Friends of the Unborn Incorporated (Maternity Home)

This busy maternity sheltering home that we know today as Friends of the Unborn, began in 1984 in Marilyn Birnie’s home. At that time, Marilyn was a divorced mother of two teenage girls living in their two-family home in Hull, Massachusetts. Marilyn was becoming more aware of the serious problems so many young women face today when they find themselves pregnant. Oftentimes, parents or a boyfriend will tell a girl that she has two options...abortion or leave. Some are escaping from unsafe environments, violent relationships and even human trafficking. The pregnant woman is often desperate and chooses the abortion only because she does not see a way for herself or her child. This fell heavily 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 said that they had no problem with this idea and would accept a girl and offer her support and friendship. Marilyn contacted the Pregnancy Help office of the Archdiocese of Boston and asked if they needed a place for a pregnant a girl to stay. They were delighted with the offer and expressed the great need for Shepherding Homes for homeless young pregnant women in need. Within a short time, the office sent an 18-year-old girl to Marilyn’s home, and this young woman, instead of keeping the appointment to terminate her pregnancy, she moved into Marilyn's home on Monday, September 11th, 1984. Marilyn did not 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 when within 6 months, the apartment downstairs became available which gave even more space, allowing space for 5 more to live. Marilyn would continue to speak at churches and local organizations to help support the work she knew God had put in front of her and 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 for these women, and a thriving Pregnancy Help Center would be established. In 1999 our ministry was gifted an exceptionally large home by a very generous local businessperson. This enabled us to consolidate all our residents into one home and have room for a classroom, conference room and staff offices all under one roof. Most importantly, the lives of many innocent, unborn children have been saved along with the lives of the mothers who came in broken and become whole again because of the unwavering commitment of Marilyn, the staff, supporters and Board of Directors of Friends of the Unborn. The sanctity, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all human life has been paramount throughout our history and is the centerpiece of our mission. 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 lives on.