On the anniversary of Roe v. Wade in 2012, our family was at a Holy Hour for Life (a communal prayer service) at our church praying for those considering abortion and for the issue of LIFE.
After the service, my seven-year-old daughter, Grace, had a tear in her eye. I asked her what was wrong and she said,
“I just don’t understand why anyone would do this to a precious baby, Mom. Those babies may be small, but they are people too.”
In my head, I asked the Holy Spirit to give me the words to answer her. I got down on my knees to her level and said, “You are right. Those babies are always people and they are gifts from God, so it is not okay, is it?” She shook her head. I continued, “I know that this is so hard to understand, Grace, but I used to talk to those mommies, and I want you to know that they are not doing it to be mean.” Before staying home with my children, I was a professional counselor – supporting abortion minded women. “Many of them are just poor and afraid that they won’t have the money to buy diapers and things for their babies, so we are called to help them.”
Grace then stood up tall and said,
“Well, I want to help! I want to make something and sell it and give the money back to the mommies, so they don’t have to do abortions.”
When I asked her what she wanted to make she proceeded to tell me her idea, “I want to sew a cross and stuff that cross, and on that cross, I want to put a baby because those babies are suffering like Jesus suffered on the Cross. I then want to put a heart of rays of light coming from that baby.”
I was then given an image in my heart of what that pillow was supposed to look like – incorporating the call to prayer in the pocket of the pillow. God’s timing is always perfect, and the next day we literally had a seamstress scheduled to come to our house and teach us how to sew. We homeschool and bring teachers in to help us.
A few months later, we began selling the Pro-life Prayer Pillows. Very quickly tens of thousands of dollars were raised through the sale of the pillows to support women and families experiencing a crisis pregnancy. Word got out about this little girl on a mission and in 2016, my daughters and I were invited into the schools to share the story of the pillows and inspire other kids to make a difference too.
Through God’s amazing grace and provision, as we continued to go into the schools, a team of outstanding people and our 4S Model of Education™ was formed – using Scripture, Science with live ultrasounds, Stories, and Service to teach kids across the country about the gift of life.
Through this story of how Heart of a Child Ministries began, may we know that it is because of grace—God’s grace—that His blessings happen in our lives. May we have hearts like little children to be dependent upon Him, hear His voice, receive His inspiration, and follow Him all the days of our lives!
May God bless you,
Nikki Schaefer, MSW
Executive Director
Heart of a Child Ministries™
Meet Our Board
KATHY BESSMER
Kathy and her husband, Joel, started Strada Healthcare in 2016 because of the growing need for cost-effective and efficient healthcare. Strada is currently Omaha’s leading Direct Primary Care provider. Kathy and Joel also have 16 children – 13 biological and 3 adopted. They know the value and meaning of life, children and family, and exemplify that in all that they do. Kathy’s expertise as a business woman, pro-life advocate, and homeschool mom is invaluable to the Heart of a Child Ministries’ team.
LAURA BUDDENBERG, MS
Laura is recently retired from the Executive Director of Essential Pregnancy Services (EPS) in Omaha, NE. EPS provides care and support to women and families experiencing a crisis pregnancy. Prior to her work at EPS, Laura worked at Boys Town supporting at risk children in a variety of capacities and has great expertise in communications, human resources, advocacy, and non-profit, pro-life issues. Laura’s leadership skills and knowledge are invaluable to the Heart of a Child Ministries’ team.
TOM CARNEY
Tom Carney works as a fixed-income portfolio manager at Weitz Investment Management, Inc. He is actively involved in apostolates such as Catholic Answers, Spirit Catholic Radio, and Evangelium Institute. Tom is very pro-life and his financial and leadership expertise are invaluable to the Heart of a Child Ministries’ team.
DENNIS O’TOOLE, CPA
Dennis is a member of the Nebraska Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He is a professional accountant at Berger, Elliott and Pritchard CPAs, L.L.C. Dennis is also actively involved in the Knights of Columbus and has served as a board member and leader in a variety of apostolates or educational foundations. His financial and tax expertise are invaluable to the Heart of a Child Ministries’ team.
BERNIE SCHAEFER, MS
Bernie Schaefer and his family started Heart of a Child Ministries in 2012. Bernie is the Vice President of Development at Spirit Catholic Radio in Omaha, Nebraska. His experience in development and his intimate connection with this ministry makes Bernie an important member of the Heart of a Child Ministries’ team.
FATHER DAMIEN WEE
Father Damien Wee is originally from Singapore and came to the United States as a missionary priest. He has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and received his call to be a priest as a young man. Fr. Damien is currently the pastor at St. Francis Borgia parish in Blair, Nebraska. Father Wee has a love for Jesus, for the sacredness of life, and a gift of prayer and contemplation. His spiritual direction and leadership is an invaluable blessing to the Heart of a Child Ministries’ team.
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