president's corner guest writer, rachel myers

For the next few months, President's Corner will highlight some of our staff leaders in their individual roles within our 4 pillars, beginning with Pregnancy Support. We begin from the heart of Rachel, who oversees staff and volunteers on our 24/7 hotline.
Making a difference every day, in every heartbeat, of every life saved,
Kathy Scanlon

PDHC originated in 1981 out of a heart for life and love... with a phone by a bed and servants ready and available to listen at the point of a woman's greatest need. 41 years later, PDHC Connections staff and volunteers continue to serve families on the front lines 24/7 by answering calls, texts, and chats - most commonly as the point of a client's initial contact to PDHC. The opportunity to communicate God's grace and hope to the uncertain, the undecided, the hurting is a humbling privilege. Yet, the press to impart value and vision through anonymous and often brief platforms is a challenge only the Holy Spirit can achieve as we plant seeds in obedience to Him. 
 
Jesus assures us that He weeps when we mourn, and He shares in our joy when we celebrate. Ecclesiastes tell us, "There is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance". There are moments we answer a call for a couple desperate to see two pink lines on that home test, or to confirm that occurrence in one of our centers "so it feels real", so they can believe that it is true. Yet there are many more times we consult with those barely able to put into words their fear, pain, and desperation not to see the very same lines. The juxtaposition of seasons in our lives and the lives of those seeking assistance at PDHC is rarely more obvious than in the case of clients requesting Abortion Pill Reversal services. Earlier this year, a young woman reached out to the national Abortion Pill Reversal hotline and was directed to PDHC as her closest provider, albeit nearly an hour and a half from her home. She shared honestly and frankly that she "wasn't 100% confident in [her] decision to begin with" and in just several hours "wanted to change my mind". A young, single mother 10 weeks pregnant in a fractured relationship, still living at home with her parents, she expressed being "ashamed" at her choices, but mostly in her decision to initiate an abortion procedure. Her commitment to walking out the change process included sharing hard details with strangers on the other end of the phone and with medical staff with whom she would interact over the next few hours. It included driving early and alone, hours round trip multiple times, to access medication and ultrasounds to establish ongoing viability of pregnancy. It included hard consequences like forfeiting finances paid to the abortion provider, as well as a significant amount of Progesterone induced nausea, vomiting and sleepless nights. Ultimately it included sharing those hard details again with ones closest to her, namely her parents, her former boyfriend, and her friends. 
 
When praying for the abortion reversal client, especially this one, God always impresses on my heart the humility, strength, and courage it takes to initiate this process: to say I was wrong, will you please help me? To share parts of a very personal story and choices made in secret and shame. To place faith in strangers and in an unknown outcome. I marvel at the heart of that mother, who although didn't think she was ready to be one, acted out a mother's heart in every decision thereafter. That's the Holy Spirit work in which we have the honor to share a small part - to be the tangible voice of reassurance, of hope, of the love of the Father. At the core, PDHC's greatest ministry is that of 2 Corinthians 1:4: "He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us."
 
Most recent updates from this client are highlighted by linkage with ongoing prenatal care, sharing with family members "which went well", reunification with the father of her unborn child, planning a baby shower, and expecting a little boy in September. Glory be to the Lord for providing this garment of praise in place of the spirit of despair (Isaiah 61:3). We stand expectant of the amazing testimony this family will share and in the generational impact one brave phone call restored. We stand ready to witness the beautiful blessing this little boy will be to so many and to this world. Psalm 46:10 sums up this powerful transformation: Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth. Thank you for sharing in this calling through your prayers and support. Be encouraged and do not become weary in doing good, for the Father is ever at work in the hearts and minds of those whom He loves.
Rachel Myers, PDHC Connections Manager

Rachel Myers is PDHC's Connections Manager - she provides oversight of client outreach services to include crisis hotline, text, and online communication, as well as efforts to expand client contacts.

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