Heartbeat International
Conference April 18-21

By Jim Day

The 36th Annual Heartbeat International Conference, which will be held at the Adam’s Mark Hotel at 4th & Chestnut in downtown St. Louis on April 18-21, will be an outstanding opportunity to interact with the service arm of the pro-life movement; that is, the pregnancy resources centers, maternity homes, non-profit adoption agencies and life-affirming medical clinics. In addition, those in attendance will have the opportunity to meet many of the scheduled distinguished speakers which will include: Father Frank Pavone, President, National Pro-Life Religious Council; Pro-Life Congressman Rick Renzi (R-Arizona); Rev. John Ensor, Executive Director of Heartbeat’s Urban Initiative in Miami, FL; Dr. Johnny Hunter, President, Global Life and Family Mission; and Dr. Walt Larimore, best-selling author and host of Focus on Your Family’s Health.

Heartbeat’s conference theme this year is “Gateway of Hope” which is taken from Hosea 2:15. “I know you’ll agree that the theme is most fitting given that pro-life pregnancy resource centers are ‘gateways of hope’ for the mothers who come to them for help - and especially for their innocent babies,” said Heartbeat International President Peggy  Hartshorn, Ph.D. “I have heard people say, ‘This is the best pro-life conference I have ever attended’ and that it is like a ‘slice of heaven.’ So, please come and experience it for yourself.”

To participate in this one-of-a-kind pro-life, pro-woman, and pro-family event attendees are asked to complete an online registration form at www.heartbeatinternational.org. More than 600 people are expected to participate.

On Friday night, Heartbeat will present a special screening of the movie Bella.  Based on a true story, it is about a man who had everything and lost it all, but by losing it all, he found everything that matters. What people love most about this story is that it makes them laugh, cry and think about what’s important in life. Eduardo Verastegui, the star of the movie, is pro-life and has been invited to be at the screening. “Bella is a powerful movie that will appeal to everyone, but will also make the public think and feel about life issues in a way that we hope will be life-changing for them and have a major influence in moving us more toward a culture of life,” said Hartshorn. “The movie may even save lives and bring people who have been touched by abortion to healing.”

Saturday’s banquet will feature “A Night with Anne and Jimmy Pierson.”  They are the founders and directors of Loving and Caring, a ministry that focuses on the issue of the fatherless.  Jim has been a foster father to over 200 teenaged girls, in addition to fathering his own two daughters.  And Anne is a celebrated author.  You’ll be riveted to your chair as you listen to their amazing story of great faith with their unique sense of humor.

In addition to workshops on leadership, development, medical, and post-abortion topics, there will be many other interesting workshops to choose from. For instance, Rev. John Ensor will be sharing about the importance of steering the pro-life movement into the cities and Fr. Pavone will lead a workshop on assessing our individual spiritual health. For complete details, you can view Heartbeat’s brochure online at www.heartbeatinternational.org. Heartbeat International has partnered with the Christian Housing Conference to present some how-to’s of creating and maintaining maternity homes. Workshops will be presented by experienced leaders in the field. Heartbeat has also partnered with Abortion Recovery International Network to present some ways to create and maintain post-abortion programs within the pregnancy center. Post-abortion workshops will be presented by seasoned servants in this area.

The Conference officially begins on April 18 with dinner and a keynote speaker at 5:30 p.m. and closes with a banquet Saturday, April 21 at around 8 p.m. If you cannot attend, join Heartbeat in spirit and support their efforts with prayer.  Heartbeat’s Annual Conference is not a moneymaking event.  Rather, it is for pregnancy center directors, staff and volunteers to gather, be brought up-to-date on the latest research, counseling techniques, and “best practices” and to be affirmed in their mission. Plus it is an opportunity for Christians to learn more about pro-life issues and alternatives to abortion.

For questions or more information, please call Heartbeat International at 1-888-550-7577 or visit their website at www.heartbeatinternational.org.