As the calendar turns and we reflect upon the strategic goals and aspirations for the future, the concept of transformation remains central to our mission and identity. While transformation is often discussed as an abstract theological principle, it is most powerfully understood through the “incarnational testimony” of those who have been brought from one place of darkness to a life of fullness and grace. One of the most visible examples of this within our organization is Tammy de Armis, who has served as the Director of Mission Advancement for five years. Her life provides a profound roadmap for understanding how personal redemption serves as the foundation for a global mission to rescue the most vulnerable.
Falling on the Battlefield: The Crisis of Secret Sin
Transformation often begins in a place of deep tragedy and conflict. At the age of nineteen, while already a raised and practicing Christian, Tammy “fell on the battlefield of abortion”. This experience highlights a critical and often overlooked reality within the church: abortion is not merely a secular issue, but one that occurs daily in the midst of Christian communities among those who claim to follow Christ. Despite her biblical awareness, Tammy found herself in a position where she felt she could not trust God with the crisis she was facing, particularly concerning her mother’s potential reaction following the tragic death of her father.
In a moment of profound spiritual negotiation, she prayed, “I promise you I’m your girl. I’ll be back, but I have to do this”. This attempt to “step aside” from God’s grace to manage a crisis through personal control is a common psychological trap. It represents a period where an individual acknowledges their faith while simultaneously choosing to walk a path they know is contrary to God’s will, often because they value a relationship or a career more than their trust in the Lord. This led to a ten-year period of silence and secrecy, during which she lived as a “nominal” follower of Christ while managing the hidden weight of her past.
The Encounter at the Microwave: From Secrecy to Testimony
The process of moving from a hidden secret to a public testimony is rarely a smooth transition; it often involves a “kicking and screaming” resistance to the vulnerability required for healing. For years, the justification for her silence was the belief that she was the “only one” in a beautiful church who had fallen on this battlefield, viewing everyone else as holy while considering herself the “heathen” sitting among them.
The breakthrough occurred in what she describes as an “encounter at the microwave”. While observing her three children swimming in the pool, she struggled with the lie from the enemy that admitting her abortion was wrong would somehow diminish her love for her living children. It was in this mundane moment that she heard the prompting of the Lord: “I have that baby in heaven. I blessed you with those three. I’m asking you to use your mouth and share with others”. Her response—slammimg the microwave and finally surrendering with a defiant “Fine, I’ll do it”—marked the end of justifying her position and the beginning of her transformation into a “walking testimony of grace”.
The Professional Mirror: Leading the Underground Railroad
True transformation often leads an individual back to the very place of their greatest failure, but with a new spirit of authority and redemption. This was literally true for Tammy, who eventually became the keynote speaker at the grand opening of a pregnancy center situated right next to the Planned Parenthood where she had her abortion years prior. This transition from patient to advocate serves as a powerful symbol of God’s ability to reclaim territory lost to the enemy.
For ten years, she served as the CEO of a pregnancy help center, a role she describes as working within the “underground railroads of our time”. In this position, she recognized that transformation is not only about saving the life of a growing baby but also about rescuing the mothers and fathers who are “wounded warriors” sitting in churches, unable to speak about their own past abortions. Statistics suggest that as many as 40% to 50% of the people entering pregnancy centers have an abortion in their background. For these individuals, the pregnancy center offers a way to “stop the pain, stop the bleeding,” and find the same redemption and freedom that Tammy experienced.
Broadening the Scope: The 97% Global Challenge
As her personal healing matured, the scope of her vision for transformation expanded from a local community to a global mission. While running the local pregnancy center in Escondido, California, was a blessing, she eventually felt a calling toward global missions, specifically through her connection with Passion Life. The catalyst for this shift was the staggering statistic that the United States accounts for only 3% of the abortions that happen in our world each year. This leaves 97% of the global crisis as a world missions challenge.
This realization transformed her understanding of the “donor base.” No longer was she focused solely on her local neighborhood; she began to view the entire United States as a potential partner in reaching the most concentrated areas of abortion worldwide. She approached this monumental task with the philosophy of “eating an elephant one bite at a time,” finding joy in the strategic expansion of life-saving work into international territories. Drawing on information from our previous conversations, this global transformation is evident in the work occurring in nations like Cuba, which has moved from the number one abortion rate in the world to number four, and China, where the model of pregnancy help is being integrated into public hospitals to counter the demographic collapse.
The Transformation of Advancement: From “The Ask” to “The Invitation”
One of the most profound areas of transformation in this ministry is the biblical recalibration of how we view money and partnerships. Many individuals in ministry fear the “ask,” viewing it as an offensive or burdensome task to request financial support. However, through a biblical worldview, the “ask” is transformed into an “invitation”.
This perspective recognizes that if God is calling His people to participate in the service of the Kingdom, then inviting them to give is actually inviting them into joy and the opportunity to make a lasting impact. In this framework, the “Holy Spirit is the fundraiser”. This theological shift removes the pressure from the human solicitor; if a large gift is received, it is not a testament to the solicitor’s skill, and if a day passes without donations, it is not a reflection of personal failure. Instead, the work of mission advancement is about testifying to what God is doing and allowing the Lord to open and close doors according to His timing.
Whether a partner contributes $5 or $100,000, they are viewed as equal partners in the eyes of the Lord, giving according to their ability and being equally blessed by their connection to the mission. This approach ensures that the focus remains on the “why” behind the gift—the personal stories and transformations that drive people to partner with the work of rescuing the vulnerable.
A Call to Action: The Path of Repentance and Hope
The story of transformation is ultimately an invitation to every listener and reader to examine their own life and “road of repentance”. For those who are currently “cowering in defeat” or living with a secret that they intend to take to their grave, the message is clear: there is a path from secrecy to testimony. Healing is not a process of “putting oneself back together” through sheer will, but of receiving the grace and mercy that is available through the church and the community of believers.
The advice to those standing where Tammy once stood—on the verge of letting the secret out—is to take the action immediately, before the “enemy gets a hold again” the next day. Local pregnancy centers throughout the United States serve as a primary resource for those seeking post-abortion classes and healing. There is “not a woman that doesn’t want to speak to another woman who’s fallen on that battlefield,” and the leadership of these centers is ready to drop everything to help a woman move into truth and redemption.
Conclusion: Rescuing the Vulnerable to the Glory of God
The transformation of a single life, such as Tammy’s, has the power to launch a movement that saves thousands of babies’ lives and offers the Gospel to families in crisis. It is a journey that moves from the individual’s “encounter at the microwave” to a global strategy targeting the 97% of the world’s abortions. By bringing light into the darkness and speaking for those who cannot speak—both the unborn children and the wounded parents who have been silenced by shame—the ministry of Passion Life continues to fulfill its mandate to rescue the most vulnerable where abortion is most concentrated.
As we look toward the future, we remain committed to being a “visible walking incarnational testimony” of the grace of God. We invite everyone to join us in this ministry, not merely as donors, but as partners who are equally connected to the mission of advancing the Gospel of Life to the glory of God. Transformation is possible for every individual and every nation, provided we are willing to “pop the bubble,” break the secrets, and walk into the freedom that only the Lord can provide.
This article is adapted from the episode transcript.