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The Resilient Heart Podcast


Oct 27, 2021

In September of this year, the Texas Heartbeat bill went into effect. The battle for life is on a fast track to the supreme court.  This week I had the opportunity to interview a man very involved in fighting for the value of life, Joel Patchen.

Joel is the author of five books including the “ Who Am I” bible study, a comprehensive overview of the value and dignity of life from the biblical perspective. 

Joel’s life was radically changed after 40 days spent with his daughter, Brooke, in a neonatal intensive care unit. His daughter challenged everything he thought he knew about life, abortion, and the value of the human person. As an educator and the son of a Christian minister, Joel thought he had a pretty good handle on life. But he was wrong! Life was so much more than he knew.

 During the winter of 2002/2003, life took on a new dimension for Joel. His daughter Brooke was born at 29 weeks gestation, almost three months before her due date, on December 13, 2002. Her arrival changed Joel’s life—He would never be the same! 

During the next 39 days that she lived on earth, he witnessed firsthand her development. He had the privilege of watching Brooke and the other babies ranging from 24 to 38 weeks gestation grow and mature in plain sight. This was the first time in his life that he faced the concrete reality of fetal development and life in the womb. His experience with these children, who should still have been in the womb, completely refuted the lies in our culture concerning preborn babies. As he watched the medical staff care for these little ones, it gripped him that several other children at this stage of development are aborted in our country every day. It was after this revelation and experience with Brooke that he began my journey to actively defend the preborn and fight against abortion.

For a free book contact me beverly@theresilientheartpodcast.com

For more information on Joel and his ministry, Annas Choice visit www.annaschoice.org