The pro-life movement began with committed individuals, like Laura Messick and Dr. Richard Land, who stepped into the gap and told women a different story.
“Women in unplanned pregnancies need to hear that someone cares for them,” said Laura Messick, director of Portico, a pregnancy resource center in Tennessee. “They need to hear that their life is not over. They’re cared for and they’re loved, and someone’s going to help them. You are not alone.”
In the decades following Roe v. Wade, pregnancy resource centers opened up all over the country as abortion numbers climbed and quickly became the front line of the pro-life movement. In the early 2000’s, they recognized ultrasound machines as a life-saving tool in the fight for life.
“We have a lot of people that were interested in the pro-life movement, considered themselves conventionally pro-life, but wanted some way to tangibly, put feet to their words,” said Rachel Wiles, director of the Psalm 139 Project.
The Psalm 139 Project was begun at the ERLC by those who wanted to give mothers “a window into the womb” and to support the work of PRC’s.
“We felt like that was one of the best things to do, was to provide alternatives for mothers who were facing problem pregnancies,” said Dr. Richard Land, former president of the ERLC.
For over twenty years, the ERLC has partnered with pregnancy centers through a donor initiative called The Psalm 139 Project. The ERLC covers all overhead costs so that 100% of those designated donor gifts go directly to placing ultrasound machines.
“We’re able to come alongside them and place lifesaving ultrasound machines in those centers, because we believe that when a woman sees her baby and sees that life, she is just much more willing, to just see the humanity of that baby and to choose life,” said Rachel.
The Psalm 139 Project has placed dozens of machines all over the United States and around the world, supporting the work of PRCs who serve mothers, save lives, and strengthen families.
“The staff of pregnancy centers are the heroes on the front line of the pro-life movement,” said Rachel. “And we are thrilled to partner with them as they fight for life.”
