Devona* arrived at the abortion center feeling overwhelmed and out of options. With two children under the age of two and no clear path forward, she believed abortion was her only option.
But God had a different plan.
That morning, she met Gretchen, a Love Life sidewalk outreach volunteer and the wife of a local pastor whose church has partnered with Love Life Roanoke for the past three years. Their conversation was brief, just a few words exchanged through the car window. But something happened.
“She knew it was a baby,” Gretchen said. “She felt a connection to me right away and didn’t stop thinking about our conversation, as short as it was.”
Devona drove away still undecided, but she stayed in touch.
Three weeks later, she chose life.
From that moment, Gretchen and her church walked alongside her. Though Devona had two other children, she had never experienced a baby shower before. That was about to change. The church began planning one, perfectly timed with the same week they were leading a Love Life Prayer Walk.
After the walk, they returned and hosted a lavish baby shower. Devona was overwhelmed. Gifts, food, encouragement, and love poured out from a group of people she had never met.
“I feel so loved,” she told the congregation, tears in her eyes.
This is what the Church was always meant to be. A place that sees moms in crisis, meets them with compassion, and walks with them through it all.
“It’s been neat to see the Church being the Church to this mom,” said Abby Rock, Roanoke’s City Director. “If we need anything to help these moms, the Church has been there for us. This is how it is supposed to work.”
Devona’s baby is due soon, but her story has already begun. A mom restored. A family supported. And a church that said yes.
*name changed for privacy