Client Stories by Staff - Living Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Centers

Client Stories by Staff

Jacksonville PRC:

She had given in to the pressure to have sex with her boyfriend and she was afraid she could be pregnant! On her way to meet with friends at the local coffee shop she noticed the Pregnancy Resource Center’s sign and decided to give us a call.

When I met with her I learned that she was a high school student who attended church, and had plans and goals for her future.

“What will you do if your pregnancy test is positive today,” I asked.

“My parents have already told me that I would have to have an abortion.”

I gently responded to that statement by asking her, “Did you know that legally you can’t be forced to have an abortion?”

“No, I didn’t know that. But, I have plans to go to college.”

“Wow! At this time in your life the decision to terminate a pregnancy is probably one of the biggest decisions you’ve ever had to face before. With that in mind we want you to be fully informed. What do you know about fetal development and the abortion procedures?”

“I really don’t know anything about it. All I know is that in school they tell you that abortion is one of your options.”

“Would it be alright if we viewed a couple of video clips then? One shows fetal development and the other shows the most common abortion procedure performed at your stage of pregnancy.”

“Sure,” she replied, and together we watched the clips. She quickly became transfixed by the image on the screen of a tiny baby moving inside the womb; a living human being, not just a mass of tissue.

She expressed amazement upon learning that the baby had a heartbeat just 24 days after conception—until then, she thought that the heart began beating much later, at around 5 months.

Viewing the next clip was even more revealing to her. I explained to her that the abortionist performing the surgical procedure had no view into the womb and would be performing the procedure through touch alone. She could hear the sound of the suction machine, and at one point she turned her head away. With tears in her eyes, exclaimed, “How can they do this? A baby is innocent…a baby is innocent!”

At the end of our counseling session she again commented about how in school students are told that abortion is an option but “They don’t show you the reality of it.”

“What would you want your friends to know?” I asked her.

“I would want them to come here. I would want my friends to see this!”

Because of her, and others like her, we are stirred to want to do more to educate our youth; especially those who attend church and say they have a relationship with God, as this young lady did. You may be surprised to know that 43% of women who have abortions identify themselves as Protestant and 27% identify themselves as Catholic. This means that 70% of women experiencing the pain and trauma of abortion are in the church! Let us do what God asks us to do to change this! Let’s not let this be the future of the church…or our youth!

Kankakee PRC:

Sometimes a life can be saved by simply answering the phone. About six months ago, a lady called our Center very upset. She told me her daughter was pregnant and her ex-husband was going to take her to get an abortion. She asked me what she should do. I told her we could pray.

I prayed with her over the phone and we both cried. We talked some more and then ended the call. Just a little over three weeks ago she called back and asked if I remembered her. She was calling to thank me. She said her daughter changed her mind and is now in her eighth month of pregnancy. She has decided to make an adoption plan and has chosen an adoptive home for her baby. The mother then went on to thank me again and said the reason her grandchild was going to receive life was because of our prayer. She said she needed to know more about that “praying thing”!

It is always wonderful when God intervenes and people see Him become active in their lives. Here at the Center we see His hand everyday. He is constantly reminding us that this is His work and we are just tools in His hands. Through Him we restore life, revive hope and build character!

Let’s continue to pray for these women we are in contact with each day. Let’s pray we can build relationships that will have a lasting effect for His glory to shine through. When even one baby’s life is saved or one girl realizes that God really loves her, the Lord is pleased.

Shelbyville PRC:

Conducting a pregnancy test for a client isn’t a rare occurrence in our line of work. But the one I experienced a few weeks ago is a different story.

A young lady came to our Center wanting a pregnancy test and birth control. I told her I could give her a test, but we do not distribute birth control. She looked at me in amazement. I could tell she was thinking, “Why not????” I continued to tell her we support and teach abstinence. She wasn’t too keen on that idea.

So, while we were waiting for her test results, I asked her about her faith. This was the first time since I’ve started working at the PRC that a client showed no interest in God in a hateful way. I was shocked! Sure, I’ve had a client tell me they aren’t interested, but this client was particularly harsh. I remember sitting there praying, “God, please tell me what to do, please tell me what to say. PLEASE HELP ME HERE!!!” Because the girl didn’t receive Christ I felt small. I felt that I had failed God, the PRC, and myself, but God assured me I did my part in His plan.

That whole situation made me realize something I had somewhat forgotten through the hustle and bustle of everyday routine --- this isn’t just a job. The PRC is something much bigger than all of us. And what a blessing it is to be a part of such a divine ministry!!

Also, I learned not to be afraid to share the Love of God. God showed me that even when we are afraid sometimes, it’s okay to take a leap because He’s there taking it with us.