Forgiven and Set Free

Since 1973, millions of men and women have believed the lies of abortion. “It’s not really a baby”; “it’s just a clump of cells”; or “I can just pretend like this never happened.” Their lives bear the scars of a decision they can never take back. As many as one in every four women in the United States will have had an abortion by the age of 45. That statistic reportedly remains the same among the church, as well.

Thousands of men and women sit in church every Sunday believing God may offer forgiveness, but not for them, “not for this.”

That is why Hope Pregnancy Centers (HPC/Hope) offer a class for women and men who have experienced a past abortion. In addition to the ministry work Hope has done to save unborn lives for nearly 40 years, Hope offers “Forgiven and Set Free,” a Bible study that teaches men and women of God’s unending love and gracious forgiveness, through Jesus.

Mandi Parkhurst is one such woman who took the class and learned to walk boldly in the forgiveness of
Jesus Christ.

“I first became involved in Hope Pregnancy Center back in 1999 as a client,” Mandi said. “What I did not tell the volunteers at Hope at the time was that it was my second pregnancy, and my first pregnancy had ended in abortion.”

After having her abortion, Parkhurst felt devastated and completely broken. “Like all color had drained from the sky,” she said. “I had believed the lie that abortion would be like a ‘reset button’ in my life. It was anything but that.”

Walking into Hope during her second pregnancy, Parkhurst did not know what she wanted, but she knew that she did not want to have another abortion. Hope’s staff explained adoption, talked about parenting and offered her non-judgmental support and encouragement.

“They were a safe place with no judgment,” said Parkhurst. “It wasn’t, ‘You need to have this baby, you need to do these things.’ It was, ‘We love you and we are concerned about you and the decision you are making because it’s going to impact your future, so how can we help you?’”

Ultimately, Mandi chose to be a parent. “I saw having this baby as an opportunity to right the biggest mistake of my life.” But having her daughter did not remove the guilt and pain of her abortion.
It was during her pregnancy, when God stripped away everything she was leaning on, that Mandi gave her life to Christ and fully surrendered to God.

“God just orchestrated circumstances so perfectly that my only hope was in Him,” said Parkhurst. “It was the most gracious thing He could have ever done.”

Parkhurst went to parenting classes at Hope where she gained the confidence she needed to embrace life as a single mother. Mandi remained a single mom for four years before she met her future husband. They were married in 2004 and moved to Oklahoma City.

Mandi’s connection to Hope was re-established when she and her husband had the opportunity to give financially to a non-profit of their choice through her husband’s work. They knew instantly where they would give the donation.

“We contacted Gayla White who was the director at the North center at the time and said, ‘Hey we’d like to bring this money by,’” said Parkhurst.

As always, God’s timing was perfect since at the time of the donation it was the 10-year anniversary of Parkhurst’s abortion. And for the first time, Parkhurst shared her story with someone outside of her family.
“It was the first time I had ever shared with somebody outside of my family what I had done and Gayla asked me, ‘Have you heard of our Forgiven and Set Free program?’ And I said, ‘No, what’s that?’” said Parkhurst.

Forgiven and Set Free is a class that goes through Scripture detailing who God is and what the Bible says about abortion. It unpacks the truth that although the sin of abortion is great, God’s grace is greater still. Parkhurst participated in the class as soon as she was able.

“At the end of the class, the countenance on the faces of the women were totally different,” said White. “They walked in carrying this backpack full of burdens, and they walked out free.”

After going through and completing the Forgiven and Set Free class, the hurt and pain that Parkhurst had been stuffing down was relieved.

“For the first time, I really understood that God’s grace not only covered my sin, but it also enables me to share freely,” said Parkhurst. “I love in Revelation where it says ‘And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…’ (Rev. 12:11). He calls us to share what He’s done in our lives because with that comfort we can comfort others.”

Parkhurst knew God had called her to share this offer of forgiveness with others who were hurting from their past abortion decision. She began volunteering with Hope and became a Forgiven and Set Free facilitator where she helped lead others to God’s mercy.

“To know that there is a place these women can go and be led to where that healing is found, which is at the foot of the Cross, it’s very important,” said Parkhurst.

In 2023, Parkhurst came full circle in her journey with Hope when she accepted a full-time staff position as Director of Hope Pregnancy Center in Edmond. In this role, Mandi works to give women the same support she was given all those years ago.

Mandi Parkhurst was forgiven and set free in Jesus. Today she is helping other women find that same forgiveness in Jesus.

For more information about the Forgiven and Set Free Class and Hope Pregnancy Centers, visit thinkimpregnant.org. Hope Pregnancy Centers is a ministry of Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children.