Miscellaneous
8 Ways You Can Rescue Lives Today!
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Be a Lifesaver Every 4 minutes, a life is saved through Heartbeat’s life-saving network. Give, with your church, to this vital work on a one-time, monthly, or annual basis.
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Equip a Missionary While your church body labors to reach unreached people groups with the Gospel, prepare those you send to thrive in the mission field abortion presents. |
Spark an Awakening God clearly calls His church to “rescue those being led away to death.” But, unless He “builds the house,” we labor in vain. Pray for those championing the gift and Giver of life. Sign up to receive regular updates from Heartbeat International! |
Build a Leader Since 1971, Heartbeat International has been the leader in equipping and developing life-affirming leaders. Join us as we pour into leaders all over the world. |
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Call a Center 2,500 life-affirming pregnancy centers in the U.S. need Gospel-minded partners like you. Call your nearest center and ask how your church can help.
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Mobilize a Mission From giving and partnering in fundraising, to mentoring moms and dads, to serving on the board, mobilize your church to be the Church in your town. |
Preach a Truth 1 in 3 women have an abortion before age 45. Teach your church God’s love for every life while offering the death-defying forgiveness found at the Cross. |
Build a Bridge Work hand-in-hand with other life- affirming churches and groups in your town to rescue women and families from the deadly cross-hairs of abortion. |
Activate Your Church to Save Lives
Activate Your Church to Save Lives
Called into existence by the Christ-centered pregnancy help movement, Heartbeat International has been serving women in unexpected pregnancies since 1971.
As the go-to resource for local pregnancy centers, ultrasound-equipped medical clinics, maternity homes, nonprofit adoption agencies, and more, Heartbeat International also answers more than 1,000 cries for help each day through our 24/7 pregnancy helpline, Option Line, connecting callers to life-saving help near them.
The very best alternative to abortion is another person. That’s why Heartbeat International strives to equip, encourage, and champion grassroots efforts to reach and rescue as many lives as possible around the world through an effective network of life-affirming pregnancy help to renew communities for LIFE.
Christians and local churches have always been the engine behind the life-saving pregnancy help movement, and it is our hope to continue to connect believers of all denominations to the resources they need to make a difference in their own communities.
(Note: While Heartbeat International does not endorse political candidates, we do encourage responsible citizenship and stewardship of such decisions. Please visit ivoterguide.com to learn more.)
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Call a Center 2,800 life-affirming pregnancy centers in the U.S. need Gospel-minded partners like you. Call your nearest center and ask how your church can help. |
Mobilize a Mission From giving and partnering in fundraising, to mentoring moms and dads, to serving on the leadership team, mobilize your church to save lives in your town. |
Spread a Vision Men and women all around us are affected by surprise pregnancies and abortion. Assure others of God’s love for every life and the death-defying forgiveness found at the Cross. Download 10 things you can say and do to make abortion unwanted today! |
Build a Bridge Work hand-in-hand with other life- affirming churches and groups around you to rescue women and families from the deadly cross-hairs of abortion. |
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Be a Lifesaver Every 4 minutes, Heartbeat rescues a child from abortion in the U.S. through our life-saving network and 24-7 pregnancy helpline, Option Line. Give, with your church, to this vital work on a one-time, monthly, or annual basis. |
Adopt an Outpost With 50 million women resorting to abortion each year around the world, pregnancy help is needed in every corner of the globe. Sponsor our affiliates all over the world. |
Spark an Awakening God clearly calls His church to “rescue those being led away to death.” Pray for a greater awareness of the sanctity and dignity of every life-bearing God’s image. Sign up to receive regular updates from Heartbeat International! Sign up for weekly updates from Heartbeat's Pregnancy Help News. |
Build a Leader Since 1971, Heartbeat International has been at the forefront of equipping life-affirming leaders all around the world. Invest with us in life-savers on every inhabited continent. |
Big Winner Wednesday!
Enter to win!
Complete the form below and be entered to win a free Heartbeat International car charger adapter!
Two people will be randomly chosen to win! Be sure to check your email to see if you have won.
April's Story
April and Derrick
At seventeen and a half I joined the Military and started to get a little taste of freedom. I was sent to training with the North Carolina National Guard, when I fell in love with my now husband of twelve years. He was in the Navy and left to be stationed in California. You’re now saying, “How is that a great testimony, and how does the second chance come into play?” The guy I fell in love with was not the guy my parents wanted for me. Why not? Let me tell you. Biracial relationships were not allowed in the family - period.
So when I came home from training, I had to make a choice - my family or my African American boyfriend. I choose my family. Months later I turned eighteen and made a choice to move out of my family’s home which gave me more freedom to do what I wanted to do. I started to drink underage, do drugs, and party. I also still had feelings for my boyfriend that I was told I could not be with. We reconnected and fell in love again with a long distance relationship. I was headed down a path that was not pleasing to God, or my family, and was very empty.
The life I was now living included drinking, drugs and non-marital sex which kept me from facing reality and I thought I “had it all.” I lived by myself, paid my own bills and had a great relationship with my family. I was also able to have a relationship with my boyfriend without my parents knowing. Well, that was until my boyfriend came for a visit for a week or so. One night we went to a club with his friends and mine and were drinking a lot. That night changed my life forever. Yes, that was the night I conceived my son Derrick. I found out about four to five weeks into the pregnancy but I continued to live the same lifestyle.
I was running scared. I was scared that I would lose my family and scared that my boyfriend would leave me. I mean, why would he care? We only talked on the phone and saw each other a few days out of the year. Now at the age of twenty, I found myself pregnant, scared and alone. How can I keep it all? I loved my boyfriend and my family at the same time. I did not want to lose any of them. The only person that knew was my best friend. In my mind I was trying to come up with a fix. I had two options- keep the baby and lose my family and boyfriend, or abort and no one had to know. I could go on with my life and still be loved by all.
One day I found out about LifeLine Pregnancy Help Center. I did not know too much about it, but knew it had “help” in its name. I walked into the doors and that is where the love begins. They talked to me and I felt cared for. My heart changed when she (my client advocate) handed me a tiny silicone baby in my hand. I held it and studied it; I still remember her saying “this is how big your baby is.” I questioned “How? I’m just a few weeks pregnant” - but it was true. My baby had a heartbeat. He had my DNA. He was a boy, and had hands and feet. My mind changed in a matter of an hour; I could not ever hurt my child. I choose to tell Raymond, the father. It went better than what I thought it would. He was so happy he was going to be a dad!
I chose to hide my pregnancy from my family, but they found out and disowned me and my unborn child. The pain I felt was real, it hurt, but I loved them so much and wanted them to be a part of their grandchild’s life. That did not happen. I had to do this by myself, with a long distance relationship with the father. That is where Life Line Pregnancy Help Center stepped in. I started taking classes and watching videos on how the pregnancy was going and how to take care of a baby. They provided me an option to “earn while I learned.” At six months into my pregnancy, my appendix ruptured and my son’s life and mine were in great danger. I fought hard and gave up everything to keep my son and there was no way I was giving up now. Going through this and being in the hospital for weeks made me question myself again. I had no family to help out if something was to happen to me. I fought and pulled through and my son defied all odds and made it too.
I gave birth to my son on June 10, 2001. He was so cute! That day I found a love that I had never found before. I would give up everything all over again for him. When my son was a few weeks old, I made a choice not to return to work and move to Gulfport, MS with his dad. His father’s face lit up the moment that he met his son for the first time. On March 1, 2002, when Derrick was only nine months old, Raymond and I were married. Being married to someone in the military is a job of its own - moving a lot of times to many different states. In 2003, I got the unexpected news of my grandmothers passing. I was not sure how to attend the funeral, and not upset my parents by attending. To my surprise, my father pulled me aside in front of my husband and child and wanted to mend the relationship. That was the second best day of my life. He was able to see and talk to his grandson and son-in-law.
On May 13, 2004, we brought a beautiful daughter named Hailey into this world. While being focused on being a good mother to my children, going on with my life and just living day to day, I did not put my trust in God. I finally realized it made my life a lot easier when I put my faith in God and allowed him to take control of my family’s lives. To the present day I am thankful for God, LifeLine Pregnancy Help Center staff, and family for supporting me and never giving up. I believe my experiences in life have played a sufficient role in helping other expecting mothers with their labor and delivery. I currently am working as a Doula in my community. May God’s love shine through me and play a sufficient role in their lives.
Laura's Story
Laura and Mason
I found myself a millennial child in her early twenties in a life of freedom and carelessness. Away from home, and away from the only life id ever known, I was trying to take hold of this new life of independence. I gave myself no limits, I wanted to be able to say I had experienced it all. As months passed in my new home in Columbus, I watched as my drive for school slowly, but surely diminish. My priorities switched over to daily social gatherings where drugs and alcohol were being used, I mean after all that's what most college kids in their early twenties are doing, right? Perhaps I was just curious, but that drive to "experience it all" led me into a life I never imagined for myself.
After about two years of lots of parties and wasted time and money, I was lost. My family that was once so close, hardly spoke to me and I dropped out of my senior year of college. My relationship (with my current boyfriend) and excessive partying sent me into a stress level I had never reached before. Significant as well as awful things occurred to my boyfriend that changed our whole relationship. The things that happened made me wanna be there for him and help him. But it inevitably changed our relationship. As a small wedge began to build between us, I found myself seeking refuge with other people. It was at this point that I found myself in a compromising position with another boy. It was easy to cope with the shame and guilt of my multiplying transgressions cause I could just party and forget about everything. After finally coming to a point where neither boys in this triangle were willing to deal with the progressing situation, I found myself pregnant.
Within the week of discovering this, I began being pulled in several very different directions. It took some time but I finally came to the realization I hadn't even thought about what Laura wanted. Terrified and emotional, I didn't even get the chance to deal with these emotions personally, it seemed all my peers had better answers for me. The option of abortion was unfathomable to me, but at one point facing this pregnancy with the uncertainty of his paternity seemed more terrifying than the abortion. The time between my positive test result and my first ultrasound left me strained. When the day arrived, it took about 15 minutes to find my little one in my womb. I stared anxiously at the black screen awaiting for something to appear. In one seconds time a blurred imaged finally appeared and in the next moment my whole life changed as a heartbeat became visible.
At that point I became very selfish, I didn't care about what other people wanted me to do, I had seen that heartbeat and knew I couldn't let it go. After several months of many friends pulling me toward erasing this "mistake" I came to a decision. It wasn't this little boy's fault he was conceived. I couldn't believe I could be so enamored with this pea-sized life within me. I looked forward and saw a life of purpose and hope for myself all because this little boy was here. It wasn't going to be the end of my life, it was going to be the start of it. I could not imagine my life without this soul in it now. 9 months later I was holding him in my arms, and knew I had made the right decision. At that point no one else mattered, just my little boy and I.
Victoria's Story
Victoria and Christiana
I am forever grateful for the Bowie Pregnancy Clinic, and especially my counselor, Marsha, who I first met in May 2000. This is my story.
Upon the realization that I had missed my period, my heart immediately sank at the thought that I could possibly be pregnant. I was only a 15 year old high school student. What would I do? I thought there was no possible way I could bring a child into this world and be able to meet all the needs that a child would need. As panic sunk in, I called my then boyfriend (now husband) and he drove to my house with a home pregnancy test. Our hearts were racing as we awaited the results…. the home pregnancy test showed that I was indeed pregnant. Not knowing what to do, we researched pregnancy centers in the hopes that they could provide more information and advice on our options. That is when we found the Bowie Pregnancy Clinic.
Our minds were pretty made up when we arrived for our appointment at the Clinic. We had decided that having an abortion was the best option. There were so many factors working against us having a baby, it just made the most sense to not have the baby. We met our counselor, Marsha, who spoke with us for nearly two hours that day. She was such a kind and caring woman, who answered every question we had with no absolutely no judgment. She not once frowned upon us when we told her what we wanted to do, but instead educated us on our potential options. At the end of our counseling session, she invited us to come back that following Wednesday for a sonogram. Even though we already had our minds set on the abortion, we agreed.
I remember Marsha calling me every day until my Wednesday sonogram to check on how I was doing. She would always end our phone conversations with a prayer, which as time went on, I found extremely comforting.
The Wednesday sonogram was such an eye opening experience. There, we found out our due date and was able to listen to our baby’s actual heartbeat. That was a truly breathtaking experience. That moment itself completely changed our lives.
As we highly contemplated changing our decision of having an abortion to keeping the baby, we faced many, many obstacles. Our parents disapproved of our decision, we had to figure out what we were going to do about our schooling, we had to find a place to live, we had to find jobs, and so much more in the preparation of having and raising a baby, and especially at such a young age. Through every step of the way, every obstacle we had to overcome, Marsha and the Clinic were there for us. Marsha would call us weekly, sometimes daily, to check on how we were doing and would offer us endless encouragement through each and every obstacle. With her support and with the support of all of the prayers we had from the Clinic, we overcame every obstacle… even the seemingly impossible ones.
On January 6, 2001, we gave birth to a beautiful healthy baby girl that we named Christiana. Marsha was one of the first people we called with the great news. She came almost immediately with her hands full of gifts from herself and the Clinic. Our parents, who initially disapproved with our decision, were overjoyed with the birth of their first
granddaughter. Time stood still and everything changed once we brought Christiana into our lives. The seemingly impossible obstacles that once stood in our way somehow found paths and we felt, for the first time in our lives, that everything happens for a reason and everything was going to be okay.
Today, my husband Christian and I have been happily together for 15 years. We have both worked extremely hard balancing work and finishing school while raising a child and are currently working in our careers as an Engineer and a Paralegal. We got married in 2006 and had our second daughter, Mia, in 2009. Christiana, our oldest, is now a 13 year old honor roll student getting ready to enter high school. Christiana and Mia are, without a doubt, the joys of our lives and we could not imagine life without them.
I say that the Bowie Pregnancy Clinic helped saved my daughter’s life because they opened up our eyes and gave us the knowledge, the strength and the encouragement to help us carry out our decision in keeping our baby. The Clinic brought our counselor, Marsha, into our life who guided us through each tough obstacle that a young teen faces having a baby at a young age. Without her, or the Clinic, our daughter would not be here today. But I also say the Bowie Pregnancy Clinic helped saved my life because in deciding that I wanted to keep my daughter, it opened up my eyes as to my life goals, and it gave me the push I needed to fulfill them. I am advocating for this Clinic because it truly saves lives.
Marcella's Story
Meet Our Moms 2015
Meet Our Moms - Babies Go to Congress 2015
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Khalilah's Story
Khalilah and Ashton
Almost a year ago, I had my beautiful, happy, crazy, yet very high-maintenance baby boy, Ashton. Before I found out I was pregnant, I was scared. I had no idea how I was going to do this alone, with no job, and trying to finish high school. At first, I hadn’t planned on parenting Ashton, and was leaning towards adoption. Adoption seemed like the best option at the time because I didn’t feel ready to have a child, and had not even planned on having children. I wasn’t ready for the late night poopy diapers, the sleepless nights, the tears, and most of all- I wasn’t mentally or emotionally ready to be a mother. I wasn’t ready to be anyone’s source of reliability!
The September before Ashton was born, I started a program at Matrix, called Earn While You Learn. It was easy to open up to my mentor as the time went on. The more classes I took, I felt closer and closer to my Matrix family. They cared about, comforted, and informed me about so much regarding caring for my son. Through an ultrasound, they showed me that the baby growing inside of me was so much more than just a fetus or “tissue”. I learned that I have many other options besides abortion. I learned there is so much more to parenting than I thought, but that with a little help I could really do it. I eventually decided parenting was the best choice for me and Ashton.
Almost a year later, I feel like being Ashton’s mom is a job that comes so naturally now. It can be easy at times, but it can also be hard. It can actually be harder than most people think. It takes everything in me to keep up with Ashton, be emotionally and mentally prepared for the good and the bad. I think I have grown with my son so much. I’m honestly so proud of both him and myself as we have grown and continue to grow together and keep up with each other. Something about carrying Ashton for 9 months and being his mom has changed my life so much. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. With my Matrix family and the crazy amount of support I have, I can say I honestly wouldn’t have made it alone.
The Selfless Selfie
Take a "Selfless Selfie"!
Let everyone know how you are participating in #GivingTuesday and that you support Heartbeat International by taking a Selfless Selfie.
Step One: Click here and print your selfless selfie page.
Step Two: Hold the page up and take a selfie.
Step Three: Post the selfie to Heartbeat's Facebook page with the hashtag #heroesforheartbeat
Step Four: Share your selfless selfie with your friends and family and encourage them to do the same!
Step Five: HAVE FUN!!!
Life Reach Global FAQs
Life Reach Global FAQs
Will all of my donation be sent to the international organization?
Generally all designated donations will be forwarded to the organization less any costs for transferring monies. In some cases an affiliation fee and/or an administrative fee (not exceed 3% of the gift) will be deducted. Current affiliation with Heartbeat is a minimum requirement for participation in the program and the international organization is given the option to pay directly or have affiliation fees deducted. (Currently the annual affiliation cost for an international organization is $70USD.)
In the unexpected event that an international organization is not able to receive the donation (i.e. discontinuing operation, disruption in communication, lapsing affiliation) Heartbeat reserves the right to return the gift to the donor or redirect funds to a similar international purpose.
What are “money transfer costs”?
Money transfer costs are the fees and charges associated with moving monies from our U.S. bank to the international organization. Usually money transfer costs include currency exchange fees and charges for an electronic transfer option (bank wire transfer, online money transfer, etc.). Bank wire transfers generally are a fixed cost (i.e. $40USD) while online money transfer requires a “transaction fee” which is usually a small percentage of the overall amount of the transaction (similar to credit card costs).
How soon will the international organization receive donated funds?
After internal processing of the gift, we will forward the funds to the international organization on, at least, a quarterly basis. However, amounts forwarded need to substantially exceed money transfer costs. Example, a single gift of $20USD might cost $40USD to transfer (assuming it’s to a country that does not permit online money transfers). In such cases, the donation will be held for additional donations to accrue to make the transfer of funds beneficial to the receiving organization.
Will I receive a receipt for my donation?
Heartbeat International will receipt all donations, usually as an immediate response to your gift given online via the specific campaign page. As a donor to Heartbeat, you should also expect to receive follow-up information about Heartbeat International and its missional efforts. As always you can unsubscribe to email sends and/or communicate directly with us to limit future communications. Heartbeat never sells donor information.
Will the international organization receive my donor information?
Heartbeat International will only pass along donor contact information and not any transactional information (like credit card or banking numbers) so that the receiving organization is in a position to thank their donors and provide additional information about their life-affirming outreach. A donor may opt to remain anonymous by checking the appropriate box at the time of making the gift.
Can I give my donation directly to the international organization?
Yes, anyone can provide funding directly to a worthwhile work outside the U.S.; however, such donations will likely not be tax deductible since international organizations are not recognized by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (I.R.S.). Heartbeat International is able to receive such gifts and receipt for tax deductions because of our international mission and having taken the appropriate I.R.S. steps.
If tax deductibility is not a concern (giving already from a foundation or existing non-profit) then the primary benefit for a gift through Heartbeat is to leverage our connection with the international organization. Each organization is vetted through an approval process that includes length of affiliation (more than one year) and other proof of program activities and outcomes.
We’re a U.S. pregnancy help organization. Can we give directly to the international organization?
Yes, a U.S. non-profit can generally give a contribution to an international organization as long as there is clear missional alignment (identified within your articles, by-laws) and that of the intended international organization. If it is desired to regularly fund an international organization or multiple organizations your U.S. non-profit should investigate I.R.S. regulations and enact appropriate steps as Heartbeat has done.
Will Heartbeat receive funds for a group not on its approved list?
Heartbeat International cannot take responsibility for directed donations apart from our current list of approved organizations and joint affiliation partners. We welcome introductions to new life-affirming pregnancy help organizations outside the U.S. Affiliation with Heartbeat is always the first step toward a potential future listing through our Life Reach Global program. If the gift is received through our campaign page directed to a non-approved organization, Heartbeat’s options are to contact the donor for re-allocation, return (credit) the gift back to the donor or redirect the gift within the program.
How does a current or prospective Heartbeat international affiliate become part of the Life Reach Global program?
Interested life-affirming pregnancy help organizations need to complete the application process in its entirety for consideration in the Life Reach Global program. Current affiliation for at least 12 months is the first prerequisite.
Does Heartbeat International actively promote the individual international organizations in the Life Reach Global program?
Heartbeat International accepts no responsibility for advertising or promoting individual organizations involved in the Life Reach Global program apart from establishing the funding opportunity on our website and providing a related listing and donation page. From time to time we may highlight the program and potential success stories within it. Participating organizations should promote their participation in the program and their campaign page to their current and prospective supporters.