Our mission
To partner with local churches in creating a culture where those with crisis pregnancy and post-abortion concerns will be met with grace and truth, handled with compassion, and offered appropriate pastoral support.
To assist churches in providing sensitive and focussed pastoral support to those who have experienced miscarriage or baby loss.
What we offer
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Pastoral training – for church leaders and those with pastoral responsibility or just a concern to support others in their church context
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Reliable, Biblical training resources - for individuals and small groups
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Seminars - at Christian conferences, events and theological colleges
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Recovery retreats – focused pastoral support for men and women affected by abortion, over a weekend
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Baby loss days – a day of focused pastoral support for men and women affected by baby loss
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Baby remembrance services
We recognise that every context is different, and will work with you how to tailor our training events to meet the specific needs of your church.
Our vision for Great Britain and Northern Ireland...
We long to see the church equipped and mobilised into offering appropriate care for those affected by all kinds of baby loss, and confident in speaking the truth about the impact of abortion with grace and offering hope for men and women. Our prayer is...
…that every church will be a safe place for women to share their story of baby loss of all kinds, including abortion.
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…that every church will be equipped and resourced to support those affected by baby loss, including abortion.
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…that every Church leader, pastoral worker and Bible College student be offered training in pastoral care after baby loss, including abortion.
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Coming up soon...
Please get in touch for more information or if you would like to attend any of these events
Our team
Rebecca Richards
Open Consultant for Northern Ireland
Rebecca has been involved in the area of pregnancy crisis, post-abortion and baby loss support for many years as well as having worked in the education sector as a French teacher for over a decade.
She has trained in post-abortion and baby loss support and took up the role with Open in August 2023. Since then she has been working alongside church leaders, delivering pastoral training, and supporting individuals as they navigate loss.
For Rebecca it is a privilege to be involved in this work, to walk alongside those who have experienced deep loss, and to encourage churches to start the conversation in this incredibly important area.
Leonie Lucas
Open Consultant for Great Britain
Leonie began her career in nursing before being called to serve in her church's women’s ministry. Her work focused on training and equipping women, as well as offering pastoral care through many of life’s challenges, including the pain of all kinds of baby loss.
In 2016, she trained for and went on to lead an abortion recovery course: “I have never seen women’s lives so quickly transformed as when they found freedom and healing from the emotional pain of abortion they had carried for so long.”
Her prayer is that, through Open’s pastoral training and recovery programs, God will continue to strengthen and equip the church so that many more women can access the support they need.