Building Bridges Conference: Redeeming the Time
Status: Past Event
Held at: Palmcroft Church, Phoenix, Arizona
Date: September 26, 2026
Presented by Homeward Church, the 2026 Building Bridges Conference was a one-day gathering dedicated to equipping church members and ministry leaders to engage in pro-life and post-abortion healing through a gospel-centered lens. Rooted in the call to "redeem the time" (Ephesians 5:15–16), the event addressed the hidden pain often carried quietly in our pews, equipping the church to faithfully shepherd those whose lives have been marked by the trauma of abortion.
Through worship, biblical teaching, and practical training led by trusted voices, attendees were equipped to walk wisely, reject cultural deceptions, and extend the restorative grace of Christ to those in their care.
Speakers
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Pastor Ron Rose (Calvary Chapel Chino Hills) laid the foundation for redemption by grounding the sanctity of human life in God's redemptive heartbeat, addressing the fracture of the fall and the roots of abortion's pain.
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Sylvia Blakely (Arise Daughter) exposed the hidden toll of chemical abortions, providing clinical data and grace-filled responses to bridge the silence surrounding pill-based abortions.
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Tara Shaver (Abortion Free New Mexico) unveiled the stark realities of late-term procedures, equipping the church to advocate boldly for the most vulnerable lives in their final weeks of development.
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Erik Reed (Dominion AI) challenged the church to steward technology wisely, rejecting AI idolatry while using digital tools redemptively for ministry outreach and pro-life discipleship.
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Lyric Gillet (Faces of Choice) awakened the church to the profound, unseen scars carried by those who survived abortion attempts, calling believers to offer recognition, healing, and advocacy.
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Garry & Susan Swafford (Broken From Silence) provided a biblical pathway to guide post-abortive individuals from guilt to grace, equipping leaders to foster safe spaces for confession and testimony.
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Steven Paez (Proverbs 24:11 Ministries) shared a powerful redemption testimony and challenged the church to transform regret into redemptive service through ongoing discipleship and mentoring.
Bring Healing to Your Church If you are a pastor or ministry leader looking to equip your congregation to break the silence and foster post-abortion healing, we would love to help.
Contact us to learn more about bringing a Building Bridges Conference to your church.
Hope and Healing
If you or someone you know is carrying pain from a past abortion, please know that God’s grace is greater than our deepest shame. Through Jesus Christ, forgiveness, healing, and restoration are available.
From Discouragement to Hope
A Testimonial from Senator Nancy Barto (ret.)
After years of advocating for laws to protect preborn babies and their mothers, it was shocking to see how quickly those efforts were rejected and how little they seemed to change public attitudes about abortion. It left many of us asking why facts and reason no longer seem to resonate.
The Building Bridges conference helped turn that discouragement into hope. It revealed the often-unseen emotional wounds carried by men and women after abortion, while also sharing powerful stories of healing and restoration.
The experience was both personal and practical for our Protect Unborn Babies team, helping us communicate more effectively and leading to the creation of our video, “Messaging in the Moment.”
Thank you for sharing your stories so others can find hope and healing.
Senator Nancy Barto (ret.)
BUILDING BRIDGES 2025: RESTORING WHOLENESS
Status: Past Event
Held at: CalvaryPHX, Phoenix, Arizona
Date: November 8, 2025
The Building Bridges Conference was a meaningful gathering centered on the sanctity of human life and the healing available after abortion. Through personal testimonies and biblical teaching, attendees were encouraged and equipped to help the Church become a place of safety, truth, compassion, and restoration for those affected by abortion.
The conference challenged believers to break the silence surrounding abortion-related pain and to extend the hope of the gospel to mothers, fathers, and families. It also highlighted the Church’s opportunity to offer compassionate support, practical care, and Christ-centered pathways toward healing and wholeness.
Speakers
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John Karasch shared his journey of carrying the secret and shame of abortion, emphasizing that freedom begins when hidden wounds are brought into the light.
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Sylvia Blakely addressed the physical and spiritual impact of chemical abortion and encouraged the Church to offer compassionate support and meaningful alternatives for women facing unplanned pregnancies.
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Tiana Chen shared her heartbreaking yet hope-filled experience of pregnancy loss and described the vital role that compassionate ministry played in her healing journey.
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Aaron Force spoke about vulnerability in ministry, challenging believers to look beyond a person’s history and recognize their God-given potential for reconciliation and restoration.
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Steve Paez grounded his testimony of redemption in the truth that every human life is made in God’s image, calling the Church to actively defend and care for the vulnerable
Bring Healing to Your Church If you are a pastor or ministry leader looking to equip your congregation to break the silence and foster post-abortion healing, we would love to help. Contact us to learn more about bringing a Building Bridges Conference to your church.
Hope and Healing
If you or someone you know is carrying pain from a past abortion, please know that God’s grace is greater than our deepest shame. Through Jesus Christ, forgiveness, healing, and restoration are available.
Continue the conversation by using the After-Conference Discussion Guide with your church, ministry team, small group, or volunteers.
BUILDING BRIDGES 2025: RESTORING WHOLENESS
Status: Past Event
Held at: Calvary Rio Rancho, Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Date: June 17, 2023
Hosted at Calvary Rio Rancho, the 2023 Building Bridges Conference was a collaborative gathering designed to equip church leaders and ministry partners to address the hidden trauma of abortion and cultivate a culture of healing. Through biblical teaching, practical strategy, and powerful personal testimonies, the event challenged the church to break the silence surrounding post-abortion pain and become a safe place for grace, confession, and true restoration.
Speakers
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Ethel Maharg (Love Life) – Exposed the brutal reality of surgical and chemical abortions while equipping believers to respond to common cultural arguments with truth.
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Michele Drane (Care Net) – Highlighted the hidden realities of women at risk for abortion, addressing the secrecy, coercion, and vulnerability that drive them to the clinic.
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Susan Swafford (Broken from Silence) – Laid the foundation for cultivating a healing environment in the church, equipping leaders to talk about abortion and post-abortion trauma in truth and grace.
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Pastor Bill Redmond – Provided a pastoral perspective on the role of the local church, emphasizing the power of Christian influence and the ministry of reconciliation.
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Pastor Roy Weaver – Challenged church leaders to address the once "off-limits" subject of post-abortive care, urging the body of Christ to free those suffering in silence from shame.
Bring Healing to Your Church If you are a pastor or ministry leader looking to equip your congregation to break the silence and foster post-abortion healing, we would love to help. Contact us to learn more about bringing a Building Bridges Conference to your church.
Hope and Healing
If you or someone you know is carrying the hidden weight of abortion, please know that God’s grace is greater than our deepest shame. Healing, forgiveness, and restoration are available through Jesus Christ. Reach out to us or connect with a trusted ministry to begin the journey toward freedom.
Restored Wholeness Testimonials
Susan - Thank You Pastor
Because my pastor had a heart to help those who were sitting stoically, silently in pain due to their involvement in abortion, I am one of the many under his shepherding that has been set free from the pain of the past.
©2025 by Broken from Silence