Safe and effective faith-based abortion healing programs may be found across the U.S. Thanks to word of mouth, mainstream news outlets like The Washington Times that are still committed to the whole truth, and alternative media, there is growing awareness of the emotional, physical, and relational symptoms common after abortion.
Thousands of women and men have experienced the life-changing blessing of participating in an abortion healing program. But given the number of abortions since 1973, we are only scratching the surface of the actual need.
How can we better reach women and men with a message of hope and healing?
Keep in mind that people often need to hear messages about abortion loss and recovery multiple times before they are ready to take that next step and reach out for help. It can be months, often years, before a seed that is planted bear’s fruit.
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Here are a few ways to promote your abortion recovery ministry:
Meet with your pastor/minister
Contact the pastor or another minister active in your church and let them know about your abortion healing outreach. This kind of personal connection is important. You, or someone on your healing team, can share about a past abortion, faith-related struggles after the procedure, and how healing was such a blessing in their personal and family life.
Most pastors are not sure how to address the issue of abortion. Some fear hurting or alienating those who have had abortions. Your personal sharing will be a valuable education about the issues women and men struggle with after the procedure. It can also open the door to a ministry partnership as you assist the pastor in reaching out, with love and sensitivity, to those in the congregation hurting after abortion.
Notices in church bulletins
Susan Swander has served for many years with the Rachel’s Vineyard healing ministry in Oregon. She said church bulletin messages played a pivotal role in her journey of recovery, and later service to those hurting after abortion:
“In October 2003 my life was changed forever,” she said. “I went to Mass at my local parish church and picked up a bulletin as I left. When I arrived home, I perused the bulletin with my cup of coffee. And, then I saw IT.
“IT was a small box ad in the bulletin saying something like this:
‘Suffering after an abortion? There is hope and healing available at a Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat. More confidential information is available at www.Rachelsvineyard.org or by calling this local number.’
“Several months later I attended a Rachel’s Vineyard retreat. What a remarkable healing experience this weekend was. Words do not do justice to the love, compassion, and understanding I found during the retreat. Later I went through a mentoring process and became part of the team offering the retreats in Oregon.
“Thank God for that tiny little box ad in the church bulletin.”
Tear-off flyers on church bulletin boards, pamphlets, and drop cards are great ways to share info on your website, social media, and contact number. It’s important to have such contact resources with you when you share your testimony or to share with a friend, family member or anyone who may benefit from healing.
Connect with the local Christian radio stations in your area – and some national shows as well. Let the program director know you have women and men who can share about abortion loss and the good news of healing. This is especially helpful around the time of the March for Life, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day and for Catholics, in the month of October (Respect Life Month) when media are more open to our message.
Tweet This: Thousands of women & men have experienced the life-changing blessing of an abortion healing program. But we are only scratching the surface.
Social Media
Cultivate a current team member, volunteer, or alum from your abortion recovery ministry to help develop a social media presence for your ministry. Once you get the hang of it this is an effective way to create brief messages and images to promote recovery resources and share about your ministry.
Contact your local churches, seminaries, and Catholic/Christian educational institutions. Let them know you have team members available to share with their students and ministers-in-training about abortion loss, the ways this can impact women and men, and the road to recovery. This is a great way to help them better understand and reach out to their future congregations.
Connect with the campus ministry and pro-life groups at secular colleges in your area and offer to come share your testimony with the students, how to best reach out to abortion minded students based on your experience, and resources for recovery for those that had abortions.
Speakers for your church or pro-life event
Consider registering with the Silent No More Awareness Campaign and find women and men in your area who have been through healing programs and are equipped to speak out effectively about abortion loss and recovery. This is a great way to find support and network with others in your area locally, and nationally, who share a heart for this outreach.
Editor’s note: Theresa Burke, Ph.D., and Kevin Burke, MSS, are pastoral associates of Priests for Life and the founders of Rachel’s Vineyard. This article is a Pregnancy Help News original.
