Click on the "How Our Ministry Was Started!" button above to watch a short video clip on how ministry was started, or read the story below
On the anniversary of Roe v. Wade in 2012, our family was praying at a Holy Hour for Life. During this prayer time, our seven-year-old daughter, Grace, was inspired to begin the Pro-Life Prayer Pillow as a way to spread prayer and raise money for moms considering abortion so that they could choose life.
Within a short time, she donated tens of thousands of dollars to pregnancy help organizations with the proceeds from the pillow sales.
Word got out about this little girl on a mission, and we began to get invited into schools to share about the gift and value of life and inspire other kids to make a difference too.
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 with rays of light coming from that baby.
Since then, we have presented in 8 different states to over 40,000 students grades K-college.
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 with 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 an under-supported 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™
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Join the Mission: Whether you'd like to bring the 4S Model of Education to your school, support families through the Prayer Pillow ministry, or partner with Heart of a Child Ministries, we'd love to connect with you.
We pray that every child would know they are created with purpose and immeasurable value.
Executive Director