About Deeper Still of Atlanta

THE PROBLEM

In the United States abortion was made legal in 1973.  Since that time approximately 50 million abortions have occurred in the United States.  This not only represents 50 million babies whose lives were lost, but this also represents millions upon millions of mothers,  fathers, grandparents, siblings and the tree goes on and on.  In the United States close to 70% of the women who have abortions claim to have some form of Judeo-Christian affiliation or belief system.

Internationally, the abortion numbers are too staggering to even grasp, but there are approximately 42-50 million children aborted every year throughout the world.

Thus, the abortion wounded heart is a huge global issue.  It is a deadly blight on the land and on the peoples of the earth, but it is hidden.  It is not recognized as a crisis in our world like starvation or disease, but it is every bit as deadly to the soul and the spirit of the nations.  But take heart because this is also an issue that is on the heart of God.  He not only grieves for the lost destinies of the children whose lives were snatched from this world, but He also grieves for the mothers and fathers who were also robbed of their destiny in this world.

OUR RESPONSE

Deeper Still is a ministry of God’s mercy and healing power.  He is ready to lavish His love and mercy upon this broken world.  Through our Deeper Still retreats, we have come to realize the power of Christian women in community by reaching out to women who are still held captive by the guilt, shame and grief of their past mistakes.  The body of Christ has been left on this earth to bring good news of salvation to the afflicted, to bind up the brokenhearted and to set the captive free.

We also recognize the immense need for the fathers of aborted children to receive healing and reconciliation from their role in abortion.

God is not overwhelmed by these numbers, nor has He left us powerless to meet the need. Rather, He chooses to use His people as His hands, His mouth and His heart.  We who make up Deeper Still are simply saying “yes” to being part of God’s method of healing and restoration.

Prayer & Worship – Our foundation of prayer and worship both precedes and exceeds the breadth of our ministry activities. The spiritual battles that we encounter in the fight for freedom from the consequences of abortion are immense and far beyond human strength and wisdom. In recognizing prayer and worship as our lifeline, it is essential that we weave this practice into every aspect of what we do.

Word & Spirit – The word of God in unity with the spirit of God is what brings the revelation of Jesus Christ, the Healer. Therefore the teaching of the word of God and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit are equally embraced.

Healing – Healing and lasting freedom can only be found in the stripes, blood and in the sufficiency of the cross of Jesus Christ. This atoning work of Jesus is the source of healing and the core truth of our healing model. It defines and characterizes our ministry methodologies.

Community – Believing that all the essential gifts of healing can manifest through the body of Christ, we are committed to equipping the body of Christ to become a healing community. For men and women to be restored back into authentic Christian fellowship and into the church they need to experience healthy Christian community so that hope for community can be restored. The Deeper Still ministry team models a community of servant leadership that serves one another, defers to one another, submits to one another and honors one another. This strength and humility restores hope to those wounded by jealousy, judgment and rejection.

Team – Building healthy teams is essential for success both in the governance of our organization and in our ministry paradigm. A Deeper Still ministry team is only as effective as it is healthy. Therefore, we are committed to the nurture and maturity of our team relationships. We do not just serve a function, we are a living organism. In a culture of healthy team relationships, our mission can then become our primary and central focus.

Restoration of Identity – The consequences of abortion are systemic and can damage core identity issues for both women and men. These can include issues pertaining to: dignity, femininity, emasculation, sexuality, and loss of passion, loss of voice, loss of spiritual identity, the heart of a mother, the heart of a father, sense of loss of favored standing with God etc. Deeper Still addresses these issues in a context conducive with a healing environment. Deeper Still will establish environments where God’s presence and peace are invited and honored. Wherever possible Deeper Still will advocate for ministry environments of safety, beauty, comforts, and privacy.

Inclusiveness – The abortion wounded heart can be found in all social, economic, racial, cultural, gender and religious strata. Therefore, our methodologies need to allow for this diversity.

Advocacy – The evidence of healing includes the freedom to speak and to act. Those receiving healing through Deeper Still are encouraged to become advocates, both for the cause of the unborn and for the healing of those who have participated in abortion. Advocacy has unique forms of expression according to the individual, but everyone is encouraged to walk out the fruit of their healing through love and good deeds. The spiritual battles that we encounter in the fight for freedom from the consequences of abortion are immense and far beyond human strength and wisdom. In recognizing prayer and worship as our lifeline, it is essential that we weave this practice into every aspect of what we do.