Meet Emily Berning

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Emily Berning. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Emily below.

Hi Emily, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I did not find my purpose by writing a five year plan. I found it by following the doors God opened and learning to say ‘yes’ when He placed a need in front of me.

Growing up, even before I understood much about the Bible, I sensed that God cares deeply for people who are vulnerable. I was drawn to serve anyone who needed help. In high school I volunteered with special needs religious education at my church and taught swimming lessons to kids and adults with disabilities. Those experiences taught me something simple and biblical: every person is made in the image of God, and caring for them is a privilege. I did not know it then, but God was forming the foundation of my calling.

In college I learned more about the reality of abortion and the pressures women face. Through student pro life work, I saw that many women are not choosing abortion because of convenience but because of fear, financial stress, or lack of support. That shaped my understanding of James 1:27, which calls believers to care for the vulnerable in very practical ways. It also helped me see that loving my neighbor sometimes means offering tangible help, not just good intentions.

After college my husband and I heard about a woman who was planning an abortion because she felt she had no way to provide for another child. We offered to help meet her financial needs, and she chose life for her baby. That moment made something clear to me. If financial pressure is pushing women toward abortion, then offering support can pull them out of despair. It reminded me of Galatians 6:2, which calls us to carry one another’s burdens. That is all we were doing, and God used it to save a life.

From that experience, Let Them Live was born. We did not start with a grand vision. We started with obedience. We helped one woman, then another, and then another. Over time it grew into a national organization that provides counseling, financial assistance, and ongoing support for women in crisis pregnancies. Each step forward happened because God kept placing women in front of us, and He kept providing exactly what was needed for them.

I found my purpose the same way many people in Scripture discovered theirs. Not through a dramatic moment, but through steady obedience. God placed a mission in front of me, and I learned that joy comes from serving Him by serving others. My purpose is to support women who feel alone, to defend the unborn, and to use whatever gifts God has given me to protect life.

I did not choose this purpose from a list of options. God grew it in me over time. He shaped it through service, Scripture, and small acts of obedience that became a calling. That is how I found my purpose, and that is how I try to live it out every day.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

At Let Them Live, I lead a national nonprofit that supports women who feel pressured into abortion because of financial hardship or impossible circumstances. Our mission is simple and rooted in Scripture. We believe that every person is created in the image of God, that every life has value, and that caring for vulnerable mothers is a direct expression of biblical love. Because of that, we step into the gap when a woman feels she has no one to help her.

What makes this work special is that it is both practical and deeply personal. When a woman reaches out to us, she is usually overwhelmed by fear, debt, eviction notices, or instability. She often believes her only choice is abortion. Our team listens to her, walks through her needs, and provides real support like rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, or whatever is genuinely standing in her way. We also offer counseling, coaching, and long term relational support. We do this so that money and fear are never the reasons a woman feels forced to end the life of her child.

The most exciting part of this work is watching hope return to a woman who felt completely alone. There is nothing like hearing a mother say, “I did not think I could do this, but now I feel strong again.” There is nothing like seeing her hold her baby and knowing that God used a simple act of provision to save a life. Those moments are what keep us going.

Let Them Live has also grown in ways we never imagined when we started. We now serve women from all over the country, and our team works around the clock to answer calls from mothers in crisis. We have launched an Adopt a Mom program where churches, small groups, and families can directly sponsor a mother throughout her pregnancy. It has created a powerful community of believers who want to live out James 1:27 by caring for women who feel forgotten or overwhelmed.

We are also expanding the counseling and coaching side of our work. Our goal is not only to help a mother choose life but to help her thrive after her child is born. We walk with her through budgeting, career steps, emotional support, and community connection. We want every woman to know that she is valued by God and that her life has purpose.

Everything we do at Let Them Live is built on a simple belief. When the Church steps in and meets the real needs of real women, lives are saved. Babies are born. Families are strengthened. And women who felt hopeless discover that they are loved, capable, and never alone.

That is what I do, and it is the greatest privilege of my life.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

When I look back on my journey with Let Them Live, three qualities have shaped me more than anything else: resisting the urge to jump to conclusions, learning to communicate clearly, and choosing to give grace.

1. Not jumping to conclusions
Running a nonprofit that serves women in crisis taught me very quickly that we rarely see the full picture at first glance. People come to us carrying fear, trauma, confusion, or pressure, and what they share initially is often only a fraction of their story. Early on, I learned the importance of slowing down, asking questions, and giving the benefit of the doubt. Scripture calls us to be “quick to listen and slow to speak,” and living that out has protected relationships, brought clarity in difficult situations, and helped us serve women with wisdom instead of assumptions.

For anyone starting out, practice this intentionally. Do not make decisions or judgments based on the first version of a story. Seek understanding. Ask more questions. You will be surprised how often missing pieces change everything.

2. Communicating clearly
Clear communication is essential in the work we do. We talk with mothers who are overwhelmed, donors who want to understand the mission, staff members navigating urgent situations, and volunteers who want to serve well. If I am not clear, people either fill in the blanks with their own assumptions or feel unsure about what is expected. Both create confusion.

For those early in their journey, work on saying exactly what you mean in a way people can receive. Be direct but kind. Clarify expectations. Follow up. Good communication builds trust, prevents conflict, and keeps a mission moving forward.

3. Giving grace
Grace has been one of the most important qualities in this work. Women come to us at their lowest moments. They are not thinking clearly. They are scared. They sometimes say things they do not mean. They sometimes disappear and come back. They sometimes struggle to believe in themselves. Giving grace does not mean ignoring responsibility. It means remembering that God has been patient and gracious with me, so I should extend the same to others.

For anyone beginning their journey, make grace a habit. Assume the best. Be patient with people learning and growing. Offer second chances. Grace holds relationships together, creates an environment where people feel safe, and makes it possible to walk with others through hard seasons.

These three qualities have shaped how I lead, how I serve, and how I navigate challenges. They did not come overnight. They grew through experience, prayer, and a desire to honor God in the way I treat others. My advice to anyone starting out is to cultivate these traits intentionally. They will protect your relationships, strengthen your leadership, and prepare you for everything God calls you to do.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

The book that has shaped me more than any other is the Bible. It has guided my decisions, corrected my thinking, strengthened my character, and clarified my purpose. Throughout my journey with Let Them Live, several passages have become anchors that God has used to direct and steady me.

One of the most meaningful verses is Esther 4:14. Mordecai’s reminder that Esther may have been placed in her position “for such a time as this” has been a source of courage for me. It taught me that calling is not always comfortable or convenient. Sometimes God places you exactly where He needs you, and the responsibility is simply to be faithful.

Another passage that has shaped my perspective is Genesis 50:20. Joseph’s words, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good,” have helped me see that God can redeem difficult seasons. Challenges, criticism, or setbacks do not have the power to derail His plans. He uses everything, even the hard moments, to accomplish His purposes.

The Psalms have also been a steady source of strength. They remind me that leadership requires honesty before God, dependence on Him, and a heart that trusts Him even when circumstances feel overwhelming. Passages about God being our refuge and strength helped me push forward during seasons when the work felt heavy.

The teachings of Jesus have shaped how I treat people. His compassion toward the vulnerable, His patience with those who were struggling, and His willingness to stop for individuals others ignored all inform the way I approach women in crisis.

The Bible continues to guide my decisions and how I lead. It does not just give abstract ideas. It gives real wisdom about how to live, how to persevere, and how to care for people in a way that honors God. That has been the most influential part of my development as a leader, a woman of faith, and someone called to protect life.

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