of seven girls.

After graduation and a few months of college, I reunited with the father of my baby girl. We were married and eventually had two more beautiful daughters. But we struggled with finances, separation from our parents, and a life that was isolated and far away from anyone. When our youngest daughter was two, my husband began an affair with my good friend. He wanted to be free, so we separated. I was devastated and had such anger and hatred toward him-he was “free” from our troubles and I was not. One other factor complicated things and caused much resentment-I was six months pregnant.

That same year, Roe vs Wade was passed, allowing women to legally have late-term abortions. I was drowning in loneliness and bitterness. I chose to abort my baby and not tell my husband. After the abortion, my life spiraled downward into even more hatred, anger, bitterness, and unforgiveness, which fostered self-centeredness and pride in my heart. I became promiscuous and began to lose all care and concern for my children and myself.

Through it all, I continued going to church. The driving force in my mind was that I didn’t want my daughters to turn out like me. I sent them to a Catholic school and prayed. I prayed for a godly man to enter my life while at the same time, I was sleeping with men to try and gain their love and affection. Oh, what a double life I lived! But then, God answered my prayers and I met my husband Shep.  

We had a tumultuous 10 years of marriage before the Lord brought a lady to our church who showed a video presentation about Healing Hearts and the hope that can be found in Jesus Christ after an abortion. As she shared her testimony, I could see that her life was filled with the fragrant aroma of Jesus Christ and that she had experienced incredible joy and freedom from her own past abortion. I wanted what she had, but I was in denial and would not submit my broken heart to the Lord just yet. I managed to avoid any interaction with her in my church for 10 years!

Eventually, God through His Word showed me that I needed to take the Healing Hearts Bible study if I wanted to serve Him with a whole joyful heart, a heart that was free from the prison I had put myself in. I took the post-abortion Bible study, Binding Up the Brokenhearted, and I knew by Chapter 4 that I needed to share God’s hope and healing after abortion with other women. Through the study, I came to know the Lord on a deeper, more intimate level. I learned that His Love is true and I will never have to look elsewhere. He is my Joy. He is my Strength. I was finally set free!

My husband Shep says this study saved our marriage. He is a very strong supporter of the ministry and shares with everyone we meet about Healing Hearts and the miraculous work it has done in our lives and the lives of others. Jesus transformed me from a bitter, hateful woman into a loving wife and mother who loves the Lord with all of my heart. It is my unending delight to serve Him.

Five years ago, as a display of God’s continued outpouring of grace, He miraculously allowed me to be reunited with the daughter I had given up for adoption but had not been able to find due to a closed file. All at once, I gained four new grandchildren and three more great-grandchildren. Even more precious, I learned how God's grace and mercy had poured out on both of our lives. What a joy it is now to see my three daughters (who all have the same biological father) being a support to each other in prayer and love as spiritual sisters. What more can I ask? I am overflowing with thankfulness to God. To Him be the glory!

I have been leading Healing Hearts groups for the past 18 years. What a blessing to serve the Lord in this way-a way I never would have chosen myself. I have a wonderful church family that fully embraces and supports this ministry.

I cannot fathom what my life would be like if I had never been introduced to this ministry by one courageous, godly woman who shared her abortion testimony at my church and was patient enough to wait for the Lord to move in my heart. I am thankful to the Lord for the continued healing in my life and for this amazing ministry that He has allowed me to serve in, sharing the gospel by using God’s Word and my own testimony of His Powerful Love for me.

Pat Shepherd
Healing Hearts Certified Biblical Counselor, Kent, WA

PRAY WITH US for the continued boldness, wisdom, and patience of each Healing Hearts Certified Biblical Counselor as they faithfully share their testimonies of hope and healing that they received through Jesus. Your prayers and donations make this Gospel-centered, grace-driven mission possible. Thank you!






Ways you can help



To Make a Donation

You 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