Offering hope in unexpected pregnancies

Miyoko Tomita has been the head of Life Hope Network (LHN lifehopenet.com) since April 2024. LHN was founded in 2005 with this mission statement: “By God’s grace and for His glory, to help women (and men) facing a hard time in their lives due to unexpected pregnancy or post-abortion trauma to make good life decisions and find true healing.” I took the opportunity to interview Miyoko about LHN for Japan Harvest.

Question: What kinds of things do you and your volunteers do at LHN?

Answer: We offer crisis pregnancy counseling and post-abortion counseling by phone and email, and we have a home for pregnant women who need a place to live. (We call them “homestays.”)

Q: Why do you think LHN is a needed ministry in Japan?

A: Not all organizations trying to help at-risk pregnant women in Japan are pro-life. Other organizations also seek to help, but their focus is on a safe birth and no child abuse later. From that standpoint, an abortion can be a good option for women who are wavering. But we’ve learned that even in truly difficult cases, the consequences of abortion lead to depression and regret. We also want to save the baby’s life. So there must be someone who can really speak for the baby. In fact, many pregnant women who contact us say they are thankful that we have a clear opinion instead of saying, “It’s just your choice.” As for post-abortion counseling, there are simply very few organizations doing it.

Q: What is your approach to post-abortion counseling?

A: As Christians, we don’t say it was a good decision to abort, but at the same time, we believe this is not the end of their life, and their life must go on. God can provide a way forward. The first step is to accept the feeling of sadness and regret, and know that God will forgive you. We clearly explain that Jesus has died for them. Then we encourage them to accept the forgiveness of sins, forgive others, and move forward.

Q: Has anyone believed in Jesus through the counseling?

A: It’s done with emails, and we don’t often meet them in person, so it’s a little difficult to see if they have really become a believer. But over the course of the counseling, there are many who feel very relieved by the fact that Jesus forgave them. They pray to be forgiven. They sometimes even ask for a Bible or other books and for a recommendation of a church near them. Sometimes there are women who used to go to church but have quit. After the counselling, they start going back to church.

Q: Tell us about the post-abortion video series.

A: We’ve been using a two-page written text to lead clients through the steps for healing. But these days, young people are used to very short messaging and videos on YouTube and TikTok. It’s been our desire to do this study in an easier way, so we started turning the written studies into a video series, which will be completed in Spring 2025. We feel the video that explains the gospel is especially good.

Q: Why did you get involved at LHN?

A: When I was at college, I was involved in a group helping homeless people. It wasn’t a Christian group, and I wasn’t a Christian then, but I just liked going and helping them. After college, I started to work for a regular company, but I was still going there to help as a volunteer. When I moved from Tokyo to Nagoya, I found it difficult to continue. I even searched for groups in Nagoya and went several times, but it didn’t work out.

Then I started attending the church associated with LHN. I saw what Cynthia was doing (taking in pregnant women who needed a place to live), and I thought, “Well, these women are also homeless.” After being baptized, I casually asked if there was anything I could do and began training in post-abortion counseling.

Q: What did you learn as a LHN volunteer?

A: That abortion is so painful. I was overwhelmed by how these women react, how they regret and weep over their babies. It was so sad to read all the emails. On the other hand, there was the joy of birth. How the homestays looked so happy and proud of their babies. How the little baby becomes a treasure in life. I think knowing this contrast is the backbone of our ministry.

Q: What’s it like to take over a ministry from a missionary who is also the founder?

A: This has been Cynthia’s ministry from the start, so sometimes people from the government or around us know Cynthia’s name rather than LHN. Because Cynthia was a foreigner and she’s been always quick to act, that’s how everything started and has been sustained until now. We don’t have a manual or process; it’s really case by case. The post-abortion counseling has also been very personal, based on each counselor’s style. I think if this ministry had been started by a Japanese, they would have more structure and it would be easier to step into as the leader. But Cynthia is still around, so the transition can happen gradually. It’s better than the missionary suddenly leaving.

Q: How did you decide to become the leader of LHN?

A: I volunteered for eight years. Cynthia told me if I wanted to be more seriously involved, I needed to go to seminary. When I was going to seminary, I was still working. Going to seminary and getting married made me gradually want to quit my job. Cynthia then asked me (or kept asking me!).

I find counseling is hard, but not miserably hard for me. For other people, it is depressing or all-consuming. So I feel God has gifted me for counseling in that way.

Q: How did God prepare you for the leadership of LHN?

A: I think working at a regular company for 13 years was something God let me do because I needed it. I learned things through my job, for example, relationships with colleagues, managing finances, and doing presentations.

I think getting married made me feel more comfortable about asking for help. Before that, I had been trying to do everything by myself. But marriage made me more relaxed, and my husband can always tell when I’m working too hard. Even if I become a leader, it doesn’t mean I need to stand alone.

Q: Does your husband’s job have anything to do with LHN?

A: He’s the pastoral intern at the church affiliated with LHN. Homestays are supposed to come to church on Sundays, and he has a chance to meet them and talk with them. Even former homestays come to the church after they give birth and leave LHN. Since they have no background in Christianity, he tries to connect with them, especially through the simple kids’ message that is part of worship.

Q: Just as an aside, do you have any advice for Christian women who are interested in getting married?

A: There is a time for everything. I was 36 and he was 47 when we got married. It’s very late, but I don’t wish we could be 10 years younger. You can never be too late, and you don’t need to feel pressure.

Q: What’s the most enjoyable part of your ministry?

A: The babies! When they’re born and after they’re born, and sometimes we get to see them grow up.

Q: What’s the most difficult thing for you?

A: When someone contacts us saying that she just had an abortion when her situation was such that she should have given birth 120% [the abortion could have been avoided].

Q: What is your vision for LHN?

A: My desire is that having a baby is something that is celebrated, which doesn’t always happen. We’re trying to encourage pregnant women to celebrate. It would be great if we could use every opportunity to promote this celebration.

Photo of Miyoko Tomita submitted by author