2011 Africa Cares for Life Conference Summary

Africa Cares for Life’s celebrated its 10^th anniversary at their annual conference.  The theme was “We Will Remember….” and a fitting time to rejoice over the faithfulness of God in remembering all He has done over the past 10 years through the work of Africa Cares for Life and its affiliated centres.

More than 130 attended the conference representing eight African countries with representatives from the USA & Canada also in attendance.  Heartbeat International had special representatives there as well (thanks John and Brad) in celebration of ACfL’s 10^th anniversary. It was also a time of sadness as Gail Schreiner, founder and president since its inception, announced her resignation. A new season is upon Gail and Africa Cares for Life and we pray the next steps will only build upon the generosity and gifting of Gail and her faithful leadership team.

Moscow Demographic Summit 

The average Russian woman will suffer 7-8 abortions in her lifetime and some as many as 30 abortions. This devastating statistic has now led to a decline in Russia’s young population. Clearly, they are facing a serious demographic crisis that has now caught the attention of the Russian government. Many pro-life leaders have come together to address the need for change in on this country and feel the time to act is now.

Heartbeat’s President, Peggy Hartshorn, (pictured left) recently returned from Moscow, Russia after participating in the "Moscow Demographic Summit: Family and the Future of Humankind", the first ever International Demographic Summit to be held. She spoke at the summit about the Dignity of Women today. 

It was the first time an international Pro-Life and Pro-Family event of this scale took place in Russia. More than 1,000 participants took part in the Summit: 300 foreign guests (including top demography & family researchers, scientists and activists, US Congressmen and Senators) and 700 participants from all over Russia and the CIS.

Participation of the leading international scholars and scientists, as well as Russia's State and Church leaders, US Congressmen and Senators helped to raise the importance of the Moscow Demographic Summit and attract media and public attention. All of that will help to save thousands of innocent lives, as many anti-Family initiatives in Russia will be postponed or canceled, as a result of the Summit.

How Online Counseling is Expanding Our Reach - a note from Heart for Life (Denmark)

The Internet is the place where we all seek information nowadays, and most of us do a Google search several times a week.  This was the basis for our decision to go online with pregnancy counseling.  Since 2007, we have counseled more than 1,300 users via our website Whatnow.dk (in Danish).

With only 12 counselors – all licensed professionals like registered nurses and psychologists – we are able to reach the entire country.  We do not receive feedback from all the users we have helped, but we have received many feedbacks like this one from a 21 year old man, whose 17 year old girlfriend got unplanned pregnant:

“Thanks a lot for your reply.  My girlfriend has decided to keep the baby…  It has been a very difficult decision, and it still is… We would like to thank you for taking the time to help us.  Both my girlfriend and I are feeling better now.  We hope we can write to you again, if the thoughts overwhelm us.”

More than 50% of our users are women and men facing an unexpected pregnancy. We also get questions from teenagers, and we counsel women who are struggling after abortion.  Most users find us on Google where our advertisement shows up in connection with 170 key words.

When users go to our website, they can read detailed articles on abortion, parenting, adoption etc.  They can also log on to a secure system, where they can write a confidential message to a counselor. Within 48 hours (usually much less) they receive an answer.  The format is a lot like emailing – yet much more secure since private information is kept within the system.

A typical first message on Whatnow.dk could look like this:

Hi!!

I’m in a really difficult situation. Im pregnant. It was an accident as my boyfriend and I had taken all the necessary precautions. (We already have a 4½ year old daughter and a 1½ year old son). He want’s me to have an abortion, but I want to keep the baby. At the same time I can follow my boyfriend’s arguments. We are under financial stress at the moment, and there wouldn’t be room enough for another child here. But I’ve always been against abortion which makes it very difficult for me to make the decision. I want to add that I don’t know how far along in the pregnancy I am, but my guess is I’m between 8 and 12 weeks.I hope you can help me in coming closer to a decision.

Lis (She has stated her age to 30-34 years)

Facts about Whatnow.dk:

• More than 66,000 visitors on the site from October 2007 until now.
• May 2010 – May 2011: 23,000 visitors on www.whatnow.dk

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International Scholarships Allowed 18 Countries to be Represented at 2010 Annual Conference

Leaders from all over the world joined the 2010 Heartbeat International Annual Conference in Orlando. Some 18 countries, from Argentina to Zambia were represented by the 40 delegates attending from outside the U.S. Everyone joined together for equipping, envisioning and encouraging fully expressing the conference theme “Better Together”! During the first morning general session we embraced the “Parade of Nations” where the flags of those in attendance were presented, greetings in native languages were extended and all international participants assembled on stage and were given a standing ovation.  Click here to watch the Parade of Nations.

Heartbeat International strives to assist individuals in other countries that seek to serve in pregnancy center ministry. Our annual conference provides the greatest opportunity to offer training, networking, and encouragement to our international affiliates.

Heartbeat International offers a limited number of financial scholarships for international conference participants, usually for those conference years designated as “international” in scope. Scholarships vary due to demand, but can cover as much as event registration fee(s), hotel accommodations, and most meals.

Pregnancy Help Australia (PHA) Birthday turns 30!

Congratulations to Pregnancy Help Australia on it’s 30th Anniversary.

Pregnancy Help Australia (PHA) celebrated 30 years of service in affirming life for the continent of Australia at their annual conference, “Loving Life for 30 Years – Generations of Caring.”

Jor-El Godsey, V.P. of Ministry Services, represented Heartbeat at the PHA Conference, held in Adelaide, South Australia. The celebration included a grand anniversary dinner. Local and national dignitaries -- champions of life through compassionate outreach across Australia and Tasmania -- joined in this joyous event.

At every turn, Jor-El’s trip was blessed with Aussie hospitality, humor, and passion for life. PHA and Heartbeat offer joint affiliation to members and Jor-El visited several of these PHA affiliates in the cities of Campbelltown, Manly, and Geelong as well as two centers, Birthline and Genesis Pregnancy Support, in Adelaide.

Recalling the caliber of the centers he visited, Jor-El said, “Again and again, our Australian affiliates showed selfless hearts. From the longserving volunteers to the newer faces, their ranks are bolstered by men and women who touch lives and hearts throughout Australia.”

Heartbeat greatly values our joint affiliation with Pregnancy Help Australia and their excellent work across that beautiful continent. Good on ya, mates!

Greetings from Africa

The goal of Heartbeat’s recent, African mission was to support the Africa Cares for Life (ACfL) Conference and visit pregnancy help center affiliates in the Kingdom of Lesotho, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. “I felt humbled as I met our affiliates and the women, men, and many children who were AIDS orphans. They radiated joy and grace in the face of unbelievable hardship,” said Peggy Hartshorn, Ph.D., Heartbeat International President. Heartbeat International is grateful for the opportunity to help “train the trainers” in our network of affiliates in Africa, and around the world. Africa Cares for Life (ACfL), a Pan-African association of 55 affiliates in 12 African countries, invited Heartbeat to help with their Annual Conference in August. ACfL and Heartbeat offer joint affiliation to members.

Peggy Hartshorn, Ph.D., Heartbeat President, led the delegation. Site visits to affiliates in the Kingdom of Lesotho, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe were an important part of the mission. HBI Consultant, John McCastle and Ambassador Bobbie Meyer joined the mission and assisted in trainings on Board Development and Volunteerism.

Heartbeat is grateful for the opportunity to “train the trainers” in our network of affiliates in Africa and around the world. In Africa, and other countries where ouraffiliates serve against immense odds, the streets are home to tens of millions of children whose parents have died of AIDS. Peggy used her inspirational talks to introduce tools, like Heartbeat’s Sexual Integrity™ Program, that can help pregnancy help centers transform these cultures at the root of the problem.

Our courageous African affiliates bring faith, hope, maternity and child care, and lifeaffirming skills to people with desperate needs. Heartbeat is honored by this opportunity to visit their centers, learn about their realities, share experiences and materials, and offer counsel and spiritual support.

Abortion Legalized in Mexico City

Mexico City lawmakers approved a proposal legalizing abortion 46-19, with one abstention, on April 24, 2007. This decision may have a great influence on policies and health practices in other Roman Catholic Latin American countries.

“Heartbeat International and our affiliates advocate for the true reproductive health and well-being of women. Abortion is not a medical ‘treatment’ that can improve a woman’s health. The very idea of an abortion to preserve a woman’s health is a smokescreen used to promote a culture characterized by sexual gratification separated from responsibility. Women we see in our pregnancy centers testify daily to the painful physical and emotional effects of abortion” said Heartbeat International President Peggy Hartshorn, Ph.D.

“The recent vote by Mexico City lawmakers to remove protection for their unborn citizens is especially disturbing,” said President Hartshorn. “After 34 years of abortion on demand in the U.S., we have seen first hand the tragic impact of abortion on women and families. We are appalled that the culture of death is being exported in the name of reproductive rights. This ultimate human rights violation being perpetrated on Mexican society is an insult to a culture that treasures family and life.”