Michele Evans is the founder of Abide Maternity Home in Camp Verde, Arizona, an organization which helps women with crisis pregnancies. She is a mother. She is a woman determined to help her community and the women in it. Michele was also conceived in rape.

Michele’s mother was 19-years-old when she was attacked, dragged into the woods, and raped. Traumatized and terrified, when Michele’s mother found out she tried to ‘flush out’ any potential pregnancy immediately after the rape.

Despite the circumstances, Michele was born, grew up, and has lived a good and purposeful life. There were definitely some difficulties. She says, “I’ve always known that was how I was conceived, but I never knew how to deal with it,” Evans said. “Innocent questions such as, ‘What does your dad do?’ were always complicated for me. I didn’t know how to deal with the reality.”

However, Michelle states, “I can honestly share with the women we serve, ‘Pregnancy is not the worst thing ever.’ I’m alive. I’m grateful for my life. I’m grateful for my kids. It’s a miracle I have life.”

Used with the kind permission of Michele Evans