Woman Power!

   Pro-abortionist feel that the right for a woman to choose to have an abortion is empowering. However I feel that it is just the opposite.

  Abortion mills make women think they have no other option. That they can't raise a baby at this time. That they need to (for whatever reason) have their baby ripped from their womb, as well as other potential hazards that abortions cause. Not to mention the sadness and loss a woman feels afterwards. How many post-abortion follow ups include seeing a counselor? How many pre-abortion consultations include a counselor? Probably none unless requested.

   Crisis Pregnancy Centers are under attack because what we do is counsel. What we do is offer alternatives. But mostly what we do is offer TRUTH. The truth about abortion is that it is ugly, it is vicious, it is full of pain (physical and emotional), and it is NOT empowering.

   Empowering women means saying YES YOU CAN DO IT! Yes you can have this baby, there is help available to you. We empower women. Abortion does not.

Control Vs. Direction

     When I found this picture the caption said "Birth control and Religion, both are trying to control my body."

      We all know how birth control works and seeing as it has the word "control" in the name, then yes we'd all agree it controls the feminine reproductive system.

   Religion however does not control a women's body. Religion teaches and directs a women with LOVE into understanding how to respect her body.

   Signs and slogans about the "government staying out of a woman's body/womb/etc" are absurd. The government is ALREADY there, with free condoms and birth control, as well as government assistance with abortions etc.

  All in all a woman controls her own body, because a woman chooses which path she will take. One path full of possible severe consequences and one path full of love and truth.

 

A Safe Haven For The Broken

     When the topic of a maternity home is brought up, often times there are negative views. However a maternity home can be such a ray of hope in the life of a woman who needs help and support.

     Maternity homes are non-profit organizations which rely on funding from generous communities, churches, etc. They provide a safe and loving envoronment for the mother and her unborn child. I know this because I have been that mother. Living in the maternity home (in NC) was a way for me to clear my head from all of the clutter of my life, because basically I was facing enough "clutter". There were people all around to help me, it truly was my "safe haven". In my case I chose adoption for my child. The home was very supportive in this decision and I had every resource available if I needed to talk, had questions, or a shoulder to cry on. This home also had a aftercare program for mothers who chose to keep their babies. The provided jobs, clothing, diapers, etc. This home is very similar to the maternity homes in your area.

    At EMC we have the resources to refer mothers to maternity homes. Some of them may be losing their homes, some may have been kicked out of their current home, and some just need a safer environment for themselves. We are very lucky to have these homes willing to house and care for these women. Please look into the maternity home in your area and see how you can help.

A Lifetime Full Of Blessings

 








   The adoption symbol is a triangle, each side representing the birth parents, adoptive parents, and child. The heart represents the common bond of love between them.

    International Adoption has recently been made very popular by celebrities. While all kinds of adoptions are important and very needed, domestic adoption sometimes takes a backseat. There are babies being born everyday in America that need good homes. There are women everyday in America finding out they are facing an unplanned, crisis, pregnancy. If you feel as though God has called you to adopt, please look into it! We need loving, willing, and able families to raise these precious children.

   Abortion takes away a lifetime and generations of a family. Adoption gives life and blesses everyone who is involved.

http://www.bethany.org/

Bethany Christian Services is a private, licensed, non-profit adoption and family service agency, serving 30 states from over 70 locations and in 13 international countries.

"Who Can Be Against Us?"

    Romans 8:31-What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?


   In the train, on the way to work this morning, there was a woman preaching about being followers of Christ. There were different responses from passengers  all over the car. Some got out at the next stop and changed cars, some praised God, and one woman RAN to the other side of the car and started to yell and   use profane language. Everyone could feel the presence of God as well as the devil. It was very intense. The woman preaching God's name kept going despite the woman yelling at the other end of the car. What she had to say was so true, "If you have God on your side, not matter what, you will be victorious. Even if it means only being victorious in the afterlife."

   What a great reminder! Often in this line of work (Pro-Life) we experience a constant spiritual battle and we forget that even though it feels like we're losing, we aren't! We know how the story ends, We win!!! 

Hardened Hearts

     We are right now into the first days of what we call the "40 Days For Life" campaign.

 It is a Pro-Life campaign, in which we gather together outside of abortion facilities and pray.

Not only is our prayer for and end to abortion, it's also for the doctors who perform abortions, for the men and women who work in these abortion mills, and for the women who succumb to the idea that abortion is not a big deal and/or must be done.

Their hearts have become hardened to what abortion really is and the severity of the short term and long term repercussions.

Will you please join us in these prayers?

Psalms 51:10 "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."

"There's Only Grace"

"There is no guilt here

There is no shame
No pointing fingers
There is no blame
What happened yesterday
Has disappeared
The dirt has washed away
And now it's clear

Chorus:
There's only grace
There's only love
There's only mercy
And believe me it's enough
Your sins are gone
Without a trace
There's nothing left now
There's only grace

You're starting over now
Under the sun
You're stepping forward now
A new life has begun
Your new life has begun"

 Those are lyrics to a great song by Matthew West.  After finding yourself at the lowest of the low (we've all been there)  "There's only grace" . 

 Two definitions of the  word "grace" are:

          a : unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification

b : a virtue coming from God

How wonderful that at a time in our lives when we find ourselves in a seemingly hopeless situation (a crisis pregnancy) we are never too far from God's grace. How amazing it is that He allows us to go through trials to experience this unmerited grace, and to come through stronger on the other side of our struggle. We have all have opportunities in our lives to start over, the question is do we take them or continue along the path of destruction? These women we counsel have another chance to not only begin their "new" life, but also the opportunity to give their babies a chance at life as well. This is always our prayer. Please let it become yours.

"If It's Not A Baby....Then You're Not Pregnant."

So many times people (not just pro-abortionists) think a baby growing inside of its mother's womb is just a "blob".

 This picture shows pre-natal development from 7-10 weeks after conception. JUST 7 WEEKS!

It is obvious to anyone that this is a baby, not a "blob".

Too many of these so called "blobs" are being sucked out of the place that is supposed to be safe for them.

Today is the first day of the 40 Days For Life campaign. We will see an end to abortion. And it starts with me and you. Get involved!

What Did You Say?

    I saw this sign while walking down the streets of  Manhattan. How many of us are guilty of being bad listeners? Do you ever find yourself engaging in conversation with someone, only to realize youre not "engaging" at all? You just made your whole grocery list, decided what to have for dinner, planned what you were going to say to your mother when you talk later, and in the meantime saying, "uh huh, yeah, I know, sure."? I do this way more often than I should.

    When I saw this sign I thought to myself, "an act of love?", but how true this statement really is. Whether it's just listening to someone talk about their day or the movie they saw last night. In the case of EMC couneling it's listening to the clients tell us about their struggles and getting them to open up to us. These are all acts of love. I'm not saying it will be easy, but try to drown out the world next time someone's confiding in you, show them you care.

"WWJD"

   The infamous "What Would Jesus Do" saying, Many Christians own the bracelet, but not the mind frame or actions. Let me be the first to say i know I'M NOT PERFECT! What I do know is that way too many young girls are getting abortions because of the fear of being judged by their "Christian" community. If you've read any of my previous blogs you may know that I faced an unplanned pregnancy as a highschool student in a Baptist Christian school. I also grew up in a Christian home. Knowing that I was pregnant, facing expulsion from the school I'd gone to since 4th grade because of this pregnancy, and of course not being married, made the choice for an abortion seem most appealing. I mean, I was pregnant, good Christian girls don't get pregnant out of wedlock, Right?? Wrong! "For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."-Romans 3:23 

    This is my plea with the Christian community: PLEASE STOP JUDGING THESE WOMEN! You're judgment causes such fear in their minds that they would RATHER choose abortion over LIFE! Surely this is not what Jesus would do? The baby is NOT the sin. It is time to get rid of the fear of humiliation, and ostracism. It's time to embrace, love and help. No more babies should die because of the lack of Christianity in these "Christian" communities.

Abstract "Choices"

The more I work in the Pro-Life movement the more I am appalled at the procedure of an abortion, not just because it is the taking of an innocent human life but because women are doing it without knowing the truth!  I faced a crisis pregnancy at the age of 17. I know first hand what it is to feel scared, and like there is no other choice. These women are normal people who feel like they have no other options. Instead of first learning about these procedures and the harm  caused they make a decision to abort, and end up regretting it.

We have the knowledge and in some cases the life experiences to enlighten these women about the ugly truth of abortion. There are so many resources available that show abortion as it really is, unfortunatly too many people are not interested because of how graphic this material can be. Abortion is the killing of a baby, everyway you look at it, or dont look at it.

Fun at EMC

Every Tuesday at our center in Brooklyn we have a MD come in and offer a prenatal clinic for our women that have chosen life! It is such a fun day and very encouraging to see all of the excited clients and their boyfriends/husbands going through this exerience together. These are women who once considered abortion but are now smiling and happy about their choice to parent. Linda (fourth in from the right) is our director at the Brooklyn center. Seeing Linda with these girls is very inspiring. She has such an outgoing and caring personality and its exactly what these women need in this time of crisis. She has such a passion for these women and they know it! They can feel it and they come back just to visit and catch up and of course, show off their babies. The pro-life working environment at a crisis pregnancy center can be somewhat discouraging at times but I always look forward to Tuesdays at EMC in Brooklyn!

Be The Voice For The Unborn

    No aborted baby can ever grow up to say
they were glad that they weren't born. No

 aborted baby can grow up to say anything. This
 is where you and I come in. It's time to be the

voices of the unborn! No woman WANTS to have an abortion, there are so many emotional

 and physical side effects. These women feel like it's their only way out. They feel the pressures of

the world, of their families, friends, bills, etc. The fear and the pressure of their individual situations

 blinds them to the fact that they are the lifeline to the baby growing inside of them. They need support. They need someone to believe in them. They need to see God's love through me and you. Get involved!

Be the voice for the unborn!!!

But The Greatest Of These Is Love

 

   Love, pro-life work cannot be done without it. Having love for the mother and for her baby are what makes this most effective. These women sometimes come into our centers feeling depressed. Depressed because of past abortions, life situations, and most of all the "problem" at hand, their pregnancy. It is our passion to tell them how special they are, how precious their baby is and how they deserve to be happy no matter what. We can't alleviate all of the issues but we can give them something they so desperately need, love. No matter what their decision upon leaving our centers, we still desire to follow up with the clients and see that they are doing well emotionally and physically. We build relationships with these women and it is truly rewarding. 

 

   Let me close by saying this, the "love" we show is only given to us by God and through immense prayer. He is a God who loves us perfectly, wholly and truly.

 

1 Corinthians 13:13  "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

Mommy, Meet Your Baby!

      Everytime I witness a mother seeing her new baby for the first time I get emotional. Depending on the clients situation the reaction is always different for her. Sometimes the women are nervous, sometimes they are excited, and sometimes they cry too. It can be such a bonding moment between the mother and her baby, and one I feel plays a very important role in the prolife movement.

     Often times a woman doesnt realize that what's growing inside of her actually LOOKS like a tiny human being. And sometimes it isnt until she sees her baby on the screen in front of her that she decides she wants to be a mother. It doesnt mean every doubt, fear, or burden is erased. It just means that all of the fears and burdens suddenly seem worth it.

     The moment a mommy feels an emotional bond with her baby is so incredibly precious and being able to see that almost everyday is such a gratifying and awesome experience. And the reason that baby looks like tiny human being is because thats EXACTLY what it is.

  

Lady Liberty

The shoe size of the Statue of Liberty, based on the standard formula for sizing a foot is 879. I found this to be a pretty interesting but pointless fact. In 2008, according to the New York State Department of Health, there were 82,475 women killed by induced abortions in New York City in 2008. I found this to be an appalling and significantly serious fact.

   One thing the directors of EMC point out to us is that it is important to help the clients first. If  we can make the client see that we are concerned for her health and safety first then we can make her understand that this is truly about HER and the baby, not just the baby. Abortion has so many life threatening side effects as well as emotional repercussions that the clients may endure their whole lives. It's numbers such as these that make this even more evident. Abortion isn't just a "quick fix". It isn't something to be taken lightly. The fact is that women are risking their own lives because they feel as if abortion is their only option.

    Who doesn't like to know interesting facts about the area in which they live? But let us not turn a blind eye to the most important facts that are right in front of us and happening everyday in our own communities. It's time to take a stand, for "LIFE, liberty and the pursuit of happiness".

   

Just One Pill

 
    The RU-486, more commonly known as the "Abortion Pill", consists of  two pills. The first pill which is the one that kills the baby, works by blocking the hormone progesterone in the females body which in turn stop the baby from getting its nutrients. The second pill expels the baby and lining out of the body.

   The building our Brooklyn center is in actually has two abortion facilities also located there, including a planned parenthood. This however brings us many woman who may have been planning on an abortion but by divine intervention brings them to us instead.

   Today the director of the center caught a woman in the elevator leaving planned parenthood. She convinced her to come up and talk to us and we gave her an ultrasound. After seeing the ultrasound and talking awhile we could tell she started to soften and become emotional. She had already taken the first pill, the pill that kills the baby. She said to our director "If i had only met you an hour earlier". This decision was made to fix her temporary situation and now her life is forever changed. All it took was ONE PILL, one action that she can never undo. 

I Want To Be A Part Of It!

   My name is Noelle Arvanitis, I'm 25 and originally from Winston-Salem, NC. However I have lived the past year of my life in Ocala, FL. This is my very first time in NY! I cannot describe how awesome it feels to be a part of the hustle and bustle of New York. So what brought a southern girl like me all the way to the big city you ask? When I was 17 I faced an unplanned, crisis pregnancy. I felt so alone and so scared, wondering what my community would think, how would I finish high school, and most importantly HOW COULD I BE A MOTHER?! I felt anger towards God for letting this happen to me, of ALL people WHY me? Little did I know how He would turn this potentially destructive situation into a completely constructive life lesson and blessing. 

   I made an adoption plan and on November 26th 2003 my daughter, Olivia Noelle was born. That little girl, who is now 8 years old, has blessed so many lives. She is the reason I'm here, the reason God has given me to have such a passion and heart for women. For the women who are scared beyond belief but BRAVE enough to carry their baby for 9 months just so their child can have an entire lifetime.