Through a round-about way, I found out about the Restored by Grace post-abortion ministry.  I thought it was an interesting concept but didn't initially feel compelled to participate; I was certain I had dealt with my abortion and was fine.  However, I wanted to do some volunteer work and they requested I go through a class.

I was amazed at all the unresolved issues that came up during the class and was incredibly impressed at Laura's gentleness throughout the class.  While our group was dealing with some incredibly difficult memories and scars, the kindness and love shown by Laura and our co-leader was amazing.  They did a great job of working through the materials and sharing what God wanted us to know.  I was also very impressed with the women in my class and will forever have a lasting bond with them.

While the class was amazing, the Reconciliation Weekend was beyond description.  Honestly, by the time the weekend arrived, I wasn't excited about going and dredging up more of the past.  Each and every aspect of the weekend was intentional and purposeful and our group shared our stories, our lives, our pain and our hearts.  What happened that weekend was truly transforming and I now feel fully healed.  Still scarred for certain, but finally able to put the pain and sin of my abortion behind me and move on into how God would have me help other women in similar situations.  Although it is still very difficult to share my story with others, each time I do I feel lighter.  I pray that God will use this to impact others.  This course and this weekend will provide healing to those who choose to participate.  I cannot recommend it highly enough!

I am so grateful for Restored By Grace. It was a wonderful opportunity to see that I am not alone in my post-abortive pain. Throughout our weekly readings and discussions, different emotions and thoughts surfaced that had been hidden for years. It revealed thoughts that I didn’t even know I had.

This ministry gave me an opportunity to address those hidden struggles, bring them to the surface, and nail them to the cross. It brought closure and peace to remember my daughter and to honor her life at our weekend retreat. Also during the weekend retreat, the Lord confirmed the gender of my daughter and named her.

I am so thankful for this ministry. It has brought healing, closure, forgiveness, and peace regarding my abortion. Thank you, Laura and the Restored by Grace Team, for your friendship, guidance, support, and love! God is using this ministry in mighty ways!

I carried around a lot of guilt and shame for many years because of my abortion.  After going through the process with Restored By Grace, a weekend of being loved on by wonderful women, allowing God to do His work in my heart, letting go of the burdens I was carrying around, and allowing myself to grieve the loss of three children (one through abortion and two miscarriages), I no longer beat myself up every time I think of my child or hear the word "abortion". Thank you Restored By Grace for giving me the opportunity to heal my broken heart.

When I came to Christ, I was in my 30’s. But for me, simply believing in Him and proclaiming my love for Him was just the beginning of my walk. For in my mind, I knew God forgave my sins, but in my heart, there was one sin I couldn’t forgive myself for.

You see, when I was 18 years old, I had an abortion. I wasn’t one of those kids who didn’t have options. I wasn’t abused. I wasn’t raped. I had two parents who loved me dearly and would do anything for me. I had financial resources. I was smart. It’s a scary notion that someone with all of those things could choose abortion, but I did.

So here I was in my 40’s. It was like I had this rock I’d been carrying for 27 years and only now realized the weight of. Once again, God showed His love for me by guiding me to Restored By Grace Ministry. Through this post abortive ministry, I found healing, and I found god again. I learned that I HAD to drop this weight, this rock, this is what my mind and my heart had been wrestling with for so long.