“Embraced by Grace,” published by Gateway Create
SOUTHLAKE, TX – Embrace Grace has released their new curriculum to support young women with unplanned pregnancies. Written by Embrace Grace cofounder Salina Duffy, the new curriculum offers hope to girls that may be desperate for it.
To date, thirty-five churches across the US and Canada have “embraced grace” by providing a support group for their community. Thanks to recent publicity for the program by James Robison, Joni Lamb, and others, churches are starting to think differently and to be not only pro-life but “pro-love” too, partnering with pregnancy centers to love young women through the whole pregnancy and beyond.
Embrace Grace is a non-profit that exhorts the church to show greater love to single and pregnant young women. They believe that not just babies need to be saved, but mommies too. They are outspoken about how brave and courageous these women are for choosing life; whether they parent themselves or bless another family with an adopted child, they should be honored.
The Embrace Grace program teaches participants about grace and the love of Christ. The semester ends with an amazing shower to bless the baby as well as a “Princess Day” to bless the mother. The leaders cultivate a non-judgmental environment where relationships are made for a lifetime. They admit that they can’t fix all these brave mommas’ problems, but they can point them to the One who can; no mother has to walk through this season alone.
Here are a few testimonials from young women that have gone through the program:
Olivia B:
I had a really difficult time with judgment. I tried to act like I didn’t mind what people thought of me but the looks and whispers I got on a daily basis cut me so deep. I felt so dirty and ashamed. I’m so thankful to say that my church was the one place I could go and receive no judgment. Instead, strangers would touch my belly and ask what I was having. They would tell me how beautiful I looked or ask me questions about the baby and how I was. To me that was crazy. I had obviously done some things that were not good but all they saw was me; not my sin but me. I wanted to be at church every minute because of the positive environment from Embrace Grace.
Amber H:
Ever since I started growing closer to God and attending Embrace Grace, I feel so good about my choice of adoption and blessing a family with my baby. I’m so at peace. I have always known God, but now I am spending time with Him and I feel like His daughter again. I know now that God has a plan for me, and all l I have to do is follow His voice and He’ll guide me the whole way.
Stephanie S:
After attending Embrace Grace, I started seeing a transformation in myself. A seed was being planted in my soul by these selfless, wonderful, amazing women that I spent time with every week. I started to think differently about my circumstances and I began to see the great joy and miracle my baby was to me. My baby saved my life. My son put my life back on track and I had a whole new perspective. I had no idea how amazing being a mother was going to be while I was pregnant. I could only imagine but it was even more than I could have dreamed when I finally laid eyes on my blessing.
Hillary H:
Embrace Grace means so much to me. When I first found out I was pregnant, I lost all my friends and the baby daddy. My father was very ugly towards me and so besides my mother, I was on my own. I felt like no one cared and that I was the biggest screw up. I didn’t know how I was going to be able to raise my baby on my own. I heard about Embrace Grace class but I wasn’t sure that a church group would be right for me because I didn’t have God in my life. I have always pushed God away because of things that have happened to me. I was so depressed so I tried it and Embrace Grace talked so much about forgiveness and how much God loves me. After I had my baby girl Emma, I opened my heart to God and became really close to Him. Even after I had Emma, I went through a lot and Embrace Grace was right there checking on me and the baby. I couldn’t believe after everything, God blessed me with these people who care and have so much love. I have ever been around that kind of love my entire life. I made friends for life with people I never thought I would have anything in common with and met so many nice people. I know now that just because I have a baby at 19, I’m not a bad person and God still loves me.
If you are interested in starting an Embrace Grace at your local church, or to see if there is a group near you, check out Embrace Grace website at www.iEmbraceGrace.com. For more EG stories and testimonials from girls who chose life, pick up A Bump in Life: True Stories of Hope & Courage during an Unplanned Pregnancy at a store near you!
