Heartbeat International

Heartbeat International

On November 1971, Dr. John Hillabrand and Lore Maier formed the Alternatives to Abortion in an effort to help women escape the temptation and pressure to abort their babies. These efforts included hotlines, good people opening their home to young girls, then grew pregnancy help center and medical clinics. Hillabrand, an obstetrician, and Lore, a refugee from Nazi Germany, had a heavy feeling that legalized abortion would spread worldwide and so they soon became Alternatives to Abortion International (AAI).

After about 75 original contacts grew to about 200 affiliates, AAI changed their name to Heartbeat International and became the go-to for Catholics and Evangelical Christians. People looked to Heartbeat International for start-up manuals, model programs, leadership training conferences, advice, and prayer. They serve over 2,700 affiliated pregnancy help locations, maternity homes, and non-profit adoption agencies in 62 countries on all 6 inhabited continents with the help of over 81,300 volunteers.

Heartbeat's life-saving mission is to Reach and Rescue as many lives as possible, around the world, through an effective network of life-affirming pregnancy help, to Renew communities for LIFE. The way this is done is…

• We REACH those who are abortion-vulnerable through Option Line's® 24-hour contact center and cutting-edge website.
• We RESCUE those who are reached through our life-support network of pregnancy centers providing true reproductive health care, ministry, education, and social services where lives are saved and changed.
• We RENEW broken cities around the world, by developing pregnancy centers where abortion clinics are the only alternative for abortion-vulnerable women.

All of Heartbeat International’s affiliated pregnancy help providers make a commitment to serve their community with honesty, integrity, and equality. Those who operate Heartbeat International’s 2,700 pregnancy help locations work tirelessly to save abortion-vulnerable lives every day, saving thousands of babies. They are able to do this with the tools and training through the support of others giving to Heartbeat International.

We Are Here for You

Heartbeat International provides comprehensive pregnancy help to women wherever they are on their journey. From seeing the flutter of the heartbeat on her first ultrasound to teaching parenting classes or coordinating an adoption plan, and providing material aid throughout the pregnancy and beyond, they offer compassionate support so that no woman ever feels that abortion is her only option. The Open Door is proud to be affiliated with this wonderful organization. Our very own Sherry Wright is on the board with Heartbeat International and helped start The Open Door in 2008. She is apart of a great team with a mission to help God’s people worldwide.

The Open Door and its staff are here to do the same. We are committed to providing our community with everything you need to make an informed choice. We help you understand all the facts about which abortion methods are used at different stages of pregnancy and what risks are involved in each procedure. We help you understand all the facts, so you can make an informed decision. We also have our Mobile Unit designed to assist women with free pregnancy test, free limited ultrasounds, free educational classes, and so much more. Contact us at 254-334-0765 or 254-442-3000. You can also view our other services by visiting our website at www.supportopendoor.org.