LOVE Unleashes Life
This five week apologetics class will give you the tools you need to answer and defend your pro-life position compellingly, compassionately, and with love.
Together as a class, each week we will walk through a chapter of Stephanie Gray's, Love Unleashes Life, review supplemental material, and participate in exercises and discussion applying the chapter specifically to our role in Pregnancy Help Organizations. You'll also have the opportunity to join Stephanie Gray for a live Q&A session on January 27th at 1 PM EST.
If you're looking to build your confidence in discussing abortion or sharing your pro-life position, this class is for you.
Cost: $59.95 (or $49.95 for affiliates!) A copy of the book LOVE Unleashes Life is required for this course and will need to be purchased separately. You can find the book here.
Next Session: The next session of LOVE Unleashes Life is January 10 - February 13
ConCERT: Consultant Continuing Education, Renewal, & Training
"I had no idea what to expect. I have never taken a course online before and from the experience of this one, would definitely do it again... It was wonderful to share with so many like-minded individuals who live their faith each day and see God's hand at work. I was uplifted by this experience."
- ConCERT Graduate
ConCERT is an advanced, eight-week distance learning course created by Heartbeat International. ConCERT is appropriate for any individual currently involved in a pregnancy help ministry who wants to gain confidence and take their current skills and knowledge to an even higher level. The next session of ConCERT will cover consulting considerations, fertility, conception, fetal development, sexual integrity, contraception, sexually transmitted diseases, abortion risks, and much more. By the end of this training, you will earn enough CEUs to apply for or renew your Life Affirming Specialist Designation.
To participate, you must meet the following requirements:
- Have reliable access to a computer with an internet connection.
- Be able to devote three to five hours per week to the training.
- Be self-motivated and comfortable participating in online discussions, completing reading assignments, and weekly activities on your own.
An exciting new addition is coming to this ConCERT session! We will be having an optional live weekly meeting on Wednesdays at 1pm ET to touch base as we move through the course together.
Please note, participants of this training will be able to communicate with the instructors via e-mail and phone. A downloadable student manual is also provided to help students prepare for assessments.
Next Session: January 12 - March 9
Sexual Wellness and Prevention Education for PHCs
Prevention and community outreach can be key components of the overall work of pregnancy help centers. Reaching schools, churches, and community groups with educational programs that promote biblical truth and optimal health helps “make abortion unwanted today and unthinkable for future generations.”
Whether your center has a prevention outreach already in place or you are just considering starting a program, this class will equip participants in planning, implementing, and evaluating an effective prevention and community outreach program. Additionally, by the end of this training, you will earn enough CEUs to apply for or renew your Life-Affirming Specialist Designation.
To participate, you must meet the following requirements:
- Have reliable access to a computer with an internet connection and the ability to download and print documents for additional reading.
- Be able to devote three to four hours per week to the live course session and homework assignments.
- Be self-motivated and comfortable completing additional reading assignments, activities, and tests on your own.
Please note, this eight-week session includes a live weekly session on Tuesdays at 12 PM EST. Additionally, participants of this training will be able to communicate with the instructors via email.
Next Session: The next session begins with our first live session on April 14th.
Fundraising 101 & 102
Fundraising is the fuel that keeps the ministry moving toward it's mission. While it's true that fundraising experiences have been wide and varied among life-affirming organizations, all leverage the same basics of charitable activities.
Join Heartbeat Vice President Jor-El Godsey for this two-part series on fundraising essentials!
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Fundraising 101 In Fundraising 101, participants will learn the following:
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Fundraising 102 In Fundraising 102, participants will learn the following:
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| Register for Fundraising 101! | Register for Fundraising 102! |
Register for either session using the links above, or, click here to register for both and get a $10.00 discount!
Learning Together . . . without the Travel!
by Jennifer Minor, Editor/Writer
Somewhere between Pregnancy Help Institute and the Heartbeat International Annual Conference every year, there's a training gap. Individuals continue to take courses online at Heartbeat Academy, but that communal learning experience is missing.
That's why Heartbeat International developed ConCERT.
ConCERT is an advanced distance learning course to equip volunteer consultants with the information, skills, and perspectives that take them to the next level for providing effective consultation to individuals making choices in regard to sexual integrity, pregnancy, and parenting.
Deb Neybert, MA, LAS says, "As a trainer, I enjoy getting to know the students, and reading their comments posted on our online forum. Often they have great insights to share with each other, and it enhances the learning experience."
Since The LOVE Approach training is a pre-requisite to ConCERT, students interact with peers that have had similar experiences. According to Neybert, "Students say the most exciting part of ConCERT is the practical application as they have the opportunity to respond to verbatim assignments and the on-line forum communication."
Besides all of these benefits, by the end of ConCERT, students earn 14 CEU's toward the Life Affirming Specialist Designation. That's enough to apply for or renew your LAS!
Tweet this! The next session of ConCERT begins on January 11, 2015, and registration is open now.
The next session of ConCERT begins on January 11, 2015, and registration is open now. Information on pricing, registration, and other important dates can be found here.
Learn more and sign up today!
Thank You for Celebrating Heroes with Us in 2016!
We had a year of records and celebration with over 1,100 pregnancy help leaders in attendance at the 2016 Heartbeat International Annual Conference. If you missed anything, recordings of Workshops and Keynotes are now available for purchase here. Check out this video recap and review below!
45th Annual Heartbeat International Conference
Atlanta, Georgia | March 29 - March 31, 2016
Conference Schedule | Exhibitor Information
Prayer and Worship | Keynotes | Workshops | In-Depth Day | Conference Brochure
Schedule at a Glance for 2016 Conference
Monday, March 28
5-7pm - Registration for Pre-Conference In-Depth Day
Tuesday, March 29
Pre-Conference In Depth Day (paid registration is separate)
8:00am - Registration
9:00 to 5:00pm - In Depth Day training
2:00pm - Conference Attendee Registration Opens
2:00pm - Exhibit Hall Opens
6:00pm - Annual Conference Opening Session (Dinner & Keynote)
Wednesday, March 30
8:30am - Morning Session & Keynote
Workshop Session A
12:00pm - Lunch & Keynote
Workshop Session B
Break & Prayer Time
Thursday, March 31
8:30am - Morning Session & Keynote
Workshop Session C
12:00pm - Lunch & Keynote
Workshop Session D
Workshop Session E
6:00pm - Closing Banquet (Dinner & Keynote)
| Early Bird Pricing ends Feb 17 |
Regular Pricing Feb 18 - March 4 |
Late Pricing after March 5 |
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| In-Depth Day Only | $145 | $155 | $165 |
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In-Depth Day and Opening Dinner |
$220 | $240 | $260 |
| 2016 Annual Conference | $389 | $489 | $589 |
| Conference Bundle | $499 | $599 | $699 |
Keynotes
We are glad to welcome Keynote speakers for the 2016 Heartbeat International Annual Conference, who are key leaders in the pregnancy help movement, as well as prolife leaders from around the United States.
Workshops
The 2016 Heartbeat International Annual Conference offered a rich lineup of workshops, with a total of 75 workshops organized in 15 distinct tracks. Two tracks (Medical Advancement and Ultrasound Advancement) were tailored for nurses and medical professionals in the pregnancy help community, and offered Continuing Education Nursing Contact Hours provided through Heartbeat International. Two additional workshops (Helping Mom and Baby Bond and Fertility Awareness and the New Feminism) were also available for Continuing Education Nursing Contact Hours. Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP 16061 for 1.25 contact hours each workshop. All courses are eligible for Life-Affirming Specialist credit hours.
In-Depth Day (March 29)
The 2016 Annual Conference experience started with 15 different In-Depth Day opportunities. This exclusive all-day training went from 9 am to 5 pm with an inspirational keynote at lunch.
Prayer Team and Worship
Thank you to our worship team and on-site prayer team for the 2016 Heartbeat International Annual Conference.
Aaron Keyes and Taylor Breen from 10,000 Fathers Worship School opened our Wednesday and Thursday morning general sessions with worship in song, setting the stage for a power-packed week of growth, enrichment and encouragement with fellow front-line lifesavers.
Pray 1-on-1 (or with your staff) alongside prayer warriors who have volunteered their time to encourage you and lift you up at our Conference. You can sign up for this great opportunity on site at our registration table.
Order Recordings from the 2016 Conference here!
Download the LAS Application
We apologize for the inconvenience. The online LAS application is undergoing maintenance and is currently unavailable.
Please download and print the form and return it via mail or fax at your earliest convenience to become a Life Affirming Specialist or to maintain your status as a Life Affirming Specialist.
In-Depth Training Day Information
We are very excited about the conference format this year. We are changing things up a bit!
On Tuesday, you will have an opportunity to choose from one of the 7 PEG Talk Deeper Dives and 11 Roundtable Discussions for a hands-on interactive session on a very focused topic, led by experts in their field.
On Wednesday and Thursday, you have the option to choose either to attend a variety of workshops offered both on Wednesday and Thursday (3 each day) OR you can register to attend In-Depth Trainings. This allows for a wide variety of both topics and experiences to be allotted for within the 2020 Annual Conference.
To best prepare, we ask that those who are interested in attending an In-Depth Training to register — Wednesday, Thursday, or both! — so we can ensure that we will have the necessary materials on hand for you. Space is limited! (Attendees planning to attend the workshop tracks do not need to register ahead of time.) Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be available throughout the conference.
Wednesday's In-Depth Trainings:
- Implementing STD/STI Testing In Your Center - Karolyn Schrage
- The Importance of Abortion Recovery for Women, Men, and Families - ARC
- How to Effectively Reach the Abortion-Minded Caller - Brad Imler
- Teaching Sexual Risk Avoidance (SRA) to Empower the Next Generation - Mary Anne Mosack
This workshop will increase an understanding of the developing adolescent in the context of sexual risk avoidance (SRA) education. Participants will be able to identify the crucial psychosocial needs of the developing adolescent and will be able to recognize research-based theories that support the needs of adolescent development in the context of SRA education. - Ultrasound (Basic): Beyond What the Eye Can See - Tammy & Bryan
We are given a short moment in time in order to help our client garner the information she needs to make such an important decision. In order to make the most of the time that we have been given, we must be able to image and explain the images in such a way that she and her support system in the room, if present, will be able to clearly see and identify with the images that we are gathering. They are
not just different shades of gray but rather the first photograph of her baby. - Producing Effective Consultants through the LOVE Approach - Sara Littlefield
- Maternity Homes: Fixing Staffing Issues - National Maternity Housing Coalition
- The ABCs of APRN - Christa Brown
Thursday's In-Depth Trainings:
- The Case for Life: Pro-Life Apologetics 101 - Mike Spencer
Come and learn how to speak intelligently and graciously to the issue of abortion and to answer tough objections from opponents without the use of vitriol. Become a pro-life ambassador and engage the conversation of abortion with confidence and skill. - Identifying Victims of Human Trafficking in Your Centers - Cindy Collins & Dr. Laura
- Giving God your Worst - Dinah Monahan
- ???Trauma Informed???"
- Ultrasound: Beyond the Basics - Tammy & Bryan
- Legal Essentials/HR: What You Need to Know to Run a Pregnancy Center - Danielle White & Betsy Wetherby
- Getting the best ROI from Your Fundraising Efforts - Kirk Walden
- Your Online Presence for Clients - Bri Laycock
More...
Exhibitor To-Do List
As we near Conference time, there are several things you can do now to prepare for a successful conference.
1. Note Key Deadlines
- Register Exhibit Staff: February 10, 2026
- Program Book Ad: February 10, 2026
- Commercial Link: February 17, 2026
- Literature Packet Insert: February 20, 2026
2. Make Your Travel Arrangements
Conference Location
Duke Energy Convention Center
525 Elm Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Hotel Information
- The Westin Cincinnati | 21 East 5th Street | Cincinnati | OH | 45202 | 513-621-7700 | Heartbeat Conference - Westin Booking Link
- Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza | 35 West Fifth Street | Cincinnati | OH | 45202 | 513-421-9100 | Heartbeat Conference - Hilton Booking Link
- Hyatt Regency Cincinnati | 151 West Fifth Street | Cincinnati | OH | 45202 | 513-579-1234 | Heartbeat Conference - Hyatt Booking Link
Delta Air Lines is pleased to offer special discounts for Heartbeat International. Book your flight here.
3. Download the Conference App and Set Up Your Virtual Exhibit
We will use the Whova event app again this year to help you collect attendee contact information quickly and efficiently. You can scan attendee badge QR codes, participate in the Conference Passport, and access virtual workshops. Access to the app will be sent to the email provided at registration via email.
To maximize your reach with both in-person and virtual attendees, learn how to use Whova’s exhibitor tools here.
4. Submit Your Program Book Ad
If you ordered a program ad, please submit your artwork by Feb. 10, 2026 as noted in your exhibitor confirmation email.
Accepted formats: PDF, JPG, PNG, TIF, or EPS.
- Quarter Page: 4.25" × 5.5"
- Half Page: 8.5" × 5.5"
- Full Page: 8.5" × 11"
Email artwork by February 10, 2026 to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Late submissions may not be included.
5. Prepare Your Literature Packet Insert
If purchased, please prepare 1,250 copies of one approved literature piece.
Literature must be one brochure, handout, or small catalog no larger than 8.5" × 14".
Please plan to send your literature to arrive between Feb. 4-Feb. 20, 2026 to the Heartbeat Office. Failure to arrive by Feb. 20 may hinder your chance to be included in the literature packet.
Heartbeat International
c/o Conference Team
8405 Pulsar Place, Ste. 100
Columbus, OH 43240
6. Send Your Commercial Link
If your sponsorship includes a commercial, submit your file or link by February 17, 2026 to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
7. Plan Your Schedule
All exhibitors must check in at the Exhibitor Registration Desk. Booths should be fully set up by 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24.
The Exhibit Hall will be open:
- Wednesday: 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
- Thursday: 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
- Friday: 8:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Exhibits must close during keynote sessions.
Daily Schedule Highlights
Tuesday, March 24
- 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.: Exhibitor Check-In & Set-Up
Wednesday, March 25
- 8:00 a.m.: Registration & Exhibit Hall Opens (peak traffic)
- 11:30 a.m.: Opening Lunch & Keynote
- Workshops & Evening Keynote
Thursday, March 26
- Morning Worship & Keynote
- Workshops & Lunch Keynote
Friday, March 27
- Exhibit Hall Closes at 1:00 p.m.
- Closing Banquet at 6:00 p.m.
8. Plan Your Exhibit
Booth assignments are made by Heartbeat International.
- 8' × 10' draped booth
- 6' skirted table
- Two chairs
- Wastebasket
- Booth ID sign
All exhibitors receive access to a virtual exhibit via the Whova app.
9. Register Your Exhibit Staff
Complete the staff registration form here.
Each organization may register up to four staff members and each member must have a unique email address for registration purposes. Additional staff may be added for $199 per person. Deadline: February 24, 2026.
10. Gain Extra Exposure
Consider donating 1,250 branded items for additional visibility:
- Lanyards (claimed)
- Literature bags
- Tote bags
- Books for general sessions
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if interested.
11. Review Terms and Conditions
Cancellation: Written notice received by Feb. 7, 2026 will receive a refund minus a $75 processing fee.
Use of Space: Booth sharing or reassignment is not permitted without written consent.
Heartbeat Guidelines: All exhibitors must align with Heartbeat International principles.
12. Convention Center Notes
An Exhibitor Kit with shipping, electric, and internet details will be emailed closer to the conference.
The Duke Energy Convention Center loading dock is located on the 6th Street side of the center.
- Upon arrival, the exhibitor will pull up to the entry door and be greeted by a DECC agent. The agent will fill out a dock pass with: date, the current time, event name, booth #/company name, and driver name and cell #.
- The driver will be instructed to place the pass in the driver side front windshield to be easily seen from the exterior of the car, and then will be directed to a specific bay.
- DECC agents will periodically make rounds to check these passes to ensure they have not been on-site in excess of fifteen (15) minutes. Drivers would be contacted by the agent either in person or by cell and asked to remove their vehicle if over their time limit.
- Additional time will be provided based on delivery requirements.
- The convention center does not own and flatbeds or carts. Please instruct exhibitors to bring their own with them.
Internet
- 1 Day - $49.99
- 2 Day - $89.98
- 3 Day - $127.48
For more information, visit the Annual Conference web page.
Questions? Contact Savonne Torain at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Continuing Education Credits
Please complete the following survey for each session (workshop or In-Depth training) attended at the 2020 Heartbeat Annual conference.
A WiLD Heartbeat Experience
— Session Begins May 12, 2021 —
An exclusive opportunity to U.S. Heartbeat affiliates in good standing, Heartbeat International is partnering with WiLD Leaders to provide this professional training for pregnancy help leaders to advance their leadership skills. Working with WiLD Leaders, Heartbeat affiliates can delve deep to grow as individuals and lead intentionally.
What is WiLD?
WHOLE + iNTENTIONAL LEADER DEVELOPMENT (WiLD) is about seeing leaders as whole people, never shying away from the mistakes that create opportunities to learn, and intentionally crossing the superficial boundaries between our work as leaders in our families, workplaces, and communities. Leaders don’t always feel whole because they live so close to their insecurities and mistakes. Seeing leaders as whole people is not about erasing their past, minimizing their mistakes, or blindly elevating their successes, but about seeing and learning from it all. This is the focus of every tool, coaching conversation, and learning opportunity we offer – walking the line between resourcing and the heart, progress and process, and success and failure. Heartbeat has invested significantly into the development of existing and emerging leaders and this initiative serves as a next step to equip leaders in the movement who need intentional development to support and stretch them.
"I wasn't sure what to expect when I joined the WiLD Experience but WOW, the time was more than I could have even imagined!" - Carol L., a Pregnancy Help Director after going through the WiLD process.
The WiLD Toolkit: Leader Development Program + Research Insights
The WiLD Toolkit is a research-based online process built around 10 sequential developmental tools and personalized feedback reports. Unlike processes that oversimplify leadership into platitudes and one-dimensional categories of personality, skills, or behaviors, the WiLD Toolkit scaffolds the real and critical conversations regarding a leader’s experiences, successes and failures, learning, skills, purpose, conviction, character, and their investment in the learning of others.
Leader Development Program
This exclusive program for the Heartbeat community is built as a 10-week virtual course where participants can join from any geographic region. Each week, affiliates will:
- Take an assessment tool in the WiLD Toolkit
- Join an expert-led web session for insights and peer discussions on the assessments
- Set goals in the WiLD Toolkit and share them with cohort members for accountability
The 10-Week Program - Starting January 27, 2021
(Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. ET/10:00 a.m. PT)
- Session 1: WiLD Kickoff Session – WiLD Tool: The WiLD Profile
- Session 2: Calling & Purpose – WiLD Tool: Calling & Purpose Inventory
- Session 3: Motivation & Goals – WiLD Tool: Purposeful Goals Assessment
- Session 4: Leading Under Pressure – WiLD Tool: Leading Under Pressure Inventory
- Session 5: Transformational Experiences – WiLD Tool: Transformational Experience Audit
- Session 6: Leadership Competence – WiLD Tool: Skills & Knowledge Inventory
- Session 7: Motivation & Learning – WiLD Tool: Motivation & Learning Inventory
- Session 8: Developing Others – WiLD Tool: People Investment Plan
- Session 9: Strategic Support – WiLD Tool: Strategic Networking Audit & Guide
- Session 10: WiLD Development Plan – WiLD Tool: The WiLD Plan
Registration
For Heartbeat-affiliated leaders, this exclusive leadership program will include 10 sessions as well as access to the WiLD Toolkit for a year for $299. Leaders who meet attendance requirements and complete all assessments will be eligible for 14 hours of credit toward their Life-Affirming Specialist Designation.
Cancellation Policy: Full refunds may be issued until 12:00 midnight EST January 20, 2021. A 50% refund is available from 12:01 AM EST January 20-January 24, 2021 11:59 EST. No refunds will be issued past 12:00 AM EST January 25, 2021. Method of payment may require additional transaction fees imposed by the credit card company. All cancellations will be subject to a $25 cancellation fee (per registration canceled) regardless of the situation. Should Heartbeat cancel the event for any reason, all monies minus a transaction fee will be returned automatically. If you do not cancel and do not attend the event, you are responsible for the full payment. Payments may not be applied toward future training or conferences. All refund requests must be submitted in writing to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Expert Team
Dr. Rob McKenna, CEO
Named one of the top 30 I-O Psychologists alive today, Dr. McKenna is passionate about developing leaders and about transforming the way we see the people in our organizations. As he will tell you, we have the tools at our fingertips to invest in our people in ways that are meaningful to them and will get the results we need. Thirty years of research has taught us much how people learn and grow on the job. We have what it takes to create rich learning environments for the people we lead, and all we have to do is begin to act on what we know.
Dr. McKenna brings a combination of approachability, authenticity, expert knowledge, and humor to his talks. Whether you are interested in character development, dealing with conflict, creating engaging learning cultures, or developing the next generation of leaders, his approach of getting real about what’s going on in your life and work brings people alongside him in a way that inspires change. The models he uses in his talks are based on decades of research on leadership, team functioning, organizational health, and individual development.
He is the founder of WiLD Leaders, Inc. and creator of the WiLD Toolkit, a whole and intentional leader development process and set of tools that one leader described as “A whole approach that blurs the line between who we are as ‘workers’ and ‘human beings.” He is also the Chair of Industrial-Organizational Psychology at Seattle Pacific University. His research and coaching with thousands of leaders across corporate, not-for-profit and university settings has given him insight into the real and gritty experience of leaders. His clients have included the Boeing Company, Microsoft, Heineken, Foster Farms, the United Way, Alaska Airlines and Children’s Hospital. He is the author of numerous articles and chapters on leadership character, calling, effectiveness, and leadership under pressure. His latest book, Composed: The Heart and Science of Leading Under Pressure, focuses the specific strategies leaders can use to stay true to themselves and connected to others when it matters most.
Dr. Daniel Hallak, CCO
Nothing gets Dr. Daniel Hallak more excited than the opportunity to build authentic relationships and intentionally develop leaders. As the Chief Commercial Officer at WiLD Leaders, Daniel drives strategic commercial initiatives, and other operations, product development, and marketing efforts that support the development of whole leaders. He is known for bringing energy and thoughtful research-based practices that actually make a difference.
Before WiLD, he spent over 12 years developing whole leaders in business, academic, and not-for-profit settings. He’s run his own coaching practice and has had experiences as a recruiter at Microsoft, a Career Management Consultant at Right Management Consultants, and in a leadership development role at Slalom, an award-winning consulting firm. He’s also served as a coach, professor, and advisor at three higher education institutions including Seattle Pacific University where he helped build a new graduate business program from the ground up.
Daniel has spoken at countless events, conferences, and professional associations. His research and writing focus on how to develop people and build authentic relationships founded on generosity. He earned his Ph.D. and M.A. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Seattle Pacific University, his B.A. in Psychology from Northwest University and achieved Eagle Scout Rank with the Boy Scouts of America. He lives in Seattle with his wife, Kristin, and their three children.
Megan Lawrence
Megan is the Events and Communications Lead at WiLD Leaders. Taking her entrepreneurial spirit and passion for communication and event planning into a company that focuses on the development of leaders is a combination of all her experiences into one role. Before WiLD, Megan was a wedding and event planner and florist in LA and has had a variety of roles in higher education, as well as managerial roles in small businesses. Megan has a Masters in Organizational Leadership from Azusa Pacific University, and cares deeply about women in leadership and helping small businesses become efficient and effective. She’s married to her husband Mark and they have a beautiful son, Silas, and an awesome dog named Truvy.
