by Michele Cheresnick, LAS, Affiliate Coordinator

You’ve seen it before: a young woman walks in, scared and unsure, convinced abortion is her only choice. You know the questions behind her decision—fear, isolation, uncertainty—but also the moments where a listening ear, a calm voice, or a steady presence can change everything. 

For those of you on the frontlines of the pregnancy help movement, you know that awareness alone doesn’t capture the full story. Understanding the fears and pressures that bring women to our doors allows us to respond with the wisdom, compassion, and support they need before crisis overwhelms them.

Abortion is often presented as a solution. A solution to fear. A solution to uncertainty. A solution to circumstances that feel impossible. And yet, every solution is connected to a problem.

So if abortion is the answer… What was the question?

For many of the women we serve, the question isn’t whether life is valuable. It’s whether they can survive the pressure, fear, and isolation that surround an unexpected pregnancy:

How can I be pregnant (again)?

What am I going to do? 

I can’t do this by myself…

What if the father walks away?

What will my family say?

Can I survive the judgment, the cost, the disruption?

What does this mean for my future?

But we also have to be honest about the reality that comes before the pregnancy. Many women who have abortions are making choices in a moment of sexual activity where pregnancy was not a concern. They didn’t set out to create this situation—they weren’t thinking about a baby at the time. And that is where we have to start our conversations—before the after, before the crisis. It’s here, in the choices that precede pregnancy, that real awareness begins. Helping young people understand how their choices can shape the path of life and relationships before a crisis arises is not judgment—it’s preparation, care, and love.

We also have to recognize that male partners are often part of the decision—sometimes supportive, sometimes absent, sometimes unsure themselves. Their attitudes and willingness to step into responsibility can weigh heavily on the woman’s choices. This is an opportunity for us, as ministry leaders and advocates, to guide men toward accountability and care, so that support for life comes from both sides of the equation.

April is Abortion Recovery Awareness Month—a reminder that the work of pregnancy help doesn’t end with a birth or a choice. Many women continue to carry the emotional and spiritual weight of abortion long after the immediate decision. As ministry workers, you know the importance of walking with women not just through the pregnancy, but through the aftermath—providing healing, hope, and the support they need to reclaim life and move forward. Awareness isn’t just about statistics; it’s about understanding the whole journey, before and after, and being a presence of grace along the way.

Abortion has become a cultural shortcut, a quick fix to a deeper set of challenges. And that raises a hard question: 

What does it say about our culture when the “solution” is to remove the smallest, most vulnerable person in the room?

Many of you have witnessed the reality behind the statistics firsthand. A young woman comes in convinced abortion is her only choice, not because she doesn’t value life, but because she feels alone. She might say, “I didn’t feel like I had a choice, I felt like I had to have an abortion.”

This is the reality we face daily in our ministries. Many women are not rejecting life; they are desperate for support. And it’s here, in these difficult moments, that our work matters most.

Abortion Awareness Month is a reminder that our mission goes beyond awareness—it’s about understanding the circumstances that make abortion feel inevitable. 

Across the country, your ministries are already doing incredible work. Ultrasounds, parenting education, material resources, mentoring, and advocacy all make a difference. But the most radical act remains simple: being present. Listening. Walking with women long enough for them to see that life is never something they face alone.

Scripture reminds us that every life is intentionally formed (Psalm 139:13–14) and that we are called to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves” (Proverbs 31:8). Our calling is to translate awareness into action, both in the lives of the women we serve and the culture around us.

We are called to ask the deeper questions—and then to be part of the solution.

To walk with women. To meet fear with courage. To meet isolation with community. To meet uncertainty with hope. To guide towards choices that honor life before a crisis arises. To invite men into responsibility and care.

And in all of this, we want to take a moment to recognize you—the people on the frontlines. Your dedication, your patience, your willingness to show up in the hardest moments make an eternal difference. Thank you for the tireless, often unseen work you do every day to support women, children, and families. Your faithfulness is life-giving, and your impact is profound.