Healing Hearts is a Gospel-centered, grace-driven ministry that offers hope and healing in Jesus Christ through God’s Word to people who have been broken by sin. Healing hearts, healing families. . . one heart at a time.
Healing Hearts Ministries was formed in 1988 by Sue Liljenberg and her husband Gary. Sue personally experienced an abortion in 1972 at the age of 18, and for many years suffered both emotionally and physically. In 1982, she was given hope for her life when someone loved her enough to tell her about Jesus and how He died on a cross to pay the penalty for her sin. She received Jesus into her life and knew that she would never be the same again, but she also knew that there was something keeping her from a deeper walk with God; something that kept her thoughts captive and ruled her life. That something just happened to be her abortion, and the realization that she took the life of the only baby she would ever conceive. After seeking help from physicians and psychologists with no lasting results, she turned to the only source that she knew: the God who saved her and His Word.
For several years God walked Sue through the Scriptures. As she learned the truth in God’s Word regarding her sin, who she was in Christ and how much God loved her, healing came. She knew this healing was not just temporary but eternal, and she longed to show other women how they, too, could become whole again. She began writing a Bible Study entitled “Binding up the Brokenhearted” so other women could walk the road she had already walked and find hope and healing for their lives.
After several years of counseling post-abortive women, Sue decided it was time to train these women so they could reach out and help others. In 1988, the ministry was formed. A local pastoral advisory board and a Board of Directors was assembled to oversee the ministry and provide Biblical accountability. Within several years the ministry was transformed from a kitchen table-top ministry to one serving the needs of women and men throughout the Puget Sound area of Western Washington. In 1997 as the ministry made preparations to reach beyond the Puget Sound area Healing Hearts was trademarked to prepare to reach women and men all over the United States and someday around the world.
The Healing Hearts study for women “Binding up the Brokenhearted” and its counterpart for men entitled “Restoring a Father’s Heart”(formerly “Wounded Warrior”) have been taught to thousands with outstanding results. Not only do individuals receive healing through these studies, but many come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior and are serving Him in various different areas of ministry. One participant now serves the ministry in the Ukraine where she reaches out to Russian women with the Love of Jesus and His Word.
Because of the tremendous success of ministering to the brokenhearted, Sue has authored a Bible study entitled, “The Hem of His Garment” that will help those who have not had abortions, but have areas of their lives that need a healing touch from the Lord. We have had great success ministering to women with this study and the non-post-abortive branch of our ministry is growing rapidly. It is Sue’s desire that as the Lord abundantly gives to her that she will freely give and write other healing studies to meet other needs in the future.
We truly give our thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ for all He has accomplished through this ministry of hope and healing and for what He will accomplish as we reach out to serve and to heal those whose hearts have been broken.
May the Lord bless you and touch your heart today.
Healing Hearts Ministries was formed to provide Biblical counsel and discipleship to individuals who suffer emotionally and spiritually from the pain, trauma, and affliction of their past. Approximately 50% of our clients suffer from post-abortion trauma. Approximately 15,000 individuals have been served requiring approximately 450,000 volunteer hours.
We live in a desperate, dying world that needs the hope and healing of Jesus Christ. This hope is shared by Healing Hearts through Bible-based studies. Did you know that:
- Over 4 million women are victims of severe assaults by boyfriends and husbands each year, and that 1 in 4 women are likely to be abused by a partner in their lifetime.
- According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 41.7% of Americans age 12 and older reported some use of an illicit drug at least once in their lifetimes. An estimated 119 million Americans aged 12 or older are current drinkers of alcohol, and 54 million participate in binge drinking at least once in a 30 day period.
- There are approximately 1.5 million abortions performed in the U. S. each year according to the Center for Disease Control.
- Each week, Child Protective Service agencies throughout the U.S. receive more than 50,000 reports of suspected child abuse or neglect.
- Eating disorders affect 5-10 million Americans and 70 million individuals world wide.
- Among all adults 18 and older, more than one out of every three marriages end in divorce.
The statistics above do not take into account other human sufferings such as poverty, catastrophic illness, sex crimes, murder, kidnapping and rape. The list is endless!
No one organization can solve all of the world’s problems, but we can make a difference “one heart at a time.” All of the individuals who minister in Healing Hearts have personally experienced many of the issues listed above. When their lives were falling apart and spinning out of control, it was through the love and compassion of a Healing Hearts volunteer, who had walked in their shoes, that they were able to once again find hope and healing for their lives.
We continue to network with other organizations such as:
- Crisis Pregnancy and Pregnancy Resource Centers
- Missions Organizations
- Churches
- Prisons
- Women’s Shelters
- Domestic Violence Shelters
- Drug Rehab Centers and Shelters
