“Baby Girl, We’ve Got This”: Florida Pregnancy Center Empowers Father of Pregnant Teen

By Jen Taggart
Pregnancy Help News

When “Brian” took his 16-year-old daughter “Eliza” to A Woman’s Pregnancy Center in Tallahassee, Florida, the last thing he was expecting was to be ministered to as well.

When a client comes into A Women’s Pregnancy Center with another person, the staff determines the other person’s relationship to the client and invites the support person to speak with a different counselor about their thoughts and feelings on the client’s situation.

“What we’ve found is they’re worried, they’re concerned, they ask how much longer it’s going to be, and we see that concern from the lobby,” said Sherri Daume, director of client services.“We see it as a ministry opportunity, a chance to share Jesus, that we don’t want to overlook.”

A Woman’s Pregnancy Center, located near the Florida State University campus, has served the community for over 30 years with pregnancy testing, post-abortion recovery and one-on-one mentoring for men and women. The center sees approximately 1,400 clients per year.

A few minutes after Eliza was called from the waiting room for her ultrasound appointment, a male counselor called for Brian.

Brian told the counselor he wanted his daughter to be safe but didn’t know how to make that happen. As for his wife, she was dead-set on Eliza having an abortion.

The counselor listened to Brian’s concerns and gently reminded him of his identity in Christ.

“You are Eliza’s father, and this is what God calls fathers to do,” the counselor told Brian.

“I’ve got goose pimples just remembering,” Daume said. “One man telling another man, ‘You are made in the image of God for a reason and a purpose. You are Eliza’s father AND the grandfather of her child. He is the Creator of the Universe and has given you this role. Trust Him, and He will equip you to take care of your family.' Brian came out of that session with a totally different demeanor.”

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Daume didn’t know about the transformation in Brian’s heart at the time. She was focused on performing an ultrasound on Eliza in the other room. Of course, Eliza had her own list of concerns—the fact that she was on the track team and her shame because her parents didn’t even know she was having sex.

As Eliza was signing papers for the ultrasound, Brian walked into the room.

“There’s a dynamic when the woman is there by herself, but when the male person or the support person she came with walks in the room, her demeanor changes,” Daume said.

Eliza was too ashamed to look at her dad. With her head turned away, she couldn’t see Brian’s eyes welling up with tears.

Pregnancy Help News story continues here

Voices for Life is an e-publication dedicated to informing and educating the public on pro-life and pro-family issues. To read our Mission Statement, use this link.  Follow us on Facebook, Google, and Pinterest.  Help us spread the pro-life message by sharing our articles on your favorite social networks.

Pregnant, need help or know someone who does?  

National Hotline: Call 1-800-712-HELP or Text 'HELPLINE' to 313131.
In Southeast Penna:  Call the Community Women's Center at  215-826-8090

If you or someone you know is suffering after abortion, confidential non-judgmental help is available.  

Call Project Rachel's national toll-free number 888-456-HOPE (4673) or visit hopeafterabortion.org.  

"What God Does Here Is Just Jaw-Dropping : Pregnancy Center Ministers to Men Whose Girlfriend or Spouse Want an Abortion

The Center encourages fathers to stand in the gap and fight for the life of their children and their families.

By Charlene Aaron, CBN
Breaking Christian News

Located next to Florida State University, "A Women's Pregnancy Center" in Tallahassee addresses the critical needs of unplanned pregnancies in its community. (Screengrab via CBN News)

It opened in 1985 and its main mission is to rescue babies from abortion. The center offers free pregnancy testing, adoption referrals and ultrasounds.

80% Success Rate

"Eighty percent of our clients will carry their babies to term," said Jamie Brown, the Center's executive director.

Yet babies aren't the only ones saved at the clinic.

A Women's Pregnancy Center also has a ministry for men, which encourages fathers to stand in the gap and fight for the life of their children and their families. Sherri Daume is director of Client Services at the facility.

'A Women's Pregnancy Center' Is There for Men, Too

"We've had men walk in the door and say, 'I need help with my girlfriend' or 'I've got a situation,'" she explained. "'I've gotten a girl pregnant and I don't know how to help her.' Or, 'My girlfriend just called me. She's driving back from Jacksonville. She tried to have an abortion. She couldn't get it. She wants me to get her an abortion in Tallahassee, and I don't know what to do.'"

In the center's "Just for Men" program, trained male counselors work one-on-one with men seeking answers about fatherhood and life…

"We're just trying to bring the men to an understanding of the value of life and the sanctity of life," said counselor Harold Francis.

Abortion Recovery Program

The center also offers an abortion recovery program.

"If they do choose to terminate their pregnancies we know the devastation that will wreak havoc on them the rest of their lives," said Brown. "God wants them to be whole and healthy. He doesn't want them living in shame and guilt with a secret they often will carry."

Francis often relates his personal story about abortion to help others like him.

"My wife and I—we'd only been married about 10 months—we did have an abortion," he shared.

He said he received much-needed healing after completing the course based on Biblical principles.

"I think that I had asked many times for God's forgiveness for what I had done," said Francis. "It opened it up to me that there were issues in my life that I hadn't forgiven myself for which is directly related to the abortion."

Completing the program enables them to counsel other men through their pain. (Screengrab via CBN News)

He said, "I've had guys tell me in that room things that they have never shared with anybody in their entire life. I'm 69 and there's a young African-American in there that's 19 years old and at the end of the session we're both crying and hugging each other."

"We've had fathers go from thinking that abortion is the best thing to then meeting with a male counselor and coming out of that room saying, 'We've got this. You don't have to do this. I'm here for you,'" she explained.

Breaking Christian News continues here

Voices for Life is an e-publication dedicated to informing and educating the public on pro-life and pro-family issues. To read our Mission Statement, use this link.  Follow us on Facebook, Google, and Pinterest.  Help us spread the pro-life message by sharing our articles on your favorite social networks.

Pregnant, need help or know someone who does?  

National Hotline: Call 1-800-712-HELP or Text 'HELPLINE' to 313131.
In Southeast Penna:  Call the Community Women's Center at  215-826-8090

If you or someone you know is suffering after abortion, confidential non-judgmental help is available.  Call Project Rachel's national toll-free number 888-456-HOPE (4673) or visit hopeafterabortion.org.