If you have ever tasted one of those Auntie Anne’s Pretzels at your local mall, you’ve experienced that signature blend of warm, buttery, pretzel goodness.
But behind the business success of that delicious pretzel, there’s a beautiful, and inspirational story, and it’s all about the power of our personal stories. This touches on something the pro-life movement discovered back in 2003, which continues to resonate in our day. More on that later.
In a story by Hazel Atkins in the Epoch Times, we learn that in 1975 the Amish-Mennonite founder of Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, Anne Beiler, and her husband Jonas, lost their 19-month-old daughter in a tragic accident.
Like other couples suffering after a traumatic experience of loss, they struggled to express their pain and grief.
Anne shares, “We grieved silently.”
[Click here to subscribe to Pregnancy Help News!]
The inability to work through their pain, and grieve together, led to an increasing distance in their relationship.
Anne’s pastor invited her to his office to share about the loss and offer support. She was initially relieved.
“I was shocked because I was actually able to talk about how I was feeling,” she said.
But then another tragedy unfolded, preying on the vulnerability of a grieving couple.
The pastor initiated a sexual relationship with Anne.
“That put me into a whole other trauma,” she recalled. “I call it the dark world.”
The abusive and exploitive relationship continued for seven years, keeping Anne confined to a prison of guilt and shame.
“I weighed 90 pounds, I hated who I had become, and I thought Jonas would divorce me if he ever found out,” she said.
Thankfully, God’s grace was still present and active.
Anne found the courage to confess to her husband about the relationship with their pastor. This began a journey of recovery for Anne, and for her marriage. She began to see the power of having the freedom to openly, and honestly share one’s story:
“When you begin to talk, you start to set yourself free. I believe that the principle of confession is really about being freed. My advice to anyone who is grieving or despairing is to find someone you can trust completely and talk until you’re done.”
Tweet This: “When you begin to talk, you start to set yourself free" - Auntie Anne's Pretzels founder Anne Beiler
It took much prayer and hard work for Anne and Jonas to restore their damaged trust and intimacy. As the couple began to heal, Jonas was inspired to establish an outreach to other hurting couples. Then, to support their ministry efforts, in 1988 Anne bought a stand at a local farmer’s market. Here, at this humble little stand, the first Auntie Anne’s pretzel was created, and consumed by a grateful customer.
Over the next 18 years Auntie Anne’s Pretzels grew into a successful international franchise, with the couple sharing their good fortune with many charitable causes. In 2009 Anne’s experience led her to create an outreach called StoriesX8, that offers women a safe place where they can share their personal stories.
Stories of abortion loss and recovery
Janet Morana and Georgette Forney would heartily affirm Anne’s conviction that, “When you begin to talk, you start to set yourself free.”
Janet, executive director of Priests for Life, and Georgette, president of Anglicans for Life, were inspired to launch the Silent No More Awareness Campaign in November 2002. They had a vision, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and founded on the conviction that there was a dire need to make the public aware of the devastation abortion brings to women and men.
Janet shares, “We felt that the most effective messengers of this vision, would be the mothers and fathers who have personally experienced the loss of a child to abortion, and have made the challenging, but rewarding emotional and spiritual journey to healing.”
Georgette affirms Anne’s witness to the healing power of personal testimony: “These powerful and inspirational stories expose and heal the secrecy and silence surrounding the emotional and physical pain of abortion.”
The campaign offers the support, training, and guidance to help its members, all who have participated in abortion healing programs, to share their stories in public settings.
As of the end of October 2024, Silent No More has held 2,355 public gatherings in 17 countries and all 50 states, with 7,073 women and men sharing their abortion testimonies. Testimonies have also been shared at 175 high schools and universities in the last 12 years.
There are 3,162 testimonies posted on the campaign website, with 673 that are shared via video. Currently there are 21,206 people registered with the campaign, representing 77 countries.
The saving power of God
Anne Beiler sold her company in 2005 to spend more time with her family. She is still amazed at the grace and blessing that flowed from that humble confession, and the liberating power of sharing her story.
“God intervened for us at very critical time,” she said.
Editor's note: Theresa Burke, Ph.D., and Kevin Burke, MSS, are pastoral associates of Priests for Life and the founders of Rachel’s Vineyard. This article is a Pregnancy Help News original. Additional abortion recovery resources are available HERE.
