Scrolling through Facebook last week, I came across a live video from a pastor that I follow. He engages people who are walking into the abortion facility in Nashville in hopes of telling the women that hope and help are available to them besides abortion. He has helped over 200 families in the Nashville area that were determined to abort and was able to give them all the love and support they needed to choose life for their babies.

This particular day that I happened to see his video was different. An ambulance came roaring into that abortion facility, and my heart sank. I couldn’t stop watching. That abortion facility performs surgical abortions up to 19 weeks and 6 days gestation. Many moms have no idea that at week 3, for instance, the baby’s blood vessels and sex cells form. Foundations of the brain, spinal cord, and nervous system are laid, and the next week the baby’s heart begins to beat. Eyes, ears, and lungs begin to form.

The abortion business lies to them in the name of choice. How heartbreaking. On this particular day, the ambulance arrived to pick up a patient. You couldn’t see anything other than the brown sheet that lay across the lifeless body. Tears began to flow down my face as I thought of the ladies who have no idea that other options are available. My heart broke for the woman laying on that gurney. She had no idea that this would be her story.

Many in our community have no idea of the number of lives taken in the name of choice right here in our area! The Guttmacher Institute estimates that approximately 12,140 abortions took place in Tennessee during 2017. That is roughly 33 abortions a day. Let that sink in for a moment.

I am so thankful our Pregnancy Resource Center is here to be a light in that dark moment for a woman who feels as if she has no other options! She does have other options, and we are here to help guide her (and many times her boyfriend) on how we can help. This is made possible through people like you.

It does seem as if evil is on the rise, and you need to be aware! Not long ago, I got an email from Planned Parenthood—the largest abortion provider in the world, might I add. It read, “We’ve broken ground!”

We are breaking ground? What on earth!

We have heard stories of Planned Parenthood expanding, but it wasn't confirmed. Not only is the largest abortion provider expanding—they are expanding to provide surgical abortions. We have two abortion facilities just 16-19 miles away from our life-affirming center, and soon both will be doing surgical abortions. Planned Parenthood’s email shares about Knoxville and the surrounding regions having an immediate need for affordable, accessible sexual and reproductive health care—which is abortion.

The thing is. there is a need, but there is never a need for abortion. Abortion businesses sell one product—and that is abortion—and yet claim choice. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is time for those of us who affirm and confirm the sanctity of life to take back the word “choice” because it is ours. The abortion industry only gives moms in crisis one choice when it comes to unintended pregnancy, and that is abortion.

We educate, empower, and equip brave moms and dads with all their options. We hope they don't choose abortion, but if they do, they know that we are always here for them with open arms. We are a place to connect them to our Restorer and Healer. We do have many who choose life. In fact, over 90% of women who see life within the womb here at our Center do choose life. That is a true testament to you and your commitment to what God is doing here.

In the breaking-ground email, Planned Parenthood mentions getting $1,050,000 and they only need $250,000 more to make their project completely funded. I find it no coincidence that we have a similar goal to raise as of right now: $250,000 over the next two years to retire our mortgage to focus more on a mission—a life-affirming mission, that is. Reading this news can make many of us feel defeated; I know it did for us for a minute as we read that email. What I do know is that if you give me some good hearts, we can and will change the world—one heartbeat at a time. God's supply is in abundance.

How can you help?

• You can give a special gift or become a recurring life-saving monthly sponsor to help brave families choose and see life.

• You can volunteer!

• You can let others know about our life-saving work and continue to let families know their true choices.

• You can schedule a private tour and get an inside look at what God is doing here and see how you can become more involved.

Let’s RISE UP together and put feet to our faith!