Pastor Alvin L. Howard

Pastor Al Howard is a man walking after God's heart, with a burning desire to see the church spend more time out on the street where suffering humanity is. He is a graduate of California Missionary Baptist Seminary and has been seasoned by 30 years in the ministry. He is the father of 15 children, one of which is adopted and he also has 17 grandchildren. On June 2, 2002 Pastor Al was awarded an honorary doctorate degree, Doctor of Humanities, from California Pacific School of Theology.

In 1983 at a prayer seminar God spoke to Pastor Howard about abortion, "My instructions were to do something about it," says Pastor Howard. Plans were then begun for a home for un-wed mothers in Downey, CA. Today that vision has become a reality. His Nesting Place is now located in a warm cozy complex of buildings in Long Beach, CA and has become one of the largest extended pregnancy care facilities in the Greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. His Nesting Place has the capacity to accommodate up to 40 women and children. Since 1983 His Nesting Place has housed over 4,000 women and children. It is one of the only homes of its kind that will accept a woman who already has children.

In conjunction with the maternity home His Nesting Place operates a Crisis Pregnancy Center, located in Long Beach, CA. They offer free pregnancy tests, food, baby items, counseling and most importantly the Gospel of Jesus Christ to needy women who come to them. Many women are led to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ through these centers.

Pastor Howard has been marked of God with a broken heart of compassion not just for the defenseless unborn babies, but also for the violent irrational acts of infanticide, euthanasia, suicide, sterilization and other methods of modern population control. He knows what it means to fight the good fight of faith, sued by the city of Downey, CA for housing unwed mothers in his church. He was also sued by a well-known abortionist for punitive damages, because sidewalk counselors were turning away so many "customers" the abortionist was losing business. His church has been picketed by A.C.T. UP and Queer Nation, two of the most notorious gay rights activist groups. "There will always be a fight in any real work of God, it comes with the calling," says Pastor Howard.

Pastor Howard is involved on every level of Pro-Life work. He has spoken in churches, schools, at seminars and on television and radio programs. He has a conviction about the value of life that has been tested and proven to be real. Pastor Howard, along with his wife Judy, continue today to develop and expand the vision of His Nesting Place, desiring to be more effective as a "Positive Alternative" to abortion.
Since the 1973 Supreme Court Roe vs. Wade decision legalizing abortion, millions of children have died. Much to our nation's shame, that toll climbs higher as 4,500 more babies die each day.

"What are Christians doing to stop this innocent bloodshed?"

"Are they doing anything to intervene for the babies dying in local abortion facilities each day?"

"What about reaching out to those who are considering abortion as an alternative to carrying their child to term?"

These are the questions that Pastor Al Howard asked himself after attending a prayer meeting in 1983. At that time it became clear that God was laying it on his heart to speak out for those children, to be an advocate for the unborn. Thus, the organization, His Nesting Place Ministries (HNP) was founded in 1983.

HNP began by bringing a Christian presence to the abortion facilities in Long Beach, California through regular sidewalk counseling, educating the community, and encouraging the Church to take responsibility for protecting women and children.

Over the years, HNP has expanded its ministries so that we can more effectively meet the needs of those to whom we reach out. For example, our care giving ministries now deal with crisis pregnancy work: post-abortion counseling, medical care referrals and providing baby and maternity clothes.

His Nesting Place welcomes women, ages 18 and over, who are pregnant and who have nowhere to turn. Our ministry also takes in homeless mothers and their children. We never put a time limit on those seeking our help. A woman may stay with us until she is restored and self-sufficient. We do not discriminate against race, religion, nationality or financial situation. Primarily, we ask only that a woman desires a changed life and a personal relationship with Christ to be admitted to our home.

We hope you will join us in the important task of reaching out to the unborn and their parents. Together - with God's guidance - we can continue to minister to those in need. Above all, we stand ready to assist you in any way, and we ask you to prayerfully consider your role in this ministry. Please do not hesitate to call or write us.
His Nesting Place Ministries is a non-profit Christian ministry whose reason for existence is to be an advocate for the unborn and minister to the needs of women in a crisis pregnancy. That purpose is based on a foundation of four guiding philosophies or beliefs.
We believe that the ultimate purpose in living is to glorify God through serving Jesus Christ our Lord, reaching out to a suffering humanity and sharing His love and His sacrifice.

We believe God has endowed humankind with the privilege of bearing children; that children are a gift from God, a heritage from the Lord, created in His image. We are, therefore, accountable to God to preserve, protect, and provide for them.

We believe that human life is of inestimable worth and significance in all of its dimensions, including the aged, all of those with varied mental and physical abilities, and every other condition in which humanness is expressed from conception to the grave.

We believe it is in keeping with the Word of God that we actively intervene on behalf of anyone unjustly sentenced to death and to speak out for those who are unable to speak for themselves.
Our commitment to these principles is apparent in every area of the organization. The values and methods used to promote the goals of His Nesting Place are drawn from the wisdom of God and His Word-the Bible-rather than from humanistic notions of the day.

In conclusion, His Nesting Place Ministries strives to be a reflection of what we believe to be the mandates of the Creator Himself in regard to the protection of and provision for children and the family.
We believe that the way an organization handles itself in the financial arena is a reflection of its integrity in every area. Therefore, we have established guidelines and limitations on the way we solicit contributions and how those funds and resources are put to use for this ministry. The overriding theme of these guidelines is that money be raised and distributed for the glory of God.

  1. The Lord has been gracious to the ministry of HNP over the years and has provided us with the financial resources to do the tasks that are most needed. Nevertheless, He gives and sometimes takes away. If He ever closes the door to this work, we will accept His leading and yield the outcome to Him. Until then, we will devote every ounce of energy and all resources to the tasks at hand - helping women in crisis pregnancy and saving the lives of their unborn children.
  2. One of the ways we can discern the Lord's will regarding the direction of our work is through the support He sends (or doesn't send) from His people. Therefore, during lean times we will make our needs known to our friends. We will never resort to disrespectful or dishonorable methods of fund raising.

    When those lean times come, we will make every effort to be sure that we "live within our means" with the firm knowledge that this is the will of God for HNP.

  3. We will not spend money we do not have. We firmly believe that the Lord is capable of meeting all the financial needs of this ministry.

    When we make a purchase, we will pay the invoice within 30 days with funds currently available, not relying on future anticipated contributions.

  4. We will not ask people to support the ministry of HNP or any other Christian endeavor until their obligation to their local church has been met. We believe giving to the local church should be a priority for every believer.
  5. We consider the contributions that we receive for this ministry to have been sent from loving people who have sacrificed to make their gifts possible. Our obligation, therefore, is to spend that money conservatively and as wisely as possible. Every dollar is stretched as far as possible to serve the needs of God's ministry at HNP. We are stewards of the trust of God and His people. We take on that task with the full knowledge that we are and will be accountable for the ways in which we handle the financial resources that God has so graciously provided.
  6. We will receipt all monetary donations with a letter of thanks for tax purposes. Material donations, such as baby furniture or clothing for women, will be receipted upon request.
  7. Moneys given and designed for a specific purpose, within the sphere of our ministry, will be used for that purpose.
  8. All contributions made to HNP are tax-deductible. We have 501(c)3 status as a church. We make all the required annual reports to the IRS. These reports are prepared by a Certified Public Accountant who monitors our accounting practices. Copies of these reports are available for public inspection upon request.
  9. Some of the people involved with HNP are volunteers. However, a few individuals who have devoted themselves full-time to the ministry receive financial compensation through one of two sources:

    a. Subsistence Salaried Employees
    Some of the full-time staff at HNP receive housing and a small salary to meet their essential living expenses.

    b. Faith Missionaries
    Some of the full-time staff raise support from individuals, churches and organizations. These staff members do not receive a salary from HNP but depend on God to provide for them through these gifts.