Birthed in Courage, Adopted in Love (Pam Stenzel’s Story)

Many have asked me who this co-author, speaker friend of mine is. Outside of being ridiculously fun and an avid Minnesota Twins & Vikings fan (reflecting impeccable taste :) ), she has an incredible story. And, today is the perfect day to share it.

Here it is in her words….

Forty-six years ago in Michigan a young woman became pregnant. She had a lot of difficult choices to make, maybe more so than some because she was raped. Abortion may have been legal in Michigan in the case of rape in the 1960’s, but this 15 year old girl chose to give her child life and then to place that child with an adoptive family. That child was me.

My biological father is a rapist. I don’t even know my ethnicity, but my life still has value and it isn’t worth any less than any of yours just because of how I was conceived. And, I do not believe that I deserved the death penalty because of the crime of my father. All of my life I have had to listen to the rhetoric that every child should be wanted and planned. I have heard people say, “I wouldn’t have an abortion that would be terrible but if it were rape, well then…?” I guess that means that I am a “mistake!” I don’t believe that. I believe that every child is wanted by someone, and I believe that God in His mercy had a plan for me.

I’ve asked all the tough questions. Did God plan me? Does God plan rape? I memorized the verses when I was little like “You loved me before the creation of the world” (John 17:24) and “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you” (Jeremiah 1:5). Did that mean me? I might not have all the answers to those difficult questions, but this is what I do know; I know that my God is so awesome and so amazing that He is capable of taking your worst pain, whether it was something that you chose or whether it was something that was done to you, and my God can make something very beautiful come from that. That is Amazing Grace – the ability of God to even take what Satan meant for evil and make something good come from that.

Please do not think for a moment that I would ever stand before anyone and justify rape by my existence. My existence does not justify rape. Never. Rape is still wrong. Rape is still a horrifying violation of another human being. What we can say very clearly though is that the behavior was wrong but the child is a gift from God, created in His image.

I’ve not met my birth mom but if I get that chance I’m going to wrap my arms around her and tell her that I love her because she loved me. She loved me enough to give me my life, and then loved me enough to give me the next most special gift that I was every given, and that is my family. I am eternally grateful for her selfless act of love.

(This story is shared in Nobody Told Me)

Pam’s personal story and passion for life prompted her to get involved in Pro-Life ministries. After years of counseling in a crisis pregnancy center, she learned a lot from her clients. She asked them what they could have been told before they had sex to help them make a better choice. And, with that information, she started a speaking career.

Let me tell you, she is incredibly talented. I’m pretty sure she could talk about the color of the sky and it would be completely captivating, but thankfully she is using her God-given gift to share a more important message about God’s heart and desire for all to experience His best.

Today is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday and in honor of Pam’s story and our book I’m giving away 5 copies of our book, Nobody Told Me. Here is how you can enter-

1) Leave a comment about what you would like this book.
2) Become a follower of this blog via Google or Networked Blogs
3) Tweet about the giveaway, including this link http://bit.ly/gLaxLP
4) Facebook about the giveaway with a link to this post http://bit.ly/gEcn2G

For each of these four things that you do, please leave a separate comment in the comments section of this blog post and I will use random.org to pick the winning numbers.

Be sure to leave our email with each entry so that I can contact you if you win!

There you have it! One person has four potential entries! This book (more info on our book encouraging abstinence & its complete message here) is perfect for students 12 and up, parents, youth ministry workers, mentors, crisis pregnancy center workers, etc., so don’t miss out! You can enter until Feb 1 at noon.

Also, know that Pam is going to appear live on EWTN tomorrow during the March for Life in Washington D.C.! And, I’m writing for a blog tour & ministry newsletters promoting the new book. If you have interest, please include that note in one of your entries. I’ll be sure to follow up with you! :)

*This contest is now closed for entries*

In honor of Pam's life & faith, the new book, & my opportunity from God to share, I'm linking this to -

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