Sheila Harper shares her story of how she fell into the trap of abortion at age nineteen, on the advice of a friend who said, “It’s no big deal, I had an abortion at fifteen.” She also trusted the Supreme Court who had made it legal.
She spent the following seven years experiencing severe emotional suffering, sorrow and shame. Abusing credit helped her escape with shopping and maxing out the many offers which came in the mail. Three jobs didn’t cover the debt and she was often without food or the basics of life. The spending helped her avoid the pain. But eventually she found true relief in a Bible study which helped her heal and recover. She says, “Now I feel compelled to make sure others know the truth.”
Written for her local church in Nashville, the Save One study Sheila wrote is now in use in over 300 countries, helping thousands worldwide find repentance and hope after abortion. Sheila also wrote Is There Not a Cause to help the church find inspiration and equipping based on the biblical story of David and Goliath.
“Just because the circumstances change, we still must fight, because there is still a giant!” Sheila says, addressing the pastors who shy away from a political fight. “The power is in the local church, and pastors have the authority and responsibility to teach and train Christians to create a godly response.”
Sheila also notes, “Abortion recovery provides the perfect opportunity for the church to be the church. You don’t even need to preach against abortion to offer the process of forgiveness, and become a hero to those who find their healing.” But the healing culture also makes the church a safe place for those experiencing a problem pregnancy, and the primary place to disciple, nurture and uphold women and couples in crisis.
From her bio: Sheila survived a traumatic childhood which included the death of her mother when she was just four years old. Though she became a Christian as a teen. she had an abortion at age 19. The aftermath was filled with adversity including drugs, debt and rape. Sheila eventually recovered through a group in her local church, and began leading abortion recovery groups.
In 2000, she founded SaveOne-an abortion recovery ministry. She says, “To see God take my most regrettable mistake and turn it around to help others find freedom through truth is an unexplainable event.”
SaveOne helps men, women, and families recover after abortion, with over 300 chapters (in pregnancy centers and churches) in 25 countries.
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