Today’s guest post is from a friend of mine, Cheryle. God has used her to birth an amazing and powerful ministry – healed. She has a very special message for all women’s ministry leaders.
Dear Director of Women’s Ministry,
I visited your church last Sunday and enjoyed meeting your pastor and several of the women in your Women’s Group. Everyone was super nice and invited me to attend your upcoming “Mother’s Day Tea”. I’m still praying about whether or not to come. See, there is something you all don’t know about me. Sure, I could stand to lose a few pounds, but other than that I might look absolutely normal to you. But I’m not! Mother’s Day is so hard for me because I had an abortion. Even typing the word makes me so embarrassed. I’ve kept this a secret for 24 years because I’m sure everyone would look down on me, especially church people. Your pastor’s sermon on forgiveness was really great, but he didn’t mention my secret sin. I’m not sure if it is even forgivable. I know I could never forgive myself.
I also heard about the women’s Bible studies you offer…..just curious, are there any studies about this topic? Oh, how I long to feel loved and forgiven…to be set free from my imprisonment! The shame and guilt weigh me down and make me very sad. I would never be able to tell you about this face to face, in fact, nobody in my family even knows. Are there other women like me in your church? Can you help me?
Sincerely,
Ashamed
Please let women know that millions of women have had abortions (even some of the ladies in your church). Also, there is a wonderful Bible study called Forgiven and Set Free
, which has been effectively ministering God’s healing grace to women who are suffering remorse and guilt after an abortion. I would love to tell you more about this ministry and help you offer this study at your church. Click here to find an abortion recovery ministry in your area.
From my “healed.” heart,
Cheryle
“healed.” Ministry Director
704-664-HOPE Ext 106
contactus@lakenormancpc.org
healed. website
Facebook Page
Cheryle is a wife and mother who found forgiveness through Forgiven and Set Free Bible study at the age of 50. She has a powerful testimony of God’s redemption and grace. She shares how only He could take her ugly past and turn it into something beautiful. Pointing women to the cross of Christ for forgiveness from a past abortion is her passion.
I have led this study numerous times with post abortive women. Do you have a network where a woman can be referred to a local group in her area? Often we meet women who come to the abortion clinic and then come to us for healing afterwards when they don’t change their minds.
Terri, I am so sorry I don’t. You may want to reach out to local churches in your area to see if they offer a post-abortive Bible study.
I have recently completed the forgiven & set free bible study with Cheryle. It’s amazing what God can do in your heart to make you new again. I like “ashamed” was full of guilt and couldnt even be honest with my own husband about what my past was. With this bible study not only is my marriage rock solid but I have shared my personal testimony with my whole church. You wouldn’t believe the women who came forward to tell me their shame. God forgives and loves relentlessly. I pray that you will find a group who can love on you and show just how great our father is!!
Carly, what an awesome and powerful testimony!! I pray it will be an encouragement to many others! Thank for sharing it with all of us! Hugs to you!
Thank you, Cyndee, for allowing me to shedding light on this dark topic!! Thank you, Shelley for recognizing it as a “wound”. And thank you Jesus for healing our sisters!!!
You are so welcome! It is a privilege and an honor. Praying for the leaders God wants to see this!
Thank you for the reminder that our girls have deep wounds and not all fit into the same cookie cutter
Shelley, you are welcome! It is easy to forget we don’t all fit into the same mold! And it’s even harder to address those differences as leaders…