Imagine this scenario: a young woman...18 years old...waits anxiously to see if that line appears on her pregnancy test. Even though she doesn't pray normally, she is praying now. She has her eyes closed tight, but then peeks through one of them, afraid to see. And there it is...that one little line that tells her that her life will never be the same again. This was not supposed to happen. In her mind she starts listing the reasons why she cannot have a baby... not now anyway. And though some of these reasons may be irrational, some simply, are not.
The fact is, when a young woman gets pregnant, there are obstacles she must face, even in the best of circumstances. But if this is a crisis pregnancy, there are many more issues that need to be addressed such as: will my boyfriend (or husband) want a baby or will he leave me, how can I afford diapers, what about school, or who will help me? These are very real obstacles that need to be overcome. And this is why the "O" in HOPE is for "overcome the obstacles which would prevent a healthy lifestyle for both mother and child".
About 25 years ago, someone asked me how I felt about abortion. Even as a very young Christian, I knew abortion was the taking of a life and that it was wrong. But my response to them was, "If I am going to tell her she needs to keep the baby, then I need to help her do it". And that is how I still feel today. It is not enough to show her that there is a baby living inside of her or even convince her to not abort. We must walk beside her through the pregnancy and help meet her needs.
At HOPE we try to do this. We offer classes to teach about pregnancy, parenting, abstinence, and the Bible. When a client takes a class, she gets points toward things like clothes, diapers and other baby items. This helps to remove a few obstacles. During these classes, we also get an opportunity to build relationships with the clients. While doing this, we get to know them and discover other obstacles that may need to be overcome.
Some of these may be obstacles that no one can see...they may be on the inside. Many women and men in Anson County are walking around with a God-sized hole in their hearts. God is the only One who can fill this emptiness.
And unfortunately, we live in a society where many of our youth are being taught that they have no value. They have no idea that Jesus loves them so much that He died...willingly, on a cross for them. Many don't go to church and have never heard the gospel. And many have been beat down and abused. They think this is normal and that this is what their life will always hold for them. They see no purpose in their lives. But God has a different plan.
Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". God is able to overcome whatever obstacles they may be facing. But they need to know to turn to Him. Someone has to tell them.
At HOPE Pregnancy Resource Center, we take every opportunity to tell each person we see about Jesus. We know that He is Who they need the most. He is the One who overcomes. Will you join us as we point these women and men to Jesus? I pray that you will.
In His Precious Love,
Kathy Landon