Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
The Baptist Paper
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds

Believers equip, empower Thai mothers to choose life 

Getting pregnant at 15 hadn’t been part of Anong’s plans. The young Thai teenager ran away from home to live with her boyfriend’s family, and though they helped a little, the young couple still felt at a loss ...
  • October 19, 2023
  • International Mission Board
  • Featured, International Mission Board, Latest News, Missions
Newborn babies who’s mothers are enrolled in the ELM Pregnancy Center start out life with the help of a Christian community surrounding them.
(IMB Photo)

Believers equip, empower Thai mothers to choose life 

Getting pregnant at 15 hadn’t been part of Anong’s plans. The young Thai teenager ran away from home to live with her boyfriend’s family, and though they helped a little, the young couple still felt at a loss about how to navigate their situation. 

What hospital should she go to? How would she get insurance? How would she take care of a child? Questions like these piled up and threatened to overwhelm Anong. 

Should she just abort? That would be easier, she confided in a friend. 

Months before Anong’s dilemma, International Mission Board missionary Beth Hipps began building a network of believers and healthcare professionals in Chiang Mai, Thailand, who desired to walk alongside those experiencing unexpected pregnancies. 

One of those believers heard Anong’s story and called Hipps. 

“Can you come help her?” Hipps remembers hearing through the phone. All she could think was that Anong was the same age as her own daughter. 

That day, Hipps and her believing partner were able to take Anong to a clinic for an ultrasound. Over the next few weeks, they talked through her questions and problems and helped her see she wouldn’t be alone if she decided to give birth. 

‘Equip and empower’

Four months later, Anong gave birth to a healthy baby girl. As she settled into motherhood, she continued to have support from Hipps and other believers. She heard the gospel and knew her family was prayed for. 

This was a life-changing experience, not only for Anong and her family but also for Hipps. She’d been praying and hoping to establish Chiang Mai’s first crisis pregnancy center but had no idea how to start outside of building a network of connections. 

Working with Anong clarified for Hipps that helping didn’t have to be complicated. More than anything, those in crisis needed prayer, support and encouragement. 

Now, several years later, Hipps has helped found a crisis pregnancy center called the ELM Pregnancy Center that has seven care teams throughout Thailand. 

These teams show pregnant women and teens what their alternative options are while walking alongside them, step by step, so that they have support at each stage of the pregnancy and for up to two years after the child is born. Care teams help women get ultrasounds and prenatal checkups. They teach them using a booklet that explains what they’ll face during each trimester and how their babies are developing. This information gives women knowledge on how to prepare and what to expect in that phase of pregnancy. Care teams, made up only of believers, also seek opportunities to share their testimonies and the gospel. 

“We want to equip and empower women to choose life,” Hipps said. 

ELM is filling a crucial role that is necessary in Thailand, now more than ever, by meeting the physical and, most importantly, spiritual needs of pregnant women. In recent years, Thailand decriminalized abortion, and in 2022 the country expanded abortion access from 12 weeks up to the 20th week of pregnancy. ELM’s ministry meets a need for a specific and overlooked community and provides another alternative to pro-choice organizations with strong influence in the country. 

Additionally, in a culture where shame is the driving force behind people’s decisions, abortion tends to be the go-to option for women who see their pregnancy as a mistake. Their only goal is to get rid of the shame before anyone knows about it, and as a result, many women, Christians included, are ignorant to the realities of abortion. 

ELM seeks to not only care for pregnant women but also to educate Thais about the growth and development of babies in the womb, so they truly understand the blessing it is. Though the challenges are great, Hipps is hopeful they are slowly making progress. 

“We are, I believe, on the cusp of writing the pro-life narrative in Thailand,” Hipps said. 

‘Best part’

She said her favorite part over the years has been to see how lives, including hers, have been changed by God’s incredible provision every step of the way. From graphic designers when the center needed a logo, to doctors for the women in need, and most recently a physical space for the center to meet in, God has never failed to meet their needs. 

“I think that part is the best,” Hipps said, “to see how God transforms lives, not only of unplanned pregnant women but women who are just willing to answer the call.”

Pray for Hipps and the rest of the believers who partner with the ELM Pregnancy Center to have unity, wisdom and love as they serve women in need. Pray for hearts to be open and more lives to be transformed through this ministry.


EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Katherine Thierfelder and Stella McMillian and originally published by the International Mission Board.

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • First person: ‘Lord, get into my head before I do.’
    First person: ‘Lord, get into my head before I do.’
    May 23, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Churches mobilize to serve tornado-stricken communities
    Churches mobilize to serve tornado-stricken communities
    May 23, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Study: Nearly 1 in 3 Americans consult astrology, tarot cards or fortune teller
    Study: Nearly 1 in 3 Americans consult astrology, tarot cards or fortune teller
    May 23, 2025/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

First person: ‘Lord, get into my head before I do.’

“Let me tell you something that may not surprise you: my head can be a mess first thing in the morning,” writes Tony Martin, editor of The Baptist Record.

Churches mobilize to serve tornado-stricken communities

Life for Kentuckians in Somerset and London was thrown into chaos after an EF-4 tornado ripped through their communities on May 16, killing 19.

Study: Nearly 1 in 3 Americans consult astrology, tarot cards or fortune teller

With tarot cards showing up on Barnes and Noble shelves, in viral TikToks and in cutesy Jane Austin-themed sets, perhaps it’s no surprise that 30% of U.S. adults consult a fortune teller, tarot cards or astrology on a yearly basis.

Jack Graham picked to serve on Trump’s new Religious Liberty Commission

President Donald Trump has appointed Jack Graham, senior pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, to the advisory board of the newly established Religious Liberty Commission.

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2025 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

About

  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church
  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news

Subscribe

  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel