Elected Homecoming Queen: An Exceptional Story

by Collin Hansen,  Nov. 4, 2013  The Gospel Coalition

Molly Anne Dutton shouldn't be here today. Not according to the opinion polls. Even many pro-life Christians make an exception that would have snuffed out her life.

Her mother survived every woman's nightmare: sexual assault. But then her agony was compounded with a positive pregnancy test. As if the situation could get worse, her husband told her to get an abortion or sign the divorce papers.

With the help of Lifeline Children's Services in Birmingham, Alabama, Molly Anne's mother chose to carry her to term and give her up for adoption. Due to their service on Lifeline's board, Molly Anne's adoptive parents knew of her situation and decided to adopt her.

Two decades later, Molly Anne was elected homecoming queen this fall at Auburn University. Her "Light Up LIFE" campaign sought to educate women about their options when faced with unplanned pregnancy. The horticulture major told me her story, how she understands her adoption in light of the gospel, and why all children made in the image of God deserve a home. Thank you to Betsy Childs for helping me generate the questions.

How and when did your parents tell you the story about your biological mother?
I discovered my story and the story of my birth mother by stumbling upon my adoption papers one afternoon in the attic. I was around 14 at the time. I have always been mesmerized by photos of our family throughout the years; little did I know that my adoption papers were tucked in between the papers of our family history.
Since then, my mom and I have discussed the circumstances surrounding my adoption. In saying that, a great question to then ask is how did I receive the news. I truly believe because I sat as a believer whose hope in Christ, I never saw the details of my birth as a shameful event. What the enemy has intended for harm, the Lord has and continues to use for so much good (Genesis 50:20)

Have you always been comfortable sharing your story?
I love this question. Yes, I have always felt comfortable sharing my story. I am honored to carry this story. Yes, it is unique because my life sounds out the voice that this world does not get to hear often. I know there is power between each space in my sentences and tucked beside each dotted "i" and crossed "t." There is no power in it because of my words, but it drenches with beauty due to this being the exact picture of our own adoption in Christ. Josh Caldwell, manager of involvement and partnerships at Lifeline Child Services, describes it so perfectly. My adoption might have started as a tragedy, but didn't our relationship with Jesus also start with a tragedy? That tragedy was dripping the bloodshed of the cross. Today, we stand as sons and daughters in his very kingdom.

Have you thought about what you would want to say to your biological mother? 
My mind, body, and soul are full of gratitude. I'm so unbelievably thankful to God for knitting me; thankful for my parents who so lovingly carried me out of Lifeline in their arms; and I'm speechless before a woman who was courageous to break through confusion and fear to give birth to me. In her womb she carried me, and by her heart she chose to give me a chance to walk and spread the good news of the gospel. Little did she know that her hope would become wrapped up in truth and power.

Your story greatly encourages so many of us, and we're proud of your fellow students for recognizing you with this honor. But not every adoption has a conventional happy ending. Many adoptive parents take on great challenges with children born with genetic defects and mental disabilities. Why do you think it's still worth parents taking this risk to adopt even if they don't know their children will grow up to be like you?
We all need love, and we all deserve a family that loves us, no matter our disabilities. In a lot of cultures, anyone with a genetic defect or mental disability is considered an outcast or unworthy. However, as these children's parents, men and women get a unique opportunity to pour truth onto the buffet of lies. Yes, the children are worthy. Yes, they are valued. Yes, they too are offered the love of Christ. Obviously, many challenges are presented with a a family walking down that road. However, God has a heart for all. He will bless son, daughter, father, mother alike.

Tell us about Lifeline Children's Services and what makes their work worth supporting.
Through this campaign, I know there are so many intangible victories that my eyes will never witness while on this earth. In saying that, we all get to witness Lifeline's fruits. God produces an abundant harvest through Lifeline. The fruit is in every birth mother who walks through the door, every child placed in foster care, and it is in every cry of a newborn child. Lifeline's heart is in the hope of the gospel. It has and will continue to serve as vessel of righteousness—serving to display the Lord's splendor. I am honored to support Lifeline, because Lifeline supported me through her availability, through her foundation of the Word, and through her counseling with my birth mother 22 years ago. For information about Lifeline Children Services, check out lifelinechild.org.

Collin Hansen serves as editorial director for The Gospel Coalition. He is the co-author of A God-Sized Vision: Revival Stories That Stretch and Stir. He and his wife belong to Redeemer Community Church in Birmingham, Alabama, and he serves on the advisory board of Beeson Divinity School. You can follow him on Twitter.


http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2013/11/04/elected-homecoming-queen-an-exceptional-story/

Wonder

Doctor handed live baby at 8 weeks gestation...

Consider Dr. Rockwell's testimony:

Statement by Paul E. Rockwell, M.D.:
"Eleven years ago while giving an anesthetic for a ruptured ectopic pregnancy (at 8 weeks gestation), I was handed what I believe was the smallest living human ever seen. The embryonic sac was intact and transparent. Within the sac was a tiny human male swimming extremely vigorously in the amniotic fluid, while attached to the wall by the umbilical cord. This tiny human was perfectly developed, with long, tapering fingers, feet and toes. It was almost transparent, as regards the skin, and the delicate arteries and veins were prominent to the ends of the fingers."
Dr. Rockwell continues, "The baby was extremely alive and swam about the sac approximately one time per second, with a natural swimmer's stroke. This tiny human did not look at all like the photos and drawings and models of 'embryos' which I had seen, nor did it look like a few embryos I have been able to observe since then, obviously because this one was alive! When the sac was opened, the tiny human immediately lost his life and took on the appearance of what is accepted as the appearance of an embryo at this stage of life (with blunt extremities etc.)."
The statement by Paul E. Rockwell, M.D., an anesthesiologist, was quoted by Dr. and Mrs. J.C. Willke in their Handbook on Abortion.  Dr. Rockwell did not testify before the U.S. Judiciary Subcommittee.

http://www.prolife.com/fetaldev.html

Abortion Clinic Worker Quits, by Abby Johnson

Abortion Clinic Worker Quits: “No Two Week Notice,” “I’ll Never Set Foot in There Again”

by Abby Johnson | Washington, DC | LifeNews.com | 10/15/13 4:58 PM
                                   

We got this message from woman who is now part of our ministry: “I quit this morning. Effective immediately…no two week stuff. I’m done. Never to step foot in there again.”

 

You have helped us make this happen.  In fact, 84 workers have come through our ministry, thanks to all of you and your support!  Below are some of the updates from our ministry!

A Fresh Start

Recently on Facebook, I shared about a clinic worker who left her job after becoming a Christian. She was homeless for over a week. She found out about ATTWN and immediately contacted us. Her story was so courageous. She had a very intimate moment with Christ one evening and decided to give her life to Him. When she walked into work the next day, she knew that helping to facilitate the deaths of the unborn was NOT part of God’s plan. She walked out that day with nothing. She left behind her paycheck, picked up her children and tried to start a new life. But after the money she had ran out, she found herself jobless, penniless and homeless…with her two daughters.

With the help of ATTWN and your prayers, she is now in a safe apartment, her children are enrolled in school and she has an AWESOME, life affirming job!!

Just another story to remind us that God is ALWAYS faithful!

Healing Retreat

In September, a group of women came together for an ATTWN former abortion clinic worker healing retreat.  They were of different religions and different life backgrounds; some left the industry recently and some left several years ago.  What they all had in common, though, is they all took a huge leap in a journey towards healing from their time in the industry.

None of them started out in the industry wanting anything to do with abortions.  They started out as receptionists or working as a translator, so they felt more at ease justifying their jobs.  However, it didn’t take long for Planned Parenthood and the abortion clinics to pull them back into the operation rooms to assist in abortions.  ”Sandra” began her work in the abortion industry as a translator, but eventually, she was “there holding the instruments as the baby came out, alive.”  Sandra continued, “The largest I saw done illegally was 28 weeks.  They were supposed to go up to 25 weeks… the doctor would fudge the numbers on her chart.”  The recollection of those particular abortions brought on tears.

“Ellen” recalled her time working at Planned Parenthood.  Like many others, she felt uncomfortable with her job there, but it paid the bills and offered the benefits she needed.  She was hired on as a patient educator and was reprimanded for quietly giving patients information on adoption services and resource centers in the counseling rooms, because she was not pushing the sale of abortion onto women who weren’t sure what they were going to do. ”It took a huge physical toll,” Ellen said. “I would always come home from work and cry.”

Opening up about the activities that they partook in at the abortion clinics were very difficult on the retreat attendees.  Flashbacks, nightmares, and visions of aborted babies and baby parts are common among former clinic workers. “Christa” worked at Planned Parenthood in the back rooms where clean-up after abortion procedures took place.  ”I’m guilty of counting body parts and freezing the, only for them later to be burned,” she said.

“Rebecca” worked as a receptionist in an abortion clinic for years.  She had been reassured she would have nothing to do with abortion when she began working there.  She recalled the especially difficult cases of women who would call to schedule abortions into their third trimesters.  She started to cry when she admitted “I didn’t do abortions, but I was the accomplice.  I scheduled them.  I took the money.”

This was the first real step to healing that most of the women on the retreat had taken.  One of the biggest obstacles a converted clinic worker has is the feeling of isolation and believing that there is no one else like them.  These retreats that ATTWN hosts throughout the year work to break down that obstacle and allow former clinic workers to open up to each other; to open up to others who have been in their exact situations and know what they are feeling.

Without your financial contributions, we wouldn’t have been able to put on this healing retreat.  Thank you to our supporters who donated and sponsored a former clinic worker to go on this retreat.  Your prayers and your generosity make it possible for us to put people on a path to healing.

And Then There Were None - ATTWN - http://www.attwn.org/