by Rev. John Ensor, Vice President for Mission Advancement
Nearly 600 leaders — people who labor daily on the front lines of the pregnancy help movement — gathered together in Orlando, May 18-21 under the theme "Better Together." We want to thank you and to give you a pictorial update.
Leaders arrived from their local pregnancy help center, maternity home or adoption service having done all in their means to faithfully answer the call to "Rescue the weak and the needy and deliver them from the hand of the wicked" (Psalm 82:4). "Training conference" sounds a bit ho-hum. For those who have walked the hard road and carried a heavy load in this ministry, you can be sure that Heartbeat's conference could rightly be called a Banqueting Feast.
They arrived from all parts of the nation, and from 18 other countries! Some arrived hungry to teach and mentor. Most arrived with an insatiable thirst to learn. "How do we properly add ultrasound services?" "What has proven a cost effective way to reach more women at risk for abortion?" "What approach has proven life-changing to our mothers as they prepare to parent?" Leaders taught 72 workshops covering medical, legal, spiritual, financial development, and more.
International Attendees from Eighteen Countries
Our Internationals, from diverse places such as Mexico, Zambia, Israel, Greece, Argentina, and the Philippines, to name a few, arrived hungry to adapt what they learned to their cultural setting. All arrived needing to see that they are a part of a true global movement of God. What a feast it was!
Pam Tebow shared her testimony
Pam Tebow's testimony spoke to the providential and holy work they do. She was a missionary in the Philippines, and was advised, for medical reasons, to abort her child. She chose life and gave birth to Tim. Tim went on to win the Heisman Trophy in football. Today he is a model of servant leadership and known for his own testimony to grace through Jesus Christ.
Bristol Palin interviewed
Bristol Palin, daughter of Sarah Palin, came (and contrary to media reports, she came free of charge). Heartbeat's Katy Flood interviewed her. Bristol talked openly and regretfully about her own poor choice to be sexually active outside of marriage. She talked honestly about the difficulties of being both a single mother and a teen mother. She came to thank the pregnancy help movement and to declare that she was joining it!
Minority Leadership
About 25 percent of all the training workshops were led by minorities. Since those who traffic in human blood target our minority neighborhoods in a disproportionate way, we know that the honor of leading our movement to victory belongs to our minority Christian brothers and sisters. Heartbeat is doing all it can to promote their leadership.
As part of the Heartbeat community, you are part of the leadership supply line for this growing pregnancy help movement. We think it is the greatest movement of God in our time. Perhaps we are sensitive to this because Heartbeat is celebrating its 40th year in 2011, and we know well that almost none of the 5,000 plus pregnancy help services in the current Heartbeat Directory existed 40 years ago. That's movement! Thank you for advancing it with us.
PS: Be sure to visit Heartbeat's Flickr group to see these pictures and more.