When Brandy Meeks was a young teen, she thought God was calling her to medical missions. She later learned that this calling would come about in a way she never expected.

No Mistake

When Brandy Meeks was a young teenager, a medical missions team spoke at her church, sharing how their work overseas impacted the lives of people around the world. As she listened, she was inspired, as if God was placing a dream in her heart to one day join the medical team. 

“I thought maybe someday I could solve malaria or something," Meeks told Live Action News. "When I told my father, he asked me if he could hold me accountable. He knew God didn’t make mistakes and if that was placed on my heart, it must be what I was supposed to do.”

But when Meeks entered high school, a biology class dissecting frogs revealed to her that the sight of blood made her ill.

She reflected, “I just didn’t have the knack for that sort of thing. I felt kind of lost, trying to forge a different path.” 

But Meeks later discovered that God had a plan all along, and found her purpose in just the way He intended.

The 'Aha' Moment

After attaining a degree in psychology, she started working for the university as an intern in the fundraising arena. She also worked for a local nonprofit organization.

“I really had a desire to help people reach their highest potential in an area that had nonpartisan support and a mission that everyone could get behind,” Meeks said.

Because she was so visible in the nonprofit arena, the local pregnancy resource center reached out to her, inquiring as to whether she’d consider serving as the director.

“I told them no,” Meeks said. “Then a friend encouraged me to pray about it. She told me not to be a ‘Jonah’ and impressed upon me that may be the direction in which God wanted me to go.”

So, Meeks prayed and within a week of speaking with the board of directors, she knew it was the right fit. As it turned out, the church she had previously attended had launched the center.

She noted, “I could see God’s fingerprints all over this. When I called my dad, he told me that I was indeed fulfilling the call God had placed on my heart. He said I was serving in a medical mission, just not in the way I had originally envisioned.”

It was an “aha” moment for Meeks, realizing she was serving women during the most critical time of their lives.

Since that time, Meeks has been serving in the pro-life movement in various capacities. After serving at the pregnancy resource center for three years, she became Director of Marketing and Research Application of the Vitae Foundation for three years, then was recruited by Abby Johnson to join her team just as the movie “Unplanned” was released.

Meeks said, “Abby anticipated she was going to need more staff, so I accepted a position as vice president of operations.”

After Roe was overturned in June 2022, Meeks was asked by the Vitae Foundation’s board of directions to return to the organization, where she serves today as President/CEO.

She noted, “I have a heart for human beings and a respect for all stages of life. I’m grateful to be able to stay true to my mission.”

Men: A Key to Stopping Abortions

In fact, for the mother of five, Meeks’ pro-life principles were put to the test when her son, who was attending college, confided that his girlfriend was pregnant.

“I knew that as the grandmother, my response mattered,” Meeks said. “I drove from Missouri to Tennessee to put my arms around the mother of my grandchild and told her that whether she married my son or not, I would always love and protect them.”

Her son and his girlfriend eventually got married and now have two children.

As the result of her personal experience — and from a study the Vitae Foundation conducted about men’s influence on abortion — Meeks has learned that men are often the key as to whether a woman facing an unexpected pregnancy will seek an abortion.

She notes, “the abortion industry knows men are very influential and will often find ways to segregate the men from women at abortion clinics. My son knew how he handled his girlfriend’s unexpected pregnancy was important. He wanted her to know they’d figure it out together.”

Meeks emphasized that a woman is looking for affirmation when she tells her partner of their pregnancy. A man, she says, often responds by telling the woman he will respect whatever she decides.

“Essentially, men are putting the entire responsibility on the shoulders of their partners,” Meeks said. “Even though our study, the first of its kind, revealed that they think it’s the ‘right’ thing to say, women resent that canned response. She needs to know she’s not alone in this journey and that he’s going to fight for the child.”

Real change, Meeks said, not only comes from helping men come alongside their partners but also transforming a culture to one that supports life.

“We need to re-frame our conversations around unplanned pregnancies," Meeks said, "and it starts in our homes, around the dinner table.”

Compassion in Action

Equally important is speaking out against abortion, sharing stories that help others see the negative impact abortion has on communities everywhere.

“When, we as pro-life advocates stay silent, we give the other side the microphone,” Meeks said. ” We don’t want to rock the boat, but the abortion industry never stops talking about abortion. It takes one person to share truth with love and compassion.”

While speaking out is vital, so is showing up. Real compassion, Meeks notes, is about action. 

“It’s having a generosity mindset,” Meeks said. “It’s not saying, ‘let me know if you need anything’ but about being more proactive like sending a pack of diapers, offering to drive her to a doctor’s appointment. We need to step up and show up.”

These days, Meeks speaks around the country, often partnering with pro-life organizations like Students for Life. She is adamant about the importance of implementing programs that teach men ways they can support their partners during unexpected pregnancies. “I want to make sure we’re doing what God want us to do,” she said.