by Ellen Foell, International Specialist of Heartbeat International

“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.”  - Matthew 24:6-8

In early October 2023, Hamas attacked Israel on the 50^th anniversary of the 1973 Yom Kippur War. In September 2023, both Serbia and Kosovo moved troops to their borders in a standoff. In February 2022, the Russian Federation attacked Ukraine.

Wars and rumors of wars. And that is not all.

Did you know that according to the Geneva Academy¹ (which classifies all situations of armed violence that amount to an armed conflict under international humanitarian law), there are currently more than 110 armed conflicts around the world? Some of these conflicts make the headlines while others do not. Some of them started recently, while others have lasted for more than 50 years. Here is a map showing the locations of current armed conflicts.²

One does not need to study the map for very long to see that the geographic locations where armed conflict is occurring far outnumber the nations where there is some semblance of peace.

Of course, as soon as any war or conflict erupts, leaders start to talk about “calm heads,” and pursuing peace; they begin to argue about who started it, but mostly, their loudest cry and call is for peace—even though hardly anyone dares to talk about what that would look like. It is the cry not only from those engaged in the war but from those who lead powerful nations, and those who have influence. Throughout history, and in the context of hundreds of previous conflicts and wars, great leaders in the world and history have spoken about world peace: Alexander the Great, Winston Churchill, John F. Kennedy, Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, Helen Keller, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Men and women—black and white—of every generation has had its spokespersons for peace. Everyone wants peace.

As a “world community,” prizes are even given to those who advocate for peace as if the advocacy for peace had a magic dotted line to actual peace. It doesn’t. And even if we think it does, the prophet Jeremiah wrote: 

“From the least to the greatest,
all are greedy for gain;
prophets and priests alike,
all practice deceit.
They dress the wound of my people
as though it were not serious.
‘Peace, peace,’ they say,
when there is no peace.”

– Jeremiah 6:14

The phrase “peace, peace,” when there is no peace is found in Jeremiah 6:14 and Jeremiah 8:11. It is also found in Ezekiel 13:10 and 16. In all four places, it has the same meaning in the same historical context: a cry for peace for a nation, for a people, amid conflict and oppression.

We want peace, and we cry for peace. As we look at the nations at war, the ethnic and regional conflicts, that are occurring right now in our world, of course, we pray for peace. But let us not kid ourselves. Jesus said we would hear of "wars and rumors of wars."Not only that, but Jesus told His disciples, “In the world, you will have tribulation.” (John 16:33)

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” - Matthew 10:34

“I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!” - Luke 12:49

Is this the same Jesus who said, “Peace I leave with you…” no fewer than three times to the disciples after he rose from the dead? The same Jesus who oftentimes told someone whose life he had just irreversibly and gloriously changed, “Go in peace.” Including, the woman He healed from the issue of blood (Luke 8:48), the woman who anointed His feet with her tears (Luke 7:50), and the royal official whose son was healed (John 4:50).

Jesus was called the Prince of Peace. He could make winds stop, still the waves, calm the raging Gerasene and quiet the accusations of the religious leaders. Jesus said to the disciples and to those He healed, several times, “Peace I leave with you,” “Go in peace,” “Be at peace with one another,” and “My peace I leave with you.” In the famous opening to His great sermon, known as the Beatitudes, Jesus taught, “Blessed [happy] are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9).

Well, which was it? Did Jesus come to bring peace or division, calm or conflict, serenity or a sword? What if He came to bring both?

We know that Jesus also said in John 14:27 the most enigmatic thing of all: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Christ's "peace" here refers to a hope and reassurance that goes beyond what a fallen world can offer (Philippians 4:7). It is permanent, guaranteed, and eternal (Hebrews 6:18–19). Our vice president of Ministry Services, Tracie Shellhouse, shares an encouraging word about peace for each one of us. In Christ alone, we can have peace.

The Prophet Micah at 4:3, articulated his hope for a world where nations would no longer engage in warfare; where people would live in safety and unity, sitting under their own vine and fig tree with none to make them afraid. Micah, along with Isaiah and other prominent prophets, consistently emphasized the importance of justice, righteousness, and the pursuit of peace as integral components of a harmonious society. This underlines the idea that true peace was not just the absence of conflict but the presence of justice and righteousness in the world. We strive for peace, but we also know that the day when the lion lies down with the lamb is not for this side of eternity.

We have short video updates about the war in Israel from Sandy Shoshani, National Director of Be’ad Chaim, and Nadia Gordynsky, President of Save a Life, International, with a network of centers across Ukraine. Her testimony of what is happening in the Ukraine assures us God is on the throne and His work endures and grows despite conflict and war.

Friends and allies, we grieve the death and destruction caused by ongoing wars and conflict, but not as the world does. Our fully redeemed and truest hope is not in this world, and our hope is not in this present life. Nonetheless, let us pray and work for the peace of Jerusalem, the peace in Kiev, and the peace in every area of the world where conflict and unrest continue, until the shalom of the Prince of Peace is manifest.

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Sources

1. https://geneva-academy.ch/galleries/today-s-armed-conflicts (accessed 10/31/23).
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ongoing_armed_conflicts (accessed 10/31/23).

by Rachel Deffenbaugh

Each year in the U.S., we commemorate the men and women who have served in our armed forces on “Veterans Day,” November 11. Their unwavering commitment to serve and sacrifice extends beyond the signature line on their enlistment form and even beyond ‘Hell Week’ of boot camp. It is in every drill, exercise, salute, flawlessly made bed, pre-deployment training, deployment/tour, and goodbye to loved ones. Despite the uncertainties, their call to duty to serve a purpose greater than themselves abounds. As Christians, we know the importance of such a calling, and we are grateful for the sacrifices (big and small, spoken and unspoken) our veterans have made.

Is this the blueprint for God's army?

Jesus preached about laying down one’s life for his friends and God's word teaches us to put others before ourselves. Similar to the sacrifices our military makes to protect our 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,’ Jesus came so that we may have life and have it more abundantly; not to condemn the world but to save it. In contrast to the military, His mission was not to kill His enemies but to die for them. He is our example not only as a Christian but as a soldier of a larger body of believers—the Church, also known as God's army.

Weapons of Warfare

As with everything else, the Lord has identified our spiritual weapons in scripture. Our weapons are vastly different from what our soldiers use to protect our country. Jesus’ weapons involved a different arsenal of spiritual warfare. After all, "we do not wage against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."

Therefore, as the Church, we fight a spiritual war—not with physical weapons, but with spiritual ones. Our spiritual weapons are offensive and defensive as outlined in Ephesians 6:10-13. Interestingly, the only offensive weapon listed here is the sword. The Sword of the Spirit is the word of God. The other “gear” listed are defensive weapons: the shield of faith, breastplate of righteousness, feet of peace, belt of truth, and helmet of salvation.

Additionally, we have been equipped with “weapons of righteousness.” In 2 Corinthians 6, these weapons are described as our gifts from God. Another "weapon of righteousness” is prayer, especially when “forged” in the word of God.

We would be remiss if we did not mention another “weapon of righteousness,” God’s love. Indeed, love deployed as a weapon is explained in Romans 12:19-21 and emphasized as our most valuable gift in 1 Corinthians 13:2.

You may be tempted to march in God’s army with only your offensive weapon, the sword. However, Paul urges us to put on every piece of armor (our spiritual weapons). Missing a single “weapon” can expose us to vulnerabilities; similar to how our military wear their kevlar and flak jackets. They would never undergo a mission with just their rifle in tow. The same principle applies to those of us in God's army.

Our Enemy

As our beloved veterans understand, we must identify our enemy. Our enemy is “the father of lies” who has been a “murderer from the beginning.” It is fitting for him to continue doing exactly what he has been doing since the beginning of time.

In pregnancy help, we see the same lies targeting women, men, families, marriages, and children alike. These lies perpetuate the agenda of our enemy, who seeks to not only murder our unborn children but to sever families, marriages, and livelihoods. His lies mirror the same propaganda we see today; using the same tactics he has used for centuries, just packaged with different labels through the years.

Identifying our enemy means we can prepare for attacks and are not surprised when they come. This preparation begins with you and the call for peace among all Christians worldwide.

Call to Peace

How is peace attainable in such a divisive world? Let’s learn what the Prince of Peace can teach us.

• Peace means “unity.” The Greek word for “peace,” eirēnē, means “ unity and accord.”¹We can have peace by being in unity with the body of Christ, God's army. How can a military unit fulfill any mission with dissension, divisive strategies, and discord among them?
• Peace means “restoration.” The definition is also described as “the spiritual harmony brought about by an individual’s restoration with God.”¹ Inner peace comes when we are fully reconciled with God. Forgiveness (repentance and forgiving others) is the first place to start for inner peace.
• Peace means trust. “Lean[ing] not on your own understanding” involves knowing your limits. We are limited by our knowledge of our circumstances (the seen and especially unseen). We are limited by our knowledge of the future. We are limited by our capacity to understand the collective truths of reality and God's purposes through them.

While we have cognitive limitations, our trust in God as Commander and Chief of His army is crucial. Soldiers follow their superiors' orders, without question or hesitation. How much more should we, in communion with God, trust He knows best, trust His perfect timing, and trust in His promises?

We are grateful to our nation's veterans. Through their unwavering commitment, they've secured the freedoms we cherish today. As Christians, our battlefield and our weapons are completely different but they share similarities to preserve 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.' We know that in this spiritual war, armed with our spiritual weapons, we are fully equipped for the calling to peace and to protect life.

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Source

1. https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/articles/index.php?view=article&aid=34587

Option Line has enhanced their service to strengthen the bridge for pregnancy help during hours when your center may not be available. They have added nurses to their team of professionally trained consultants! This enhanced service is called Option Line Plus.

How it Started

For the average pregnancy help center, 24/7 availability is impractical, and in many cases impossible. More than 20 years ago, Option Line began serving in the gap that exists during hours when pregnancy help organizations cannot be available. They have been serving as your 24/7/365 bilingual pregnancy help hotline—not only serving clients via phone, but through text, chat, email, and cutting-edge self-service tools on their website.

In the age of at-home abortion, pregnancy help must be available to clients the moment they reach out. Upon recognizing the invaluable impact education from a medical professional can have on women making such choices, they began a careful process of testing the addition of nurses to their team more than a year ago. The protocol for Option Line Plus was developed by leaders from our own Medical Impact team at Heartbeat International, all of whom have experience in pregnancy help centers—their expertise and understanding of your work informs every aspect of this project.

How it Works

During critical hours when most pregnancy help centers are not open, Option Line consultants can now schedule clients for a one-time educational call with a nurse. These calls are typically scheduled within 2 hours of the client’s initial contact, and scheduled calls have a show rate of more than 90%. During their interaction with an Option Line Plus consultant, a client will receive valuable education, better understand the value of visiting your pregnancy help organization, and finally, will be referred to or scheduled for an appointment at your center. When nurses are not on calls, they also answer chats, emails, and text messages.

What You Need to Do

As an affiliate, not a thing! As with all services Option Line provides to affiliates, Option Line Plus serves your center at no cost to you. If you haven’t been forwarding calls to them and would like to, we welcome you to start today! To learn more about how to become an affiliate, click here.

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Option Line and Option Line Plus should not be used for emergency or urgent care needs. In the case of an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. The information provided through this service is for informational purposes only. The nurses cannot provide medical diagnosis or recommend or provide treatment, and they are not a substitute for your doctor's care. Your health information is kept confidential in accordance with applicable laws.

For questions, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

by Rachel Deffenbaugh

In the wake of major headlines blanketing our news media, this is an opportunity to remember our mission, corporately unite in prayer, and refocus our sights on God who is still on the throne.

These past few years have been marred with a global pandemic, fighting to overturn Roe v. Wade, and then the aftermath of doing so—the slew of attacks by pro-abortion activists aimed at the valiant work of pregnancy centers. When it feels like the world is falling apart at the seams—enduring many hardships over these years and now facing an unprecedented crisis in Israel—we remember our mission.

On Mission

Recalling an article by Jor-El Godsey, president of Heartbeat International, he writes, “The mission of pregnancy centers is not to operate a pregnancy center! It is to reach those facing life-and-death decisions about their pregnancy with the Gospel of Life! The pregnancy center is but a method. Just like the church building is not the church, the pregnancy center is not pregnancy help.” Understanding the body of pregnancy help as an extension of the body of Christ is powerful. It’s a reminder of who we are in Christ, not individually, but corporately within the body of pregnancy help. We are a divinely appointed collective entity, where our mission transcends the four walls in which we operate.

We are called to a purpose that is greater than any one of us. Our mission is exemplified through the phone calls, conversations, and support we offer women. Our mission is exemplified in the hope we bring to women through the Abortion Pill Rescue Network (APRN) or other free resources they didn’t know were available to them.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” - Philippians 2:3-4

Unity of the Spirit

With harrowing reports coming from Israel, as Christians, we may feel like these attacks are a direct threat to us, wherever we are in the world. We know that Israel is God’s chosen people (Deuteronomy 7:6) and our hearts ache when we hear the turmoil ensuing on the very land where Jesus once walked. This is an opportunity to pray; to extend our united power as the body of Christ, through the Holy Spirit within each of us, across the ocean.

“But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them because they take refuge in Him.” - Psalms 37:39-40 (emphasis added)

In Acts 16, Paul and Silas serve as remarkable examples of unwavering faith through unceasing prayer. While incarcerated, they decided to pray and worship (Acts 16:25) instead of wallowing in self-pity, fear, and even anger. One scholar describes prison at that time as “sleepless places” without much, if any, light. With every reason to play terrifying scenarios in their imaginations—letting fear grip and overwhelm them—they instead chose prayer. Together they prayed and the Lord heard them (as He always does). He answered their prayers by causing a mighty earthquake that led to their freedom (Acts 16:26-33). Had they chosen fear, they would have missed many blessings, especially:

• the opportunity to be freed (Acts 16:36)
• the blessing of seeing a prayer answered
• the opportunity and blessing to witness the salvation of a prison guard and his entire family (Acts 16:31-34)

We can read these accounts as the framework for our own lives to pray without ceasing in every circumstance. As we unite in prayer to pray for our mission, Israel, and a future where abortion is unthinkable, we must remember to direct our time and attention upwards.

Vertical Focus

Paul and Silas shifted their focus. They opted for a vertical focus, instead of “horizontal vision.” They looked to the Lord and chose the posture of Philippians 4:6: “…in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Closer to home, pro-abortion activists and politicians engage in baseless claims challenging the integrity of pregnancy centers, while pregnancy help continues its mission to help women in need. Like Paul and Silas, our focus must be vertical. We must focus on a higher purpose than ourselves; always seeking God’s Kingdom first (Matthew 6:33). Our focus must remain on the King of Kings, who has called us according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

As we confront an uncertain tomorrow, we seize this as an opportunity to deepen our faith. The turmoil in Israel and the continued attacks by pro-abortion activists should propel us to remember our mission, unite in prayer and intercession (just as Paul and Silas chose to pray in their darkest moments), and focus vertically, keeping our eyes fixed on the Lord.

by Rachel Deffenbaugh

In honor of Respect Life Month, our attention turns toward the significance of the lives of unborn children and the pregnancy help mission to support women and their families.

The term "pro-life" is often used with varying interpretations, and frequently debated on social media. At the core of these discussions lies a fundamental question: what makes life significant? Historically, even what constitutes as alive has been central to pro-abortion arguments, with phrases like "blob of tissue" and "no proof of life" used to describe unborn children. However, advances in science have debunked these claims, confirming that “human life begins at conception—fertilization.” Today, the primary contention is not whether an unborn baby is alive but rather whether their life holds equal significance as that of the mother.

As we observe these discussions on social media, it becomes evident that the concept of significance is subjective and varies from one person to another. Pro-abortion activists do not attribute the same significance to all lives. Their stance is measured subjectively, encasing the entire movement in fluid ambiguity. It’s not enough to uphold a viewpoint dependent on emotion (like anger or fear) or personal experience.

In contrast, those of us in pregnancy help assign meaning and purpose to unborn babies based on the belief that all people are made in God's image and that children are a blessing. Furthermore, those of us in pregnancy help assign the lives of women with meaning and purpose, refraining from judging their past or present circumstances, guided by the same values. The pro-life stance is measured by scientific consistency and biblical truth.

Shifting the Narrative

While pro-abortion activists increasingly target pregnancy centers to undermine the valuable work done for women, pregnancy help continues to emphasize the significance of life.

In addition to the biblical truth that assigns human life with meaning and purpose, another component that demonstrates the significance of life is reflected in the lives touched and transformed at every pregnancy help organization around the globe. Their mounting impact shows that life—when provided with support and care—has the potential to create a positive impact on our global community. This is why (together) we promote the significance of life because we have witnessed firsthand the power that love and unity can yield.

Instead of the pro-abortion narrative that says women are incapable, the pregnancy help movement communicates the significance of life by coming alongside each woman to emphasize both the profound significance of her unborn child's life and her own.

Constructing a Foundation of Truth—Together

Those of us in the pregnancy help movement play a pivotal role in building a bridge to the redemptive and healing power of Jesus Christ. Each action we take—whether a phone call, a pregnancy test and consultation, a gospel-centered conversation, or a warm smile—contributes to this bridge. Pregnancy help is the bedrock of her support, offering compassion, care, and assistance symbolized by each piece of the bridge.

In the face of attacks from Big Abortion and its supporters, unity within pregnancy help is more critical than ever. The centers that tirelessly support and educate women and families understand the profound significance of life, and their entire existence revolves around upholding its value. Together, we are the builders of this vital movement.

As we recognize Respect Life Month, let us carry the torch of compassion, understanding, and unwavering commitment to the significance of every life. In a world filled with debates and differing perspectives, one truth remains constant: the value of each unborn child and the vital importance of supporting women and their families. We are the defenders of this cause, advocates of hope, and builders of bridges that lead to Jesus Christ. Our mission extends far beyond this month; it's a lifelong dedication to ensuring that every life is treated as significant.

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For more articles relating to the significance of life or personhood, please visit our news website here.

Christian was rescued from a chemical abortion in 2016.

What should a woman do if she starts a chemical abortion and has regrets?

A woman who would like to learn more about reversing the effects of chemical abortion and possibly continuing her pregnancy should call the Abortion Pill Reversal (APR) hotline at 877-558-0333 or go to the APR website to begin a live chat. The Abortion Pill Rescue Network™ (APRN) has nurses waiting to answer questions, explain reversal, and connect her with an APR provider in her area.

How does a medical professional enroll in the Abortion Pill Rescue Network?

Healthcare professionals with prescribing privileges can go to our provider website, click Join Our Medical Network, and specify that you would like to "provide progesterone treatment.” After receiving the information, we will confirm eligibility and add the medical provider and/or clinic to the APR Provider list. This list is used by our nurses when a client in your area requests a reversal.

We will also send you the APR Kit, which includes a program description, protocol, and documents used throughout the reversal process as well as several research articles.

How do Pregnancy Help Organizations enroll in the Abortion Pill Rescue Network?

A Pregnancy Help Medical Clinic (PHMC) offering APR services provides progesterone by dispensing onsite or through a prescription, confirming the viability and dating of the pregnancy with ultrasound, and the prescribing physician sees the patient (either at the center or in his/her office), ideally within 72 hours.

The other option for centers is to become a "consulting" center. These centers educate and refer for APR and offer free ultrasounds. They seek funding for clients in their community who cannot pay for the progesterone prescription or appointment. And they offer pregnancy and community support for women who have attempted reversal. This is the link to enroll as an APR provider or consulting center.

For more information about APRN, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

APRN Medical Director, Dr. Brent Boles, and APRN Advisory Team: Dr. Matt Harrison, Dr. George Delgado, Dr. William Lile, Dr. Julie McDonald, Dr. Karen Poehailos and Dr. Catherine Stark.