Honor Your Mother

Posted on March 24, 2010 by Twisk

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  prayers-and-promises.2.jpgThank your mother for choosing life!

Thank the women who have made sacrifices so that you might live! Use the box below to post a tribute to your mother, birthmother, adoptive mom, grandmother, or other special woman who was like a mother to you.

Honor your mother further when you make a tax-deductible gift to Birthmothers in her name. We’ll send her a special acknowledgement and a copy of Prayers & Promises for Mothers devotional to thank her for nurturing you. Donate here.

Encourage people you know to share their tributes to their mothers here when you send them an email that includes a link to this page. And please invite people to visit this site and read the inspiring comments left here.

Thank you for sharing and giving!

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3 Essential Qualities of a Good Friend

Posted on March 16, 2010 by Twisk

For You From The Word

If one falls down, his friend can help him up. (Ecclesiastes 4:10)

For You To Think About

good friends talkingGood friends come in all shapes and sizes. But most people agree that a good friend exhibits at least three qualities.

  1. Loyalty. A good friend will stick by you even if times get hard. You can count on her.
    If one falls down, his friend can help him up. (Ecclesiastes 4:10)
  2. Acceptance. A good friend accepts you as you are. She’s OK with your strengths and weaknesses. She’s OK that you’ll have good days and bad days.
    A friend loves at all times. (Proverbs 17:17)
  3. Honesty. A good friend is genuine. She’ll keep your confidences and she won’t betray you.
    Wounds from a friend can be trusted. (Proverbs 27:6)

Having a dependable friend can even save lives. 83% women who terminated pregnancies say they would have made a different decision if they’d had support from a special friend during pregnancy.

For You To Pray

Loving Father,
Raise up caring volunteers to become Birthmothers Friends. Help them be loyal, accepting, and honest with the pregnant women they serve.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

 

More about Friends

A Friend Walks In When Everyone Else Walks Out

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Video: How to Support a Woman Who Faces an Unplanned Pregnancy as a Birthmothers Friend

Posted on March 12, 2010 by Kathy Widenhouse

Women who face an unplanned pregnancy receive personal support, adoption information, resources, and help from trained Birthmothers Friends. Volunteers and churches can get equipped to serve women who face an unplanned pregnancy.

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Video – Birthmothers’ One-On-One Ministry

Posted on March 10, 2010 by Kathy Widenhouse

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Terms of Use

Posted on March 5, 2010 by Kathy Widenhouse

 

Reviewed September 2010

This website (the “website”) is operated by Birthmother Ministries, Inc. (“Birthmothers”).  Birthmothers is committed to informing you of your rights and the ministry’s rights as you use this website.  We want your experience safe, secure, and informative.  Please read and consider the following information prior to interacting with our website.

By using and accessing this website, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions, as they may be modified from time to time.  If you do not agree with these Terms of Use, you may not use this website.  Birthmothers is not responsible for any damages or injuries caused by the use of or access to this website.  We do not guarantee any merchandise, information, service, or other material provided on or through this website.


1.  Collection of Information

During your visit to our website, Birthmothers will never collect personal information without your knowledge.  Any information that is requested will be in direct correlation to the services you request.  From time to time, Birthmothers may ask for your personal input and suggestions related to your online experience.  This information will remain confidential and will allow us to improve and enhance your online user experience.  Your provision of personal comments or suggestions will serve as consent to our use of this information to improve user experience. Birthmothers’ separate website Privacy Policy contains additional provisions concerning the ministry’s use of information collected from the website.  The terms of the Privacy Policy are incorporated into these Terms of Use by reference.

2.  Security

All transactions accomplished through this website are secured using a SSL encryption to protect sensitive data transmissions from your computer to our website.  Birthmothers also uses password protection to secure personal information.

3.  Changes

Birthmothers maintains the right to adjust or change these Terms and Conditions at any time without notice to users.  Check this policy periodically for updates.  Any changes to these Terms and Conditions will be posted on this site and become effective immediately upon posting.

4.  Links

Birthmothers may provide links to other websites maintained by individuals or organizations outside of Birthmothers.  These links are not an endorsement of these third-party websites or the values or opinions expressed in them.  Birthmothers does not control such websites and their content.  Should you visit these external websites, your use of such sites are not governed by this website’s Terms and Conditions.

5.  Copyright

All information and materials contained within the Birthmothers’  website, including but not limited to all text, graphics, artwork, photographs, video and audio files, icons, organization, arrangement, and overall look and feel appearing on the website, are the copyrighted property of Birthmothers unless otherwise indicated.  All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of Birthmothers.  Unless otherwise noted, no material or documents from our website may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way, with the exception of five (5) copies downloaded to your computer for personal or educational use.  In order to use Birthmothers documents, you must maintain original content and copyright marks and obtain written permission from the ministry.  You are prohibited from adding, deleting, distorting, or misrepresenting content.  Any attempts to modify website material or to defeat or circumvent security features are prohibited.  Please contact us for permission to use any information or materials from the website in any manner outside the scope of the limited license stated above.

6.  Restrictions on Use

Birthmothers strictly prohibits and disclaims any and all liability for the use of this website for the communication of illegal, false, pornographic, obscene, threatening, or otherwise offensive remarks, content, or material.  We strictly prohibit and are not liable for breaches of confidentiality that may take place within this website.

All material, resources, content, and information published, posted or distributed by Birthmothers are designed and intended for general informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for the direct counsel of an attorney, professional counselor, or medical professional.  You expressly assume the risk of your reliance upon any content or information contained in or accessed through this website.

The Birthmothers website offers content on issues pertaining to pregnancy, abortion, and other related issues. The information provided on this website, and all information provided to you by Birthmothers, its “Friends,” and all other volunteers and staff, is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice.  You are always advised to seek medical advice from your personal medical physician, who is best able to evaluate whether or not a specific health suggestion or potential course of treatment is best for you.

7.  Submitting Material

All remarks, suggestions, ideas, graphics, comments, or other information that you send to Birthmothers through our website other than information directly requested will become the property of Birthmothers.  You agree that Birthmothers is thereby released from any obligation to treat such submissions as confidential.  You cannot take legal action against us or request payment from us for using materials you submit in this manner.  We maintain the right to use such materials for any and all purposes that we believe to be appropriate to the mission and vision of Birthmothers.  When submitting such materials, you acknowledge that you are responsible for such submissions and that you have full responsibility for the content of the message, including its legality, reliability, appropriateness, originality, and copyright.

8.  Limitation of Liability

Birthmothers and its affiliates are not liable for any injury or damages of any kind, whether incidental, consequential, direct, indirect, special, punitive, exemplary, or contractual, that may result from your use of or reliance on any operation, material, content, or other aspect of our website.

9.  Disclaimer of Warranty

Birthmothers makes no representations or warranties about the completeness or accuracy of this website’s content or information or other material contained within the website.  By accessing and using this website, you agree to hold Birthmothers and its affiliates harmless and not responsible for the content distributed by or through this website.

10.  Online Forum Postings

Birthmothers maintains the right to monitor and censor the content of postings within any online affiliate forum within this website.  We expect forum users to adhere to the standards of content set forth on the forums, to respect the nature of Birthmothers’ values, and to maintain decency; however, we are not liable or responsible for the content of online postings.  We strictly prohibit the communication of illegal, false, pornographic, obscene, threatening, or otherwise offensive remarks through our online forums.  We strictly prohibit and are not liable for breaches of confidentiality that make take place within our forums.  Birthmothers maintains the right to monitor, delete, and edit any information posted within these forums that is deemed questionable and to delete user accounts that are responsible for the creation of content that does not fit within these guidelines.

We do not allow children under 13 to use our online forums and should we learn that an account has been created by a child under 13, this account will be removed and all content will be deleted.  Birthmothers will fully accommodate requests from authorities related to the content of illegal postings.

11.  Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Birthmothers and its directors, officers, employees, volunteers, and affiliates from any liability, loss, claim, expense, and damage award (including attorneys’ fees) that arise from any claim, action, or demand related to your violation of these Terms and Conditions or use of this website in any manner.  By accessing and using this website, you accept these Terms and Conditions each and every time you access it.

12.  Jurisdiction

Our Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws set forth by the state of Virginia.  The material presented within this website, unless otherwise noted, was created in the state of Virginia for sole use by and for Birthmother Ministries, Inc.  If you utilize this website or the resources therein outside of the United States, you are legally obligated to abide by the laws of that location.

13.  Questions and concerns

If you have any questions or concerns regarding our Terms and Conditions, please email us.

© 2010 Birthmother Ministries, Inc. (Birthmothers®). All materials on this website are solely owned and copyrighted by Birthmothers and are protected by U.S. and international copyrights unless otherwise indicated.

 

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Entire Enrollment at 5 High Schools Lost Each Day

Posted on February 26, 2010 by Kathy Widenhouse

For You From The Word

Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord. (Psalm 102:18)

For You To Think About

Silhouette Of Young Female Student Celebrating GraduationThe average public high school in the U.S. has a student body of 752.

Every day, 3,700 American lives are lost to abortion.

Do the math. You’ll discover that abortion wipes out the enrollment equivalent of 5 American high schools each day.

For You To Pray

Sovereign God,
Let your people choose life,
so that future generations can live to praise Your name.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Who We Are

Posted on February 25, 2010 by Kathy Widenhouse

Birthmother Ministries, Inc. (Birthmothers) is a faith-based, nonprofit organization dedicated to providing nonjudgmental assistance to any woman or family member facing an unplanned pregnancy.

Pregnant women, partners and family members in crisis most often lack a compassionate advocate who will stand with them long-term, no matter what the circumstances. Birthmothers provides the missing link that hurting women and families need so desperately.

Through one-on-one relationships as Birthmothers Friends

A Birthmothers Friend is a trained volunteer who is matched one-on-one with a pregnant woman, her partner or family member.  A Friend listens and provides confidential, nonjudgmental practical assistance, emotional support and spiritual encouragement as long as the client needs or chooses.

More women carry babies to term and transition into parenting or adoption placement when they have support from a special person like a Friend during pregnancy.  The Friend relationship is modeled on the unconditional love of Jesus Christ. That’s why the Birthmothers ministry motto was derived from Proverbs 17:17: A Friend loves at all times™.

Through Church Teams

A Birthmothers Church Team is an intentional, organized group of congregation members that minister to women and families who face an unplanned pregnancy by:
• spreading awareness to women about Birthmothers services by distributing outreach materials in the local community
• serving birth moms and family members directly as trained, volunteer Friends
• recruiting practical support for birth moms from the congregation
• providing prayer support for birth moms and families
• facilitating abstinence training for local youth
• advocating pro-life, pro-adoption principles in their congregations

Church Teams literally transform lives by giving local women and families a loving, supportive community and remaining in relationship with them over the long haul.

Through partnerships with community organizations

We develop resource partnerships with local service providers to connect women with temporary housing, medical care, job opportunities, transitional housing, legal aid, adoption agencies, pregnancy care centers (PCCs), child care, and other social services.

We cultivate ministry partnerships with like-minded organizations to together be a voice for women, the unborn, the vulnerable, orphans, adoptive parents, adoptees, and families who are impacted by life-related issues.

See a flow chart that shows how Birthmothers works.

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Tips For Presenting Abortion Alternatives

Posted on February 10, 2010 by Kathy Widenhouse

If someone you know faces an unplanned pregnancy and is abortion-minded, consider presenting alternatives. These practical tips may help.

1. Be a friend. Most women who face an unplanned pregnancy experience isolation and rejection. In fact, 83% post-abortive women say they would have made a different choice if they’d had support from a partner, family member, or special person during pregnancy. Check in with her often. Earn the right to be heard. Put her in touch with Birthmothers so she can be matched one-on-one with a trained Friend who will walk with her during her ordeal.

2. Practice acceptance.  Tell her you’ll stand by her, no matter what her choice. 

3. Show her hope. Introduce her to women who were abortion-minded but ultimately chose to give birth.

4. Arrange for an ultrasound. Eight out of ten pregnancy care centers report that abortion-minded women decide to keep their babies after seeing ultrasound images. Offer to schedule and accompany her to an appointment.

5. Describe available services. Finances may be deterring her from carrying the pregnancy to term. Have information ready to share about resources offered to pregnant women, including medical aid, temporary shelter, transportation, food stamps, nutrition programs, and legal aid. Explain how you can help her access these services. Contact Birthmothers for a list of resources in your area.

6. Offer the adoption option. Ask, “How might you feel about helping to build a family?” Describe the benefits of choosing to place her child, including access to medical coverage, the opportunity to select and meet adoptive parents, and variety of arrangements available through open adoption.

7. Project the future.  Encourage her to look beyond her present situation.  Remind her that life brings different opportunities each day and each week.  Say, “I know you’re hurting right now. But five years from now, how might you feel about having had an abortion?”

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Tips For Presenting the Adoption Option

Posted on February 10, 2010 by Kathy Widenhouse

If someone you know faces an unplanned pregnancy, consider presenting the benefits of adoption. These tips may help.

1. Express compassion. Tell her you care.  Demonstrate your concern in concrete ways, such as spending time with her or by providing a meal.

2. Listen for cues. Is she ready to look at her options? Or is she overwhelmed at the moment?

3. Share information. When you sense the timing is right, explain your desire for her to make the most informed decision. Provide information about today’s adoption options.  Tell her about open adoption, a birth mom’s right to choose and interview adoptive parents, and opportunities open adoption provides to be a part of her child’s life.

4. Choose accurate language. Acknowledge that children are a gift rather than a possession. Refer to her pregnancy as “unplanned” rather than “unwanted.” Discuss “making an adoption plan” or “placing” rather than “giving up” or “putting up” her child for adoption. Talk about “biological parents” and “adoptive parents” rather than “real parents.”

5. Dispel myths. Address the truth about adoption: it’s a choice that requires tremendous, sacrificial love.  It’s a responsible choice.  Many lives will benefit from the courageous choice of adoption.  Use tools such as Birthmother, Good Mother and A Case For Adoption (both available the the National Council For Adoption).

6. Look into the future. Ask, “What kind of life do you want for your child?” and “What do you think your life and your child’s life will be like in 5 years? In 10 years?”

7. Give her a firsthand experience. Connect her with a birth parent who placed, an adoptive parent, or an adoptee – or all three – so she can hear about the benefits of the adoption option from those who have experienced it.

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Helpful Articles

Posted on February 10, 2010 by Kathy Widenhouse

Check out these practical tips and information to use as you minister to women who face an unplanned pregnancy.

Webmasters, online publishers, bloggers, editors, marketers – need powerful content on your website, e-letter or blog?

You can republish any of the articles on this page for free. It’s quick and easy. All you have to do is include attribution the following statement, “This article appears courtesy of Birthmother Ministries, Inc.” with a back link to www.birthmotherministries.org.  Then send us an email explaining where the article is published. That’s it!


 

Abortion Alternatives

Tips For Presenting Abortion Alternatives

Adoption

Tips For Presenting the Adoption Option

 

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