Milton Public Library

Unplanned Grace, A Compassionate Conversation on Life and Choice

eng

no index present

non fiction

Unplanned Grace

electronic resource

dictionaries

A Compassionate Conversation on Life and Choice

When a women receives an unexpected positive pregnancy test, abortion often seems like the best or only option for a fulfilling future. Unplanned Grace beautifully challenges that myth, equipping readers to support abortion-vulnerable women with love that values life in every way. Writing for the nonprofit organization Save the Storks, Natasha and Brittany draw on personal interviews, inspiring stories, and eye-opening facts to help readers understand: - How economics, relationships, and health affect a woman's pregnancy decision - The value of having empathy for women facing unplanned pregnancies - The enormous potential churches have to support women in crisis Writing not just from a "pro-birth" perspective but from a "pro-abundant life" prospective, Unplanned Grace is an ideal resource for churches and individuals who want to make a difference in the pro-life movement. Unplanned Grace presents stories, research, and compelling interviews to help readers empathize with women considering abortion. Both practical and inspiring, this much-needed book equips readers to work with pregnancy resource centers to make a positive and lasting impact on their communities for life. Natasha Smith and Brittany Smith work with Save the Storks, a nonprofit ministry that exists to inspire cultural change by empowering strategic partners, like pregnancy resource centers, to serve and value every life. They believe that to end abortion, people must be educated on its realities and equipped to respond with compassion and love. Contents Foreword 9 Preface 11 Acknowledgments 13 Introduction: Saved by a Text 15 Shannon and Rachel's Story 21 Chapter 1: Pregnancy Resource Centers 25 Section 1: Circumstantial Difficulties Rosliany's Story 41 Chapter 2: Not Just Pro-Birth but Pro-Abundant Life 47 Chapter 3: The Importance of Housing 59 Section 2: Relational Pressure Keilah's Story 73 Chapter 4: External Pressure 81 Chapter 5: Domestic Abuse 95 Chapter 6: Sexual Violence and Rape 109 Section 3: Holistic Health Hannah's Story 125 Chapter 7: Healthy Sexuality 131 Chapter 8: Supportive Fathers 147 Chapter 9: Abortion Pill Reversal 165 Chapter 10: Healing after Abortion 181 Section 4: Taking Action Chapter 11: Church Participation in the Pro-Life Movement 197 Notes 215 About Save the Storks 222 About the Authors 224 Many of the stories [in Unplanned Grace] brought tears to my eyes-tears of empathy for the very real difficulties that many women and men face and tears of gratitude for the ways people have stepped in and served those in need. This authentic, fresh perspective on the issue of life is needed. Regardless of where you stand on the issue, I urge you to consider these stories. "Unplanned Grace is my new favorite book on helping people understand why every life is sacred. There are accidental parents, but there are no accidental children! Your parents may not have planned you, but God did-and he had a purpose for your birth. This book is biblical, practical, loving, and warmhearted." "Between the stirring stories and straight-forward statistics, Unplanned Grace is a compelling tapestry of grace, showing the pregnancy-help community stepping up to love people facing difficult decisions. This book reveals the bigger picture of the Spirit of God at work with empowering grace."

adult