Resources

Resources for Healing - For Women

Sat, 11 Apr 2009 21:04:45 -0500

These are just some of the Healing Resources available to women. If you have any questions, please feel free to email us.

Facilitating Biblical Healing: Leaders Manual for Forgiven and Set Free
Judy Cooter, Carolyn Rice, Jeannie Stoner
A manual for use with Forgiven & Set Free. Provides foundations for ministry, step-by-step guidance for each chapter of Forgiven and Set Free and helpful resources and forms.
Phone: (864)244-1434.

Forgiven & Set Free
First published 1986 titled "PACE – Women in Ramah: A Post Abortion Bible Study".
Linda Cochrane
An inspiring Bible study that guides suffering and hurting women to bring their pain, guilt, and grief of an abortion "out of the dark past into His holy light", where true and lasting healing can take place. Appropriate Scriptures help women deal with issues such as: Relief and Denial; Anger; Forgiveness; Depression; Letting Go; Acceptance. This Bible study can be used by individuals or in a group setting. www.ChristianBook.com

Free Me To Live - Ken Freeman
The original publication was called Healing the Hurts of Abortion written in 1988
A workbook designed for use by individuals, small groups, or counselors for those dealing with post-abortion and related issues including rape, incest, and abuse. Also available as on online bible study and facilitator training. www.freemetolive.com

HEART, Healing the Effects of Abortion Related Trauma - Sharon Adkins www.heartbeatinternational.org

Her Choice To Heal - Sydna Masse, Joan Phillips
Her Choice to Heal: Finding Spiritual and Emotional Peace After Abortion was written by the President and Founder of Ramah International Sydna Masse. This book provides two testimonies of post-abortion trauma and walks the reader through the stages of greiving a child lost through abortion. The end provides a powerful testimony of God's healing and redemptive grace. www.ramahinternational.org

Living In His Forgiveness: A Bible Study for Post-Abortive Women Sandy Day and Carolyn McGrure Life changing stories from women who now live in God’s forgiveness. These stories offer hope through the experiences each has faced, which in turn led her to a peace regarding the past that only Christ can offer. www.abbeysplace.org

No One Told Me I Could Cry (especially for adolescents)
1997 Connie Nykiel An honest look at the emotional consequences following a teen’s experience with abortion. www.lifecyclebooks.com (800)214-5849 orders@lifecyclebooks.com

SaveOne: A Guide to Emotional Healing after Abortion Sheila Harper
Their mission is to reach men and women who are suffering in silence after an abortion. Their passion is to help men and women reclaim and restore their peace of mind and self-worth. www.saveone.org

Surrendering the Secret Pat Layton Surrendering the Secret is a course designed to bring women together who share abortion in their past. Abortion is not a secret anymore; it is freely discussed in our society. Despite this new openness, many women have pain and experiences that they don’t feel comfortable telling anyone. www.surrenderingthesecret.com

Women in Ramah - Study in Spanish!
Linda Cochrane
www.care-net.org

Resources for Healing - LA Pregnancy Centers

Sat, 11 Apr 2009 12:03:13 -0500

Below is a list of Pregnancy Resource Centers that may offer individual or small group abortion recovery.
The Centers are places of care and compassion. If you are not able to contact your local Center, please give us an email. We are here to help.
...along the journey of recovery and hope...

New Orleans Area Crisis Pregnancy Centers:
* Access Pregnancy & Referral Center
200 W. Esplanade Avenue, Suite 130
Kenner, LA 70065
504-469-9996

* Access Pregnancy & Referral Center
1510 Veterans Memorial Blvd.
Metairie, LA 70005
504-832-1503

* Access Pregnancy & Referral Center
920 Avenue C
Marrero, LA 70072
504-340-1944

* Living Alternatives Pregnancy Clinic
3108 - 20th Street Suite #102
Metairie, LA 70002
504.831.4006

* Community Center for Life
539 Lafayette Street
Gretna, LA 70053
504-227-9090

* Women's New Life Center
3017 N. Causeway Blvd. Suite 100
Metairie, LA 70002
504-831-3117

Covington/Slidell Crisis Pregnancy Centers:
* Crisis Pregnancy Help Center
550 Gause Blvd Suite 2
Slidell, LA 70458
985-643-4357

* Northlake Crisis Pregnancy Center
814 W. 21st Avenue
Covington, LA 70434
985.893.4281

Hammond Crisis Pregnancy Centers:
* Restoration House
101 S. Spruce Street
Hammond, LA 70403
985-542-0492

Baton Rouge Crisis Pregnancy Centers:
* North Baton Rouge Women's Help Center
7515 Scenic Hwy
Baton Rouge , LA 70807
225-359-9001

* Care Pregnancy Clinic
3813 N Flannery Rd
Baton Rouge LA 70814-8002
Phone: (225) 272-3680
Toll free: (888) 823-1121

* Catholic Community Services
1900 South Acadian Thruway
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
(225) 336-8708 or (800) CARE-002

* Problem Pregnancy Center
4724 Jamestown
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
225-924-1400

Houma/Thibodeaux:

A Women’s Choice Pregnancy Center
1411 West Tunnel Blvd.
Houma, LA 70360
985-872-4994

* Crossroads Pregnancy Resource Center
105 St. Louis St.
Thibodaux, LA 70301
985.446.5004
1-866-446-5004

Lafayette:

A Pregnancy Center and Clinic
913 S College Rd #206
Lafayette, LA 70503
337-232-5509

* Women’s Center of Lafayette
1018 Harding Street, Suite 102
Lafayette, LA 70503
337-289-9366
1-877-84WOMEN

Alexandria:

Lily of the Valley Ministries
1605 Murray St., Ste. 224 & 225
Alexandria, LA 71303
1-888-442-4505
318.442.4504

* Volunteers Pregnancy Services
3900 Lee St.
Alexandria, LA 71302
318-442-8026

Shreveport:
* Ark-La-Tex Crisis Pregnancy Center
921 Shreveport-Barksdale Hwy
Shreveport, La 71105
318.861.4600

Monroe & Ruston:

Life Choices of North Central LA
211 W Texas Avenue
Ruston , LA 71270
318-255-7377

* Life Choices Pregnancy
1500 Royal Ave
Monroe, LA 71201
318-323-2200

DeRidder:
* Beauregard/Vernon Crisis Pregnancy Center
711 Mahlon St., Suite C
DeRidder, LA 70634
337.463.9500
1.800.259.1999

Minden:

Pregnancy Aid Center
202 Miller Street
Minden LA 71058
318-377-4175

Livingston:

* Family Resource Clinic
12201 Florida Blvd.
Livingston, LA 70754
225-686-1123

Lake Charles:

* New Life Counseling Center
631 East School St
Lake Charles, LA 70601
337-474-700

* ABC Crisis Pregnancy Resource Center
510 W. 18th Street
Lake Charles, LA 70601
337.433.2797

Natchitoches:
* Women's Resource Center of Natchitoches
107 North St.
Natchitoches, LA 71457
318-357-8888

Resources for Healing - Online Recovery

Thu, 9 Apr 2009 20:48:29 -0500

Online Recovery Courses
Free Me To Live: Recovery Course by Ken Freeman
A distance learning recovery course to overcome abortions hurts. Interactive on-line, distance course. The course steps you through all eleven chapters of FREE ME TO LIVE, supplies downloads of all worksheets and object lesson guides, provides audio vignettes for listening and feedback interaction with the author throughout the course. www.freemetolive.com

My Abortion Grief,Guilt, and Shame...Is Ending Soon by Victims Of Choice
"Long-distance, one-on-one, confidential, 10-session program conducted via one or a combination of the following methods: snail-mail, e-mail, phone, instant messaging. Each session conducted ‘long-distance’ is the same sessions conducted face-to-face using the same program. Each participant is assigned to a trained facilitator for the entire 10 session course, no charge for program www.victimsofchoice.org

Resources for Healing - Churches

Wed, 8 Apr 2009 11:29:43 -0500

In Our Midst offers excellent resources for ministry leaders in reaching those hurting from the long lasting pain of abortion...
Some Resources offered by In Our Midst:
Making the Church a Safe Place for the Post-Abortive
How to Cultivate Compassion for the Post-Abortive Among the Non-Abortive
* Abortion & the Church: Ministering to the Abortion-Affected In Our Midst (booklet)
* Telling the Secret: Why It's Important to Tell Others About Your Past Abortion; Who to Tell and How to Do It (booklet)
* Being Christ to the Abortion-Affected In Your Midst: Ten Tips for Churches to Reach Out to the Post-Abortive (pamphlet)
* Understanding Abortion: What Do You Believe? (church bulletin insert)
* Abortion Fact Sheet: Who Does Abortion Affect? // Recognizing the Number of Post-Abortive In Our Midst (information card)
* No Greater Love Abortion Recovery Support Group Brochures (for churches or organizations interested in hosting abortion recovery programs)
Above Resources Available on the “In Our Midst” site

The Rachel Network - Dr. Martha Shuping also provides excellent resources including “A Night of Healing” for churches and is also available to train ministry leaders. Her book “Four Steps to Healing” provides simple steps to provide healing for those hurt by abortion.

The Church...A Place for Healing...
The following is a reprint of an article written by Mary Comm of “In Our Midst”. This article can also be found on the web site and gives understanding on why the church must reach the...often 1 in 3...post abortive women in the church...sitting....in our midst.

FROM “IN OUR MIDST” by Mary Comm
I knew God had forgiven me for having the abortion but I believed the sadness and torment I felt would be with me always. - Stephanie

It is said that if wombs had windows abortion would not exist. I believe that if the hearts of those wounded by abortion had windows, there would be no condemnation toward them in the church. - Mary Comm

The church needs to establish itself as a safe place in which those that have been wounded by abortion may find love, acceptance, hope, and healing in Jesus Christ. What is it that makes a church safe for people to share their deepest hurts, especially when that hurt is a past abortion?
Breaking the Silence
The very fact that most churches are silent on the issue of abortion, with the rare exception of a passing mention on Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, is evidence to the individuals within those congregations that it is not safe for them to share their pain. For them, the silence is a deafening indictment against them. Were it not so, abortion would not be such a taboo word. The fact that few pastors will even speak it - much less speak about it with compassion and mercy - is all they need to continue keeping the suffering and shame, silent.
Shutting Down Condemnation
The first step is to educate those that have never been touched by an abortion - the non- abortive. This is why it is crucial that the pastor of your church is fully informed on the truth about who has abortions, why they choose abortion, and how it affects them. It is the pastor's job to level the field on the issue of sin and to tell the truth about abortion to the entire congregation as a step toward generating compassion for those hurting people.

Those that have never been touched by an abortion cannot be expected to understand the torment suffered in the hearts of those that have. Yet that understanding is vital if we are to eliminate judgmentalism in the church toward them. Since most post-abortive people are unable to speak for themselves publicly, it is the responsibility of those that do understand to speak for them. The understanding and truth come first, then the privilege and responsibility is ours to speak on their behalf until such time as they are able to speak for themselves.

When church members believe erroneously that women choose abortion (a) because it is their legal and fundamental right to do so, (b) as a form of birth control, or (c) as a blatant act of selfishness, the result is often righteous anger and condemnation. However, when a truer picture is painted and people are able to see their motivations more clearly, and when the consequences of that choice are revealed, the result is understanding that leads to compassion.

Dr. David C. Reardon, well-known in pro-woman/pro-life circles is a biomedical ethicist and director of the Elliot Institute. Dr. Reardon has done many studies pertaining to the affects of abortion as well as statistics related to the post-abortion issue. In his book, The Jericho Plan: Breaking Down the Walls Which Prevent Post-Abortion Healing, Dr. Reardon offers a plea to pastors and ministers that are becoming aware of those that are suffering silently in their midst due to a past abortion:

We are calling upon you, our clergy, to give entire sermons on the need for understanding and compassion for those who have had abortions. This can be done without in any way condoning abortion. Using as examples the testimonies of women who have chosen abortion, congregations can be reminded of how, in times of great stress, people do even those things which they most abhor. With examples of women who have been literally dragged to unwanted abortions, and those who simply gave in under the weight of many pressures, people should be helped to see that women are not always fully culpable. This does not lessen the seriousness of abortion, but it does lessen our tendency to judge and blame. [Page 15, The Jericho Plan]

Jesus said in John 8:32, "you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." The truth of who has abortions, why they have them, and how they are affected by them will free God's people to embrace this wounded population with the love of Christ. It will free us to be His hands and feet toward them with the intent of reconciling them to Christ and restoring them to useful service for the kingdom of God.
Sharing Hope
The second step in making the church a safe place for the post-abortive to share their pain is to speak directly to them of God's desire to forgive and restore them. Spelling out the character of God is key to helping them understand God's heart toward them. While God is a just and righteous God who hates sin, He is also the God who sent His Son to pay the price for our sins even while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8 clearly communicates this principle of God's character: But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. And 1 John 1:9 takes it a step further: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [Emphasis mine]

This verse specifies that there is no sin that God will not faithfully forgive when we agree with Him on the issue of our unrighteous deeds. Many post-abortive people feel their sin is too great for God to forgive. When they hear statements from the pulpit such as, "God loves you and forgives you no matter what your sin is..." their thought is, But you don't know what I've done. They need to hear - in clearly laid out terms - that God knows about their abortion and that His desire is to forgive them for the purpose of reconciling them to Himself. They need to hear that God sees their wounded heart and spirit and that His desire is to heal those broken places and to free them from the strongholds of shame and guilt. His desire is to give them the beauty of His grace and forgiveness in exchange for the ashes of their sin and shame. (Isaiah 61:3) Therein lies the hope they long for.

Speak God's passionate, lavish love over them. Use words that help them to see God's heart for them. Help them to understand that while He hates their sin, He loves them. As you do so, not only do you enable them to believe there is hope for them, but you also begin building a bridge of compassion uniting the non-abortive to those wounded by abortion. Offering healing words of God's love and forgiveness will set a tone of compassion within your church where condemnation once stood.
© Mary Comm for In Our Midst Ministries, Inc. 2006

“As the floodgates of healing flow through Louisiana...the local church can be a safe place for healing...of hope...of mercy...a place where lives are transformed...there are one in three in our midst...does anybody hear their silent cry...YES...we hear...and we are here to help on the journey to healing and life.”

Resources - LA Abortion Recovery Awareness

Tue, 7 Apr 2009 13:42:09 -0500

Below are Resources you can use to promote awareness and healing in Louisiana. There is also a Media Release as you scroll down.
We also have Resources and Speakers to equip and share about Abortion Recovery. There is information also available on how you can bring healing and recovery from abortion, to your area. Please feel free to give us an email: