From Shame to Freedom: Brittany Poppe’s Redemption Story and Healing After Abortion

In this deeply moving episode of Hope Unlocked, host Kristin Kurtz welcomes Brittany Poppe, an abortion recovery coach, speaker, and host of the Does God Forgive Abortion? podcast. Brittany courageously shares her powerful testimony—from an unplanned pregnancy and abortion at 17 to healing, motherhood, and her ministry helping women grieve, heal, and encounter the redemptive love of Jesus. She unpacks the emotional aftermath, the path to freedom through post-abortion Bible study, and her calling to walk alongside others.

Brittany's Contact Info:

Website - brittanypoppe.com

Instagram - @brittanypoppe 

Gift for the listeners:

Permission to Grieve Devotional - brittanypoppe.com/freebie 

Chapters

• 0:00 Introducing Brittany Pope
• 10:12 Faith Foundation & Church Life
• 18:48 Tragedy at 17: An Unplanned Pregnancy
• 28:18 Walking Through Abortion & Aftermath
• 36:46 The 10-Year Journey to Healing
• 44:33 Leading Others to Freedom & Hope

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:16

Welcome to the Hope Unlocked podcast. I'm your host, kristen Kurtz, and I'm also the founder of New Wings Coaching. I help and empower wildhearted and adventurous women of faith feeling caged and stuck, unlock their true purpose and potential, break free from limitations and thrive with confidence, courage and hope. If you're curious to learn more about coaching with me, head to newwingscoachingnet and be sure to explore the show notes for ways to connect with me further. Get ready to dive in as we uncover empowering keys and insights in this episode. So tune in and let's unlock hope together.

Speaker 1: 0:48

Welcome to the Hope Unlocked podcast. I'm Kristen Kurtz, your host. I pray this episode is like a holy IV of hope for your soul. Please help me. Welcome Brittany Pope to the show. I am just thrilled to have her here with us today because I know that she has a story that is going to reach the one. Have her here with us today because I know that she has a story that is going to reach the one. Even before we got started, I was just praying and I just felt my heart over what she's going to share with us today. So I know his hand is on this today and, brittany, would you be open to sharing a little bit about yourself before we get into your story.

Speaker 2: 1:20

Yes, absolutely, kristen. Thank you so much for having me. As Kristen said, my name is Brittany and I am from Fargo, north Dakota. So right now, at time of recording, it's starting to feel like spring and it is just so lovely and we're so thankful. I am married. My husband and I have been married for just over six years and we have two living children, ever exempt from the love that he has for them. So that's kind of what I feel like my calling in life is.

Speaker 1: 2:15

Wow, can I ask, just being where you are in Fargo, where do you go to church? Is it a place that you would recommend to somebody in your area? I know a lot of people are just kind of in and out of church right now and looking for really, you know, amazing places to step into.

Speaker 2: 2:31

Yes, oh my gosh, I could not recommend my church enough. My church is called True North Church. They are a fairly new church plant. They started in September of 2021 was actually their first service, and this past weekend we actually just had a huge celebration. We've been growing exponentially. We're in the 1% of churches for growth in the nation I think it's the nation and growth in the nation I think it's a nation and we've grown so fast that we needed to get our own permanent building. So we have a beautiful new church that God has given us, and our pastors are amazing, so rooted in the Bible and so compassionate. You can just really tell that God has his hand on each of them as they teach. And just I again. Yeah, I could not recommend my church enough. We do also do online services, so anyone at a distance can find them on YouTube and listen in. If you're wanting a message of encouragement, that's great.

Speaker 1: 3:45

So how did you? Did you grow up in church then, Like that was at the basis of your upbringing?

Speaker 2: 3:53

Yes, so I did. My parents really taught me from, I mean from when I can remember just about our faith and Jesus and that that's what we lean on. I was raised in a Baptist church for the first like 10 years of my life and then we moved to where I live now and started going to more evangelical type churches and I am non-denominational now.

Speaker 1: 4:24

Okay, okay. So for those who are listening, I don't know if you'd be open to it. You know, baptist, evangelical, non-denominational. Somebody might be saying well, what is the difference? We've got people around the country and in other countries who might be wondering, like, what is the difference? Since you were raised in those spaces?

Speaker 2: 4:44

Yeah, so I may not be able to do this like total justice, but from what I recall, you know, being raised partially Baptist, you know Baptists believe that baptism happens when you are old enough to decide that for yourself. So my mom had actually been raised Lutheran, which Lutherans do infant baptisms, and so I was not baptized when I was an infant. I didn't get baptized until I was about 26 and had chosen to do that, and so that was kind of like the biggest difference I remember there was no. You know, I would have friends that would be preparing to go through confirmation and things like that, and the Baptist church doesn't do that. And then, same with, you know, the evangelical church it's very, you know, kind of similar in that regard, where it's not necessarily like infant baptisms or confirmation, those kinds of traditional things that, like Catholics and Lutherans will do.

Speaker 2: 5:54

But now going non-denominational, we really kind of focus on like we love you, no matter where you're coming from or what denomination you grew up in, and I would say that's true for most churches who have a denomination anyway. So that wasn't a knock on anybody, it was just more so of a like. We don't claim to be a part of any sort of denomination. We just, yeah, focus on the person when they walk through the door.

Speaker 1: 6:28

Beautiful. Well, I'm so glad that you have um a wonderful place Like I think it's just incredible that the church is growing like that. Um, there's just, you know, so much going on in our world right now where people are walking away from the faith, and but then we have so many that are looking as well, like we're in such a time, wouldn't you say?

Speaker 2: 6:50

Yes, absolutely I. I feel like God really is um just pursuing and not that he wasn't before, but I feel like you can just kind of feel the pursuit that he has Um, and the revival that's happening it's beautiful to be a part of, for sure.

Speaker 1: 7:08

Yes, well, I love it. My son is actually in Fargo, a freshman at NDSU. No way, yes, I was like when I heard that you're in Fargo, I'm like, oh my gosh, that's where my son is.

Speaker 2: 7:21

He loves it. That is so cool. Well, we'll have to meet up sometime when you come visit.

Speaker 1: 7:26

I would love that. Well, I know you have quite a story, if those of you have been here from the beginning, hope Unlocked. The first season was called Voices of Hope from the Valley. Highlight women who've walked through the fire and they've come out on the other side with quite a testimony to help bring breakthrough and freedom, whether to those who've walked through something similar, or to be parallel to those who are walking through a really challenging journey. So, brittany, would you be open to sharing with us some of the challenges that you've walked through?

Speaker 2: 8:03

Yeah, absolutely so, as we kind of talked about. You know, I was raised with a Christian foundation and when I was about six years old, my dad ended up being diagnosed with a terminal illness. He was a Vietnam veteran. He was 15 years older than my mom, so there was a little bit of an age gap there and, uh, when that happened, you know, my parents really focused on my mom did such, telling us things age appropriately. So I have a younger brother he's about four years younger than me so we always knew the truth, you know, um, but in an age appropriate way.

Speaker 2: 8:56

It was never like doom and gloom, um, things like that we had. We had hope because we had our faith foundation. We had Jesus at the center of our family, um, and so my dad uh bravely fought that battle, uh, for 10 years and when I was 15 years old he went home to be with Jesus and, um, at that point in my life I had kind of started to disassociate a little bit and get into some friend groups where, you know, I don't like to knock on the friends I had, but more, so you know, more into worldly things. And after he died I kind of just really dove into relationships with boys really dove into relationships with boys and I had met this one boy and my mom was just not supportive of this relationship, and for good reason. He was just not someone who is a very good influence on me. And again, I don't say that to put a bunch of blame on him, but it was just. You know, I was at the age where I shouldn't have been focusing on those things and, uh uh, fast forward. I just kind of continued to be in that relationship but I would hide it from my mom and she had no idea.

Speaker 2: 10:20

And one day so I'm 17 years old at this point, senior in high school, and one day so I'm 17 years old at this point, senior in high school, have been lying about this relationship for about a year and I find myself in an unplanned pregnancy and life as I knew it pretty much ended at that point because I knew that I had to make a decision and I knew that I could not hide a pregnancy and I could not hide a baby and my parents had raised me from a very young age to always value life. We value all life, no matter how it's conceived, no matter a person's circumstances. We love all people because God loves all people and we are all made in his image. But that foundation completely went out the window because, in my mind, my only decision was to have an abortion and continue to live the life that I had been living. Live the life that I had been living, um, and so that's what I ended up doing.

Speaker 2: 11:29

I found information online about how I could have an abortion without parental consent, because I was still a minor, so I, of course, you know, couldn't make adult decisions on my own, um, except for this, apparently. Uh, so I was able to do that, and and I walked through that facility one way and I came out completely changed for the rest of my life, yeah, Well, can I ask that you know?

Speaker 1: 12:32

how did you like? Was this a decision that you made with this boy? And second of all, like, how did you know, like even where to go? Was this something that you'd heard about in school? Like, what was that like for you at that time?

Speaker 2: 12:47

Yeah. So I told my boyfriend and he actually wanted us to keep the baby. He wanted us to get married and raise a baby together. He was 18. He had graduated a year before me, so I was still in high school. He was out, he was pursuing his associates in mechanics and he was working full time and he was all in on us having this baby and trying to reassure me that it was going to be okay. But I just it was going to be okay, but I just I would not entertain that idea at all.

Speaker 2: 13:23

Um and so, uh, this time this period of time was when the smartphones were kind of becoming a thing, so I had access to the internet in the privacy of my bedroom and I started Googling how can I have an abortion if I'm under 18? And so that's when I came across. There's this law called judicial bypass, and it allows minors to obtain abortions without parental consent. There's about 34 states in our nation that have that loophole law the rest of them, besides one, I think. There's only one state in our nation where you can't get an abortion as a minor without your parents involved. The rest of them. There's either no barrier there or the barrier is like gone because of judicial bypass.

Speaker 1: 14:16

Wow, I've never heard of judicial bypass before.

Speaker 2: 14:19

Interesting.

Speaker 1: 14:21

So you could even be like 12 and go in and there'd be like no questions asked, they wouldn't alert your parent. Yes, wow, so you're walking through this time. I can't imagine like did you have friends that you had talked to this about? Did you end up talking to your mom? Were you alone in this during this time, besides the boyfriend?

Speaker 2: 14:45

Not completely. So I did tell a few of my friends in my small kind of friend group and they encouraged me to have the abortion. They all said that it was they would do the same thing, that I was doing the right thing. One of my friends had her older sister call me out of school and cause I had to. The facility I went to was only open on Wednesdays for abortion, so I had to skip school to go do this and her older sister agreed to call me out of school so that my mom wouldn't find out. My mom did end up finding out about everything later on, but she had no idea that this was going on at the time.

Speaker 1: 15:35

Wow, so you, you in essence didn't have anybody giving you kind of a counter advice to this at all no no, wow, and like in your you know, were you like kind of, I guess, pulled away from God at this time in some ways? Would you say, yeah, absolutely. You know, I don't think at any point I would have if you would have asked me well, are you a Christian? I don't think at any abortion and the complete shift that happens, you know, when they walk out of that building. Like you said, you were one person when you went in and another person when you walked out. What was that like for you? If you're open to sharing, person when you walked out.

Speaker 2: 16:43

What was that like for you, if you're open to sharing, yeah, so, as I kind of alluded to earlier, I knew what abortion was.

Speaker 2: 16:52

So I knew exactly what I was doing when I was going to this place and I think it's true that some women really don't totally know because society doesn't tell them and these facilities, the staff in these facilities, really are trained to dehumanize the unborn. But I knew better, and so that guilt had really set in before the abortion even happened. But I just I dug my heels in because I just kept telling myself and, you know, listening to the lies of the enemy that this is what I had to do. I had no other option. I was already in this building and I had to see out this mission to completion and that's what I did. And I just remember even feeling that the gravity of what I was doing as I was walking back to the procedure room and um, you know I won't get into like details, of course, but the immense amount of pain that I felt, um, throughout the procedure, um really just is something I'll never forget and just, you know, completely change who I was.

Speaker 1: 18:08

Yeah, so immense like physical pain that you walked through. Yes, and like after, I imagine too, did you experience a lot of pain even after as well.

Speaker 2: 18:19

I did, I did, uh, I did for some weeks actually. Uh, there was even a point where I cause, I didn't know, um, I had never been to the doctor without a parent, I'd never had any type of surgery like this, I'd never even had an annual woman's exam, so this was all completely new to me and I didn't know. No one told me to expect that I would have cramping for a few weeks. And so I remember being at school and even calling the facility, worried that something was wrong, and asking them if I could please come in and have them check on me and make sure I was okay, because I didn't feel okay. And I remember the woman just so coldly asking me if I had taken any ibuprofen that day, and so I told her I did, and she asked me how much. And I told her how much and she said take two more'll be fine we don't do follow-ups here and she hung up.

Speaker 1: 19:23

So wow, and is this? Like? Is this place still in existence? Like, is this near, like where you live now? Like you don't have to give the name unless you want to, but like yes, yes.

Speaker 2: 19:35

So, um, it's not a Planned Parenthood. The facility in my area is independently owned and you know, I do live in North Dakota, so technically we don't. I don't know. It's all being legally fought in the state court system, but technically speaking, we had a trigger ban go into effect after Roe v Wade was overturned in 2022. But because that's being fought in a lawsuit, abortion is still legal here. But the facility knew that this was going to happen and so they purchased a building in Moorhead, which is across state lines in Minnesota. So they moved I mean within walking distance, basically um across the river into Minnesota. So they I mean they didn't even have to close and stop doing abortions at all um, they made that move very quickly, so they are still in operation today so they're in Moorhead, right?

Speaker 1: 20:36

yes, okay, I'm actually in Minnesota. It's very, very interesting living here. Let me just say oh, yeah, I can imagine. Yes, um, so you, you walk through this and, um, I know of of what you're doing now, but what was the like? What was the chasm between that? What was the like? Tell us more about the next steps in your journey and how you came to be where you're at now steps in your journey and how you came to be where you're at now.

Speaker 2: 21:04

Yeah, so it took me about 10 years to find healing. My mom ended up finding out about the abortion two months after it happened. She found out about the relationship and I confessed the abortion to her and it devastated her. My mom was so overcome with grief. We had just lost my dad and she was grieving the loss of a grandchild that she never even got to know about, was not able to step in and be the? Um, the comforting force that I could lean on. Uh, in that time she she says all the time I could have saved you from that If that would have never been legal, that would have never happened, because I would never have let that happen.

Speaker 2: 21:58

Um and so she was. She's always been so compassionate with me about it. Um, she's a pro-life advocate now, um, and she also lives in Minnesota actually and does some um, activism there with um, you know some other politics, but, um, she has testified before the state legislator about abortion and, um, you know how it's affected her as a grandparent to a child who's been aborted, um, and so uh, but I got kind of sidetracked, so, um, but uh, but so she had. After she found out, she connected me with a pregnancy center that did post-abortion healing. But I wasn't ready to heal, I was still living my life of sin, and I stayed with that boyfriend for about a year and a half after the abortion.

Speaker 2: 22:59

Our relationship had changed, though. It was very clear that, um, his feelings for me had changed and I understand why. Uh, he didn't want me to have the abortion. He wanted that child, um, and I had gone against everything that I had been created to be, and so, um, I ended the relationship. But he very much welcomed the ending of the relationship and just, yeah, I spent quite a few years after that just kind of wandering and searching but didn't really know what I was searching for when I was searching for God, but he kept pursuing me and he never left me, even though I didn't realize that he was there.

Speaker 2: 23:43

And I ended up getting married, growing closer in my faith, and after my husband and I had our first child, our daughter, I experienced a postpartum hemorrhage, and that ended up being the moment where I, uh I had been expecting this punishment from God. I had thought he was either going to make it to a point where I couldn't have children or, if I did uh have children, that something would happen to one of my children or that something would happen to me. And so, when I was hemorrhaging, I was convinced that I was going to die. Oh, my gosh. Um, thankfully, I, of course I'm still here.

Speaker 2: 24:28

Um, my medical team was able to uh help me make a full recovery with, you know, really not too many interventions, which I'm thankful for. Um, but I felt so much guilt after that because I thought that my punishment wasn't carried out, and so I kind of lived in this fog of impending doom for a long time, experienced a lot of like suicidal ideation, a lot of guilt, a lot of shame. Um, we would be getting our hospital bills in the mail and I would look at the itemized list and be so upset that they had um given me these medications to help me recover, because now I was costing my family so much money. It just got very dark. Family so much money, it just got very dark.

Speaker 2: 25:21

And you know, thankfully I got out of that. I firmly believe it's because of prayer of other people, just knowing that I was in a dark place. And when I hemorrhaged again after having my son, I knew that I had to do something and I knew that I had to get to the root of my problem. And the root of my problem was the fact that I had never dealt with my abortion before.

Speaker 1: 25:49

Wow, and this was how many years ago.

Speaker 2: 25:52

So this would have been three years ago.

Speaker 1: 25:55

Three years ago. Okay, so what did that look like for you personally?

Speaker 2: 26:05

years ago. Okay, so what did that look like for you personally? Yeah, so I reached back out to that woman at the pregnancy center that my mom connected me with when I was 17.

Speaker 2: 26:10

Oh my gosh, and I just firmly know that God connected me with her at that time because I was going to need her later and she got me plugged into a post-abortion Bible study that was starting literally within like a week or two after I reached out to her and that study was so pivotal for me because I was in the word and I was getting to be in a room with other women who had done the exact same thing I had done and they were saved and they were free and whole. And I went through healing alongside a couple other women too who were there for the same purpose. I was, you know we had three women who were mentoring us. It was just I was able to understand Jesus and his love and his sacrifice for the first time in my life, and that it was for me too.

Speaker 1: 27:07

Oh my gosh, Do you mind me like, was it a specific Bible study?

Speaker 2: 27:12

Yes, it was called that others can step into yes it was called Forgiven and Set Free. It is super valuable. A lot of pregnancy resource centers use that curriculum. There's also some different retreat resources that use that curriculum. We actually use it. I volunteer with my friend's ministry called Forgiven and Set Free, north Dakota, and we use that curriculum in retreat form and it's powerful.

Speaker 1: 27:44

So is this something that others might be able to plug into in other states, or even other countries, do you know?

Speaker 2: 27:52

Yes, yes, I know a little bit more about the United States, but I think that there are places, like I've connected with some people in the UK that are familiar with forgiven and set free, and even India. So I think, yeah, which is pretty cool.

Speaker 1: 28:10

So might there be like a website that I could share in the show notes for those who might be interested in learning more?

Speaker 2: 28:18

Yeah, so forgiven and set free ndcom would be, for, like the retreats that I help host. Um, if they email me, though, to uh, my email is hello at Brittany poppycom. I would be more than happy to try to help them find this in their area if they don't want to travel.

Speaker 1: 28:40

Okay, yeah, I just sense that somebody is like how do I do this? You know, yeah, so you have actually become an abortion recovery leader, correct? Yes, and how did you step into that role? Was that part of you Like, did you just sense, like, after you had gotten through you know, this Bible study, like what did that look like for you to step into this leadership role to help other women?

Speaker 2: 29:05

Yeah, so I believe that God was working on my heart for that before I went through my own healing.

Speaker 2: 29:10

He just kind of has been pursuing me over the last you know however long, and kind of laid that desire on my heart, but I had to be healed first and, um, I am still in touch with the women who led that study that I went through and um have been mentored by them and um encouraged by them and uh, that's kind of how I got into it.

Speaker 2: 29:38

Uh, one of the nights that we were leaving actually, um, because I did the study in weekly format at that point and one of the women actually leads a panel of women who travel and speak, and she told me that she wanted me to come speak with her someday and um, so I ended up connecting with her, staying connected with her, and uh, she's a mentor of mine still today and um, that's kind of how I got into, you know, sharing my story publicly. And then, uh, god placed it on my heart to start my own podcast and uh start, you know, helping women both in the retreat format but also with some coaching and really just helping them kind of coach through some of these stuck points that they get in with their healing.

Speaker 1: 30:27

Yeah, well, what is the name of your podcast? And we'll definitely share that in the show notes. I can't say that. Share it in the show notes. Say that 10 times.

Speaker 2: 30:37

Right, yes, my podcast is called Does God Forgive Abortion.

Speaker 1: 30:43

Yeah, and you've also been. We were talking before the show. We've both been podcasting for about a couple of years now, so it's incredible. So I want to ask you a little bit about stepping into this role of leadership and using your voice and speaking, sharing your story. Was there any hesitation in that? To step out and share fully in the beginning?

Speaker 2: 31:10

Yes, I was a little worried about what my family would think because up until well about a couple years ago, my mom was the only person in my family that knew and my husband too. I did tell my husband before we got married, and so having other people know something so vulnerable and really controversial about you isn't necessarily comfortable and fun. But now it's just really a part of who I am, and when I say that I don't mean abortion, but I mean the healing that Jesus gave me.

Speaker 1: 31:46

Like that is why I am still here today, and so now I don't get so much like anxiety or nerves when I'm going to share, because it really just I, your calling and kind of the anointing that we.

Speaker 1: 32:15

You know there's a calling that everybody has right and sometimes our calling will come out of darkness, in essence, right in so many different ways, but we have to be willing to say yes and for you to say yes to you know, speaking your story, and I'm sure that there's been so many that have been impacted, whether through I'm imagining you know, live events that you've spoken at, maybe virtual events or even your podcasts. Like, have you heard from people who have heard your story and I would love to hear if you could share maybe an example of that where somebody was set free through you sharing your story, because we know our testimonies can break chains right.

Speaker 2: 33:03

Yeah, I actually was given a gift. Today I spoke with a woman she's in Iowa and she helps with some abortion recovery and she went to there's another healing resource called Rachel's Vineyard those are available all over the United States too and she went to help co-facilitate one of those retreats and one of the women in that retreat found out about it because they listened to my podcast.

Speaker 2: 33:39

Oh, my gosh, and so of course you know she couldn't share details with me about the woman. We, you know, in the abortion recovery world we take confidentiality super seriously. But just even knowing that someone was able to find a healing resource just because they listened to my podcast, you know, as I'm sure you know this, as podcasters we don't always know the fruit that comes from what we share.

Speaker 1: 34:03

so when we get to find out something like that, it's such a gift, yes, and now, like I can only imagine, like the gender, I like to say it's like a generational implication, right, there's like a legacy impact that you are, you know, we just don't know, but you got to hear, you know that sweet. I feel like it's like a gift from the Lord when we can hear. You know, those yeses that we give and this is for everybody. You guys, if you're listening and you have yet to give the Lord your yes on something he's calling you to, it's not just about you, wouldn't you say? Absolutely, it might be stretching, you know, I don't know about you, brittany, but there's been a lot of stretching in my days seven years, I would say. So. You're also a like, would you say a mental health coach. You mentioned as well, like, what does that look like for you if somebody were to want to get in touch with you and hear more about what you do in that realm?

Speaker 2: 35:06

Yeah, absolutely yes. So I do offer one-on-one coaching for women who really just want someone to talk to about their story, from someone who understands it. You know some women I cannot talk enough about how valuable abortion recovery groups are but some women are very intimidated about going into an in-person group setting and sometimes, you know, starting with one-on-one coaching can kind of help you feel more comfortable to do that. So I really focus on the individual and what she is really needing right in that moment and a lot of times I will refer my the women who ask me for help. I will refer them out to. You know programs like Forgiven and Set Free, rachel's Vineyard, but two.

Speaker 2: 36:00

Sometimes we go through those kind of foundational healing groups or programs and we still need a little more, because I firmly believe that God doesn't just heal us and then go all right, you're good.

Speaker 2: 36:17

I think he uses it in some way and that doesn't mean that every single person that has been involved with an abortion has to go shout that from the rooftops. But I do think that God, once we have that foundational healing, can peel back other layers of some things that we need to work through, and so a lot of women who come to me for help, have done that and just are needing, you know that. Next step of you know what's God asking me to do? How do I continue to cope with these feelings that I have? Because abortion does come with a lot of grief. You know, if we are believing that our children are created in the image of God, which they are our children are in heaven, so we have to, you know, live with the fact that we miss them. You know we can grieve that they're not here, even if it was through a decision we made. So that's really a lot of foundational work too.

Speaker 1: 37:21

Well, can I? I don't, I don't know how to like encapsulate this question. Hopefully it will make sense. But I know at one point you'd mentioned kind of compartmentalizing right To be able to, you know, keep going. I think a lot of times um, you know, I grew up in a lot of trauma so I was able to compartmentalize a lot of things um, including having a couple miscarriages after I was saved. So I was just very confused and very angry and I never grieved. And I remember I would say probably seven, eight years ago, somebody had said did you ever grieve those babies? And I said no. So, um, have you like, did you have? I guess you, and then even some of the gals that you've um walked alongside, is there almost an ignorance to the, to the grief, like you just don't even want to go there to grieve ignorance to the grief, like you just don't even want to go there to grieve, absolutely yes, I think a lot of it stems from we are the reason our children aren't here.

Speaker 2: 38:26

It's a choice that we made, and so isn't it kind of hypocritical for us to then be sad and grieve that they're not here. And so we have to work through that because, of course, you know, god's grace says that, yes, we absolutely can grieve, um and understand that our children are with him and, you know, look forward to the day that we get to meet them. Um, and yeah, you know, guilt and shame is just a really, really huge barrier to that, I think.

Speaker 1: 38:59

Yes, Well, and speaking of the grief I know you have, you actually have something that you give to people in that, in that realm, correct?

Speaker 2: 39:07

Yes, yep, I have this. It's a free resource on my website. It's called the Permission to Grieve Devotional. It's a one entry devotional. So it's a free resource on my website. It's called the permission to grieve devotional. It's a one entry devotional. So it's just a few page PDF with, you know, scripture and biblical evidence that shows that God has given permission for us to grieve our children lost to abortion, and so women have found it kind of helpful because a lot of them, you know, just don't understand how they can, you know, kind of break past that stuck point of understanding that it's okay to move through that grief. So, yeah, that's free to anybody. On my website, britneypoppycom, forward slash freebie is where you can download that.

Speaker 1: 39:56

Okay, sounds good, and I'll be sure to put that in the show notes as well. Well, where's the Lord taking you in this next season?

Speaker 2: 40:06

Oh man, that's a good question. Um, I believe that he is calling me to be a little bit more bold with my speaking and seeking out more places to share my story and really just focusing on loving women well and meeting them in their grief and their shame and just showing them hope. Yeah, that's kind of where I feel like he's taking me right now.

Speaker 1: 40:41

That's beautiful, I just believe for that expansion with your voice. I think every time you show up on a podcast and we don't see the people, right, it seems weird sometimes to me we don't see the people right. It seems weird sometimes to me we don't see the people, but we know that we're reaching those who need to hear it. So if anybody is listening in today who has a podcast or has an opportunity for Brittany to share her story, please reach out to her. We definitely want to bring more hope to others around the world. So, in this climate that we're in in the world and you know there's just a lot going on what are you most hopeful for? In relation to? I would like to say let's obliterate abortion. But like, how would you? How would you like? What are you most? Um, what are you dreaming in this, in this time? Like, how does how would that look for you in the next? You know the rest of this year.

Speaker 2: 41:43

Yeah, I agree with you. I think that abortion um needs to end. Uh, I think that we are losing too many precious lives to abortion every single year and the women who are going through abortion are walking among us with deep pain. And two, I you know we don't have to get too far into this part. You can, you know, stop me, but I do think our culture is shifting and I think that it used to be. The argument for abortion was safe, legal and rare, and now it's almost celebrated.

Speaker 2: 42:25

Yes, and yeah, it's horrible. I'm seeing some women and I really do think it's. They're in so much pain and this is how they're handling it. But I do see some of them, you know, get on TikTok and kind of celebrate what they're about to do and almost kind of create more of like an influencing yeah and it just breaks my heart.

Speaker 1: 42:51

And it just breaks my heart. It's demonic, truly.

Speaker 2: 42:54

Yeah, yes, at the end of the day you know, it is, it is and we need to have a huge heart change in this world and in this country. We are never going to see abortion end until we make it unthinkable, until we, you know, really dive into teaching people. This is ending the life of an innocent human being. Um, and please hear me, you know, if you're listening to this and you struggle with choosing abortion, hey, me too. So I'm not condemning anybody here. We just, you know it's. I think if we really were able to somehow undo all of this brainwashing that has been done, we could see a huge heart change.

Speaker 1: 43:43

Yeah, absolutely yeah. I remember seeing some videos and it was just like almost bragging about how many they'd had and it just made me like almost sick. I. I just thought what you know it's, it's, it's the verse you know, calling good evil and evil good.

Speaker 1: 43:59

Right, yeah, and we're seeing a lot more of that in this day and age and I love how you have this heart that you are willing to come alongside women who have walked through it because, um, you know I haven't walked through it, because you know I haven't walked through it. But I can imagine what it's like to, you know, just that unresolved grief or the shame and the ways that the enemy is so conniving to try to, you know, kick you down right, to have somebody you know in your corner that you're a safe place for them, like I can just sense you are a safe place for them. They can share their heart with you and you can help them move forward. And that's, you know, I'm a coach too. That's what I love is we can help people move forward. But in this realm that you're in, it's so beautiful that you can love on these gals right.

Speaker 1: 44:48

Have you ever, have you ever, walked alongside any men, or do you? You know you mentioned your boyfriend was, you know, not wanting you to do this, and I know that there's other men out there who, um, maybe who've been in a situation where they didn't feel like they had a choice. Do you know of any resources for men? Have you walked through um anything with men, or are you more called to just women?

Speaker 2: 45:13

Yeah, I have helped some men a little bit. I do think, though, it's super valuable for men to get to heal alongside other men instead of women. I think that it's difficult because, you know, there's just kind of two different situations there, um, but there are resources for men out there, um, there's a book written by the same woman who wrote the forgiven and set free study, um, it's called healing a father's heart, um, so that's a really great resource. And then there's also a ministry support after abortion. That's a resource for men and for women. And two, they aren't necessarily like they'll help you, no matter kind of what your faith background is, but they are pro-life, they're not affirming abortion and they encourage faith. But it's okay if that's new to you, you don't have to worry about. I mean, you wouldn't have to with me either. It's just a little bit more of one of those kind of secular options, but it's not secular in the unbiblical sense, if I'm making any sense. Yeah, absolutely.

Speaker 1: 46:38

Yeah, it's not going to like steer you sideways.

Speaker 2: 46:41

Exactly.

Speaker 1: 46:41

Yeah, Well, I'm going to, for sure, add these resources to the show notes, because I know that you know there might be people out there that are like I don't even know where to go. I don't, I mean, there's so many. Maybe there are places out there you could just Google. But when you have somebody who's walked through this, you know these resources that are, you know, golden right that can really actually help people. Um, it's so so helpful.

Speaker 1: 47:06

So, oh my gosh, well, I feel like we could just keep talking, but, um, uh, as I close today, um, I just thank you for sharing your story and just being vulnerable with my audience. I always feel good to speak to the one. That's what this podcast is all about. So I'd love you to think of one person, whether it's a woman or a man, and share any words of encouragement or wisdom you feel might speak over them today, and then would you mind praying us out person, whether it's a woman or a man, um, and share any words of encouragement or wisdom you feel might speak over them today, and then would you mind praying us out?

Speaker 2: 47:40

Yeah, absolutely.

Speaker 2: 47:41

I would love to do that.

Speaker 2: 47:42

Um, so first, uh, no matter where you're at right now, uh, if you are struggling with shame and guilt from abortion, maybe you didn't directly have an abortion, but you helped somebody do that, or maybe it's not abortion at all, it might be something else.

Speaker 2: 48:02

That is just really painful and you are just really struggling. I just want you to know that you are not alone, that we are a world full of people that fall short, but that's okay, because God gave us his son and Jesus came for us. He came for every single one of us. Despite us falling short, he took on our sin so that we don't have to, and all we have to do is just lay it down at his feet and trust him, and trust that he is going to heal us, that he loves us, that he has never once left us, that he was with us the entire time we were going through whatever we went through, and that he will continue to walk alongside us for the rest of our lives. And so you know, I just encourage you if you're struggling to you know, first step is tell somebody and get help and understand that being vulnerable is okay, and sometimes it's that first, hardest step that can be the most rewarding, to get us to the healing that we need to have.

Speaker 1: 49:17

Yes, yeah, oh my gosh. Well, would you pray us out today? Yeah absolutely.

Speaker 2: 49:24

Dear Heavenly Father, I just want to thank you first and foremost, so much for Kristen and for her podcast and for her listeners, and just for her willingness to have this conversation. Lord, we know that you have intention in all things, that you create connections with people for a reason, and I believe that you have someone that needed to hear this today, and so I just pray that this episode will speak to that person, that they will understand your love for them. Just pray against any spiritual warfare right now that's going on. Lord, we know that good conversations like this are hated by the enemy, and so I just pray against him. Pray that there will be no issues in um.

Speaker 2: 50:13

You know anyone listening to this? Um. Just pray that you will have a hedge of protection over them, a hedge of protection over Kristen to Lord and her family. Um, we just thank you for being so good, for um you know, being our healer, for being our provider, um, for just being so faithful in your promises, and just pray that everyone that hears this today will understand how amazing and great you are. In Jesus name, amen.

Speaker 1: 50:42

Yes, amen, wow. Well, let me close with the anchoring verse, because this just flows right in May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace and believing, so that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound in hope, and that's Romans 15, 13. So thank you for being a brave voice who's setting many free. I just wanted you to speak out loud again. What is the best way for listeners to reach you? Your website? Would you just share that with them again?

Speaker 2: 51:12

Yes, so my website is BrittanyPoppy. Yes, so my website is britneypoppycom and my email is on there. You can fill out my contact form on there, and I'm also on Instagram at britneypoppy, so you can follow me or DM me there too.

Speaker 1: 51:27

Okay Sounds great and, again, I'll put this all in the show notes and please reach out to her If you have any questions. You feel you need to connect with her for some reason. I know that she will definitely be somebody in your corner. So, britney, thank you again for being on, and I will be back with another episode next week. Thank you so much, thank you.