For many women, men and families, it wasn't really about "choice." "You mean you didn't want to have an abortion?" Until more Americans are educated about widespread coercion, professional negligence or even forced abortions innocent words can convey an unintended message. For those coerced or even forced into an unwanted abortion, the word "choice" is a cruel irony that can deepen an already raw wound. For the young couple who trusted the moral guidance of a misguided pastor ... an unethical physician ... an agenda-driven "counselor" or other authorities, or those who've been harshly judged or condemned by Such betrayals were common in the early years of legal abortion and still go on today. Still other victims are fathers, friends and family who mourn abortion-related losses, which may include the loss of a daughter, sister or friend in abortion's aftermath. Presumptions about "choice" can further wound already-broken hearts and lives. Encourage others –- especially leaders with a "bully pulpit" –- to speak out about widespread coercion and avoid presuming – or using language that seems to presume – that someone's abortion was a free, fair or fully informed "choice."
Many women grieve a long list of injustices, but above all, the loss of a child. Family and friends grieve, too, and many have also lost a mother, daughter, sister or friend to pregnancy-related violence or abortion-related malpractice. Please pray for all those impacted by abortion. Not just this once, but every day. Make this one of your daily intentions. Pray especially for those in urgent need of hope and healing. Pray also for the emotional and financial support of the many generous women and men who provide post-abortion counseling services. It is very difficult, draining, heart-wrenching work. They need your prayers. Please also pray for the Elliot Institute, our staff, and our families. Pray especially that we will have compassion in all that we do, and the wisdom to see all the opportunities and find all the resources we need to accomplish this work. Finally, consider starting a prayer chain or encouraging others to also pray regularly for the intentions above.
* Read, use and share our materials, * Link to our web sites www.UnChoice.info and www.AfterAbortion.info
Don’t assume they already know this information! And don’t assume they are keeping on top of the latest developments. These established leaders can be the most powerful educators in our community and churches, but only AFTER they understand abortion's injustice to mothers, too. Many have not had time to devote to integrating into their work a more holistic pro-woman/pro-life message. Keep giving them copies of our special reports, fact sheets, ads, brochures, books, or articles. Or, create a convenient Information Kit for them. The fact that you have personally taken the time to encourage these leaders to learn more about post-abortion issues through www.AfterAbortion.info or www.UnChoice.info and our other printed resources can make a BIG difference. The faster leaders share this urgent message, the faster we will see progress.
Educate your political leaders by sharing downloadable materials at www.UnChoice.info ...
Encourage your pastor and other leaders to defuse this divisive issue by raising awareness about America's painful legacy of discrimination, disinformation and negligent leadership from trusted experts, religious and civic leaders, and even pastors ... about the epidemic of unwanted, coerced and even forced abortions ... about the urgent need for healing and authentically pro-woman support and alternatives. Refer pastors to www.UnChoice.info for materials they can use for counseling, talks and outreach services. This includes downloadable fact sheets, testimonies, the Portraits of Coercion flyer, the Forced Abortion in America report, and more. Consider giving them The Jericho Plan, a book that outlines a compassionate, unifying way to preach about abortion. Ask for permission to keep copies of Hope and Healing on the literature table at the back of the your church. Then, make sure copies are always available.
This is a highly effective way to educate the public and influence legislators about the injustice of coerced abortion, abortion-related abuses, risks and trauma. Click here for examples of compelling letters that you can use "as is" or modify. Keep an eye on current events and use an item in the news as a well-timed reminder to raise awareness of post-abortion issues and the urgent need for compassion and healing, as well as the oppression of women by coerced abortion and censorship. Mothers Day – can be difficult for those suffering post-abortion grief Don’t forget to sign up for our email list so we can notify you immediately when there is such a “news peg,” for example, newly published research, screening tests, free posters, etc. You can also check the PR calendar (updates coming soon) for additional news tie-ins. These dates are also a good time to run associated ads.
New research, strategies and initiatives are constantly being developed. Subscribe to both The Post-Abortion Review, our printed quarterly publication which focuses on the impact of abortion on women, men, and children; and our free email newsletter, the Elliot Institute News. Subscribing to these resources will help you to see when and how you can get involved in more effective ways. Refer interested friends to our web site at AfterAbortion.info and encourage them to subscribe by clicking the Join List button.
Buy a small bundle of Hope and Healing and distribute them to friends or leave them anyplace people might be waiting around and looking for something to read. Make sure they are in the literature rack at the back of your church. Ask all the pregnancy centers and pro-life groups in your county if they have Hope and Healing in stock and are distributing it from their literature tables at the county fair. Consider donating copies or volunteering to do this important outreach. If you have a waiting room at your place of business (a doctor’s office, salon, laundromat, etc.) keep copies available for visitors to browse through. Contact churches, pro-life groups, crisis pregnancy centers, and other like-minded organizations and ask them to work with you to place Hope and Healing as a paid advertising supplement in your community or college newspapers. For large orders, we can even provide a special edition with an advertisement listing contact information for the sponsoring organizations. When an organization raises the funds to insert Hope and Healing into a community newspaper, we will provide Hope and Healing at cost, or even provide the artwork for you to print locally. Hope and Healing has touched and changed many lives. With your help, it will touch more.
Make sure The Detrimental Effects of Abortion, Giving Sorrow Words, Forbidden Grief, Victims and Victors, and similar books and materials on post-abortion trauma and healing are available at your local high school, college, church, medical, and public libraries. This is one of the simplest and most effective things you, your church, or your local pro-life group can do.
Consider supporting your local post-abortion ministries as a donor, volunteer, or board member. National ministries can provide information about associated ministries in your area that could use your support. The Elliot Institute relies on your generosity, too. This campaign and web site, and all of the Elliot Institute's work, are funded solely by the support of people like you. We have a very small mailing list and a very small budget, so your donation makes a very big difference! Please consider becoming a Sustaining Partner in our ministry by making a pledge for monthly, quarterly, or semi-annual donations. This allows us to spend less time fundraising and more time doing the urgent work at hand. It also frees us up to plan ahead, vs. wondering whether the money will come in! Donate on-line. Or, mail donations to: Elliot Institute P.O. Box 7348-WBU Springfield, IL 62791
We encourage any individual or group with a web site to link to www.UnChoice.info and www.AfterAbortion.org ... Also, please refer your friends, church and civic leaders and others.
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