It’s widely known that the Pro-Life movement is passionate about putting an end to abortion. While the mission of Support After Abortion also focuses on ending abortion, it centers more around healing those who have been impacted by abortion. While the discussion of Roe v. Wade is highly politicized, Support After Abortion focuses on the people impacted by abortion by providing options-based healing. We believe that collaboration among leaders who care about healing people impacted by abortion. Author, speaker and Save the Storks Spokeswoman Victoria Robinson and Support After Abortion CEO Lisa Rowe share four action steps the Pro-Life movement needs to take.
Dialogue on the Issue of Abortion
“Abortion is socially acceptable, but no one is talking about it,” –anonymous. This honest yet powerful observation of a participant in one of Lisa’s virtual healing groups is one that ignites the passion of leaders in the abortion recovery industry. There is much truth in this statement. In today’s culture, the word abortion is taboo. Lisa shares, “I cannot tell you how many times I will be eating out in a restaurant and discussing work, and it never fails that as I utter the word ‘abortion’ things grow quiet, and all eyes look to me.” As leaders, we have more work to do. Abortion needs to be discussed, not a word that is avoided, never to be spoken. When we silence the word, we silence those who are suffering. The word abortion needs to be normalized so that the men and women walking through life wounded can be encouraged to speak up and speak out and receive the healing they so desperately need.
One way Support After Abortion is leading the conversation on abortion is through our intentionality to humanize abortion. Our Healing Network Virtual Conferences and Catalyst for Change program showcase interviews with individuals who have experienced abortion and have experienced healing. These interviews and insights, when shared with the greater public through platforms like social media or church, have the opportunity to be catalysts for change as they cultivate compassion for the topic of abortion and those impacted by it.
Assessment and Communication on the Topic
There is a serious need for more data on abortion and those impacted by it. Once the Pro-Life movement has an idea of what is needed, it can formulate an action plan to best serve those impacted by abortion. In 2020 Support After Abortion conducted the first market research of its kind for the abortion industry. Through the consumer research, explicitly geared toward women, Support After Abortion learned invaluable information about how people impacted by abortion felt about healing and the need for options-based approaches. This information expanded our options-based approach and helped us improve our capacity to serve others and the capacity of those with whom we collaborate to do the same.
Support After Abortion has the goal of conducting similar market research in 2021 geared toward men. Hearing from men will help us to understand an often-unheard perspective. The valuable information gleaned from such a survey will also allow us to formulate a plan on how our industry can best meet the needs of men impacted by abortion when it relates to their healing.
An Appropriately Constructed Message to Those in Need
“It is time we move away from the signs and shouts that ‘abortion is murder’ because it’s just not working,” says Victoria Robinson. Victoria shares that signs like this encourage those who have experienced an abortion to stay silent and hidden. It causes them to sink further into guilt and self-condemnation and does not lead them anywhere near healing.
Along the same lines, a message centered around overturning a law isn’t where we should focus our attention. Victoria shares, “Laws don’t change hearts; hearts change laws.” Our focus should be on humanizing abortion and helping our culture see that abortion isn’t just about the babies lost. Abortion is also about the unhealed parents and how they are passing the symptoms and dysfunction of their hurts onto their children and the generations to come. Until we provide healing for those impacted by abortion, the vicious cycle of pain will continue, and the demand for abortion will not lessen.
Simply stated, in the Pro-Life movement, a message of truth needs to be shared. It needs to be shared with not only women but men, too. Victoria Robinson, the author of They Lied to Us, is passionate about equipping men and women with the truth about abortion so that they can make an educated decision. Through her public speaking events, she has seen firsthand the sheer volume of men carrying the weight of their abortion involvement. She has been on the receiving end of weeping confessions kept secret for years because the men weren’t given the outlet or opportunity to share. Through the shared stories of individuals healed from abortion, we will be able to share a message of truth and one of compassion that leads to others feeling brave enough to come forward and receive the healing they deserve.
The Creation of a Safe Place to Experience Healing
The fourth and final action step the pro-life movement needs to take is creating a safe place for individuals to experience healing. Both Lisa and Victoria insist that “You have to make a friend, then be a friend, in order to disciple a friend.” The industry needs to provide more opportunities for conversations about abortion through things like speaking events and conferences. These opportunities allow for a safe place where individuals don’t feel judged but rather feel seen, heard, and understood. It is then that they typically dare to come forward and seek healing.
Support After Abortion’s video interviews have provided another outlet in addition to their speaking events and conferences. Through Facebook shares, individuals and spheres of influence have been reached. Without fear of judgment, men and women impacted by abortion have come forward and have sought out healing through virtual healing groups. Speaking events, conferences, and video interviews of individuals healed from abortion are working, so we must continue to have dialogue on the topic, so those impacted have the courage to seek healing.
Final Takeaways
Since the Roe v. Wade decision, millions have been impacted by abortion. Support After Abortion is committed to providing healing through options-based programs, leadership training and enabling organization to provide healing around the world.
If you or someone you know is struggling after abortion, contact us. We are here for you and ready to assist you in your healing journey.