In a year that has already seen its first leadership transition in over 20 years, Heartbeat International will also be celebrating its 2,000th affiliate pregnancy help location at its upcoming 45th Annual Conference March 29-31 in Atlanta.
The Annual Conference, which is expected will draw 1,000 participants from over 20 countries to the Sheraton Downtown Atlanta, features a total of 90 learning opportunities. Keynotes speakers include 40 Days for Life co-founder Shawn Carney, EWTN’s Jim and Joy Pinto, author Pat Layton, as well as pastors and long-time pregnancy help leaders John Ensor and Andy Merritt.
The theme of the conference, “Celebrating Heroes,” underscores the courageous women and men involved in life-affirming pregnancy help centers, medical clinics, maternity homes and nonprofit adoption agencies, along with those mothers and families who choose life in the midst of an unexpected pregnancy.
“One thing we never want to lose sight of is the courage it takes to welcome a new life when abortion seems to be your only option,” Heartbeat International President Jor-El Godsey said. “It takes a deep courage, but it also takes another person coming alongside to empower you to make the healthiest choice for everyone involved in an unexpected pregnancy.”
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With 15 workshop tracks—five sessions each—and 15 pre-conference in-depth day opportunities, attendees will hear from a wide variety of leaders at the local and national levels of the pregnancy help community. Two tracks—“Medical Advancement” and “Ultrasound Advancement”—offer Continuing Education Nursing Contact Hours through the California Board of Registered Nursing (Provider No. 16061), while three in-depth day trainings offer six contact hours apiece.
Workshop speakers also include national pro-life leaders from Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), National Institutes for Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA), along with Fr. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life.
The keynote schedule is rounded out by Bishop Harry R. Jackson, Jr., presiding bishop of the 1,000-member International Communion of Evangelical Churches, and Leo Severino, producure of Bella, Crescendo and Little Boy.
The first, largest and most expansive network of pregnancy help organizations in the world, Heartbeat International announced its long-time president Peggy Hartshorn, Ph.D., was transitioning to a new role as Chairman of the Board this January, with Godsey, the organization’s longstanding vice president, taking on new post as just the second president in Heartbeat’s 45-year history.
At 2,000 affiliate locations worldwide, including a presence on every inhabited continent, Heartbeat International is also the only pregnancy help organization with a 24-7 pregnancy helpline, Option Line (1-800-712-HELP, www.OptionLine.org), which has helped 1.35 million women in unexpected pregnancies since 2003.
Click here to register for the Annual Conference.
