Our Initiatives
Global Advancement
It’s not new, it’s just our turn! Basil of Caesarea (329–379) was the leading pastor, theologian, and proponent of orthodox Christianity. When he learned that abortion was present and legal in Caesarea, he preached boldly from the Scriptures on the sanctity of human life. He called his church members to personally and actively intervene and help women facing difficult pregnancies, just as we are doing today. According to historian, George Grant, Basil’s work inspired the Emperor Valentinian to criminalize abortion in 374. The work before us is not new, it’s just our turn.
Urban Initiative
Answering the call to cherish and defend innocent human life, the modern pro-life movement surged forward as a predominantly Catholic effort in the 60’s. It was flooded with Evangelical energy in the 80’s—the second wave of the pro-life movement. The “Third Wave” points to the triumphant progress to be expected when the Black and Latino Christian community not only join, but lead, the Pregnancy HELP Movement.
PREGNANCY HELP CENTER
Heartbeat's Commitment to Urban Initiatives
Heartbeat International is praying for a “Third Wave” of minority leadership and participation in our movement. We are irrevocably committed to urban initiatives. This means identifying the neediest neighborhoods of America, the most abortion-plagued communities of our nation’s largest cities, and working through the local Christian community to establish ultrasound-equipped pregnancy help centers and maternity homes. We currently have urban initiatives in Miami, Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh. We are calling our affiliates to “go urban” as they plan for expansion. We are asking Black and Latino Christians already working in our affiliate ministries to step into national leadership and training. Our ranks are slowly but surely swelling with minority leaders. And we are collaborating, where possible, with minority-focused pro-life organizations linked here.
Probably the most Abortion-Targeted Neighborhood in America
Leadership Development
Train
Heartbeat serves as the leadership supply line for the growing Pregnancy HELP Movement worldwide. We train and equip Christian community leaders in the establishment of life-affirming, Christian-supported pregnancy help centers, ultrasound-equipped pregnancy help medical clinics, maternity homes for women and children, and non-profit adoption agencies. Local pregnancy help ministries provide women and couples the help they need to choose life, prepare to parent, or place for adoption.
Equip
As new directors arrive to lead pregnancy help ministries, Heartbeat provides them with foundational management and leadership training as well as intensive leadership assessment, and equips them with specialized resources. For example, they return home with Heartbeat’s counselor training manual, The Love Approach. Pregnancy help ministry leaders use it to train their staff and volunteers to serve women at risk for abortion with sensitivity, care, competence, and confidence.
Leading Well
"I'm the Executive Director of the Pregnancy Support Center in Stark County, OH. I've served here for going on 15 years.Heartbeat International is amazing! You can be counted on to be there when we need you--which is most of the time!"
