Heartbeat Press - August 2025 Edition

So I Married an Abortionist - The Story of Haywood Robinson and Noreen Johnson, Part 1 

    In the 1993 absurdist comedy film So I Married an Axe Murderer, actor Mike Myers plays a man so desperate for love that he dates, proposes to, and marries a woman, actress Nancy Travis, all while being fully aware that the love of his life may be a notorious and elusive serial killer. Hijinks ensue, misunderstandings abound, and in the end things just might work out all right. But what happens when similar events play out in real life, free from quirky slapstick and the possibility that misunderstandings have underpinned the whole debacle? You get the story of doctors Haywood Robinson and Noreen Johnson, a married couple who doubled as proud dual abortionists in the state of Texas. Their history begins when Robinson met Johnson in residency and was impressed by her skill for ending life (though neither of them saw it as life at the time). 

    Recounted in their book, The Scalpel and the Soul, Robinson and Johnson's first meeting occurred outside of an operating room door in 1978, as Johnson asked which of her pupils was ready to preform a medical abortion for the first time. Unlike a scene from Grey's Anatomy, where our nominal hero Dr. Robinson declares unabashedly that he will not take life, causing Dr. Johnson to fall for him and his rugged convictions, Robinson was instead eager to please the pretty attending resident. While a little taken aback by the casual attitude surrounding the procedure and one resident's refusal to preform it, Robinson hardly thought twice about being inducted into a long line of murderous doctors, thinking instead that the act was an unimpressive checkmark on his studies. Had he thought twice, the date that Robinson got with Dr. Johnson soon afterwards would have distracted him - such was his infatuation with her. 

    Marrying shortly afterwards, the couple was excited to begin their practice, and neither felt any hesitation about providing abortions as a major service. In fact, as the only abortionists in their small Texas town, both Robinson and Johnson felt that they were filling a void of care. To them, abortions were no different than elective surgery, so much so that, when Johnson quickly became pregnant and felt that a child would interfere with her work, the couple thought nothing of asking a friend of preform the procedure. Fortunately, the doctor refused and nine months later Johnson and Robinson welcomed a baby girl. But, even in that moment of intended filicide, God was working on the couple, beginning with Dr. Robinson. 

    Shortly before the birth of his daughter, Robinson attended a concert for a Christian musician that he admired. Making light of the altar-call that occurred at the end of the event, Robinson recounts to his day that he hardly noticed standing up in the midst of it with a sudden prompting that he had something to get off his chest. He found himself praying along with his fellow concert-goers and afterwards felt incredibly light for a reason he couldn't put his finger on at the time. And, while he continued to preform abortions for a few months afterwards, addicted to the paycheck that came with the specialty (as he now admits), Dr. Robinson soon felt a prodding that he couldn't continue to end babies' lives. As this realization hit him, old memories also resurfaced. 

    Years before he had met Johnson, at the very beginning of his medical studies, Robinson had accidently gotten his girlfriend at the time pregnant and, as was seemingly expected of an ambition-driven and arrogant young man, Robinson suggested that she get an abortion, even offering to pay for it. In his mind, he was in no position to become a father and one mistake shouldn't infringe on his plans. He gave no thought to the personhood of his child and never considered what his girlfriend may have wanted. He didn't even bother to drive her to the abortion clinic, choosing instead to wait for news of "success" at his girlfriend's house. The relationship quickly fell apart afterwards, but even then Robinson didn't consider that his coercion was the major factor in its failure. However, in hindsight, Robinson finally made the connection, and, while he couldn't change what he had done and could only grieve for his lost son or daughter, he also definitely determined that his medical skills had to be used to make amends instead of causing further harm going forward. Joining 40 Days for Life and eventually becoming the group's director of medical affairs, Robinson has now marched outside of countless abortion clinics, including one he frequently worked within, and is now fully committed to the mission of life.     

    In early 2025, I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Robinson in person and, though I only heard him speak post-redemption, it is evident in every word the doctor speaks that his heart-change is complete and unwavering, and that he is passionate about championing the lives he would have previously ended for a paycheck. As is so often the case, those individuals with the worst pasts find the most powerful redemption and then cannot keep quiet about their transformation. Comparing his own arc with that of former Planned Parenthood director Abby Johnson, Dr. Robinson is every-grateful for his chance to begin again, a journey he shares with his beloved Noreen, though her conversion took a little longer. 

Sources: Wikipedia, The Scalpel and the Soul by doctors Haywood Robinson and Noreen Johnson, Spirit Radio 

Photo Credit: Stockcake.com 

Heartbeat Press - July 2025 Edition

Service on the Silver Screen - Two Movies, Two Ideas of the Meaning of Service 

    While many things come to mind when someone mentions the word "summer" (including cold swimming pools, refreshing drinks, warm sun, and undisrupted free time), one of the quintessential, if often forgotten, parts of the season that I want to highlight here are the movies. Specifically, the summer pastime of enjoying a movie on the silver screen (theater or drive-in) to beat the heat and spend your leisure time well. While not as popular as it used to be, this entertainment activity is nevertheless an exciting break from the norm. It has spawned an entire industry of films that covet post-Memorial Day release dates and generally stays away from heavy topics in favor of lighthearted or comedic vacation vibes. But sometimes a heavy film is a necessary pill to swallow, especially if it covers an issue that viewers are passionate about. To that end, Heartbeat Press wants to introduce two films that both center around the abortion issue, albeit with two very different moral bents to them. We encourage you, our readers, to watch these films yourself in order to make your own determination about which one presents a better message (perhaps you have to do so as summer vacation flows by like a proverbial lazy river). For the time being, however, here are Heartbeat Press's ten-cent summaries of Bella (2006) and April (2024).

Bella - After a stressful morning at the restaurant that he cooks for, José discovers that his coworker, Nina, is pregnant and planning to have an abortion, claiming that she has no support system or money to manage having a child. While initially conflicted about Nina's "right to make a decision about her body," José also holds strong Pro-Life beliefs because of a tragic accident that he was involved in years ago, and subtly begins championing the baby's life. As the pair walks around New York City - having lunch, visiting José family, and eventually having a conversation on the beach - the two begin to bond, prompting Nina to reveal her fears of motherhood and José to point out the preciousness of every life. Spending time with José's family also comforts Nina, causing her to have doubts about aborting her baby as the day draws to a close. But she's still fearful that the child's life will be one of unloved neglect. In the morning, as Nina waits for her abortion, José arrives and makes one final plea for the baby's life. Five years later, Bella waits with José, her adopted father, on the beach for her mother Nina to arrive for a much-anticipated family reunion. As the film closes, the found family is seen holding hands, mending all their broken hearts. Pro-Life and Pro-Adoption Bella won and ALMA award for outstanding performance of a lead Latino actor cast in a motion picture.

April - In the Eastern European country of Georgia, April, and OB-GYN and abortionist, loses a baby mid-delivery, prompting an investigation into her practice and the judgement of men who, according to the politics of the film, don't understand that plight of women who find themselves pregnant with unwanted babies. Framed as a thriller and as a haunting picture of "the plight of women," the film delves deeply into April's subconscious in order to draw attention to the unseen world of abortion. As the investigation continues, April spirals into depression, the father of the dead baby becomes increasingly manic while searching for answers, a pale lurching creature haunts the film's background (symbolizing the dead baby and/or the fear women feel when facing the "unknown"), and the plight of put-upon women reaches a fever pitch. As the crux of the film, April questions how she can deny women abortions when they are desperate and left no other options. However, the film ignores the wide variety of options that do exist and the greater good that doctors can do by offering choices instead of death alone. The film leans heavily on its message, from a female point of view, and paints April as a brave and rebellious individual who nevertheless falls back on the expectations and judgement of others to justify her actions. Shown at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, April was specially spotlighted for its boldness. 

At their core, both of these films have a message of care and quiet strength; however, their interpretations are worlds apart and carry different definitions of the word "service." In Bella, service means self-sacrifice and the willingness to wade through life's difficult moment as another person's shoulder to cry on. In April, service is the meeting of transitory needs and the defense of personal convictions despite pushback against them. Only one film is Pro-Life. 
    As difficult as it is to adhere to, sometimes the Pro-Life message is one of sacrifice, selfless care, and a belief in others when they may not believe in themselves. As demonstrated by Bella's story, people who are truly focused on service to other will give of themselves unreservedly and will champion life in even the most dire of circumstances - looking forward to the future and taking actions to get there rather than stooping to the "easy" out that solves present-focused problems. In a world obsessed with self, how beautiful are those that can enact true service, altruistically and for a cause that goes beyond self.  

Sources: Students for Life of America, IMDb, IonCinema 

Photo Credit: IMDb, Richland Student Media, 123RF.com

Heartbeat Press - June 2025 Edition

"When You Believe" - A Song of Joy, Freedom, and Life  

    On the morning of June 24, 2022, I was sitting behind the desk in my office, intently glued to a computer screen, rummaging through the day's work. Heartbeat Press had just published its maiden edition (June 2022), my day job was keeping me busy more often than not, and (though it wasn't in the forefront of my mind at that moment) life-changing news awaited. For weeks, headlines had buzzed over the leaked news that the Supreme Court had plans to reverse Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that made abortion legal in every state. While the actual ruling had yet to be handed down, all eyes watched for it, anticipating celebrating or bemoaning the decision, depending on personal conviction and political leaning. Given my Pro-Life beliefs, which I had recently decided to put some muscle behind, I was one that hoped for a reversal, since it would bolster Pro-Life protections for the unborn and give advocates for life a better ability to reach out to mothers before they aborted their children.
    However, I can admit that not all my thoughts around the potential reversal were positive. I wanted the unfair ruling to end with all my heart, but part of me also wondered if the action would con Pro-Lifers into early retirement under the assumption that "there was no more work to do." Would Pro-Lifers become obsolete? Would the threats of angry backlash become a reality, turning neutrals against Pro-Lifers because of "what they had caused?" Would heart-change work be abandoned in Pro-Life states in the face of legal protections (choosing smug legal justification over a desire to educate)? And then I checked my phone. Abby Johnson, famous for leaving a high profile position at Planned Parenthood to become a vocal Pro-Life advocate and one of the first people I heard speak about the value of the unborn, had just posted a video. In it, amidst tears of joy and the jubilant shouts of friends, Johnson broke the news: the Supreme Court had just made good on its plan; Roe v. Wade had been overturned!
    For a brief moment, all those "What If's" rushed into my mind and my heart felt tremendously heavy as a mix of excitement and grief, joy and fear mixed inside of it. But then it struck me that all that trepidation could wait and solutions could be found if necessary. The thing to do in that moment was to celebrate. And I did - as the long-awaited news spread like wildfire, declaring the unborn valuable - with a few happy tears and a song that I felt perfectly summed up the moment.
    Written for the 1998 film The Prince of Egypt, "When You Believe" is the celebration song of the Israelites, which starts as a whisper before building to a roaring cheer as they finally leave Egypt as a free people after centuries of mistreatment. It speaks of waiting for a change in desperate silence; the need for blind faith in the face of insurmountable odds; and (most importantly) the undying truth that, despite every set back and failure, miracles are possible and can come about when we least expect them (through the most unlikely people).
    As I listened to the song on that early summer morning, it struck me that its message had been (and often still is) the reality for the Pro-Life movement as it stands against the ever-present culture of death that is so intrinsic to modern society. The work often feels thankless, heartache or bittersweet joy are familiar emotions, and at times it seems like victories like the reversal of Roe are few and far between (i.e., according to Guttmacher Institute statistics, at least sixty million babies died under Roe). But our joy in those circumstances, our faith in a cause, is what makes ours a story of triumph over tragedy and defines everyone within it as conquerors in a hard-fought war. As Miriam (sister to Moses) sings in "When You Believe," faith can move mountains before the individual (or the group) realizes it has, simply because it was kept alive and growing.
    Generations of Pro-Lifers wished for an end to Roe; they believed beyond the shadow of a doubt that it could happen, and, even when fears and frustrations arose, they kept a hope alive because every individual was confident in the cause and the God who had called each and every one of them to take a part in it. Hope (like all abstract things) can be frail at times, and yet remains one of the hardest substances to kill entirely because it exists in the hearts of those who preserve it, its longevity bolstering causes in even the darkest of nights. It's an end goal to strive towards and a uniting point of common ground for all. It stirs the most unlikely champions and is, in every moment, a reminder that things change; they just take time and trust.
    Roe v. Wade was overturned three years ago, and, despite my fears and every possible "What If," Pro-Lifers have not become obsolete. In fact, our movement is needed more than ever as we expand heart-change, counseling, and pregnancy center work. And, as much as it was a beacon for our biggest win to date, "When You Believe" has not exceeded its purpose yet either. It can still be an encouraging anthem for our life-saving work as we surge ahead to our next "impossible" goal, whatever that may be. Let's joyfully take the wins when they come and let's never make the mistake of assuming our work is over. Instead, hope is our heartbeat and belief our backbone. Powerful things happen when we set them to work. 

Sources: Wikipedia.org, Live Action News.org

Photo Credit: YouTube.com

Heartbeat Press - May 2025 Edition

Summer Stock - Students Join the Fight

    Strange as it is to consider amidst deadlines, finals, and a lot of sleepless nights, the current school semester is coming to a close, or will be very soon, causing summer vacation and all its leisure to loom large in the minds of everyone in academia. In fact, it isn't uncommon to find the majority of students treating their approaching "liberation" as the proverbial lighthouse to their storm of studies, motivating them to surge forward. But what do students do with that freedom once they've gained it, post-finals? Many, especially those in college, devote their summer to working as many hours as they can manage and filling the remainder of their time with socializing and events, pastimes that are much harder to commit to while busy with post-secondary education. But, while these pursuits are wonderful, well deserved, and in some cases necessary, there are also other options for summer occupation that students, specifically those with Pro-Life beliefs, should consider.
    The Pro-Life movement is alive and well, with an estimate from Gallup News noting that 41% of Americans identified with the cause in 2024. Students make up part of that percentage, but, much like with personal pastimes or employment, many college-aged individuals find committing to consistent Pro-Life work during the school year daunting if not completely impossible. However, summer offers ample time for commitment, which not only gives students a fulfilling pastime but also may prove useful on future job and scholarship paperwork (not that life saving work should only be done if there are perks involved). So what Pro-Life summer opportunities are there?
    Aside from the tried and true option of devoting more time to your local pregnancy resource center or volunteering for the first time in a role that best fits your passions and talents, there are a host of other, more unusual, possibilities to explore. If you're enterprising or have endless time on your hands until the next semester begins, you could even mix multiple options together to really round out your dedication to babies and mothers. You can participate in local, national, and recurring marches for life, showcasing your beliefs and adding your presence to the groups that often change minds simply because of their size and enthusiasm. Upcoming marches for life include 40 Days for Life's walks, state marches advertised by March for Life.org, and the National Celebrate Life Weekend in Washington D.C. hosted by Students for Life and several other groups. 
    You can enhance your own knowledge for use in summer interactions or when you return to school. Specifically, you can devote your summer to researching abortion statistics in your state, reading Pro-Life books (Heartbeat Press recommends The End of Woman by Carrie Gress and The Walls are Talking by Abby Johnson), watching Pro-Life movies or documentaries, and staying up-to-date on Pro-Life news for easy citing. Not only will doing so give you the head knowledge to defend your convictions when called to do so, but revisiting the reason for your convictions can help reaffirm and spur them on, especially if you've been confident in them for some time. 
    A particularly attractive option for students who would like resume punch-up are the many summer (and ongoing) internships available through Pro-Life groups. Let Them Live, Right to Life, Susan B. Anthony - Pro-Life America, and 40 Days for Life all have spaces available and offer practical, hands-on participation in their life-changing work. Beyond summer schedule filling, taking part in these opportunities also has longer lasting benefits that students can carry with them into future experiences and jobs. Clearly displaying a stint at a Pro-Life organization on a resume declares your conviction in no uncertain terms, showing that this is a matter that you care deeply for and are proud to declare. 
    Be a walking, talking billboard for life this summer! Wear Pro-Life shirts, jewelry, and other pieces that proclaim the message loud and proud. Be ready to back up your announcements with facts (see summer option 3) but first and foremost advertise the movement you care about and the truths it supports. This is perhaps the most "painless" option for summer participation, so much so that students can easily continue it once their next semester begins. It can be difficult to decorate yourself in unflinching statements from an unpopular opinion, but it may make the difference in some minds so it is well worth the "embarrassment" or "discomfort." Finally, and most importantly, make your stance known. In a world that kills the child and bullies her defenders, broadcasting your beliefs is frightening, but it is absolutely essential for change to happen and for lives to be saved. Speak your convictions out loud. Stand up for the truth that so many people ignore or don't know. Become known as a safe Pro-Life person. As Marcus Aurelius said, "You can also commit injustice by doing nothing." Don't let indifference or fear become your story of Pro-Life conviction.
    The student faction of the Pro-Life movement is not available at all times. They are busy and burdened with life beyond the movement for much of the year. But, once available, they should be a powerful force of change that doesn't wait in the wings because they weren't ready or able. Summer is coming; how will you spend it? 

Sources: Gallup News.com, March For Life.org, Priests for Life.org

Photo Credit: Pexels.com

Heartbeat Press - April 2025 Edition

 

Miracle Baby - One Family's Story of Heartbreak and Hope 

    Suzanne, Peter, and Rachel Guy have been staples at 40 Days for Life vigils, the annual March for Life in Washington D.C., and dozens of other Pro-Life events throughout the years, so much so that the family could easily be overlooked because of their frequent appearances. But the Guys are worth noting, not only because of their tireless dedication to defending life but also because, behind their smiles and softly whispered prayers, they have a story of heartache, strength, and hope that exemplifies the Pro-Life message a hundred times over. 

    That story begins in 1998, when, after marrying years before and diligently trying to conceive with no success, Suzanne and Peter were overjoyed to discover that they were expecting their very first child, a little girl whom they cherished jealously from the moment they learned of her existence. They prepared her room, sifted through names, dreamed what it would be like to be called "Mom and Dad," and eagerly anticipated Rachel's arrival, imagining what it would be like to hold her in their arms for the first time, giving her her very first hug. But all of the soon-to-be-parents' joy would turn into devastation in the blink of an eye during their twenty-two week ultrasound.

    While the appointment began normally enough, Suzanne soon began to suspect that something was wrong with Rachel when the attending nurse paused while conducting the ultrasound and quietly excused herself to speak with a doctor (a step that had never occurred during any previous visit). Upon arrival, the doctor gave weight to those suspicions, coolly explaining a prenatal diagnosis that left Suzanne agonizing over her child's future, as the happy vision of Rachel she had held seemed to slip away. As Suzanne still recounts, "She (the doctor) said, 'Your baby must not have any kidneys, your baby must not have a bladder, half your amniotic fluid is gone. There must be something chromosomally wrong with your baby...you need to have an abortion. You could die, and your baby most certainly will die.'" An unemotional and sterile encapsulation of a child that Suzanne couldn't associate with her daughter and a solution that left nothing up for debate. But, even in the midst of her shock, Suzanne knew deep in her heart that there had to be another option for her child, even if that option was going home to await Rachel's passing. At the very least, Suzanne would not submit to the purposeful killing of the little girl she already loved so much.

    Making their intentions clear to the medical establishment (to let Rachel live as long as she might), the couple went home and tried to pick up the pieces. However, as Suzanne still admits to this day, it was difficult to do so and at times she doubted the decision she had made for her daughter. Was she dooming Rachel to an existence of hardship and hurt? Was it worth a few more moments with her daughter if they were spent in sadness and regret? Was there anything good that could come out of this circumstance? And then Suzanne's mother arrived and asked her despondent daughter a very important question: "Is there still a heartbeat?" When this fact was confirmed, the devoted grandmother then uttered the phrase that has stayed with Suzanne to this day and now defines the entire family's Pro-Life work. She said, "If there's a heartbeat, there's hope." Clinging to this truth for the rest of their pregnancy, the Guys also remembered that God has a plan for everything.

    Rachel was born via C-section at 26 weeks, "squawking" and fighting for her life, even reaching up to grab the doctor's stethoscope, which surprised everyone because all predictions had said she would be too weak to move or make any sound at all. While she was premature, the prenatal diagnoses had been wrong and, despite a stay in the NICU to stabilize, Rachel was perfectly healthy and went home soon afterwards with her parents to begin the life she was nearly denied at the onset, to its fullest potential. And she has done just that.

    To date, Rachel has attended dozens of Pro-Life events; has told her story numerous times, including in several pieces for Live Action News; has traveled to Africa to work with children; and, spectacularly, she's even written letters to the doctor who advocated for her abortion. Not in anger but as a heartfelt plea to pursue answers in hard cases, like hers, instead of giving up on babies so quickly. Over the years, thousands of abortions have been carried out because of prenatal diagnoses. While some reveal genuine medical problems, destruction should never be the first option, especially when unknown numbers of those cases resemble the Guys', but ended in tragedy because of haste, a mistake, and fear. God sees worth in every life, no matter its condition, so who is man to decide who lives and who dies? As Rachel pointed out, "I would have missed out on a life that is such a joy." A heartbeat is life and as long as it remains...there is hope to cling to. 

Sources: YouTube.com (Suzanne, Peter), Live Action News (Suzanne, Rachel) 

Photo Credit: Vecteezy.com, Live Action News.org

Heartbeat Press - March 2025 Edition

Babies In Boxes - The Anonymous Pro-Life Tool Saving Lives    

    In October 2021, actor and noted philanthropist Christopher Meloni appeared on the popular PBS series Finding Your Roots to delve into his family's history. Known for roles in series like Law and Order (as Detective Elliot Stabler) and Harley Quinn (as Jim Gordon), Meloni has made a name for himself through characters who often have a soft spot of the less fortunate, defending and enacting justice on their behalf. This is a characteristic that becomes even more unique when put in perspective with Meloni's own life, which wouldn't have been possible without the real-life defense of innocence affected by the kindness of strangers in late 1800s to early 1900s Italy.     
    While perusing documents on the show, Meloni read a certificate of identification for his great-grandfather, Enrico Meloni, that detailed his retrieval from "the wheel," a device that was quickly explained by Finding Your Roots' host Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. as a type of primitive drop box often built into the walls of churches where new parents were allowed to anonymously leave their newborn babies if they were unable to care or provide for them. The children were then raised by the church or, in the case of Enrico Meloni, a nurse who saw to his upbringing until the age of twelve, when he was left to his own devices. Dr. speculated that Enrico was most likely left in the Foundling Wheel because his parents were poor but also noted that, given this beginning, it is extraordinary that Enrico rose above his circumstances, eventually immigrating to America and building a thriving family that produced a widely successful actor. Meloni agreed with this sentiment and added his own emotional reaction to the knowledge, saying he felt an extreme gratitude towards his great-grandfather in that moment.
    Foundling Wheels (modernized into Baby Boxes) still exist today in several US cities, where they can most commonly be found on the outside of Fire and Police stations. Outfitted with blankets, heating and cooling, postnatal packets for parents, safety-looking doors, and sensors that allow babies to be picked up by emergency professionals within two minutes, the boxes function as an extension of these first responder and medical services. Flourishing in that capacity, the boxes have enabled hundreds of babies to be rescued from abortion or abandonment. This perk was particularly highlighted by Live Action News in 2022, as the organization reacted to several relinquishment cases where infant remains were pulled from dumpsters and, in one heart-wrenching instance, the trash bin of a New Mexico hospital when the teen mother didn't want to admit she had been pregnant. Live Action noted that tragedies like those deaths would occur less frequently if more states implemented the life saving and anonymous baby boxes. Many Pro-Life groups have championed this effort for years, and after several box success stories, even the general public is beginning to take notice.
    However, there are some Pro-Choice groups and laymen who argue against the implementation of Baby Boxes, citing the expense of installation and the inhumanity of forcing women to give up their children as drawbacks to the tool's usefulness. Notably, these critics have failed to suggest any of their own alternatives to the issue besides abortion, which not only separates a woman from her child but also brutally kills that child and leaves the mother with years of emotional and physical trauma that many never recover from. While the pain of surrendering a child is excruciating, mothers who do so can find some comfort in the knowledge that they've given their children a chance that abortion never offers. Early hardships are surmountable, but death is forever.
    For Pro-Life advocate Monica Kelsey, the Baby Box initiative is of particular importance as the mission of her organization, Safe Haven Baby Boxes, but also because her own mother could have benefited from the option. Seventeen, pregnant from rape, and nearly pressured into an abortion in 1972, Kelsey's mother cherished the child she carried, but ultimately left the infant Monica at a hospital in Ohio. Realizing years later, after a career in the military and first response, just how close she came to death, save for the option to be cared for by others, Kelsey turned that heartache into action as she founded her company and now works to educate the public on Safe Haven Laws and the alternatives to abortion. To date, Safe Haven Baby Boxes has installed 191 Baby Boxes in fourteen states and has plans to continue its work until every state prioritizes the tool. 
    Though they routinely save lives, Baby Boxes are a woefully underused aspect of the Pro-Life movement. They utilize public safety resources and build on proven foundling policy, but are often invalidated by asinine arguments from the Pro-Abortion crowd. However, the boxes have begun to garner public interest, which may inspire wider appreciation and implementation going forward. At the very least, the boxes should be considered a viable option in a post-Roe, resource-curious, world.  

Sources: Live Action News, Spectrum News 1.com, Fandom.com, Wikipedia, Safe Haven Baby Boxes.org, Finding Your Roots, YouTube - Court TV

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Heartbeat Press - February 2025 Edition

Aunt Edna - The Texas Adoption Crusader 

    It's early on a Sunday morning in winter as the warm rays of a rose-gold sun rise to peek curiously through the bedroom blinds of a large, stately house in Northeast Texas. Propped up in a chair softly stirring, a woman blinks back the sleep she hadn't realized she had fallen into before glancing over at the pristine white crib rocking silently to her right. A tiny child, two years old at most, rolls over just enough to catch the woman with its bright blue eyes which then glitter with recognition at the sight of her. Gracefully reaching out a finger for the baby to grasp, the woman smiles a broad if distant smile at the innocence of this tiny life that is so totally dependent on her. She wishes she were not its only lifeline in the world, but perhaps with time that situation will change. For now, she can offer the comfort and care that is essential for a happy childhood and the promise of doing all she can to find this child its forever home. Reaching into the crib, the woman picks up the cooing baby that grasps a whisp of the woman's bright red hair before snuggling into her shoulder to fall into peaceful sleep. 

    This was not the standard image of (aunt) Edna Gladney of the Texas Children's Home (now the Gladney Center for Adoption) in Fort Worth, though she certainly spent as much as she could spare nurturing the children under her care. Rather, the image most would picture when thinking of Edna Gladney is that of a demure and sparky crusader who quite literally changed the course of adoptions in the state of Texas and, in pursuit of that goal, walked enough miles to make the most devoted marathoner stop to catch his breath. 

    Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1886 Edna Gladney was the daughter of a working-class mother and a father who didn't stay long enough to even know he was a father. Later adopted by a stepfather who did not care about her illegitimacy and instead gave her every chance to succeed in life, Edna's early knowledge that the world had rejected her from birth may have been a key indicator of the work she would devote her later life to. Roaring into Texas in 1903 for health-related relaxation, Edna quickly demonstrated that she was far from the wilting wallflower ill young women were expected to be. Instead, she took up a part-time unpaid position as the superintendent of a small children's home that was on the verge of closing forever, where she industriously set to work changing that reality. 

    Originally focused on survival alone, the home Edna took under her wing soon began to blossom into a life-saving powerhouse under her parentage. It took in every child in need of a home, including thousands orphaned by The Depression and World War II. It pioneered new methods of pediatrics and healthcare through its partnership with local Fort Worth doctors, changing the medical status quo and necessitating the construction of a maternity hospital adjoining the home. Edna personally championed the admittance of single expectant mothers with the goal of empowering them to keep their babies or place them in loving homes. She walked hundreds of miles raising funds door to door. And, most notably, Aunt Edna went after Texas legislation that required the specification of "illegitimacy" on birth certificates, a practice that was common across the entire United States and summarily doomed those bearing the title to a lifetime of shame and ridicule. 

    Perhaps due to her own status as "nameless," this cause remained a driving passion of Edna's up to and after the revocation of the legislation in 1936, at which point she went after similar unfair laws and backwards thinking. One reporter once wrote of these acts that, "Mrs. Gladney usually won." Edna's work was so impressive that it even caught the attention of Hollywood, prompting the creation of the 1941 film "Blossoms in the Dust," starring the fiery redhead Greer Garson as Edna. In hindsight, Aunt Edna appreciated that the film brought awareness to the plight of her children.

    Over the course of her life, Edna Gladney found loving homes for over 10,000 children (the majority of whom she placed and delivered herself), with many of them tracking her down years later to thank her for the start she gave them in life. Spurred on by this, Aunt Edna continued her work almost up until her death in 1961. Had she been given the choice, Edna certainly would have chosen to keep going until the end of time, or until every "unwanted" child in Texas, if not the entire world, had found a perfect home. 

    Many considered the death of "Fort Worth's Angel of Mercy" to be a tremendous blow, worthy of deep mourning and sadness. However, even after her death, Edna was fondly remembered as a spitfire who changed the lives of thousands for the better. A fact that is best summed up by a reporter's quote that said of her: "Mrs. Gladney's ministry of mercy has captured both the imagination and the admiration of the nation...for the undying place she has in 10,000 hearts, for the admiration she has earned in millions of lives...(and) for her reminder that human life is the supreme of all values." 

Sources: Wikipedia (Edna Gladney) (Gladney Center for Adoption), Texas Adoption Activist Edna Gladney by Sherrie McLeRoy, TSHAonline.org, Texoso66.com,

Photo Credit: Find a Grave.com

Heartbeat Press - January 2025 Edition

January First - Ready...Set...Resolution  

    "I'm going to exercise more this year!" "I'm going to read more books." "By July I'm going to be eating healthier!" "We're really going to start saving money this year." Listen to that chorus of resolutions! It must be January 1st, aka, the day when the world's entire population realizes another year is beginning and feels the sudden compulsion to better themselves with new, if predictable, habits picked with almost religious reverence. Unfortunately for the resolve-driven masses, statistics reveal that over 80% of all New Year's resolutions fail midway through February before ever making a useful impact. As staggering as this calculation sounds, the truth in it is understood by everyone who has tried, and inevitably failed, a bold New Year's goal. 

    Making changes or bettering yourself is difficult, sisyphean at times, so one could ask why try to change at all? Because, if it's really important...the difficulty will be worth it in the end, says the short, gift-wrapped answer to this question. While fundamentally correct, this idea is really only good for early motivation, and has to be backed up by real, concreate details in order to actually end in finished goals, motivating enough to surmount road blocks and slip-ups once encountered. Details reveal starting places, offer opportunities to pick up from short of returning to the absolute beginning, and help flesh out goals through more finish-line oriented thinking. For instance, it is more inspiring to say, "I'm going to spend two hours on Mondays and Wednesdays praying outside of Planned Parenthood," than "I'm going to pray outside of abortion clinics more often this year." The fleshed-out goal paints a picture of what the task looks like and allows the resolutioners to attack the new habit with more practical enthusiasm than ever before. Now, with all that in mine, let's set some Pro-Life goals for this coming year. 

    Take a moment to consider what you can do for the Pro-Life Movement. What skills, passions, or knowledge can you offer to the cause? Is there a unique or dedicated part of yourself that can enrich your own experience, that of those around you, or the people you are trying to help? Picture that contribution as clearly as you can and manifest the motivation to use it over the course of the next year. Now, what does that contribution look like, broken up into manageable steps? Does it include a first act? A scheduled timeline? A collaboration with your fellow Pro-Lifers? Can you begin to follow those steps? Do so and you will have taken the biggest and most difficult leap towards a completed goal. One you can be very proud of at this time next year. Not every step in between start to finish will be smooth or profound, but they all mean something if they are taken in the name of continuing your goal and contributing to one of the most important movements of our time. Remember to keep moving, return to the work should you stumble or miss a step, and (like every important change) keep in mind that The Hardest Goals are Completed Because They Were Important Enough to Endure. 

Pray Outside an Abortion Clinic for Two Hours, Twice a Week.

Read Four Pro-Life Books and Recommend Them to Two Friends.

Volunteer at a Pro-Life Organization for Two Hours, Once a Week.

    Finally, regardless of the goals you set, their attainability, or your ability to seem them through, the most important idea to take with you into this next year is the understanding that a new year is beginning, carrying with it the chance to do some truly dedicated if not profound work for the Pro-Life Movement. As long-time or newly-minted Pro-Lifers, we have all been placed at a unique point in history that will define the current of society now and for years to come. When all is said and done, what would you like to have contributed to that definition? Will you be able to hold your head up with the knowledge that you did all you could (inexperience, fear, and mistakes included), or will you have lacked the courage to take that big first step at all? Just as this is a moment in history, it is also a crossroads in time for you.

    Beyond any talk of goal-setting and the like, it is very important that you pick which side of this history chapter you want to be on. You are already Pro-Life (you wouldn't read these words if you weren't), but do you hold your values esteemed enough to actually act on them or are they to remain proud words forever resigned to the dust bin 80% of good intentions end up in? What can you do for the Pro-Life Movement? Is it worth the time, dedication, and difficulty? Are you ready to take a leap big enough to span time and a cause? Ready...Set...Resolution! 

Sources: Inc.com 

Photo Credit: FlatIcon.com

Heartbeat Press - December 2024 Edition

Joseph - A Father's Calling  

    It's snowing outside...the first of the season. Students buzz, hoping the weather will delay or cancel school tomorrow; office workers grumble as they trudge to their cars, anticipating shoveling when they reach home; one frazzled mom speed-walks through store aisles trying to expedite her shopping in order to beat the slick roads. And, in a deafening silence matched only by the hush of snow outside, two blue lines peer up from a drug store pregnancy test at the stock-still young man who can only stare back at the tiny white stick in dumbfounded disbelief. A thousand questions crash into each other, but none of them can find words. For the first time in his life, no rational thought will form...or any thought for that matter. But, even so the young man is horrifyingly aware that nothing he might come up with would be sufficient to manage his tumbling emotions or end this eternity-long moment. And she's looking at him, with those big brown eyes...waiting for a response. Something, anything. But, what can he give her? Complete and utter loss is hardly what she needs right now, but it's seemingly all he can manage. That or fear, but how can he offer her that? Personal terror would only fail her more than he already has.

    Mirroring the situation three million couples find themselves in annually, the scene above also played out (albeit with a miraculous twist) over 2,000 years ago in a little Israelite backwater called Nazareth. The couple? A young girl newly and unexpectedly pregnant named Mary and her baffled and fearful soon-to-be-husband, Joseph. While often retold from Mary's point of view, the Christmas Story is already a Pro-Life story, its beats highlighting the unexpected but amazing nature of Jesus' birth, the joy Mary found in trusting the Lord for her provision, and the truth that no life (abrupt in origin or otherwise) is useless. But beyond that, the Christmas Story also has a powerful Pro-Life message for men, as told through the eyes of Joseph. 

    Joseph wasn't ready to be a father. In fact, it never occurred to him that he could become one so quickly and, like many men in similar situations, he didn't know how to make it past the next moment, let alone ponder the implications of raising an unexpected child. He was tempted to abandon the situation all together, and in Israelite culture at the time he would have been perfectly justified in leaving Mary for (apparently) dishonoring him so completely. Doing so would have left Mary utterly alone, saddled with the "consequences of her actions," but would have allowed Joseph to move on with his life without a second thought. Yet Joseph didn't abandon Mary. Instead, after a divine message, he answered the call that had been placed on his life long before he understood it or its implications, taking Mary as his wife and, essentially, adopting her son. 

    While seemingly backward to our modern way of thinking, Joseph's actions fill a void in the Christmas Story and becomes an early picture of self sacrifice for love of another (a picture that would be made complete in Jesus Christ thirty years later at Easter). Joseph's choice to love Mary despite her unusual circumstances meant he agreed to protect her from the judgement of a world that didn't understand the divine situation. He agreed to walk with her through life's ups and downs, sheltering her and giving her every bit of his strength should she need it. And, showing incredible trust in the calling placed on him, Joseph's choice also meant he wholeheartedly agreed to love Mary's son (taking him as his own) despite the whispers surrounding the boy. Caring for him, loving him, promising to help him grow into the man he was meant to become because Joseph (laymen though he was) understood what fatherhood meant and willingly took up the job when it was asked of him. 

    The same should be said of all fathers - expected, unexpected, devoted, and found. No matter how they become fathers, every man that finds himself the shepherd of tiny lives has a beautiful calling and a powerful testimony of purpose should he take up the call God has given to him. Too often discounted in modern society, fathers are the bedrock of families, the builders of homes, and (quite often) the first line of defense against sugar-coated abortion lies (do not discount the influence of men in this arena). It's a special profession defined by its diligence just as much as by its strength. As such, taking up the responsibility is an act of bravery that should not go unappreciated or forgotten. 

    Finally, a small encouragement for those men discovering they are going to be fathers, perhaps in a scene like the one at the beginning of this article, fraught with fear and uncertainty. Know this: God doesn't make mistakes. He knew he wanted Joseph to be his earthly father, and God wants you to be the father of this child. He picked you personally before time began, gifting you with this little life and the ability to protect it. He trusts you to be its father and He will be with you every step of the way. Your job in this moment (fears and all) is to trust Him in return. 

Sources: Wikipedia, Google, Live Action News 

Resources: Pro-Choice Men

Photo Credit: Catholic To The Max.com

Heartbeat Press - November 2024 Edition

Britney and Jamie Lynn - A Tale of Two Sisters

    "I need to have purpose in just about everything I do," wrote Jamie Lynn Spears in her 2022 autobiography, Things I Should Have Said, that, among other things, detailed the actress's early career, family climate, and the birth, life, and near death of her daughter Maddie, in February 2017. An accident at a family home, cooly described by the media but emotionally explained by Spears in her book, saw young Maddie pinned under a crashed ATV and submerged in a backyard pond long enough to require intensive hospitalization and ventilation assisted breathing for over 24 hours. Thankfully, because of dedicated doctors and buckets of prayer from friends and family, the eight-year-old miraculously recovered - suffering no ill effects to this day. A survival that Jamie Lynn credits to the Lord's hand on her daughter's life before, during, and after the ordeal. However, this was not the first time the Lord had protected Maddie. In fact, her life started with an act of protection. 

    Unexpectedly pregnant at sixteen and unsure of how parenting a child would affect her relationship, career, and celebrity standing, Jamie Lynn recounted that, once the news of her condition broke, everyone around her was less than thrilled that a baby was on the way. Foregoing encouragement, tabloid magazines (that live on celebrity "mistakes") declared that the young star had "ruined her career" and had behaved life white trash. Fans agonized over the story and friends and family jovially suggested that an abortion was in Jamie Lynn's best interest. In retrospect, abortion would have been the "smart" option had Spears wanted to maintain her glitzy flashbulb-illuminated life. Going through with the procedure would have been extremely "easy" given its promotion by everyone in her inner circle. And Jamie Lynn's own sister, Britney Spears, had gone through the same problem with her own unplanned pregnancy in 2000, eventually going through with a chemical abortion, thought later writings by Britney revealed that it was a coerced decision. 

    But, young as she was, Jamie Lynn still saw the inherent value of the child slowly growing inside of her and, more importantly, recognized it as a human being, a beautiful daughter, who was not a curse but rather a great blessing despite the surprise of her existence. Battling the "Abortion is the Best Option" crowd and the relentless media, Jamie Lynn kept her daughter, never regretting her decision once. In fact, raising Maddie has enriched Jamie Lynn's life a hundred times over. The choice wasn't easy, with the constant media bombardment and her realization that she had to grow up very fast in order to be a proper provider for Maddie. But, by all accounts and with years of hindsight, raising an unexpected daughter gave Jamie Lynn a greater life's purpose than a decades-long career would have given her. And the unwavering love that forever links mother and daughter has healed many scars both of them had and would receive. 

    When contrasted with the reality older sister Britney Spears had endured, the miracle of Jamie Lynn and Maddie's lives becomes even more profound. Many things have played a role in the downward spiral that has been Britney's life. The world-famous star was exposed to the damages of fame at a very young age, existed in multiple abusive relationships (with boyfriends, husbands, and her own father), and has suffered from untreated  and aggravated mental health problems for the majority of her adult life. The abortion she submitted herself to at the age of nineteen is not the only instigator of her tattered existence. But, it was coerced, kept secret for years, and horribly bloody (mirroring the experiences of hundreds of women who endured chemical abortions alone in their bathrooms with the full knowledge that they had ended their baby's lives). Detailed in Heartbeat Press's February 2023 edition, Britney's abortion may not have been the end or even the beginning of her problems, but it was certainly a huge contributor to them, especially since the star endured it uncomforted and has never (to the knowledge of this newspaper) delt with the emotional fallout of an act that eats everyone who goes through with it from the inside out. 

    At its core, the story of Britney and Jamie Lynn is a comparison between the two ways an unexpected pregnancy can play out and the way each impacts a woman for years to come. Jamie Lynn resisted an abortion even though it was difficult, which necessitated the postponement of her career plans. But, ultimately, she has experienced a fuller life and has a beautiful daughter to go through every up and down with. In contrast, Britney was forced into an abortion and has endured the physical, emotional, and lonely scars of the procedure her entire life without much comfort from her "flourishing" career and fame. Case and point? Children do not ruin the lives of their mothers. They are often the greatest blessing ever given, the destruction of which is more damaging than anyone wants to admit. 

Sources: People.com, Goodreads.com, Rolling Stone.com, Live Action News.com, Things I Should Have Said by Jamie Lynn Spears, The Woman in Me by Britney Spears

Photo Credit: 

Heartbeat Press - October 2024 Edition

Dead Eyes - Windows to Troubled Souls 

    A cold wind whistles low across the leaf-barren trees, and the murky darkness grows ever so slightly. A distant door slams, raising all the hairs on the back of your neck. A low chuckle rises from an unseen throat hidden somewhere in the shadows moments before a bolt of lightning suddenly illuminates the sky above you. For one brief moment you are face-to-face with a horrible, shallow-faced figure with beady dark eyes that flash with the lightning but reflect absolutely no light. In another instant, the world is dark again and you are seemingly alone. Except you know you're not. That thing with the empty eyes is still there, its presence permeating every fiber of your being, letting you know that it is sickeningly real and very close by. 

    Have you ever looked into someone's eyes only to see nothing looking back at you? Not a thought, not a hope, no soul to speak of...simply an empty vessel? As the description above suggests, this type of creature is something you would normally only expect to encounter in a gothic, black and white horror movie (see anything Universal or Hammer House of Horror ever made), accompanied by special effects and precisely-timed jump scares for the best entertainment. Yet, more and more, this type of creature can be seen in the real world and is more common then anyone may realize. You only need to look into its eyes to identify it. The abortion doctor is one of these creatures. As melodramatic as this sounds, one look into the eyes of any abortion-committing individual proves my point, as even the deepest of stares reveal only a beady emptiness and a total lack of empathy that stretches to the black pits of these individuals' souls. Abortion history also proves my point.

    - Kermit Gosnell, previously covered in Heartbeat Press' October 2022 Edition, had no humanity behind his eyes, only an inky blackness that sucked inward indefinitely. Years of legally-committed murder and deftly-hidden serial killer behavior rotted his soul, eventually leading to his imprisonment without possibility of parole, but not before hundreds of children and at least one woman met their ends at the hands of the former doctor. 

    - Dr. Josef Mengele, the Holocaust's notorious "Angel of Death," who experimented on captive Jews during World War II, escaped The Nuremburg Trials of 1945 but went on to apply his "talents" to "women's healthcare" in Argentina. Operating out of back-alley clinics and keeping a low profile, Mengele preformed abortions and also had empty eyes that were ever-glinty in the pursuit of his trade of death. Mengele never faced justice for his crimes, Holocaust or abortion, and, like many abortionists, never showed remorse for his intentional ending of human life.

    - Even Margaret Sanger, Planned Parenthood's founder and golden child, covered in Heartbeat Press' October 2023 Edition, had ebony eyes that whispered of the deadly intent the woman had. Her work alone irreversibly bolstered abortion in the USA and led to the corruption of the 1940s Women's Movement. 

Every one of them willingly destroyed life and every one of them had dead eyes reflecting the absolute blackness of souls that were willing to murder children and destroy mothers in the name of "good," "progress," or "healthcare." But more than the act, the optical calling card (still seen in doctors today) is solidified by the explanation for it, expertly summed up by former abortionist, Dr. Anthony Levation. When asked if he saw humanity in aborted babies, the doctor remarked, during a panel discussion for Live Action News, "Did I know those were human being? Absolutely. I...didn't...care." That is what abortion does to those who commit it. It kills their souls and leaves them with nothing behind their eyes but the depth of their sin. 

    But my purpose here is not to demonize these individuals. Their actions are theirs to answer for with or without my condemnation. Rather, my heart cries for each of these monsters because, behind their dark souls and horrendous acts, I can also see the children of God they were meant to be before they sold themselves to evil, as strange as that fact is to realize. Consider for a moment that, under the rot and decay of mechanically-committed murder, the heart of a Child of God, one capable of great good, is still softly beating behind the hollow eyes of every abortion doctor. They just have not yet encountered the all forgiving, world rocking, grace of God. A grace He offers for every sin...even theirs.

    Like every gothic horror monster artfully presented with crackling lighting and foggy stars illuminating their dark eyes, these modern monsters are capable of redemption. If they weren't, Abby Johnson, Dr. Bernard Nathanson, and Dr. Noreen Johnson wouldn't have the awe-inspiring testimonies that make them Pro-Life powerhouses today. A complete soul change is possible; it is God-timed, but until it occurs I encourage you to remember Jeremiah 33:8 and meditate on God's plan for everyone's redemption. As foreign as it sounds, I encourage you to pray for the modern monster that is the abortion doctor. Pray that their hearts would begin to beat again and that the blindness would fall from their eyes. God has a powerful plan for each one of them; their redemption stories just haven't started yet. 

Sources: Live Action News, Google, Wikipedia, YouTube

Photo Credit: Dr. Health Clinic.com

Heartbeat Press - September 2024 Edition

A Moment in Time - The Voice of a Culture Saved from Death 

    On a warm, slightly breezy spring day in 2019, dozens of Pro-Lifers milled around behind the curtain of a large out-door stage in New York City. A hundred more stood out front, waiting for the next speaker who was scheduled to appear that day...and Christina Bennett took a moment to breathe and offer up a silent prayer before stepping out from behind the curtain. She wasn't nervous. She had spoken at enough of these events to forgo any pre-speech jitters, but every time she spoke she was reminded of just how powerful her message was. Like everyone here, she cared deeply about the fight for life. But, unlike the majority, this fight was extremely personal to her. She had to convey the depth of this cause every time she spoke, a feat she knew she could only accomplish with the Lord's strength, not her own. 

    Born and raised in Hartford, Connecticut, Christina Bennett almost didn't make it to her birthday. If you were to ask her about it, Bennett would point out that this nearly happened because her mother, a young, single, lower-middle class, Black woman was part of the key demographic Planned Parenthood geared its abortion propaganda towards. To this day, the nation's biggest abortion provider routinely targets "disadvantaged" groups, reasoning that they need access to abortion more than other demographics and providing guilt-free murder enables the company to engage in essential social justice. In 1981, Bennett's mother fell for their highly-polished sales pitch.

    Unexpectedly pregnant and unsure what she should do, Bennett's mother scheduled an abortion, believing it was the only option left to her. She had no support system to speak of, so the facade of care oozing from her neighborhood Planned Parenthood offered a sickly-sweet shoulder to cry on and a "comforting" voice to assure her that the decision she had made, no matter how she might wrestle with it, was the right one. But, when her appointment day arrived, Bennett's mother couldn't shake a nagging feeling of hesitation. She wasn't sure she wanted to go through with the abortion, but as she sat in the doctor's office half-listening to the laundry list of pre-procedure paperwork being rattle off by a facility counselor, she had no time to ask herself what she actually wanted.

    Stepping out into the hallway for a moment, Bennett's mother found herself suddenly overcome with a rush of sadness slamming into her like a wave, causing her to drop to her knees to release great rolling sobs in a desperate attempt to relieve even a small amount of the pressure building inside. She didn't know what she wanted and she had no time to change her mind. What if she made the wrong choice? It was there, in that moment when Bennett's mother was only aware of her own grief, that a soft hand placed itself on her shoulder, causing her to meet the determined gaze of an older African-American woman kneeling on the floor in front of her. "Do you want to have this baby?" the woman asked. Bennett's mother could only stare at the woman through tear-stained eyes, but, almost unconsciously, found herself nodding yes. "Then the Lord will give you the strength of walk out of here." In the holy hush that followed the woman's words, two lives changed forever. Amid a severe onslaught from the abortion doctor, Bennett's mother left the neighborhood Planned Parenthood and kept the baby who would grow up to be a powerful voice in the Pro-Life movement. 

    Christina Bennett knows she should have died that day, and she has never stopped praising God for allowing her to live and share her story with millions of people. Building on the facts mentioned above, Bennett's platform focuses on the "Black Experience" with abortion, namely that it is the culture most targeted by the abortion industry. Research reveals that 16 million Black babies have been aborted since Roe's installation in 1973 (360 every day). Black women (15% of the childbearing population) receive 33% of abortions. And the abortion giant, Planned Parenthood, was founded by a racist who unapologetically promoted the extermination of the Black community through eugenics. And yet abortion is still promoted as a necessity "graciously" given to the Black community. 

    Bennett disagrees. Social justice does not demand the deaths of the innocent as payment for forward movement. The destruction of children and, by default, their mothers' hearts cannot build a brighter future. And the Black community doesn't need abortion to thrive. In fact, it has routinely proven it is more powerful when building its next generation. "This is an extension of the Civil Rights Movement," Bennett proclaimed on that spring day in New York City. This time it will be characterized by the saving of lives instead of a fight for equality. As such, it's time to pick which side of history everyone is going to be on. 

Resources: YouTube.com, CURE

Photo Credit: Focus on the Family.com 

Heartbeat Press - August 2024 Edition

Back to School, Back to the Frontlines - Being a Pro-Life Light Wherever You Are

    Students! Don't panic just yet, but the beginning of your fall semester is right around the corner! It's less than half a month away from some of you. Tires screeching. Panicked screaming. "Oh the humanity!" While I asked you not to panic, many of you just did and, just as quickly, mentally skimmed a list of rapid-fire questions meant to help you prepare for the school year. Questions like, "Where did the summer go?" "Can't I have just one more week off?" "What's my class schedule?" "Am I even signed up for classes?!" "Am I ready to deal with deadlines, professors, and hard work again?" Take a deep breath. More than likely you are exactly where you need to be in order to hit the ground running in September. But it is my hope that parsing through those questions will also spark a few more (sort of school-related) thoughts for those of you with Pro-Life convictions - thoughts that live up to the understanding that being Pro-Life is a demeanor that shouldn't stop once you walk through your university doors. 

    That being said, know that standing up for what you believe in is never easy. All throughout history, but especially in our modern, ultra-self serving society that says everyone must conform to majority morals or be ostracized, separating yourself from that majority to say, "This is what I know to be right and will defend for the sake of those who are in need," takes real determination and a not-insignificant amount of grit. 

    But I want to encourage those of you who have decided that your Pro-Life beliefs are worth hanging onto, even if it means carrying them into a setting that does not show great appreciation for them. By choosing to consider how you can live out your beliefs in front of your peers, you have not only separated yourself from those who prize convenience over truth but you have also answered a call placed on your life that was woven into your heart long before you ever felt it stirring. It's a calling cherished by God. It is much bigger than any nay-saying crowd. And, whatever you do to answer it, that act will matter much more than anything you do in college, your first year as a post-grad, or for the rest of your life. 

    As a Pro-Life college student, you've been given the unique opportunity to shine the light of life into a place unreachable to many others. How amazing that you have been asked to speak to you fellow students about the truth that life is precious, or to come alongside your friend with an unexpected pregnancy to show her that there are better options than abortion, or to minister to a post-abortive classmate who needs comfort and someone to point her towards her first steps of healing. How much more powerful are these acts coming from someone who fights the battle for life from the frontlines, a soldier who sees the hurt clearly enough to go to her own people with the truth and love to heal it, who has the right answers to the questions everyone's asking and doesn't withhold them for fear or majority judgment. That is the opportunity you have been given. Care to take it? 

    Finally, remember that however you choose to live out your Pro-Life convictions, your contribution does not need to be loud, complicated, or bombastic. In fact, many of the most effective ministries are small, relationship-based works of heart that seek first to honor God in what they do. Consider your strengths and how God would have you use them to build your testimony. In this way, you can add a unique talent to the Pro-Life movement and, more importantly, can proudly say you know you did your very best in what God asked you to do. Why not start by looking over the simple starter Pro-Life acts listed below and considering which ones you can bring back to school this fall. 

1. Read Pro-Life books (knowledge is power).

2. Collect contact info for local Pregnancy Resource Centers (to pass along if needed) 

3. Prayer walk around your campus.

4. Ware a "Precious Feet" pin (powerful conversations have been sparked by less).

5. Join or start your school's Pro-Life ministry/chapter

6. Leave Pro-Life material in your school's commons/re-room.

7. Gather friends to pray outside nearby abortion clinics (they are often close to colleges).

8. Wear Pro-Life t-shirts and jackets (consider becoming a Pro-Life brand ambassador).

9. Recommend Pro-Life movies to friends (Bella, Look Both Ways, Lifemark).

10. Draw Pro-Life chalk art around campus. 

Resources: Students for Life of America, Heartbeat Press September 2022 Edition, Heartbeat Press' bi-weekly "Pro-Life Challenges" 

Photo Credit: LNN: Levy News Network