During the month of January much attention is given to the Sanctity of Human Life as we consider the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion now 45 years ago. It is important to grieve the loss of so many children whose lives were lost over the years. It is also a good time to reach out to those struggling with a past abortion decision.

There is a mission field in our own community—women and men who have an abortion in their past. They are in your work place, your neighborhood, your churches, and your families, and regardless of how long ago it was, many are still struggling because of this decision. Even if you have not personally been impacted by abortion, it is likely you encounter people every day who have made this choice.

Women and men with abortion wounded hearts often do not talk about their
experience for fear of being judged. They also may not fully understand why they feel the way they do. Secular counseling typically does not address a past abortion as an “issue”, and even many Christian counselors do not understand the full scope of how abortion affects those who have made this decision.

At Hands of Hope Tucson, we desire to come alongside these men and women and show them the compassion of Jesus. Mark 6:34 says “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd…” Through our recovery services we share the truth in love—a need to repent and receive God’s forgiveness. And we provide a safe place for them to grieve the loss of their children. In the Gospel of John these words of Jesus are recorded, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Once the chains of guilt and shame are removed, we see women and men living their lives for God in a way they were not able to before.

Here is what a past recovery client has to say about her experience.

“This program is so needed. I already knew God forgave me, yet I lived with the knowledge of what I had done. The pain of that was so deep I could not experience joy. This program led me to a place where I now experience the joy of forgiveness, and it allowed me to move past 36 years of pain. This is the most precious gift I have ever received outside of Jesus’ sacrifice.”