Many black American women are pressured to have abortions by friends, family and government subsidized agencies. Abortion clinics in large inner cities target the non-white population. Despite this, Eula continued her steadfast journey toward a due date, not an abortion. In 1998, she gave birth to Jada Marisa Adams at the hospital where she worked.
God is here
Soon afterwards, financial pressures closed in. Eula’s unpaid electric bills totaled over $600—an impossible amount on a cardiac technician’s salary. But Eula’s coworkers paid the bill in full. She said, “I knew I would never have a bill that God couldn’t help me pay. It’s one thing to believe that, but another to live it. God placed some amazing people in my life, many who had been there for years, and it was only after I had Jada that I saw them as God did.”
In choosing life, Eula’s conversation with God became more intimate. After all, when Jada learned to speak, she said, “I love you, Momma.” Thus, through her daughter’s voice, Eula could hear the Lord say, “I love you Eula.” As she explained, “I needed God more, so I prayed more. I returned to church and brought Jada with me. When I was discouraged, she reminded me, ‘Momma, we’re gonna make it. God is here.’”
At five, Jada began kindergarten at an inner-city Christian school, Heritage Academy. Jada inspired Eula to return to the classroom as well. Balancing a full-time job, school and parenthood was a delicate task, but God provided. Even the school’s principal, Dr. Linda Tucciarone, volunteered to watch Jada after school once a week. Eula recalled, “I was so busy, I used to pray, ‘Lord, don’t let me get sick; you know I have to keep moving!’”
It never occurred to Eula that her daughter might be the one to become ill.
One night, Jada called out, “Momma, my tummy hurts!” Jada had an abdominal tumor requiring emergency surgery. Eula feared— what if it’s cancer?
Surrounded by family and friends, Eula waited near the operating room doors until Jada’s surgeon walked through them. His stern face melted into a broad grin. “Benign,” the doctor pronounced. He grabbed Eula’s arm to steady her as she slid to the floor, weeping, “Thank you, Jesus.”
True freedom
Tears fill Eula’s eyes when she reflects on the deadly choice that she rejected. “My life has become richer with friends who pray and support me. An abortion would have made things much worse, not better,” Eula proclaimed. “That’s the dirty secret those abortion clinics won’t tell you. Some people told me to have an abortion so I could be free. An abortion doesn’t set you free. It chains you to hurt and guilt that never goes away. I assure you, today, because I trusted God, I am free!”
Eula wants her black sisters to believe God, not the voices screaming to have an abortion. “I am a living example of what God can do. God has me and He will not let me down,” said Eula. “The road wasn’t always easy, but my trials can never compare to what God gave me through Jada. I want women like me to give life a chance because when you do that, God shows up. After I chose life, everything about my life has changed— all for the better.”
SIDEBAR: Stop black genocide
According to Care Net, statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveal these alarming facts:
- Since the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, more than 15 million black babies, almost 30 percent of the black population in the U.S., have lost their lives to abortion.
- Abortions for black babies are three times higher than for whites—an increase of 50 percent in the last 15 years.
- Black women make up 13 percent of the female population, but account for 36 percent of those who choose abortions.
- Ninety-four percent of all abortion clinics are located in major cities and seven out of every 10 are located in minority neighborhoods.
- Only two percent of pregnancy care centers are located in urban areas.
What you can do:
- Teach and discuss the virtue of chastity.
- Partner with local black congregations to get the pro-life message out to their community.
- Support local pregnancy care centers that offer healthy alternatives to abortion.
- Think outside the box and offer support systems for single parents in churches, schools, workplaces and neighborhoods.
As Rev. John Ensor from Heartbeat of Miami said, “If and when black pastors not only join, but lead, the pro-life cause, the status quo of legal abortion will be altered beyond recognition.” Other pro-life outreaches specifically to the black community include the Life Education and Resources Network, directed by Rev. Johnny Hunter. See articles at LearnInc.org. Additionally, LEARN’s northeast chapter, run by Clenard Childress, offers resources at BlackGenocide.org.
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