Loren Ward believes the power of the written word can be immeasurable for parents facing crisis pregnancies, and she should know — two years ago, she was one of them. Loren is the founder of Unplanned Stories, a ministry that leads, among other initiatives, a letter-writing program for expectant parents who have chosen life.
In the spring of 2023, Loren was a senior at Washington State University, pursuing a double degree in journalism and sociology. She was also dating Cooper Ward, a fellow student whom she had met a few years earlier. Life looked rosy as Loren embarked on an exciting job search and solidified her post-graduation plans.
But soon, an unplanned pregnancy threw a wrench in those plans.
Though initially fearful, Loren and Cooper knew that choosing life for their baby was the right decision. Despite being criticized by friends and family who said they were destroying their futures; the couple stayed the course. They grew excited to be parents and dreamed about their future as a family of three.
They were married weeks before graduation, during what was supposed to be a joyful period of nesting. Tragically, however, Loren experienced a miscarriage three days after the wedding.
For all the negativity that Loren and Cooper received in response to their choosing life, there were also people who encouraged them. Such encouragement was key to Loren’s mental health, especially during her unplanned pregnancy and miscarriage.
With that in mind, Loren launched Unplanned Stories shortly before her graduation. The ministry uses the written word to reach parents in unplanned pregnancies. They also provide material support to moms and dads in need.
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One of the ministry’s initiatives is Letters of Hope, which mobilizes pro-lifers to write letters to expectant parents in need. The ministry team has formed partnerships with maternity homes and pregnancy centers, sending letters to the moms they serve.
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Hope Messengers, volunteers from across the country, many of whom are students, write the letters. Some share their own pro-life testimonies in their letters, while others simply offer personal words of support.
What sets Letters of Hope apart is its focus on personalization. Letters are tailored for each specific recipient. Partner organizations share a bit of background about each parent, while maintaining privacy as needed using pseudonyms. Hope Messengers use these stories to fit their messages to them.
After mailing their letters to Unplanned Stories, the cards are screened and sent to the partnering organization — usually a pregnancy help center, church, or maternity home. From there, the partner can deliver the letters to parents in need. Letters are free of cost to all partnering organizations.
The Letters of Hope initiative has impacted many, including teen mothers like 19-year-old Shariah. Kicked out of her home after she refused an abortion, Shariah was desperate and in need of help. Unplanned Stories connected her to local resources for housing, provided her with material support, and rallied their community to send her letters of hope.
Every voice in Shariah’s life was telling her to get an abortion, but these letters sent life-affirming voices into her life. Deeply impacted by the letters, Shariah gained the strength to be where she is today: residing in safe housing with her beautiful daughter, who is now 1-year-old.
Today, Loren is thriving as a pro-life leader and a mother of two. She would never have imagined that her own unplanned circumstances would bring forth such sweet fruit. Through the unique power of the written word, Letters of Hope can make a profound impact on parents facing unplanned pregnancy.
