Our Story

In 1986, my world came crashing down when the nurse told me, “Congratulations, you’re pregnant.” Words that were intended to bring happiness and joy, brought fear and devastation.  

As a 20 year old, unmarried, Christian couple, my fiancé and I were so afraid of what people would think of us and of losing my college scholarship, we chose to have an abortion. 

Believing the lie that everything would be ok and no one would have to know, we buried our secret, never speaking of it.

We married the next year, and had our first child.  The joys of motherhood were blemished by the barrage of internal accusations, including “You’ll never be a good mother,” and “You don’t deserve this baby.”  Believing these lies, the weight of our decision became heavier and heavier. 

A key foundational element of our marriage - trust - had been shattered, and so our marriage began to deteriorate.  God blessed us with two more children, but the baggage of guilt and shame was a wedge in our relationship that I couldn’t see past.  Divorce was not an option, so Tim and I were merely co-existing in the same household.

In 1997, God transformed my husband’s life, through the death of a close friend, and as we both began seeking God in deeper measures, a healing began and we grew closer together. In His abundant grace, He blessed us with two more beautiful children.

As I actively pursued God in new ways, I felt like there was a wall in my spirit…a wall separating me from Him.  When I asked Him what the wall was, He gently answered, “You need to forgive yourself for the abortion.”  At that moment, I forgave myself, and the wall came tumbling down! 

However, bound by the secret that shackled me on the inside, I still was not willing to tell others about my past.

Not long after, I attended a weekend women’s retreat and God met me there in a truly powerful way.  As the leaders were praying over me, taking authority over the spirit of heaviness and shame, I began to weep uncontrollably.  It was as if 15 years of poison that had been bottled up inside was pouring out of me through my tears.  I immediately wanted to share with the group about the abortion and what God had done.  He completely took away all guilt, shame, and heaviness…bringing healing, forgiveness, and freedom!  The devil no longer had a hold on me…I was FREE! 

As I sought the Lord regarding His plan for my healed life, He showed me a sea of women, as far as I could see.   And He spoke very clearly, “All of these women are hurting from the pain of abortion, and I want to use you to help them find healing.”

As a result, I began volunteering at a local pregnancy resource center as a peer counselor.  Three years later, God called us to start a pregnancy center, focusing on reaching women who are facing an unintended pregnancy and considering abortion, or being pressured to abort.  And, also, to help those who have already had an abortion to find the same healing and freedom that we have.

Through much prayer and support from our church family, on July 2, 2007, we founded Lifetime Pregnancy Help Center, in Springfield, IL, inspired by Psalm 30:5, “His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime.”

It has been my honor and privilege to serve as Executive Director of Lifetime (currently First Step Women’s Center) the past 12 years (2007-2019) ministering to hundreds of women and men at-risk for abortion, empowering them with accurate medical information, embracing them in a caring atmosphere, and encouraging them to receive Christ’s love and destiny for their lives.  I have also been blessed to facilitate Forgiven & Set Free and Surrendering the Secret Bible studies, helping nearly 100 heartbroken women find healing and freedom.

Upon God’s leading in 2019, we have committed to serve Him in abortion recovery ministry full-time, helping that sea of hurting women (and men) find healing.  By God’s grace, we believe He will use us to heal the brokenhearted and to set the captives free through Christ! (Isaiah 61:1).

Our story is not unique considering there has been 63 million abortions in this country since 1973.  But it is our story.  The real life and death of it.  The ups and downs.  The hardships and the victories.  Our desire is to share our story with others who have experienced pain from a past abortion experience, helping them on their journey to finding truth in Jesus and embracing His grace and forgiveness.  

Sounds of Life - Author Unknown

There is a sound from heaven,
That is penetrating earth, 
A sound of purest worship,
Sung by infants denied birth.

It’s a sound of adoration,
From the children up above, 
In the bosom of the Father, 
They release their song of love.

The song is one of Mercy, 
And the mystery is this,
When the sound released from heaven touches earth,
It brings a kiss!

A sound of sweet forgiveness,
“Father, help my mom and dad.
Reveal the hidden treasure,
In the life I would have had.”

The mighty sound of life goes forth,
In decibels so high.
It pierces through our atmosphere, 
And breaks through every lie.

The precious sound of heaven,
Sung by infants denied birth,
Will rise in great crescendo,
Releasing life into the earth.