Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Crawford.
Kelly, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Background
I received my bachelor’s in Human Resource & Social Work from the University of Oklahoma in 2009. In the decade that has passed since that time, I have been drawn to nonprofit work. That passion has allowed me to gain experience both domestically and abroad in Haiti. I have always had a heart for assisting and investing in people who are navigating challenging life circumstances.
Personal Story
In the summer of 2015, my husband Daniel & I discovered we were pregnant, and that our first child was a little boy. On the same phone call, however, we learned that our son was conceived with a life-limiting chromosomal abnormality known as Trisomy 18. Instantly, we had to come to grips with the reality that our baby’s life would more than likely be short if his diagnosis held true.
We were counseled by medical professionals to terminate the pregnancy. Instead of giving our son an abortion, we gave him a name, and Abel Paul Crawford’s unconventional journey on earth continued. I was able to carry Abel for thirty-nine weeks and he was born on January 22, 2016. We got to love and take care of our son for fifteen days outside of the womb before saying goodbye to him on February 6th.
We consider and view Abel’s life as a gift, and he showed us that joy and sorrow are not mutually exclusive emotions. We can honestly tell you that our time with Abel was simultaneously the saddest and the sweetest, the hardest and the greatest thirty-nine weeks and fifteen days of our lives. The deep pain we feel from losing Abel is directly and inseparably tied to the pure joy we had in knowing and loving him fully.
Abel Speaks
After Abel passed, we began connecting with other families walking a similar road, and over the next couple of years, it became clear that most people were not having the same experience and perspective I’ve expressed above. Hebrews 11:4 says, “Through faith, though he is dead, Abel still speaks.” Based on the needs we saw, we founded an organization called Abel Speaks (www.abelspeaks.org) in January of 2018 on Abel’s birthday.
We have seen time and time again that parents can experience JOY in their child’s life, however short, and walk through that season with priceless memories and no regrets. We view our time with Abel as a gift and stewarding his life continues to be the greatest honor of ours.
Has it been a smooth road?
I think a ‘smooth road’ when starting an organization may be a myth, but all things considered, I have been incredibly encouraged by these first two years of operation. While I believe we can sustain pretty much anything for a season, my caution is to make sure that ‘season’ doesn’t evolve into your normal life. If you seem to be in the throws of one ‘season’ after another, you need to make some changes.
The main piece of advice that I cannot overstate in the early stages is to prioritize the selection of your Board and then leverage them continually. Make sure you don’t pick people who will passively occupy that position in name alone; you want passionate co-laborers who are actively involved and invested with skin in the game. No matter how competent you are, there is no substitute for a huddle of wise counselors to provide wisdom, influence, and accountability. Plus, it is so much more fun when you have a trustworthy team in your corner!
We’d love to hear more about Abel Speaks.
Abel Speaks supports families who have chosen to carry a child with a life-limiting diagnosis during pregnancy. Our vision is that every family will cherish their child’s life and have hope in the midst of sorrow. In seeking to serve and support these families, we offer:
• a mentor couple to give biblical counsel & pastoral care
• equipping prior to doctor’s appointments & medical meetings
• help creating birth plans & labor support
• maternity photos & birth photography
• medical connections & informational resources
• assistance in planning celebration services
• a variety of other commemorative keepsake items
Over the past few years, God has allowed us to care for 50 families. That’s 50 children created by God and cherished by their parents. 50 unique stories that we’ve had the privilege of playing a small role in. We have connected with folks throughout our DFW metroplex, San Antonio, Houston and Austin as well as North Carolina, Oklahoma, Georgia, Illinois, California, New Mexico, New Jersey, Kentucky, West Virginia, Arkansas, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Colorado and even Ireland.
As we share Abel’s story and see parents choosing life and cherishing their children, I believe we have been able to humbly offer a different perspective on the ongoing conversation in our culture and our world about the inherent value of every life starting in the womb.
From a mission standpoint to our knowledge there is no other organization that exists to specifically and comprehensively support families who have chosen to carry a child with a life-limiting diagnosis. While the scope of our vision is large, the niche in our demographic is small and therefore makes our mission unique and distinct.
From a leadership standpoint, starting an organization and utilizing the complimentary gifts of a man and a woman has benefitted us greatly. We believe and have seen the male/female unit to be a well-rounded image of God’s design for flourishing, and being able to harness the strengths of both wirings has served us well.
Particularly as it applies to the pro-life conversation in our country, which has been reframed as a “women’s rights” issue, we have seen the cultural trend that men do not have a valid voice in this space. It’s no wonder that so many fathers feel disengaged or out of the picture entirely. I respectfully disagree with that conclusion and have seen the tangible fruit and impact that strong male leadership can have on the organization we steer and the families we serve.
Do you recommend any apps, books or podcasts that have been helpful to you?
– The Bible Project podcast and website
– The Daily Article from the Denison Forum
– Church Leadership Podcast from Watermark
– Journeywomen with Hunter Beless
– Made For This podcast with Jennie Allen
– Thirty Minutes with the Perry’s
– Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast
– Building A Story Brand with Donald Miller
Contact Info:
- Website: www.abelspeaks.org
- Phone: (405) 488-9071
- Email: support@abelspeaks.org
- Instagram: instagram.com/abelspeaks
- Facebook: facebook.com/abelspeaks.org
Image Credit:
Mary Fields Driver and Jessica Barfield
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