Springfield, MO (LifeNews.com) -- Pro-life advocates had been hoping since 1983 that abortions would stop at the Springfield Healthcare Center abortion center. When the abortion business closed down late last year, because it couldn't follow a new law, some local pro-life groups thought that might be the end of the story. But, now, a pregnancy center in running SHC's building.

The owners of the facility, Doin and Dianna Loftis, have decided to donate the building on East Cherry Street to the Pregnancy Care Center to help pregnant women find abortion alternatives and practical resources.

That the abortion business would become a place to help women and children is an amazing turnaround for pro-life people in Springfield.

"We didn't ask God to do this," San Paolo, founder of Voice for Life, a local pro-life group, told the News Leader newspaper. "He did this, and we were all just amazed at what happened."

The Loftises decided to visit the Pregnancy Care Center on the advice of their accountant and they ultimately fell in love with the organization and its mission to help women in need.

"It was just incredible," Dianna Loftis told the newspaper. "I can't believe what they are doing for our community."

Loftis indicated that she and her husband were convinced they should donate the building to the pregnancy center when they found out that it is a nonprofit and relies on donations from supporters and volunteers.

The donation is also surprising because the Loftises supported the abortion center and defended its work in an interview with the Springfield newspaper.

"We're humbled and honored by the extraordinary gift," Cyndi Boston, Pregnancy Care Center director, told the newspaper.

She indicated that calls to the center have gone up 70 percent since the abortion facility closed down and her center has been able to help 200 more women as a result.

Springfield Healthcare Center closed down after state lawmakers approved a bill that requires abortion practitioners to have privileges at a local hospital in cases of botched abortions.

The abortion practitioner at SHC was not allowed to practice medicine at any local hospital.

That would have jeopardized the lives of women who are injured by an abortion and need emergency medical attention that the abortion facility can't provide. As a result, Springfield Health Care Center Administrator Michelle Collins said the facility would have to close.