Pregnancy Help Podcast

Having experienced an unexpected pregnancy herself, Amy Ford knows how important it is to reach out to women and help them form strong relationships with their local church. This experience led her to found Embrace Grace, where pregnancy help organizations and churches can work together to support moms. Amy tells her personal story (as well as how Embrace Grace came to be), and how each person can...

Debbie Capen, Executive Director of MiraVia, a maternity housing program for college students, walks us through her journey of rebranding a previously long-standing brand and what she learned along the way. Wondering if your maternity home or pregnancy center is due for a brand refresh and where to start? This conversation walks you through 5 steps to rebranding with excellence! This episode is sp...

Beth Diemert, Director of Affiliate Services at Heartbeat International interviews Gary Freeman, founder of Major League Dad. Although his father was a pastor, Gary found himself at a point in college where he wanted nothing to do with God. Football took the lead in his life for a while, but Gary shares how he was led not only to find his faith again, but also to start a ministry focused on helpin...

As Heartbeat International celebrates our 50th birthday, Jor-El Godsey and Dr. Peggy Hartshorn take us through the key moments in the pregnancy help movement that led us here today. Check out their new book! The Power of Pregnancy Help Heartbeat International provides a forum to express a marketplace of ideas for an audience of life-affirming pregnancy help organizations and those who support such...

An informal conversation as Mary Peterson interviews Valerie Humes, the new Director of the National Maternity Housing Coalition at Heartbeat International. This episode hits on Valerie’s approach to meeting clients’ needs, serving special needs residents, and her vision for the maternity housing community. Heartbeat International provides a forum to express a marketplace of ideas for...

Bob Foust, Executive Director of Pregnancy Resource Center in Alabama, was honored at Heartbeat’s Annual Conference with a Servant Leader Award. In this episode, Bob gives us insight into what he has found helpful over the years as a leader — from personality differences, staffing, and training to being honest with the Lord, self, and staff. Listen in as he shares the wisdom he has lea...

As Heartbeat International celebrates 50 years of life-saving ministry, Betty McDowell and Jor-El Godsey talk about three big goals for the next half century for Pregnancy Help Organizations. Focusing on a recent article and white paper, they break down the number of PHOs based on states and counties, looking at new and innovative ways that we can bring help where it is most needed. Read “3...

Brenda Newport attended a volunteer training for a pregnancy center many years ago with no intention of later becoming the Executive Director. Now, it has become a family business! Brenda was honored at Heartbeat International’s Annual Conference with a Servant Leader Award, and also was the recipient of the Andy Merritt Scholarship. She shares the lessons she has learned over the years abou...

Darren Mulligan of the Christian music group, We Are Messengers gives his personal insight into the work of the pregnancy help movement, and shares encouragement for those serving in this ministry. Join Darren Mulligan and Betty McDowell as they share stories and celebrate Heartbeat International’s 50th birthday! Check out We Are Messengers here: https://wearemessengersmusic.com/pages/about-...

Betty McDowell shares a story from her own family’s past, and how it ties in to our 50th anniversary here at Heartbeat International. Listen in on this reflection that was recorded during our 2021 Annual Conference in Columbus, OH! Read about this year’s conference here: https://www.heartbeatservices.org/training/conference Heartbeat International provides a forum to express a marketpl...

Join us as Emily Prins (Expect Hope) interviews  Mary   Peterson  on the topic of Succession Planning.  Their conversation features lessons learned on helping staff with the transition, encouraging Board in their authority, and dealing with the personal aspects of a change in role.  Creating a culture of leadership development and thinking about growing a resilient organization were two central th...

Betty McDowell, Vice President of Ministry Services at Heartbeat International shares her “PegTalk” from the 2014 Annual Conference in Charleston, SC. Listen in to a sample of what you will hear at this year’s Annual Conference! Visit www.heartbeatservices.org to find out more. Heartbeat International provides a forum to express a marketplace of ideas for an audience of life-affi...

Kirk Walden, Advancement Specialist with Heartbeat International, joins Christine Grimmett to describe the crucial moments in his time in ministry that led him to where he is now. He expands on his recent  Pregnancy Help News article  in sharing stories of those lessons learned over his 30 years in the pregnancy help movement. Pregnancy Help News – 30 Years of Lessons Learned     H...

Heartbeat International’s Online Academy is releasing an updated online ultrasound training program. Christine Grimmett speaks with Christa Brown, Director of Medical Impact, and Tammy Stearns, Ultrasound Consultant, about this updated training material, what new features it includes for sonographers, and other ultrasound training opportunities available from Heartbeat. Heartbeat’s Med...

Dr. Rob McKenna, Founder and CEO of WiLD, and Dr. Daniel Hallak, Chief Commercial Officer. Rob and Daniel share why the “Whole Intentional Leader Development ” is important and can transform your faith, job, and personal goals taking you to the next level! Join them in-person for Heartbeat International’s Annual Conference  or online for the next session of  the Leader Developmen...

With a deep passion for working with women, Dinah Monahan gives some basic pointers on overcoming the lies of shame so as to live in the truth.  She touches on the “fingerprints of shame” that appear in the lives of shame-bound women and discusses the path of surrender by daily Giving God Your Worst.  Dinah closes by introducing some of the free materials that she has made available wi...

What is that one thing that makes your heart ache? What comes to mind when you hear the words, “calling” and “destiny”? Betty McDowell is joined by Dave Rodriguez, author of “A Why to Live For” and presenter at our upcoming Annual Conference for this episode, where they talk about the story behind Dave’s book, and how you can take steps to discover and fol...

Listen in on a conversation between Jor-El Godsey and Betty McDowell talking about hope in light of some of the sobering realities of 2021. Are you alert and oriented x4? Additional Resources: Brace for Impact by Jor-El Godsey The 2021 March for Life: Disparate, Somber – Still Crucial by Jor-El Godsey Leadership Lessons by Peggy Hartshorn Are You Alert & Oriented x 4? by Betty McDowell G...

Sue Baumgarten draws from her experience as a Board member, Board Chair, and Executive Director to offer hope-filled advice on addressing Board dynamics. Thinking of the Board in the noble task of “overseers” (1 Tim 3:1), Sue speaks to common dynamics like “rubberstamping”, toxic members, inactive members, and uninformed Boards. She closes with powerful thoughts on collecti...

In this podcast, Jeannine Floores draws from her experience as a birth mom, an adoptive mom, and the Executive Director of a maternity home and adoption agency.  With light-hearted humor, she talks about overcoming fear in the adoption conversation and offers some practical suggestions on how to support women that are walking through the adoption decision. Additional Resources: “Basic Decisi...

What is the value of pain and suffering? How has God used your pain to bring about good, or possibly even bring you into the ministry you are currently working in? Start the new year off right by listening in as Betty McDowell shares a compelling devotional on this topic to a group of pregnancy help ministry workers, helping them understand the role of pain in their own lives while serving clients...

We know it’s been a tough year! Lisa Pinney from the Pittsburgh Transformation Center joins Beth Diemert in discussing self-reflection, living intentionally, and having a healthy work/life balance while keeping Christ at the center of it all. Lisa shares how she uses her own personal experiences to help others heal, and how we can separate “being” from “doing” in orde...

If you could go back and write a letter to your younger self, what would you say? Amy Scheuring, Executive Director of Women’s Choice Network, shares an open letter to herself about what she has learned over her years of experience in the pregnancy help movement. Join Christine Grimmett and Amy Scheuring as they discuss stories, lessons learned, and moments where God truly showed up in mirac...

Cynthia Miller, the Counselor & Life Coach of  Heart of Hope , speaks with passion about the work of exposing the lies that women believe and replacing those lies with truth.  Using a beautiful illustration of coal and diamonds, she gives practical methods that can be used within the work to allow the Word of God to bring about transformation in the lives of the women we serve. Additional Reso...

With many branches of the pro-life movement, it is important to recognize the ways we can work together utilizing our various strengths to achieve the ultimate goal: to make abortion unwanted today and unthinkable for future generations. Rev. Arnold Culbreath joins us to discuss a new initiative for pastors nationwide. He expands upon the Jeremiah 1:5 project’s goals to increase awareness of...