By MIKE GRIFFIN, Georgia Baptist Mission Board
A ribbon cutting ceremony for Living Hope Supportive Maternal Residence was held on Tuesday of this week! This is the first residence registered under “Betsy’s Law”. This legislation, authored by Senator Randy Robertson and passed during the 2022 Legislative Session of the Georgia General Assembly, was signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp. Georgia Baptists along with many other organizations have been instrumental in lobbying for this effort.
We are so grateful to Beth Hathorn and her leadership in opening this ministry. Beth is the executive director of the Whispering Hope Women’s Resource and Pregnancy Center in Cumming. She is also a Georgia Baptist and a member of First Redeemer Church in Cumming.
“When I think about the potential impact of Living Hope, I’m so excited,” said Beth Hathorn. “A woman who enters the home after finding out she is pregnant can stay in the home until her baby is 18 months old. That means she could be with Living Hope for about 2 years. During the 2 years in the home, a mom can pursue her academic and professional goals without having to worry about a roof over her head. She will have the support she needs so that she and her baby are not only thriving at home, but ready to thrive when they leave home.”
Beth, speaking of a former client, knows firsthand the difference this kind of support can make. “Anyone can turn their life around in two years,” she said, “when the church comes alongside pregnant mothers by being the hands and feet of Jesus, lives are saved and transformed, generations are impacted, and God is glorified!”
We also appreciate Elizabeth Reed, Executive Director of the Georgia Life Alliance, and her hard work on this legislation. Betsy’s Law was affectionately named after the little girl Elizabeth put up for adoption when she was 15.
“I am so proud that this home can now open under Betsy’s law,” said Elizabeth Reed. “Places like this are part of a beautiful picture of Georgian post-Roe culture. Countless women who would otherwise choose abortions because of homelessness are now receiving support and resources that empower them to choose life and embrace motherhood with joy and confidence.
Elizabeth continued, “Beth Hathorn and her team at Whispering Hope have set the standard and set a great example that we pray many other pregnancy charities and churches across the state will follow.”
Also, it was great that Pastor Jeff Jackson of First Redeemer Church led the dedication prayer for the residence. It is so important that pastors play a key role in promoting care and ministry for mothers and children. Pastor Jackson is excited that this is something that God wants us to be a part of.
We can all be thankful that this 501c3 law gives organizations like churches the ability to provide free maternity support housing for up to six pregnant mothers and their minor children up to 18 months postpartum.
This type of service is important to building a culture of life that protects life in the womb while fostering a society that empowers pregnant mothers in crisis to make confident choices about their unborn children and combats our state’s high maternal mortality rate.
These kinds of laws help Georgia Baptists in our focus on antenatal and postnatal care with our Mission Georgia focus. It is important that the Church rise to this challenge as we see the possibility of Roe v. Wade is lifted!
Elizabeth Reed reminds us that this type of service can make a big difference in the lives of many women. She said: “So many people have helped me make the decision to live and adopt Betsy. So many people have worked to make this dream a reality; today was amazing. I’m so blessed to be a part of this. God can turn even the darkest parts of your story into a lamp stand to His glory. Just ask me about my God.”
