The Hope Hotline - The Hope Hotline | S01-E33 | 05-10-23

Episode Date: May 10, 2023

The Hope Hotline | S01-E33 | 05-10-23

real talk real talk real talk real talk hello everyone and thank you for joining in to the hope hotline i have a very special guest and like i'm sure you guys are wondering well who the heck is she because you don't recognize her unless you come to this church then you do see her at this church periodically. So before I tell you who she's with and what with this is all about I do not as soon as you hear the topic I do not want you saying this is not for me. Because I'm telling you right now, this is for everyone. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is here. And I know that I heard the Lord clearly that she is supposed to be on this podcast for this week, this Mother's Day week.

And if I could have, I would have had her for Father's Day week because it applies to both mothers and fathers men and women and what her topic is is something that everyone knows someone or has someone in their family that's experienced it or they themselves have experienced it to some level and And that is the topic of abortion. Abortion and miscarriage. Okay. Again, don't turn this off because I'm talking about a topic that makes people uncomfortable. Every time Tom on his podcast talks about abortion, the numbers drop.

And I'm telling you right now, when you hear what she has to say, in ministerial ways, you will use her knowledge and what she can share with you. There's going to be healing through this podcast today. There's going to be people who are able to minister to people through what she has to say to say and then there is going to be people that will be able to save potentially a child out there from being aborted so this is Megan Kiever hello everyone thank you for having me you are so I listen I was so happy that you were willing to come and be a part of this she's with the pregnancy care net which is out of bradington pregnancy care net is actually um who we support at foundation church thank you guys yeah we support them big time um because you can talk about a topic all you want to but unless you're willing

to put your money where your mouth is really what's the point talk is cheap but you have to support if you believe in winning the loss then you support winning the loss if you um believe in uh saving children from being aborted then what you do is you get in there and you put your money where your mouth is and you help support them outside of that there's really no way we can't do it alone no and yeah and you can go and do you need to scoot over here more i'm good if and here's the thing you can go and pray outside of these clinics but that's truly vitally important it's very important power and prayer yeah but very important financial support is huge because outside of that, the good clinics that help save these mothers and fathers from taking decisions that they might not really want to do. Or that they just feel boxed in. It's not, I don't know if it's a want or a not want necessarily when you feel so boxed in.

Yeah. At that point, it's really not a want or it seems like a necessity in some areas or you can't see past that decision. Yes, now you, now I'm talking way louder than you. So you're gonna have to talk louder. Okay. Otherwise she's gonna have problems with the audio.

So here's the thing. Can you hear me? Yeah, I know you can talk louder. So here's the thing. I want you can talk louder um so here's the thing um I want people to hear your story sure uh in a brief because we got a lot to cover you got a lot to cover um but I also you're on the board I am um I'm on the board of directors at Care Nut Manasota Pregnancy Center um that's up in Bradenton up in Manasota um but I did not stop I did not start on the board um i have a unique scenario

where i was actually a client there um 11 years ago i found myself in a situation in my second pregnancy um because i was pregnant i have a older son who is almost 20 so at 18 i was pregnant and never considered abortion abortion was not on my mind. Adoption was. I actually went to the adoption agency. I sought open adoption. I knew that terminating my pregnancy was not going to be the option at 18. So fast forward eight years later, I can't even explain how I found myself in the scenario of not only considering abortion,

but making an appointment at the local abortion clinic. And truly, to this day, I can't fully explain how I ended up even thinking of that option. And that's why I was trying to say, like, it's not always a want. I wouldn't say I wanted an abortion. I felt so backed into a corner. I wasn an abortion. I felt so backed into a corner. I wasn't married. I was just so boxed in and selfish and I wasn't married. This would be two different fathers of two different kids. I was a mess. I was in a previous industry and just, I didn't know what to do. So somehow at 26 years old there I am calling the abortion clinic

making an appointment and I would like to say I reconsidered and I didn't go that day but that's that's not what happened as we were driving there my mother took me and we got there and at first I actually we we left because I saw protesters and that really did deter me and I was like I can't walk through them I can't do this um there just has to be another way and we turned around and I would like to tell you that I turned around and I went home. But that's not the case. We went back, and I called to cancel my appointment at first, and they told me there was a back way. So if I came back, I didn't have to walk through the protesters. So I said, turn around.

We're going back. I need to do this. Again, for all the reasons, those boxed-in reasons, not thinking outside of the actual scenario of other options and I went back and somebody was there to come down and help me up the stairs and we went in and I remember that day very clearly we went in and a procedure they have to do where we have to get an ultrasound and so you know the pregnancy test the urine test was saying I was pregnant and we have to do this ultrasound and they were looking at the ultrasound and they said we can't see that you're pregnant

so they gave me my money back and I left there and my son Hayden will be 11 next month. So I didn't, at that moment, I didn't even know what to think. I left there thinking, looking, Googling things, what would give a false positive? It's so much more common to have a false negative, not a false positive. My urine tests are saying this. Do I have cancer? You know, it's the whole, you run the whole gamut of I don't understand. So I went through the weekend being confused. I was not saved at the time. And the only person I could think to call and talk this through was my friend Lauren,

who I wasn't really close to at the time because I was not following the Lord and I I knew she was she was in um she was in a church college and all this stuff and I thought she was off her rocker and just kind of like whoo um and and I was worried to be judged to be honest with you even though I know I know her and I know she loves me. I didn't talk to her in a while. I didn't know what to do. So I called her. I explained the scenario. And she said, Megan, will you go with me to a pregnancy center? And I said, I don't even know if I'm pregnant. I don't know what's going on.

I'm confused. I'm scared. And she's like, well, you just go talk. Will you just trust in talking with somebody who just, and I said, I don't know, at this point, sure, and that was Care Net, Manasota Pregnancy Center, so I did not start on the board. I started there as a client in need, and that very same week, I had another ultrasound, and I was pregnant.

And it shows it. And yeah, and confirmed pregnancy, and I would then love it shows it and gap and confirmed pregnancy and I would then love to tie stay there my whole pregnancy and doing programs they're talking with a counselor like what kind of programs for example so people know like what it they just don't give you like supplies right no so you go there and you can one of our biggest programs that care net is the earn while you learn program and that is where you go in and you talk with a counselor very much like how i did there you get um and you learn about pregnancy you learn about parenting and you get

to learn about um safety like car safety and all this stuff and um while you're there you get points to go and you get points for attending you also also get points for doing the worksheets of education. And you get points, actually, they offer you Bible studies. We are a Christian pro-life pregnancy center. However, you do not have to be Christian to go. But if you want to do Bible studies, and I'll tell you at the time, I wasn't walking with the Lord, but I wanted points. So I was like, whatever, I will do these Bible studies. Sure, I'll go to church and take some notes.

Because if you went to church and you bring your notes. What do the points earn you? The points, so the earn while you Learn, we have a baby boutique. And so this is where you can shop with your points for maternity clothes, baby clothes, baby wipes, diapers, formula, toys up until two years of age. So you get to do actually all of these things. You know what I love? That you just don't hand it out.

There's expectation, accountability. Yes, that's huge. That's how you get people saved. Absolutely absolutely and actually while we're here too when when people come in we're always offering would you like us to pray with you and they have the option to say yes or no we always do when they leave if they say no but um but you know so we just open up the door to have that conversation to really show it really to encourage people i will tell you when i was there i did not feel judged i i left there that one that first appointment and i was still undecided i didn't know if i was pregnant i didn't know what i would do if i was

and i left there they spoke truth to me they will they are pro-life and they will speak truth but if you leave there and end up going through with an abortion their door is open they want to love on the person yeah they want to make sure that people know we love you we are compassionate for you and i'll tell you that's all i felt and at that moment i didn't know anything really about Christianity and they were shining and so we get people um we just give them encouragement we get we help them see the alternatives and all that they to be all that they can be and that they're called to be and the strength and courage um I just I can't that's one of our biggest programs I can't talk yeah enough about it so the thing is

is when people make the right decision you're definitely there which is huge absolutely which is huge absolutely oh I think um so many people don't do it because they feel like they're on an island you know in and of themselves so like they're going to be alone through this process so having somewhere you can go could you go every day if you wanted to um so it's typically weekly or every other week depending on what stage you are in your pregnancy and depending on the needs and whatnot so you can go there once a week and be around people that are like-minded are you in groups like if you go to a counseling are you in groups with other people who are pregnant? Or is it one-on-one?

It's typically one-on-one. However, oftentimes a family member or the father will join a mother, and then they do have some group classes periodically, like seasonal group classes, and that will include breastfeeding classes cpr classes um they've had a financial person there before coming in to really and it's not and i'll tell you if care not doesn't offer it we are such community partners with other organizations in the area that we will find you the resource that you need and as long as you show up while we were talking about accountability yeah responsibility you show up and you want to succeed we will help you do that and just come on in and i mean we all

so it's not for just ladies it's not just for ladies so here's this is what i would say everybody knows um a youth or you're going to come across a kid um somebody in their 20s sure somebody even in their 30s because i've known women who were in their 30s that this has been an issue for them and they didn't know what to do because they were single it money was tight um which i'm sure it's not unfamiliar for you guys to see a woman of that age group to come in. Absolutely. So, but you have things, usually everybody thinks it's always the woman. It's not. And they think that it's typically, which I would guess in a sense, it is more often

unwed necessarily or younger, but we see women and men and have experienced them walk beside people from teens through their 40s I mean I I got the opportunity to walk beside a woman who was 41 who already had five kids and had a late-term abortion scheduled and just by getting to know her and getting to know her other kids and helping her find a way and you know she was 41 so it's not just teenagers and it's not just women and it's not just men who are affected by the subject matter that i feel like we need to be talking about so what happened with the lady so you guys she was 41 she already had five kids she was

scheduled for a late-term abortion you convinced her not to did she keep the baby or did she give it up for adoption we We sought out adoption. I walked beside her, but she did end up ending up parenting. No, she kept the baby. Yes, she did. Oh, my gosh, it's great. She did, and it was a beautiful story. And we just praised God through it all.

And, again, you hear these women and men, their stories, and you can't help but have this compassion for that's why i really believe that we need to be talking about the subject matter and i even wrote down these are some questions that i just feel like you need to be talking about this because this subject matter this is going on whether we're talking about it or not oh 100 and it's going on outside the church and it's going on inside the church and these are just some questions like i just ask everybody to really think how do i view the topic of abortion and to really sit with it how do i view it what what are my thoughts what are my convictions have i been faced with it have i been do i know somebody who

has um am i so closed off that um i won't listen to somebody if they have? Let me ask, like, there's one, two, three, four, five. There's five of us in the room outside of you. Sure. I mean, I personally know more than one person that's had an abortion. Heather's saying yes. Every girl in this room, Talia, you're young though, sweetie, so that's good. And you're not in the school system. So that's excellent.

But like, I think everyone but Talia, and you yourself, because of where you work, but all of us, and I would doubt very seriously, there isn't somebody that isn't watching this that doesn't know or hasn't had a family member experience it. some a lot of times we don't know what to say to them and they're hurting like they're in pain first of all like tom said on sunday if you've had an abortion take responsibility for it don't like make an

excuse for that that's part of the healing process and it's and and it's also part of repentance own it so that you can just there's no shame right there's forgiveness in everything but you first have to like take responsibility for that action and you can lovingly help somebody through that process but first of all you do have to ask yourself that question like how do i really look at it is it that important to me it's life and death absolutely it is like it is not for the parent for the child in the womb it is life and death and it's that seriously and we should think of it that seriously absolutely and it could be life or death for somebody if and we were talking about this. A lot of women and men won't talk about the subject matter. So we really have no exact number of how many people are affected by it

because the people who have had it are typically not talking. And it's a really bold topic to bring up because you can't take that back once you say it and you don't know how somebody is going to react. And I think as a society, a lot of times we do shame people and people are so nervous but we have to be open to to redemption and restoration for everyone and everything and that's exactly we want to help them get the freedom it is for freedom that christ has set us free and that's all we want with people who have experienced this this could could be the mother, the father, and that's as little as women come out about it.

Men, where can they go? They can come to Care Net. We have a Nights program that is a male mentorship. Because for a man, they could have encouraged an abortion, paid for an abortion, or they didn't want her to yeah and they didn't and then she still didn't even know about it even know there's just these different scenarios and where do these men who can they trust and we want them to be able to trust in this is why we need to be talking about this is why we need to know there are services out there and church because honestly um for the

church like what are we going to do and you know pastor tom said something on the saturday night podcast and it was it was in regards to human trafficking but he said and it hit me for this topic matter too are we pro-life until the baby is born are we going to if there's an unwed mother that comes in and she's pregnant how are we going to respond to her is it going to be with shame is it going to be with or is it going to be like hey let's talk about this let's get you right with god right with god and let's get this thing going in a positive way it's super important i think that um i think there is a lot of shame for women that they don't want to talk about it but i think the the problem is for men is a lot of times society has said it's the woman's choice and the men have no say whatsoever they have no say whatsoever. They have no rights. And that, on the other hand, is, in my opinion, so unjust.

It is so not right to do that to men. I agree with you. There are some men that have said, I will help pay for it. But there are men out there that had no option whatsoever. And their hearts break and mourn for the child that they'll never know, because they were not even given the choice in the matter. To know, yeah, whether, absolutely. Which is not right, and there's healings through that.

Men need that. It's grief, it could be, you know, walking through the stages of grief, many times with a pregnancy loss, whether it be miscarriage, because we also have miscarriage support for pregnancy loss or a termination of a pregnancy both everybody i mean there are and i think i've shared this with you before even you know it could be grandmothers it could be aunts it could be friends i have a great friend of mine who only within the last couple years she called me that her my age and

Her cousin was pregnant. Yeah, and consider had an abortion scheduled and of course I said will she talk to me or anyone at Karen? I what is there any how what can I do? will she speak to us and ultimately she chose abortion and my friend was the one who actually took her cousin. And she called me that morning, and she said, I didn't know how I was going to feel doing this. I thought I was being helpful. I thought I was being supportive.

I thought I was doing the right thing. But now people out here are calling me a murderer as well, and I just didn't realize. And that's the whole thing. You don't know what you don't know and this is why we need to be talking about and asking those questions what do i really think about it in all aspects can i be somebody that somebody can open up to and come to and start encouragement of a healing process and then maybe down the road use your testimony yeah get out there and start helping others and a big thing that care not is all about as well and that you know I'm about is you know preventative to like we need to be having this conversation

to prevent pregnancy yeah human trafficking human trafficking it's so hilarious they make sure those kids don't get pregnant. In human trafficking, they literally, they throw the people that are running them, they throw the pill on their bed every day. It's the truth. They throw the pill on the bed every day and they are demanded to take that pill every day. Human traffickers make sure

that those girls don't get pregnant. So for me, I'm like, we should be doing the same thing. First of all, we teach abstinence, right? That's ultimately the goal. Respecting God's body. Yeah. And because the sexual sin is the worst sin that you can commit. All sin is the same.

There's no levels to sin. But it says sexual sin does the worst harm to your body for obviously multiple reasons. So let me ask you this. Now, statistics, they're all over the place, right? They're kind of all over the place. Yes, but here's the thing. People who are watching, you need to understand what we're up against. It's a spiritual battle.

It's a spiritual battle. It's a spiritual battle because if you a spiritual battle because uh if yeah if you know somebody who has had an abortion you need to be praying for them or they get pregnant out of wedlock or even people have abortions they're married absolutely they're married and they have them because financially they have other kids or. They're caught between the crosshairs. Okay. So because of that, like we really need to like, it's a big broad picture. Everybody always thinks abortion is done by these young girls that are in their teens.

And that's their only way out. That is truth. Yeah. There's definitely truth in that. But it goes beyond that. And that's what only way out. That is truth. Yeah, there's definitely truth in that. But it goes beyond that. And that's what this is about. This is like opening up more conversations in different areas of really it as a whole. It's from different angles.

And whether it be in the age, some people think it's just unmarried. It's married people too. It's for various reasons.'s um because they've already had one and now that is more susceptible you are more susceptible than to um choosing that again um oh yeah people have used it as a means of contraceptive yes so that's dangerous too very dangerous um because it's what it does to your body is like there's physically, mentally, spiritually, all of it. Yeah. So let me ask you like, what is, I know that their numbers vary, but like as far as like suicide, depression,

what are the statistics for things like that? So here, if you know somebody who's had one, you need to know that if you ever consider it, you need you need to know how this will affect you in some way. And then we need to come along people, aside people, who have either or. We need to save these kids before. Parents need to teach their kids to keep their legs closed. Yeah, we need to be having this conversation. I'll tell you my son, who will be 11, who was saved by the grace of God, we talk about this openly. He knows his story.

He knows about Care Net. He volunteers with me there sometimes. And we have open conversations because this is too big of a subject matter to not be talking about and starting oh yeah young um but yeah no with uh women and men can experience the people who are actually talking about their abortion are typically ones who aren't necessarily phased by it that doesn't think it's that big of a deal the people who have had an abortion where there's shame and there's guilt and there's that condemnation it's hard to get people to open up but there are organizations like pass which is post-abortive stress syndrome. That's not an organization.

That's what it's called. Yes, it's essentially like post-traumatic stress syndrome. Because what we're finding, along with similarities with post-traumatic stress syndrome, is going to be higher rates of depression, possible suicide ideation, and also, what's it called, like when you're rethinking about the past and having those triggers of the moments for PTSD and when, for instance, on the date of an abortion or you don't necessarily realize and you may be affected by your friends going on

to get pregnant and avoiding baby showers and starting to avoidance in certain areas and this might be a tough subject um but i've heard from a few different women who have experienced an abortion that going to the dentist for them can be difficult because if you are not fully sedated um and you have a remembrance the sound of the suction is similar to that okay and that's so you don't think about that yeah because you might not know they make it sound listen and i i literally have heard people tell me that when they went in for their abortion, that how they were told that it was going to happen was more like a medical treatment. Like it was, how did they say it?

They used medical terminology, but they made it sound like more of like a medical procedure. Like you're going in and you're having like your appendix taken out or something like that right um that it's more like a medical procedure versus actually what it truly is is which is taking a life like how what that looks like pregnancy yeah it is ending the pregnancy and there's no if ands or buts that. That life of the pregnancy is now gone. And you can't get that back.

And not everybody thinks about it. It's that boxed-in mentality. It's the deception. And we don't go knocking on people's doors and it's like, have you had an abortion? Or we need to pull you out and go take you to the, get support. These people are finding us. These people are coming forward once we start having the conversations willingly. We don't know if somebody's had one. We know when they tell us. So this is not about shame. It is not about calling people out. It is

about, this is going on every day. This is going on every day this is going on every day we most likely all know somebody who has been affected by an abortion in some way shape and form and we need life is precious we need to be fighting for it and yep i agree with you the mom and the dad too their life is precious and to not stay a slave to that bondage that many people do face, I mean, trust me, you go and you start researching this stuff, you're going to, it's tough. It's tough. You're going to see a lot against it. And you're going to see a lot for life. Oh, it's so many.

But you're going to see so much of devaluing that's that's the biggest word i can say while looking on all the different sources and this and the other is it's just a devaluation of really what this procedure is and ending a life it's it's it's astounding to me that I mean there are there are grandmothers that are out there that'll never meet their grandchildren and maybe women don't even and, they don't even think beyond that. Like, it's like you throw a pebble in a pond and it ripples. And you think it's like, or you blow the little dandelion and the feathers in the wind, you know, or the dandelion goes out there.

Those little spores and things like that, you don't think of those things and how much it goes beyond you. And so you're thinking, well, this is what I have to do for me but you don't realize that that decision doesn't just affect you it affects everyone that knows you everybody that loves you and that child that you've now said, I'm not going to have, there are so many family members that don't get to, that they might have if they had known, would have supported you through the whole process and helped you save that child either for adoption.

Adoption is huge. So do you guys help people with adoption? We do. So we have resources that we connect with adoption agencies. So really, at Care Net, what we exactly offer, what we offer for women, pregnancy testing and ultrasound, we actually just got a generous donation to get a high-tech ultrasound that helps detect as soon as possible to see the little baby yeah um because when people see when a when a woman sees her baby she has a higher chance of of the reality of this is a life yeah um so we have pregnancy how how what, like, if someone sees the sonogram of the baby, what is it, do you, like, have a, like, even a guess of what the percentage of it being higher that they don't do an abortion?

I don't know. Because they're doing that with, they're doing that with other places. Like, do you, when you went in and they were trying to find out if you were pregnant, did you get to see the screen? I didn't see the screen. They do that on purpose, though. They do that on purpose so that you don't see the life and you move on with the procedure. That's a good point, yeah, because no, I did not see the screen.

Because if you did, you probably would have changed your mind. If I saw something there, if any of us did. It's evil. So you don't know what the percentage is? I don't know the percentage. I know from personal experience being at Care Net and having those conversations that that has happened. And I will tell you, in 2022, Care Net knows for sure, people who have come in abortion-minded in 2022, there's at least confirmed 11 babies who were born that the mother verified, I changed my mind,

and verified the birth took place. And sometimes people leave there and you don't know necessarily the outcome. So we believe there's more, but we know that we have. At least 11. Yes, just as of last year. That's huge, 11 lives. I know. I mean, that's monster big. That's big. Yeah. All those lives matter. Oh, just as of last year. That's huge. 11 lives. I know. I mean, that's monster big. It's

big. Yeah. All those lives matter. Oh, they do. And so that was a big, I think that's just praiseworthy. Oh, I love that. Oh, yeah. So, okay. So one of the things that you do, because I want people to know, like, first of all, I want everybody to really pray about supporting Care Net. It's huge. As I said, the church does. So if you attend this church, you need to know that the money, yeah, we do give. We do give. Generously.

Thank you. The other thing is, is if you feel compelled to personally give, then you need to have a means. And Tracy's going to put on the screen how you find, how you can, how and where to send your money for it. Also, you need to know like where your money's going to go, but you also need to know where to send people. It's super important. There's, there's a facility out there or means to help support somebody that you know or love, even if they've had an abortion. Absolutely. Because we need to send these people for healing outside of church.

I love it. Yeah. Outside of church and yourself. You need to be able to say, hey, listen, I got a place for you to go. They will help you through this process. Absolutely. And even if they're not saved, because usually that's a great way to get them saved, right? It's super important. That's why

I say don't not watch this because at some point, this might be a huge ministry that you can send people to and help a loved one get saved that you've been praying for. So tell everybody what you guys do, men and women. Because I love it that you're not just for the ladies. Yeah, because this is outside of it just being a situation for a woman. Oh, yeah. I mean, women do not get themselves pregnant. Pregnant alone. Yep, they just don't.

Yeah. So men can be affected at various levels, as we've discussed as well. So we have pregnancy testing and ultrasounds. The Earn While You Learn program, that's one of our biggest programs. And I love going into the baby boutique. You get to, my son and I will go in and we'll volunteer and we'll get to put the baby clothes up and see all the new cool things. Now where do you guys get all these things for the boutique? Yeah, so by donation.

By donation, whether it be monetary, then we go out and purchase. Because there are times where a specific client, they've worked really hard, and they really want X, Y, and Z, and they're working towards X, Y, and Z. And at that point, if we have the means, we'll go out and get that. But often we have diapers, wipes formula which you guys thank you so much when you guys were switching the buildings heather contacted me and i came down here to get a lot of formula and i will let you guys know that actually got um dispersed between two different pregnancy centers karen at mannesota took what they were um you know knew they were lacking and

then we donated it to one north of there as well. So thank you guys very much. That's so good. Thank you. Yeah. So important. We have miscarriage support for men and women. So this would be if you were pregnant, you obviously wanted to keep the baby.

Like for me, I've had a miscarriage. Yeah. Which. It's hard. It it was hard yeah it was if I would have had faith like I do now that never would have happened I didn't know the scriptures about miscarriage and things like that I just I kicked myself for it I mean I'm blessed because I have my daughter and but at the same time that was that was not a it's grief yeah it was not a pleasant experience so there's a lot of people that have gone through that and

they're still dealing with that yes and but and sometimes it's not even the lady that has the the problem with it it's the man I mean it's just but a couple, you can go there as a couple, correct? Absolutely. Yeah. Men and women. If it's just a man coming in, we have the Knights program, which is a male mentorship. Oftentimes the spouse or the boyfriend will come in as well and sit beside the woman. So you can go together or you can go separate.

Correct. Yeah. That's huge. We have counseling, actually Good Samaritan Counseling. They volunteer their time to come in to give counseling services as well. Now, Good Samaritan, is that the Franklin Graham Good Samaritan or is that a different? I actually don't know. No, that's Samaritan's Purse, isn't it?

It's not the same. Yeah. So it's just an organization up there who's decided to partner with us because they know that there might be that extra support and counseling that one might need at whatever stage they're at if that's a christian organization yeah that's good see for me it's great and get to get counseling but it's not great to me if it's not biblically based like um i think without the word you can get all the counseling you want but the word is what heals you you know faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word so everything that you do should always be biblically based and founded

so that being a christian organization is huge oh absolutely, absolutely. And like I said, Care Net is. We just, we take opportunities wherever. You don't shove it down people's throats. Yeah, because one, we hope, we love when we get to see somebody who is saved. I mean, I would like to tell you, I devoted my life to Christ when God spared Hayden's life, And then I was at Care Net. And I would love to say that those scriptures then, I'm sure there were seeds being planted looking back now, but it still took me seven years. I was still living a pretty crazy lifestyle,

even knowing the miracle that had happened, even knowing there's no way it could have been anything else but God. But it still took me seven years. And I talk today, the lady who cuts my hair, she's my Care Net representative. She was my Care Net counselor 11 years ago. So those relationships are so important. And she had been, to see what she has done, she herself had had two abortions in the past, and she had walked through healing and found Jesus and this woman has helped so many people so I see I didn't know her prior yeah but I've seen the outcome of

Jesus shining through her and her heart being for this ministry yeah and where at first before she got saved it was just too hard for her to bring up and talk about let alone help somebody else in the scenario yeah but when she got her freedom and she just became a grandmother so it's just so beautiful and it's just the word does not return void though so the thing is is those seeds were planted in you you know you just you just have to know that as he draws them in i love it yeah so that's that's when i really noticed and saw and got that he's so patient. Yeah. He's a gentleman.

Yes. He'll never force himself on you. But if you use that word. Yes. It does not return void. It'll just come back. If the person is willing as he's drawn in. Absolutely.

And then if he has that choice to reject. But at least you're putting it out there, which is super important. It's monumental. Yeah. It's life-changing. Yeah. Absolutely.

So go ahead. Keep on going because I could keep interrupting you like there's no tomorrow. No, you're good. We have 20 minutes. We're doing good, but I want to make sure you fit everything in. Yes. Great. Well, so we have post-abortion healing for both women and men so you can come on in and

we will walk beside you through what like what does that look like when you do post-abortion healing is it is it only to the because i think that that is probably as much as the ones that are you're helping people oh sure save the baby like what does that look like for a post-abortion healing class and that that's gonna be and it's not always a class it's gonna be one-on-one okay most likely and um we've had um abortion recovery groups they don't typically get very big because people just especially when they it's so secretive oh. So to even come in one-on-one is so brave. Yeah. And so encouraged. So it looks like kind of however it goes, like because there's not one right way on how somebody's going to open up about it.

So could you only come to one session? Oh, no, no, no, no. Or do you, I mean, no, no, no. I'm just saying, do some people just only go to one? Sometimes. I'll tell you, I have found, because I have co-led an abortion recovery group and i know many women who have and it is not uncommon to start and then once you really start

getting in here that you don't come back and that it might take a few times to actually start so this is where that's why it's once somebody's ready to open up it doesn't mean they're ready to go fully there yeah but that opening and the layer so it's that's why i'm trying to say there's not one right it's not just like um um it's a deep wound it's a deep wound yeah and so that looks different to everyone and that's why um walking beside somebody with that looks different each time as well. Yeah. Which, but, you know, you get that one layer off. And then you get, and then if you're, you know, you come back. Yeah.

And when you're ready to deal with it. Yeah. I think that it's, it's so, it's such a private. I, I, I think we, we have to preach it from the pulpit. And we have to be dogmatic against it. And because of that, I think that people believe that when you are asancy there to be able to be transparent and saying well I agree with you but I've walked that walk that I have I've done that because we're very passionate. And every now and then, Tom's very big on forgiveness. There is actually no sin that Tom doesn't believe people can be redeemed or restored.

Like, he just, he automatically just believes that everybody's like, I've done that. Well, okay, then you've asked for forgiveness. You're forgiven. Move on. And especially in this, because Tom always says to me, it doesn't matter. They're forgiven. His purpose is for people to understand in a strong way

what you're doing and don't do it. But there's so much forgiveness behind, if you have done it forgive yourself i'm just saying that when women don't forgive themselves of this it holds them up in ways that they don't understand that god wants to use them in such a mighty way and men as well that there's no sin that is not forgivable. Nothing. And God loves and wants us to forgive ourselves because he remembers it no more.

So, yeah, it's so important that maybe you can walk without it and get through it without going through counseling. But you need to know that if you can't do that, that there's, go and talk to somebody. Unpeel those layers so that you can be used by the Lord. And it may be that you get used by the Lord and no one ever knows or no one ever, you never speak of your abortion with anybody,

but it helps propel you in a different way. It clears, it's the freedom. It the freedom freedom uh because maybe that's all you need i mean it's private you don't have to share it with everybody but you have to walk in forgiveness for yourself and no shame i mean it's so important because you are forgiven of it um and you need to love yourself i love that but you need to also be passionate about saying it's wrong you should not do it you gotta pick us i mean it's it's a you're for it or you're not yeah and i mean but just because somebody's passionate and says this is wrong don't do it that doesn't mean that they're not a person that is is compassionate

for the person that has done it. Because there are like, there's a lot of people who feel like, I can't talk to anybody about this, especially somebody who's a staunch pro-lifer. I think you'll find out more pro-lifers have compassion for you because they understand what you're going through.

They've studied it out. That's the reason why they're so pro-life. So they have compassion for the person that has experienced it. They don't want anybody to walk through that, but they love you through it, you know? So keep going on, because I think it's so important.

But go on, because you got two rows here. And again, I've talked too much. No, not at all. You're passionate about it. And that's why we're here today. Because you guys have opened up for us to come on here. You're supportive. And we just, I can't say thank you enough.

We are so blessed. Praise God for you guys. Well, praise God for an organization that's out there doing things. Like not for profits. People don't understand you don't like get paid a lot of those people are like this church they're all volunteers if you don't have volunteers are volunteers there then you don't have a place for people to go but let alone you rely heavily on giving oh absolutely like you're not getting an income outside of

people giving so you have to be passionate and you have to really love what you're doing. That's when you know. And thank God for places that are doing this. Yeah, no doubt. It's a risk. The staff there, I can't say nearly enough, like, great things about them. Because you see, they are day in and day out. And the stories that they hear can be really heavy.

And they have to, you know, walk with that. And it's not always. It's so much fun sometimes. You know, and there's so much joy. And babies are born. And the boutique. And there's so much fun. But those are some heavy, heavy stories sometimes.

And it's not for a crazy amount of money. And then the volunteers that come in that will devote their time on this mission it's it's truly it's so beautiful to be there and we want you guys to come in we'd love to invite you guys to come in and see the center sometime it would be amazing and if anybody feels led to get involved we'll talk about those yeah that would be amazing i know that you guys in sarasota it's north sarasota but listen people drive to tampa for a good meal yeah i know yeah i mean so you can that's so true so if you can go to tampa for a good meal or a concert come on if you don't have the money to give but you feel compelled to give your time time or i'm telling you we truly we're a christian

organization that believes in the power of prayer so if you are praying for us we ask that i mean we just please it does not go unnoticed and we feel it so thank you in advance and thank you guys for your prayers um and there's lots of ways to get involved that and just calling up and you know whether it's as little or as much you want to volunteer. I mean, we do outside events. For instance, well, we love to speak at churches, if churches will allow us to, small groups. But we don't just limit it to church activities either. I was at, we were at the Up in Bradenton, the Marauders game.

We had a table there. So really just getting creative, that is something we want to ask about too is if somebody thinks of an area or something that we can be a part of that would let us have a table there or chat we would love that as well so these are more ways to get so people yes so people ever work of an event are part of a one yeah then let you guys know that would be so great and we'll just we would love to be there we we'll just, we would love to be there. We're trying to say we'd love to be anywhere that will let us have the opportunity to chat more about this. Yeah. Because if your name gets out there, then that's more sphere of influence. Absolutely. The more people know where to go if they're in a scenario and, and to be able to call

because we can be a really good bridge source too. I mean, we're up in Manatee County. There are closer pregnancy centers here. We would be happy to team up. Absolutely. Like we care about you as the person and we're for the kingdom of God. So if we can help refer you to where you need to go, please call. We have our phone number.

And if you reach us after hours, it goes to our text line and actually to another, it's the florida pregnancy option line as well so we'll make sure have that number those numbers up there too so you can contact them text them or whatever uh that's super important what's uh what's some of your other stuff because we have less than 10 minutes and i definitely seriously i want people to understand what you guys do it's big and please visit our website call all of it we can talk about it as you can see it's easy to have an hour go by just speaking about it it really is have adoption referrals how does that what does that look like adoption referrals so partnering with adoption agencies so if you are considering adoption if

that's the route you would choose pregnancy but you're looking into adoption, it would be getting you in contact with a great referral that would fit your needs. Is it a Christian organization? Some. Some of them, but not all of them. Let's say somebody, but if anybody knows, again, of other, this is a great conversation. If somebody wants to connect us with somebody else as a referral source, we would love to know that knowledge so we can give it out so there are people who would love a child but they can't they're having difficulty and their faith just isn't there to to to get them to the place of

getting pregnant so adoption has become an option for them. Does these adoption agencies, can you team people up that way, or do you just stay completely focused on pregnant women getting in contact with an adoption agency? So, for instance, if you are pregnant and you want to go down the adoption route, you can still go to Care Net during your pregnancy and whatnot and get that help and support while being referred to the adoption agency that you feel comfortable with proceeding forward. If somebody wants to adopt a baby that was potentially going to be aborted, how do you guys also help them? Could somebody call up and say, can you refer us to? don't know exactly yeah but that's a great question because there's so many people willing families as you probably even know um who would love that

so yeah they would love to take a child that was going to be aborted potentially and just take that on oh absolutely so that's another conversation we need to continue. Yeah. That's awesome. That's, that would be great. Keep going. Um, STD referrals should somebody. Oh my gosh, never even thought about that. Yeah. Because sometimes people come in and, and you know, if they do have an STD and that could be dangerous to the mom or baby, then we have to get them help and support. Do people ever just come in that are not pregnant? Um, so people will come in. Well, whether they've experienced a miscarriage um they might not be pregnant abortion yes they might not be pregnant um it's primarily

a pregnancy center but it doesn't mean that we haven't gotten calls for other types of um like do you do this and we connect them with where like even drug drug facility oh that's awesome there's a there's a um maternity house up by us as well, so there are times where a woman will be living there throughout her pregnancy but then take a bus or a way to get to Care Net as well to get care during that time. So I can't stress enough the community partnerships because this is not, as you can tell, I mean, this is a big subject matter, and we just are here to help. So we need to partner with these other organizations that are just phenomenal we all

go to each other's you know events and learn more about each other's so we can be that source and sometimes they're going to STDs and but that is so true especially because it's harmful to the baby yeah the mom and the baby yes we just want to make sure that gets taken care of and gets cleaned up. And then we do have the seasonal group classes that will be periodically, like the CPR, breastfeeding classes, birthing classes. I've heard about the financial class they had. We have had groups for when we start to have an abortion recovery group. But sometimes, like I said, it takes a few times.

Yeah. Because some people will start off. have an abortion recovery group but sometimes like i said it takes a few times yeah because some people will start off and it's just it's just hard for people to open up individually let alone in a group yeah but we keep trying yeah yeah we keep trying listen and then for men we have the knighthood i was telling you about that that's where a male can have a male mentor and walk beside um parenting classes if you know if he's fathering um that's awesome the other men mentor men and we never even thought about that please if any of this like hits you in your heart and you want to learn more or learn about being a client advocate or just however you can get involved like please reach out we we are in need of um a bilingual receptionist

bilingual client advocate we have one right now and she is an angel. She has been there for over 20 years. Her daughter now is our medical director. No way. It's really cool. So we're very close. There's a lot of, a lot of goodness, but yeah, we have opportunities. We're looking if any men feel led, if they want to help a man walk through father steps or if an abortion yeah scenario or a miscarriage scenario just call us up there are people who really you're ready willing and able to take those people yes yeah i just want to see don't blame you have free yeah good help is hard to find so what is and so is the rest of the men's stuff very similar to the women so it's

the earn while you learn you could be doing that alongside they can be joining during that joining during that the miscarriage support post-abortive healing those life skills both have life skills that's going to be where the financial classes sometimes come in and whatnot the mental health care where we have counseling services std referrals and um uh we did for a bit we had um we want to get back to this of abstinence courses oh my gosh that's huge yeah so that's huge there's a lot in store too and we just want to keep partnering and keep on growing and keep on helping and and all that so let me ask you now out of and you listen I go over sometimes so if it's more than four minutes okay out of everything what would you say is the

most important thing before you leave you want to make sure it's conveyed or that we didn't touch on that would I know you have notes yeah and And I know you wanted to address some things, but what would you say out of everything before you leave you want people to know and understand? Well, our contact information and that we're here for a variety of resources. So even if you think like I can't call them and ask them that, call and ask.

We would just love to hear your story or while you're calling or help correct um connect you to the right resource and if we're it please come on in um really these are the ways people can get involved that's what i really want to highlight is prayer learning about the center to share the knowledge we have volunteer opportunities where you can come in and see where you feel led to. And we are in need of bilingual receptionists and client advocates right now, male advocates and women, help with periodic events and booths and whatnot. Like I was telling you how we were at the baseball game and other things like that. Come in and pray over the center.

You're welcome to please do that. You can pray like that, come in and pray over the center. You're welcome to please do that. Can pray from afar, come inside and pray. Help us get involved in community activities, whether it be in the church or outside the church. Donations, if you feel led for donations, that is one of the top ways. Your money will be well spent.

I can definitely tell you that because if you just know the heart of this ministry, you know, a pregnancy test costs money. Keeping, you know, keeping the lights on in the place costs money. It's huge. We have, you know, when resources, if we don't have them donated, we go out and purchase them. We do have staff. So whether you donate one time, that's phenomenal.

We also have something called Warriors for Life, which is our monthly donation partners. You can sign up for whatever you feel led and comfortable with. We have items for the donations for the baby boutique, which would include diapers, wipes, formula, clothes up to two years of age for both boys and girls, and maternity clothes, stroller, car seats. The car seats do have to be new just in case they were in an accident, but we can take used other items. Breast pump, books and toys up until two years of age.

We have a Facebook page. We'd love for you guys to follow us, Carinette, Manasota Pregnancy Center, and there's something on there. Actually, I just did this to follow us, CareNot Manasota Pregnancy Center. And there's something on there, actually, I just did this yesterday. CareNot Manasota Pregnancy Center, they have a baby registry. So just kind of some items that people might have asked for and then it takes you to a link. This one took me to Walmart to have it shipped to there

for a little monitor thing. So that's cool, because then you know that there have been a need or a request for these types of items as well. I think the Facebook page is great and informative. And then, honestly, grant opportunities. If anybody knows of a grant opportunity that we might qualify for, we'd love to seek that out as well. So, yeah. And then we have an upcoming gala in September, September 29th.

It's going to be at the Hyatt Sarasota. And we'd love to invite people the tickets are free to come and attend sponsorships will be available it is our biggest fundraiser yeah and we'd love to just have you there a lot of times we have clients who will tell their stories and testimonies we have a guest speaker we just you know we come together and we just learn more about the organization and then that's a chance for like i said community partnerships to come in too so you can learn about other organizations that we partner with and it's just it's a really great great it's huge yeah yeah no i will say this if you decide and you can on on Sunday or on Sunday, if you decide to give to them, just put in your memo.

Then, yeah, care net, and we'll make sure that that money goes straight to them. Heather's very diligent. Heather runs all of that. So as long as you put that in the memo, we'll make sure that that money goes straight to you guys. Obviously, we'll continue. The church will continue to support. but it is a big deal thank you so much because if we again if we say we believe in something you really have to you really have to support it on all aspects of

things right yeah and so from here i mean because sometimes we look at it so oh like here but it's up from here. I mean, because sometimes we look at it so like here, but it's really here. We say it's important to us. How important is it? That's the thing. How important is it? Put your money where your mouth is. That's what I say. Yes, ma'am. Do you believe in it?

Support it. So what I would love to do right now is we always close out. And I want to pray a little different than what we normally do. But I want to specifically pray over people who've experienced, people who may in the future experience that right decisions are made and just a healing for the heart because it's a big deal. So I know we normally close out with um a sinner's prayer but today is a little different let's like so when i i say preface it because they're

gonna be like well this isn't how we normally do it that's okay that's okay that's okay we're doing it a little different but let's just come together and in people i'm i'm dead serious when I say, there is or will be people around you that experience this. Embed this podcast into your mind so that you will recall whatever needs to be recalled to help whomever crosses your path. And whatever that is, it's the phone. And nobody knows what to do because we, I guess, don't answer the phone around here. This is super funny. Heather to the rescue.

Always. Isn't it just like the devil? Just like the devil. God bless. Whatever. Always. Isn't it just like the devil? Just like the devil. God bless. Whatever. There's somebody probably calling in. No, if you don't know, you're here.

This isn't live. Somebody just knew. Yeah. So let's just pray. We'll pray and then we'll close out. All right? Yes, thank you. Heavenly Father, we just come to you right now and lord i know that i know that you had megan come here specifically especially this week because there

are women and men who have walked in a place that they wish they never had and that um life is a series of decisions and sometimes we don't always make the right choices. We do things that put us in predicaments that we find that we just don't think that we can get out of, which causes us to make another bad decision. And Lord, I just ask for each and every single person that is listening to my voice that has had an abortion or has had someone that they

were with a mate or a spouse that made a decision um and they together maybe made it to have an abortion lord i ask first and foremost lord that they um take responsibility for that action they see it in the truth that it is don't make excuse for it just say i didn't i shouldn't have done it and lord i ask you from this point forward to forgive me of that sin and that i will never do it again and lord give them your compassion give them your comfort give them your peace and remove any shame that they are walking in, in the name of Jesus. Only you can restore and redeem. And that is really what you want for each and every single one of us.

No matter what the sin is. This one's difficult though, Lord, because it doesn't involve two people that came together. It involves the life that's been taken. And so, Father, that child is with you. Help them to know that that child is with you. That child is waiting for them when they go to heaven. That if they're not saved, Lord, they realize they do need to be saved so that they can spend eternity with that child.

But that child does not feel pain. That child is just running around in heaven, enjoying its time and just waiting on them. No shame, no guilt, only restoration and redemption. And family members that either hold bitterness or anger towards someone that has, I ask that, Lord, you would open their eyes so that they know that they themselves have no right

to hold anything against anyone. Thereby, the grace of God, go I, truthfully. They have things that they need to be forgiven of, so they need to forgive. And if there is someone, Lord, that is just so brokenhearted for the loss of the loved one for the child that's been taken and I think of grandmothers for some reason

and it just breaks my heart but for people who are suffering they themselves did not decide to do this but they suffer the loss of this child, I ask God that you would give them peace. And Lord, they would not,

they would know that they too will someday see this child, and they would feel comfort for them for that. And Lord, that every day is a new day. Mother's Day will be a new day that they will look completely different on. They will rejoice in it.

They will have forgiveness for themselves. They will forgive a loved one that maybe they feel is responsible. And they are responsible, but they should be redeemed and restored. And that Mother's Day will look completely different for everyone and anyone, even if they've had a miscarriage. Just give them, I know that it's very tough, but even if you've had a miscarriage, that you'll feel love and peace and joy and know that God can still give you a child and that you can still have the experience of a lifetime

and that tomorrow is a new day and that that day is yours. And we thank you. We praise you in Jesus mighty name. Amen. Amen. Beautiful. I feel so, I feel so compassionate towards people who didn't get the choice. Everybody, I feel so bad.

I feel bad for men. I feel so bad for men. Women get all the rights. They get all the rights. And there are people who have no right, and they suffer the pain. So if that's you, I feel compassion for you. Like no tomorrow. But even there's healing with that.

And you can forgive the person that made the decision because they deserve to be forgiven. But I feel such compassion for, because I've seen and heard stories about men who just live with such sorrow for the child. I feel such compassion, especially for grandmothers. I don't know. There's something about a grandmother that just longs to be a grandmother. And I don't know. Again, I don't cry hardly ever. But that stuff, just anything like that, that just, oh, it just moves me to tears. So, um, but Mother's Day,

listen, if you've done something that you regret, if you've lost something you long for, if you've been left out of something that you should have been a part of, listen, Mother's Day is a new day and you need to look at it completely different. You need to look at it through God's eyes. You need to forgive yourself. You need to forgive someone else. you need to look at it through god's eyes you need to forgive yourself you need to forgive someone else you need to walk in complete healing and wholeness and know that like satan loves to steal from you he loves to take possession of but here's the thing you only give him what you give him and he can't take what you don't give him. So you grab a hold of everything that's yours because redemption and restoration, that's what was done on the cross for you.

You grab hold of it. You hold your head high and you celebrate. I love it. You celebrate, you celebrate as, as Tracy always says, you be you, you be you.

And that's you being you is all that you allow yourself to be i love it i love it so um friday we're gonna have a very interesting podcast it's with the team you're gonna see him in a whole you're gonna see him in a whole new light oh that's exciting it is exciting girl i look forward to watching that there's a short version and a long version and the long version is really long but it's still fun so uh we'll see you friday i love you and thank you for joining thank you bye-bye