OUR HISTORY

Friends of the Unborn began in 1984 in Marilyn Birnie’s home. At that time, Marilyn was a divorced mother of two girls living in Hull, Massachusetts. Marilyn had growing concerns about the options young women were facing in her community when they find themselves pregnant. Many of whom experience very low income, overcrowding, violent relationships, and even human trafficking. In desperation, many women choose abortion because they do not see a sustainable path to raising and supporting a child. This fell heavy on Marilyn’s heart. 

After a great deal of prayer, Marilyn spoke with her daughters about the possibility of using their extra bedroom for a homeless pregnant woman. Her daughters agreed and were happy to accept a girl into their home and offer her support and friendship. 

Marilyn then reached out to the Pregnancy Help office of the Archdiocese of Boston and asked if they needed a place for a pregnant girl to stay. They were delighted with the offer as the community is always in need of Shepherding Homes for homeless young pregnant women in need of help. Within a short time, Pregnancy Help sent an 18-year-old girl to Marilyn’s home. The young woman canceled her appointment for the abortion that day and became the first of many residents to move into Marilyn's home on Monday, September 11th, 1984.  Within six years this new mother went on to become a registered nurse in the Boston area.

Marilyn didn’t know on that day that this young woman would be the first of many to be placed in her care. She realized that the Lord had prepared and gifted her to work with these beautiful young women and within 6 months more room was prepared and the small apartment downstairs became available. Five more young women were able to move in. 

Marilyn would continue to speak at local community organizations and churches to help support the work she knew God had put in front of her. Through her great faith, just enough money would come in and so it went. Friends of the Unborn had become a ministry! Over the next several years, three more residences would be open and a thriving pregnancy help organization would be established. 

In 1999 our ministry was given a large home by a very generous local business person. This enabled us to consolidate all of our residents into one home and offer a classroom, conference room, and staff offices all under one roof.

There are many success stories to be told about our “graduates” and their children, most of whom are now adults. Keep your eyes on this website, Facebook, Instagram pages, and our quarterly newsletter. It is important to note that after our residents and their babies move on, some come back for moral support and other needs, or they just stop in to say “Hello”, share their successes and how their child has grown. It is always such a delightful and rewarding experience for our staff to see lives changed for the better. Most importantly, the lives of many innocent, unborn children have been saved along with the lives of the mothers; many of whom came in broken and become whole again because of the unwavering commitment of our Foundress Marilyn Birnie, Our Executive Director Joan Bailey, the Staff, Volunteers, Supporters, and the Board of Directors. 

Our "Vision" is to preserve the sanctity, liberty, and pursuit of happiness for all human life.  This vision has been paramount throughout our history and is the centerpieces of our mission. We gratefully put our faith and trust in Christ Jesus daily for His guidance and provision. 

Marilyn Birnie, our foundress, always said, "We win every time a child takes that long, often perilous journey down the birth canal into the arms of a loving mother."

Marilyn went home to the Lord on July 13, 2019, but her mission continues.