Carrie Bond, STS Nat'l Trainer - Weatherford,TX
As little girls it was so much fun to share sweet, silly secrets with your bestest girlfriend! Never to tell a sole - pinky promise. :)As we grew older our secrets changed and they didn't always have such sweet, silliness attached to them. Consequently, we began to bury some of those secrets deep within - not trusting even the best of friends. We stuffed those dark secrets into a closet, under a rug...hoping never to have to deal with them. And CERTAINLY, that NO ONE would ever find out. Abortion is one of those secrets we have "forbidden" others to find out about...one that even we may have tried to forget. But secrets that have caused such brokenness cannot be forgotten or never though of again. They well up inside of us, causing shame, anger, unworthiness, and even attempts to numb our pain through abuse of relationships and substances.If you have that kind of secret causing such heartache in your life, i want you to know there IS HOPE! And you are NOT alone! God's LOVE is SO GREAT for YOU!!! He wants to take your pain and shame...and give you His forgiveness and peace! He's known your secret all along and still pursues YOU with His RELENTLESS LOVE! He wants to heal your broken heart, and remind you that He has a plan of HOPE and a FUTURE for you! Our Savior's love for you runs so deep that He is able to work ALL things for good, YES - that even includes abortion(s). He IS able to turn your ashes into BEAUTY! YOU are His beloved!2012 is THE year to walk free from your past secret of shame! TODAY is the day to choose to deal with your abortion(s). What have you got to lose but pain & shame? "Christ has set us free. He wants us to enjoy freedom. So stand firm. Don't let the chains of slavery hold you again." Galatians 5:1I am committed to walk this journey with you surrender your secret and find such sweet peace with our Savior...and I can promise you that is the heartbeat of our entire Surrendering the Secret National Team. We are ready to stand on the mountain top declaring that THIS is the year of FREEDOM and HOPE! Know that this community is SAFE, full of COMPASSION and a place to share TRUTH in LOVE! So...Sister with the secret, will you choose to SURRENDER your secret?Surrendered Sister, will encourage another sister by SHARING what God has done in your heart? I can't wait to see, hear and rejoice with ALL that God is going to do in 2012!
Jean Chennault - Tyler,TX
GOD IS GOOD, GOD IS KIND, AND HE HEALS IN HIS TIMEAfter 42 years, I've come to know that it really doesn't matter "why" our pastor wouldn't let me pray for healing of our German Measles pregnancy. We made the wrong choice. Although they loved us, their counsel was wrong. We followed medical protocol, pastoral leadership, and the voice forof a fearful mother. We had what was called a therapeutic abortion. Throughout much suffering, from what we've come to now know as, post abortion syndrome; I realize answered prayer, after all! The healing I longed for in that first pregnancy near the end of our first year of marriage is now being realized.Once Glenn and I came to agreement about the abortion, the healing began. Satan had kept us like children playing "tug of war". Look what happened in our marriage. As Glenn held me in his arms, I thought, "Let him love you. He needs to heal too." As he cleansed, patted, and rubbed me, I felt freer than ever in my life. I thought of that traumatized horse in the story, THE HORSE WHISPERER. When I told Glenn about that, we had a good laugh as he said, "You mean you were thinking about Robert Redford?"Following an illness last year, I suffered anxiety and depression. Within a year, I lost 60 pounds. In my distress, I forgot the anniversary of our abortion. I couldn't believe I had forgotten my baby---the one I didn't have. (I only recently told Glenn about that.) What is called "anniversary syndrome" was happening again. This time our medical doctor diagnosed a spiritual problem and recommended professional counseling. Can you believe that? 42 years ago, our pastor recommended following the advice of the medical profession, and now it's the other way around. Glenn made the appointment and we went back to the Christian psychologist who counseled me over 20 years ago to write a letter of goodbye to my baby. I began to express the grief I felt I had stuffed. He suggested to Glenn to follow my lead for continued help. Glenn waited and watched.I've been tangled in a fraying mat for years. I don't know how many people were holding the ropes for me. Instead of carrying me by the four corners, I think there was someone for every frayed thread....my husband, our children, our teenage grandchildren, our extended family, our friends, our children's friends, our friends and church family from the past that knew about the abortion when it happened, our co-workers, our Sunday School Class members, our children's Sunday School Class members, our counselors, our doctors, our dear ministers, and people I don't even know. To all of you, I say, "Thank you!"In his anguish over my destructive ways and his tender love for me, my husband urged me to attend the Sanctity of Human Life service at our church this year. I signed up for SURRENDERING the SECRET bible study; a post abortion recovery program. The first night of the study was the 42nd anniversary of our abortion. In God's timing, I'm getting the help I need. In return, I hope to help others...the first one is my husband, Glenn.That mountain I thought my God could move 42 years ago...Well, I'm on the climb! I'm really ready to say,"Move mountain. You're in my way!"This weekend, February 19, Glenn and I are celebrating 43 years of marriage. We are going to the STEEL MAGNOLIAS bed and breakfast house and staying in Shelby's room. When we go looking at antiques, I could probably buy anything I want. After all, Glenn will be thinking about Julia Roberts!Gratefully, JeanUpdate: Glenn helped begin healing Bible Studies for men; our daughter, Laura, based on our testimony, began an abortion recovery ministry in her church where 2 weeks later, her pastor surrendered his secret of paying for two abortions before his salvation. Our daughter, Beverly, has videoed my testimony and planned for me to share with her women's group. Our son, Rob, holds my first attempt at writting this letter of testimony. (He has a T-shirt which says, "I am second!")
Deb Marshall - Wadsworth,Ohio
Proverbs 14:12There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. (NKJ)There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death. (NLT)There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. (NIV)There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. (ESV)No matter what version of the Bible I use, the message is the same. There is a way that seems right, but it leads to death. As a freshman in college facing an unintended pregnancy, abortion seemed like the right thing to do. Abortion seemed like the reasonable path for me to take. Actually, it seemed like the only thing to do. After all, I had my whole life in front of me. I wasn’t ready for marriage or a baby. My pregnancy was a mistake and abortion would fix it. And so I did what was right in my own eyes and aborted my child. I put that experience behind me and went on with my life. I kept the secret of my abortion buried deeply inside of me and never spoke of it to anyone. When I was baptized into the Christian faith, the main sin I felt washed clean of was my abortion. I received God’s forgiveness. For the next year and a half I immersed myself in Bible study. The Word of God began to change my heart. By January of 2008, God was calling me to deal with my abortion. I knew that I was forgiven, but I also knew that I was not healed. My abortion was still a secret. The enemy had a grip on my heart that could only be broken through the healing power of Christ. I came across a Bible study called: “Surrendering the Secret – Healing from the Heartbreak of Abortion.” Using the Word of God, Surrendering the Secret (STS) walked me through an incredible healing journey. The eight part study walked me through my past abortion, the truth about abortion, my anger, my need to forgive and my need for forgiveness, my identity in Christ, grief for my aborted child, and my mission for Christ. I began this journey with the horrible secret of my abortion and I ended the journey in victory.It is estimated that 43% of American women have had an abortion. Some of us are Christians or later became Christians. Many women never reach for healing because of the shame and secrecy surrounding abortion. Many of us prefer to keep our abortion in the past where we think it can’t hurt us or our spouse or our children. My own husband did not know about my abortion until a couple of years ago. I kept my secret for 33 years. Many women suffer in silence from an abortion. Fear of the secret getting out keeps us in bondage. I want you to know that Jesus has more than forgiveness for us. Jesus has healing – complete healing – and freedom from the power of the secret. I hope all of you will pray for the end of abortion in our land. And pray for the lives that have been lost and the women and men who have been damaged by abortion. Pray that every woman who needs healing will put her faith in Christ and trust His word to heal her. I am the evidence of God’s mercy, grace, love, forgiveness, and His healing power. Glory to God.
tricia heflin - New Braunfels,Texas
About seven years ago God invited me to join Him in His cause, His purpose. What Jesus said in Luke 4 that He came to fulfill: preach good news to the poor, heal the broken hearted, set the prisoners free from darkness. For me it was those imprisoned by the shame and regret of the choice of abortion. His invitation came in the form of a "God-prompted" confession of my own abortion, at 18 yrs of age, to my then grown daughter. She told me that she couldn't shake this feeling that there was something I needed to tell her. I knew what God was doing, and as I prayed in my heart HE helped me speak the words of confession. I looked up expecting to see horror in her eyes, but I saw LOVE. Instead of "Mom, how could you"..., I heard, "Mom, I'm so sorry you went through that." And then an eye-opening statement: 'Mom, this explains so much!' TRUTH brought understanding for us both. I saw how abortion had affected every area of my life; my parenting, my marriage, my confidence, my reactions to my children's teen years, & more. My precious daughter thanked me for sharing with her what I needed to release, what she needed to hear. My journey of healing started that very day, then I learned of Post Abortive Healing Bible studies and through taking and leading Surrendering the Secret I saw that God had paved the way for me to be free from hiding. Healed, and free to help others experience this freedom too. God cares very much about the conditon of our hearts. HE wants us to be healed of the soul wound of abortion. It is what He came to do..Heal the broken-hearted. Instead of shame, HE gives blessing(Isaiah 61), instead of regret, peace! (2Cor. 7:9-11)Only GOD! Another admonishment from my children, "Tell them, Mom: tell them we are not slaves to guilt/fear/sin. We are FREE! Keep telling your story! " What a joy to experience and partner with God in this ministry of healing: Surrendering The Secret!
Katy Flood - Lewistown,Pennsylvania
So excited to see what God is going to do this year through Surrendering the Secret! WE are all ready to take the ride, wherever it may lead us! Are you? God led me on this journey over 21 years ago when I joined the pro-life movement as a volunteer at a local pregnancy care center. Never in a million years did I think He would still have my heart so entrenched in this issue so many years later. I have seen what abortion has done to women, having counseled them before and after their "choice." I have seen the devastation that occurs to their life and the lives of those they love. I have cried for them and with them. BUT for God! He has a plan since the beginning of time to end the guilt and shame of abortion! Surrendering the Secret is a wonderful tool to help women come out of the darkness and into the light. Facing their abortion, some for the very first time, and allowing God's healing balm to penetrate the most darkest recesses. He is good! He is the Great Physician! I can't wait to see the light pouring from all of the women who choose to surrender their secret this year! Come join us as we marvel at all that God will do! Katy Flood,STS National Trainerwww.katyflood.net
Pat Layton - Tampa,Fl
Hi Ladies,
Share your STS stories here!
I can't wait to read them!xoxoPat