"Unplanned" Call to Action from A Post-Abortive Woman

"Unplanned" Call to Action from A Post-Abortive Woman
By Aimee Beltran

I first heard about the movie "Unplanned" at the Pro-Life Women's Conference in St. Charles, MO in June 2018. Abby Johnson's organization, "And Then There Were None" was hosting this annual conference, and at this event Abby Johnson was finally able to release the news that her book Unplanned, had been made into a movie and it had been done by the same creative team who brought us God's Not Dead 1,2, and 3. Hearing that her story was going to be shared in such an up-front way was encouraging, to say the least. It was huge.

As a post-abortive woman who is wholly healed, I eagerly anticipated the opening day of this movie, completely believing in the message that it would be sharing. I went to the movie with some of the women who had just completed an 8 week healing study from their own abortions, through my ministry for post-abortive women, believing that it would offer more healing to them. It did, in a powerful way.

The movie does an excellent job showing how easy it was for Abby to have been decieved by the lies that surround the whole concept of abortion. The statements, "blob of tissue," "quick, easy procedure" and "right to choose" are the very same statements that every women hears and believes before choosing abortion. They are also the very same thing that those in the pro-choice movement work so hard to staunchly defend. However, through the storyline, we see that the baby is not "just a blob of tissue." In the disturbing scene where Abby goes into the P.O.C Room - where the parts of the aborted baby are analyzed and reassembled to ensure all parts were removed- the storytellers if this movie really pull no punches in showing what abortion really is, as you see tiny body parts that have to be accounted for.

Disturbing scene. Harsh reality.

Having come face-to-face with the truths of abortion many years ago, and wrestling with the fact that I exercised MY right to choose... THAT scene did not leverage a feeling of shame and guilt as my decision once did.

What this scene, and the entire movie did was instill a sense of hope ... hope that once people see this movie they will see what abortion truly is, they will feel the discomfort that comes with this truth, and finally they will be compelled to do something about it.

We cannot continue to turn a blind-eye to topics that make us uncomfortable. Far too much is at stake for us to stay in our comfortable little bubbles where ugliness is never allowed to enter.

My prayer for people who see this movie is that the discomfort and the sadness they feel will cause them to become vigilantes in the pro-life movement. That they will feel an urgency to love on women who are post-abortive and to point them to the loving forgiveness of Jesus. That they will provide a safe place for women facing unplanned preganancy. That they will be the voice, and action, of truth in love!

My prayer for pro-choice individuals is that they go and see this movie with an open mind. That they begin to engage in respectful dialogue with pro-life individuals and post-abortive women.

I pray that this movie changes hearts and leads to a shift in beliefs, and allows us to reach post-abortive women and the women who are facing unplanned pregnancies.

Go, see the movie, and see what God can do through you.

- Aimee Beltran National Leader of Surrendering the Secret

For those seeking guidance and healing following an abortion visit surrenderingthesecret.com to see the healing studies and support that they offer. 

My Mission to Fight for the Vulnerable.

I am not one of those people who woke up one day and knew exactly what I wanted to do. I never really even knew the field of study I wanted to go into. My college decision was ultimately guided by my athletic career and an academic program that oddly offered the two most broad fields that appealed to me as a dual major-- business and government.

While I lacked specific direction, one thing I have never been short of is passion. There have always been things that consistently light a fire in me. I know where I stand and I am not afraid to defend my beliefs.. That always naturally drew me toward the political realm... What an ugly realm to be drawn to, huh?

I love the exchanging of ideas that occurs in politics. I love seeing people excited by their values and beliefs. I love to see people fighting tirelessly for those beliefs.  And I love that so many unique issues are brought to the table for discussion.

There is, of course, that ugly side of politics. Conflict, hatred, anger, disagreement, and even corruption. Unfortunately, this is the side that is most often displayed to the world, so "politics" has become a word and topic to avoid in order to make and/or keep friends..

All of that aside, I want to tell you what the number one biggest drawing factor of "politics" was for me.

Being the voice of the voiceless. Fighting for the vulnerable.

Come to the Table

The story behind the name.. "Come to the Table"

Feature article by Bethany Adkins

(Check out her AMAZING, relatable, and honest blog The Adkins Highlight REAL)

Isn't this little boy handsome?!

That's my SIX-year-old, Carter. He's a piece of work.

He's a lover of all the boy things, sports, and he's even spent some time acting in Hollywood. 

He wants to be a police officer when he grows up so that he can rescue people, and I know he's going to change lives. He already has.

As much of a blessing he has been to my life and SO many others, I'd be lying if I said that my pregnancy with him was planned.

What is the Pro-Life Movement Missing?

For starters I'd like to say that I am an avid "pro-lifer," who beleives that no matter the circumstances, every life--- yes, from conception-- deserves a chance. That is not what I am here to discuss.

The topic of abortion is one of high-controversy and it seems every person has a strong stance, or at least an opinion, for or against the issue. Again, that's not quite what we're talking about here.

Regardless of your position on the issue of abortion, I think it is critical that we all take a step back and really analyze where our own arguments fall short or even come across as contradictory.