Tears well up in her eyes as she shares her experience of abortion and its devastating after-effects. Even though it happened 38 years ago, Karen Holdren from the USA takes her listeners with her to the cold metal table where she lay as a scared 17-year-old girl.

Karen shares her experience with a gathering of congregation members and pastors at the Destiny Word Ministries in Nzhelele.

“They did something to my body. It felt like tearing. Then I was told to dress and leave. I saw a lady putting a black bag out the back door ... It was a most horrible feeling.”

Afterwards her boyfriend took her for a milkshake, which, incidentally, was sour.

“From that point, everything in my life turned sour.”

Karen’s whole personality changed from being cheerful and bubbly to being withdrawn and depressed. She did marry her boyfriend. Her husband took her for a second abortion, since she had to work to keep them going. Her husband smoked weed and did not keep his jobs.

Seven years after her first abortion, Karen experienced a severe mental breakdown and was hospitalized. Things really started changing when she met Jesus. “He assured me that He does not come to condemn but to give Life ... He set me free from depression, oppression, bondage, sin of wrong choices, guilt, unworthiness, sadness, loneliness, sickness, emptiness and called me His child!” tells Karen. But even though God forgave her, she still could not forgive herself. “I loved God, but I was still in bondage to unforgiveness…,” Karen said. Her mom helped her to realize that if God could forgive her, she could and should also forgive herself. Today Karen is married to a faithful Christian husband, Paul, and cannot stop loving and thanking God.

As she and Paul were praying for the USA with 750 000 others, God reminded Karen that she promised him that she would bring her testimony to the nation. By a wonderful turn of events she indeed brought her testimony that day before all the people. She joined the organization Operation Outcry. This is her first opportunity to share her testimony with people from another nation.

Pastor Petrus Mamuhohi from Destiny Word Ministries invited Paul and Karen Holdren by e-mail to visit his church. Ps Mamuhohi learnt that Paul had written a book, The wedding of purity and power.

“I felt that we needed them to impact the body of Christ on revival.”

The Holdrens ministered at Pastor Petrus’ church for six days and then they ministered in Tzaneen, Polokwane, Bungeni and travelled again to Polokwane, where they were recorded for a programme to be aired on the TV slot at Omega Channel. They were in South Africa from July 15 to August 3.

Karen warned the younger generation about the consequences of abortion.

“I too was once your age, but no one warned me. I want to save you from the devastation of abortion,” Karen said. She appealed to the pastors to allow women to speak about their abortions, so that they could be set free. To the suffering and oppressed, Karen said that she understood pain and suffering, but that God provides healing and restoration. In South Africa, the Choice in Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1996 legalised abortion, 22 years after it was legalized in the USA .

“All people were greatly touched by Karen and Paul’s message,” Pastor Mamuhohi said.

The Holdrens expressed their gratitude to Pastor Petrus Mamuhohi for inviting and hosting them and to Hester and Thys Beukes for letting the couple stay in their home.

Much information is available to those facing the choice of abortion. Visit www.operationoutcry.org. or if anyone needs more information from a local person, Hester Beukes can be contacted on 084 616 2355