Sisters alongside sisters, exemplifying the beauty of the body of Christ, sharing burdens and healing together. So many women attending Zion’s have gone through this bible study with a sister-in-Christ, together, and come out better on the other side.
According to a study by LifeWay published in November of 2015, “Over 40% of women who have had an abortion say they were frequent churchgoers at the time they ended their pregnancies and about a half of them say they kept their abortions hidden from church members.” Research also indicates that more than 40% of child-bearing age women have experienced the pain of abortion – that’s 2 out of 5 women.
Without question, abortion can be one of the most traumatic experiences in a person’s life.
I never realized how much unresolved guilt and anger and shame I had buried down in my soul because of my past. Even after Jesus found me in my brokenness, I was still unaware of how to resolve the pain and anguish that took up residence in my soul. I believed that Jesus loved me in spite of the abortions, and that God took my sins and put them as far away from himself as the East is from the West, but even more so deep down inside I just couldn’t see how He could love me in spite of what I’d done.
Sweet sister, does your soul long for healing too?
I was able to find the love of the Father that helped release me from burdens to move me into healing through the encouragement of a sister-in-Christ who was willing to walk alongside with in that struggle. Would you seek the opportunity to let another sister help you through it too? If your heart is steeped in the pain of abortion, or you know of a sister the same, please consider participation in a post-abortive healing through “Surrendering The Secret” bible study. It’s an 8-week bible study created by Pat Layton to heal hurting women and the heartbreak of abortion through honest and interactive bible study, meaningful group experiences, and unique journaling exercises in a confidential and caring community. The class is always offered in confidence for privacy, so no one needs to know, and it’s open to any sister in need regardless of church affiliation or none at all. I encourage you to view this trailer: https://youtu.be/QuVt-5kn4yY, then reach out to Katie Bailey at katie.lifeschoices@gmail.com Katie works for Life’s Choices, a pregnancy help center with offices in Hamburg and Kutztown, and will be leading the study. Katie and I will both be praying that you can take the first step towards healing, or help another sister to find it too.
Our first session of Surrendering the Secret: Post-Abortion Healing will begin in February of 2023 for 8 weeks. I can’t encourage you enough to reach-out to Katie to find healing. I promise that you will find healing from the pain, forgiveness from the guilt, and redemption from the shame.
And if you’ve already come through and know these things – Praise God, and please consider being an amazing support by walking another sister through it, hand in hand, heart in heart. ♥
