SaveOne: Redeeming Life Stories for Hope, Healing, and God's Glory

Chaplaincy can be described as ministry to those outside the reach of the local church or to those who do not come to Jesus Christ in traditional ways. For some, this may be due to circumstances such as military deployment or job schedules, or simply the pursuit of eclectic or lifestyle hobbies or activities on the weekends.

For others, emotional struggles and past trauma can serve as barriers to seeking God. Women who have experienced abortion fall into that category more than many people realize; and more often than abortion advocates acknowledge. The men involved can frequently suffer in silence as well.

SaveOne, a ministry based in Nashville, Tennessee, is working to address that barrier by providing women, men, and families impacted by abortion a safe, understanding place to work through emotions and bring their pain to God.

Many of the SaveOne team members minister from personal experience with past abortions or trauma. One of those is founder and U.S. missionary with Chaplaincy Ministries, Sheila Harper.

After enduring abuse as a child, Harper accepted Christ at age 12 while living in a safer environment with an aunt and uncle. However, her commitment to follow the Lord derailed during college. She found herself in an ill-advised relationship and pregnant, leading to an abortion in 1985 followed by several years of alcohol and drug use, financial issues, and more unhealthy relationships.

Harper credits her husband and fellow U.S. missionary with Chaplaincy Ministries, Jack, with helping her recover and move forward, even though he was not a Christian believer when the two met and eventually got married. The Harpers had two sons, and she says that the Lord used them to inspire her to repent into right relationship with Him. Jack also accepted Christ, and the couple began serving in ministry, including planting and pastoring Crossroads Church in Antioch, Tennessee. They have been married 35 years.

Harper attended a class offered by a Chattanooga crisis pregnancy center for women who had experienced abortion. “Being with others who had suffered following an abortion made me realize others experienced the same isolation, shame, and loneliness,” she says. “This Bible study gave me back my life.”

After her positive experience, she became a volunteer and helped teach the class. As she shared her own story with other women and heard their stories, she noticed a common theme — “I’m willing to tell my story if it helps save even just one.”

After the Harpers moved to Nashville, God began stirring Sheila’s heart to create safe places for suffering women nationwide to find healing. SaveOne was started in 2000, and God led her to create resources including A Guide to Emotional Healing after Abortion, The Men’s Study and then The Ripple Effect for families and friends.

The ministry caught on quickly; over 300 chapters now teach the studies, hosted by pregnancy centers and churches. In 2018, after 11 years at Crossroads, Jack felt led to join the SaveOne staff full time. He now preaches in churches, helps with scheduling, and has collaborated with Sheila on The Men’s Study. Both ordained with the Assemblies of God, the Harpers officially became fully appointed U.S. missionaries in 2022.

Their future goals include establishing chapters in other countries as well as in every AG district/network in the United States as district relationships are growing through participation at women’s conferences and district councils. There, the Harpers talk with pastors and district officials to schedule training for prospective chapter leaders.

Chapters are established under the covering of a church or crisis pregnancy center, with the pastor’s or director’s approval of the person(s) wanting to teach. Training is available by video and online via Zoom; or a full day of in-person training can also be scheduled. The chapter is then listed on the SaveOne website, which guides users to a chapter near them.

Oklahoma Assemblies of God Women’s Ministries Director Susie Purkey has been a strong voice for SaveOne, leading to connection with Melissa Taylor, who serves as chapter coordinator for the Oklahoma AG. Although Taylor’s story does not include an abortion, it addresses a frequently voiced concern: “What about rape?”

Raised in a Christian home, Taylor felt called to ministry and pursued a Christian internship directly after high school. Abortion was not something she personally thought much about, until the topic arose in the midst of a conversation with other teens during an educational tour of Washington, D.C.

Taylor recalls saying, “Even if . . . I would never,” when discussion turned to circumstances such as rape. Then, while in college studying toward a counseling career, she was sexually assaulted and had to think through that very decision once she found that she was pregnant. Although she didn’t seriously consider abortion, Taylor wondered if God might rescue her from the situation by allowing her to miscarry the child. She now calls those thoughts a prayer she is thankful God chose not to answer, stating that her son, Riley, is one of her “greatest life blessings.” Now, at age 17, he is an accomplished musician and member of the church worship team.

Taylor’s story includes her being a single mom and working as a massage therapist, while continuing her college coursework and meeting her husband. She refers to Proverbs 3:5-6 as her life verse, saying God has directed her path as she has trusted Him for each step. Taylor and her husband attended the Oklahoma School of Ministry together, but the call to ministry seemed to be “not yet.” In 2024, when there came word from Purkey that SaveOne needed a liaison in Oklahoma, Taylor began serving as chapter coordinator, and both her and her husband became ordained ministers that same year.

Taylor’s combination of personal trauma, professional training as a licensed professional counselor and a call to ministry came together when she became a missions associate with U.S. Missions’ Chaplaincy Ministry and began working with SaveOne. She is currently working with a local chapter, overseeing the rest of the Oklahoma chapters and helping to establish new ones.

Many times, shame from a past abortion is the one thing stopping people from coming to Jesus and addressing this is crucial to emotional healing. For some, thinking God couldn’t possibly forgive them is what is keeping them from relationship with Jesus Christ. However, as they hear other women’s stories, they realize nothing is too great for God’s grace.

To help spread the word about healing and recovery, the SaveOne team hopes to have a U.S. missions associate in every AG district/network. Taylor is thankful for the U.S. Missions platform, which provides vetting and training and creates a high level of credibility. She also appreciates the encouragement of Oklahoma AG leaders.

“To do this job well, you need connections,” she says, “and the networking and support from leadership is awesome.”

To move toward the goal of connection and networking, SaveOne hosts an annual summit, bringing together chapter leaders. The location has been alternating between Nashville and somewhere in Europe; but for September 2024, Harper is excited to be planning a summit in South Africa, opening up even further avenues to connect and serve.


*Pictured: Melissa Taylor and her son Riley.

Editor's Note: Jan. 19 is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday in the Assemblies of God. 

Cynthia J Thomas

Cynthia J. Thomas worked for Assemblies of God U.S. Missions for six years before becoming primary caregiver for her father, a World War II veteran. She has served as a counselor for victims of domestic violence and women facing crisis pregnancies. Cindy and her husband, Phil, a schoolteacher, volunteer in youth outreach and have three adult children and one granddaughter.