DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE...

Discipling Nations
May 9-11th, 2018
ABUJA- NIGERIA

Click here to read an update from the Elpis Centre in the Caribbean!

Heartbeat International recently heard from our friends in Slovenia, and it is amazing to see what God has done in their ministry within the last year! As 2017 comes to a close, here’s an update from Zavod Biser (Institute Pearl):

"Zavod Biser (Institute Pearl) is a new organization founded in February this year. Our ministry is counseling women in need in cases of unexpected and unwanted pregnancy, based on the concept of an excellent German organization from Munich, Profemina. We adopted their approach and customized it to our Slovenian reality. We have our seat in Maribor, the second largest town in Slovenia.

A lot of things have happened in our Institute Biser/Pearl this year.  We opened our website at the end of May: http://www.zenskaodlocitev.si/ . This is the first website with a wide breadth of information for pregnant women in need in Slovenia. During the summer, we contacted many hospitals throughout the country to allow us to deliver our materials. Reactions were mainly positive, which seems to us as a very positive sign. In September, we organized our office in the center of Maribor and started with advertising on Google.

In the middle of October, the first pregnant woman contacted us. Since then, we have counseled 32 women by phone, online or by personal contact. Two pregnant women chose life, and we are looking forward to the birth of their children in June 2018! 

At the same time, we are working on fundraising. Just before Christmas, we will open our fundraising website, Slovenija 1000plus, following the model of Kristijan Aufiero’s 1000plus.

It is unbelievable that so many women in Slovenia live under such pressure because of unexpected pregnancy. We have incredibly liberal abortion legislation, contraception is free of charge, and gynecologists are free of charge. First feedbacks are encouraging in the way that we have a lot to do. We see many challenges for the coming year.”

While there will always be challenges ahead, Heartbeat International is overwhelmed with joy when we hear that our international friends of the movement are thriving and growing, and we give thanks to God for His many good gifts. As we close out this year, we are excited to see what He has in store for 2018!

Click here to read Choose Life Serbia's December 2017 Newsletter.

This November, member nations of the “Group of 7” (G-7) met in Italy to discuss current global health issues and challenges. To the outrage of abortion activists, the G-7 members landed on language that omits abortion terms under the “Gender Perspective in Health Policies and Rights for Women, Children and Adolescents” section of the communique. 

Instead, the language states that G-7 nations—made up of the U.S., Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the U.K.—would pay special attention to the health of mothers, newborns and children with evidence-based interventions to address issues like mortality and violence.

Click here to read the rest of this article on Pregnancy Help News.

Click here to read "A Flawed Law: Canadian 'Bubble Zone' Doesn’t Protect Women" on Pregnancy Help News.

Behind the Scenes

On October 25th, an announcement was made that Ontario passed legislation to protect women's right to choose abortion (click here to read the full report). The Safe Access to Abortion Services Act, 2017, allows for safe access zones to be established around facilities that offer abortion services as well as the homes and office of regulated abortion providers. British Columbia, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador have already enacted similar safe access zone laws.

     Attorney General, Yasir Naqvi, said, "Our government believes that every woman in Ontario has the right to make decisions about her own health - and she deserves to do so freely, without fear. This legislation sends a clear message that we will always stand up for a woman's right to choose." 

     At first glance, this news can be intimidating and discouraging. Or, we can see it as an opportunity to enter the conversation and bring clarity to the work we do!

     On some points, we agree with the government and legislation. We don't condone intimidation, harassment, or violence, and we believe a woman has the right to choose without fear or pressure from others. However, we do know that some women choose abortion because of fear or pressure from others. We also know that many women make the choice for abortion without full knowledge of what they are choosing. 

     CBC Radio contacted Dr. Laura and asked for a statement. We are thankful that Dr. Laura was able to share the information above, as well as explain very clearly what it is that pregnancy care centres do -- offer education and support in a caring, nonjudgmental environment. 

     Although engaging with the media on the controversial topic of abortion can be intimidating, we are thankful for the opportunity to speak the truth in love. We are also thankful for your prayers and support which provide for the work being done!

Making an Impact

We are excited to recently have held the CAPSS Director Accreditation Training (DAT) last month in Ontario. 13 Directors from pregnancy care centres in British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, and Ontario participated.

 

These new CAPSS Directors received training in: Right Roles (Board and Executive Director Relationships), Servant Leadership, Strategic Planning, Fundraising, Branding, Counselling the Abortion-Minded Client, Developing Programs, Training and Caring for Volunteers, and Self Care. 

     Here are some quotes from their training evaluations:

• I feel so much more focused and prepared to go forward as Director at the centre. I was feeling overwhelmed and scattered before but this training really helped.

• This has been a great week and I feel so thankful for the knowledge, prayer, and connections that we've been blessed with this week. Thank you!

     We know there will be a ripple effect of impact and excellence as these Directors take this training back to their centres. This is one of the many ways that your support is utilized to impact and equip those serving and helping on the front lines!

(Text and photos taken from CAPSS newsletter)

(Text and photo taken from AFLA newsletter)

Heartbeat International has kept you apprised when it comes to the incredible work that is being accomplished by our friends in Romania, and we are overjoyed to share that a new counseling and support center has opened in Bucharest! Here is an excerpt from the center's first newsletter: 

"Dear pro-life friends,

You have just opened the first newsletter sent by the Counseling and Support Center for Parents and Children “Saint Alexandra the Empress”.

What seemed impossible a few years ago could be accomplished this year and happened at the beginning of this month: the inauguration in Bucharest of the Counseling and Support Center for Parents and Children “Saint Alexandra the Empress”.

The center offers counseling and social services to women in pregnancy crisis, to young and teenage mothers, to families in need and to parents who prepare to give birth to a child or wish to prepare for that.

Among many other services, the center offers: free psychological counseling, free pregnancy tests, baby-boxes with all the necessary baby products for women who are about to give birth or who have just done so, emergency social assistance (clothes, food, diapers according to possibilities), references to social services within the community (legal consulting, gynecologists to monitor pregnancy, breastfeeding courses, vocational counseling, professional training), support groups for mothers and for post-abortive women.

The center is staffed with one psychologist and a social worker who offer confidential professional help to those who ask for support.
The inauguration of this center has been a great joy for me, since on a daily basis I meet women who lack support and are under great pressure from their partners, their families or their jobs. I know women in pregnancy crisis need to know there is a center where they can ask for help and which can meet their needs. I wish to thank all who have been supportive in the opening of this center.

With joy for life,
Alexandra Nadane
Executive Director
Asociația pentru sprijinirea femeii însărcinate și a familiei
(The Association for Supporting Pregnant Women and Families)"

(Text and photo taken from Romania newsletter)