Texas state: maternity ranch instead of abortion

In Texas, abortions are banned from the sixth week of pregnancy. A woman therefore wants to help pregnant women who are forced to carry their child to term. They are often victims of domestic violence.

Aubrey Schlackman stands in the wind on a wide meadow and points to a line of trees on the horizon. Here, about an hour’s drive north of Dallas, the thirty-something wants to open a maternity ranch: a large community center and homes for women and their children, on a site the size of 50 football fields.

The idea for the maternity ranch came to the mother of two when she was walking home from shopping and passed a ranch that was for sale. Not just a vague plan, but a complete, detailed vision, Aubrey says – like a bolt of lightning. “I believe the Lord gives us passions that drive us and show us how to practice charity. And for us, that’s it.”

“You Must Be Pro-Mom”

By “us” Aubrey means her husband Brian and meanwhile about a dozen volunteers. The divine vision met the young woman with a ponytail, cowboy boots and the logo of her newly founded aid organization “Blue Haven Ranch” on the green T-shirt in early 2020. Long before abortion laws in Texas were tightened to the point that legal abortions were virtually impossible there are.

She herself is also against abortions, says Aubrey at dinner in a Mexican restaurant. “But I think if you create a law that restricts people’s choices, then you still have to help with that choice. You have to be pro-mother. If you’re really pro-life, then you have to take action .”

Many victims of domestic violence

And that’s what Aubrey does: For the actual ranch, a project worth millions, she’s still collecting donations. But the money is already enough to help five single mothers. Aubrey pays their rent and living expenses until the children’s first birthday. All women already have several children.

Many were victims of domestic violence. One of her protégés, who already has three children and was abused by her husband, had already decided to break off. “Because the relationship was so traumatic, she didn’t want to bring another child into this situation and saw no way out. That’s why she wanted an abortion.”

Because of the new abortion law in Texas, which bans abortions after the sixth week, it was already too late for that. The woman and her children ended up with Aubrey through a Christian counseling center.

In return: respect Christianity

In return, Aubrey expects her mothers to come to the community gathering once a week. Sometimes there is Bible study, sometimes the women train to write a CV. At the end there is always a joint, self-cooked dinner. The women don’t have to profess Christianity, but they have to respect it, says Aubrey.

It is much more important to her that the women can get along well with their families on their own and without financial aid even after the year in their care. Therefore, there is a major focus on further training. “One was a hair stylist and now wants to be a lactation consultant. I’m paying for her online training. And she’s working on that now. Soon she’ll have her license. And so she’ll be able to add $20,000 to $30,000 a year to her income and be in a much better place to take care of themselves and their children.”

No men visiting, no love affair

In addition, the women must contractually undertake not to receive any men in their homes and not to enter into a romantic relationship. So that they don’t accidentally get pregnant again while trying to get their lives together.

The mothers themselves do not give interviews. In a glossy video posted on the ranch’s website, Beth, Aubrey’s first mother, praises the experience: “Without Blue Haven Ranch, the mountains of life would have been hard to climb. They’re just little hills now. Blue Haven is a godsend.”

Aubrey already has more women in need than places. And if the US Supreme Court should actually overturn the right to abortion, she expects even more support. She hopes that many other evangelicals will also create offers of help like hers.