Posted on 04/06/2008 1:47:06 PM PDT by wagglebee
As his mother talks, the little boy chews on her speech and wows the crowd with his bright eyes. He is 8 months old now.
“This is a baby who would not be here if not for the Pregnancy Center,” says Chris Ward, a counselor.
Indeed, his mother tells the audience of 300 at a banquet to celebrate the Parkland Pregnancy Resource Center that she had scheduled an abortion for the very day she went to the Farmington facility.
“I was an alcoholic and taking drugs and I did not believe in abortion, but I did not know I had other options,” she said. “At the center, I saw my baby on an ultrasound and he became real to me.”
New in town and far away from family, another client, Jamie Mitchell, admits she was anxious about becoming a mom. It was her husband who suggested the Center where she found parenting classes and Bible study.
“I feel more confident in being a first-time mother,” she said.
Clients who found help through the center told their stories to an audience of supporters at Alexander’s in The Factory Thursday during the 3rd annual fundraising banquet. The Center’s budget for 2008 is $94,000.
The faith-based center is supported by churches and individuals throughout the Parkland. It provides free services that range from pregnancy tests and ultrasounds to parenting classes, baby supplies and post-abortion counseling. To find out more, contact the Center at 573-756-1517.
In 2007, the center made 115 appointments with new clients and saw them 806 times. Erica Feeney was one of them.
“I was able to get things I could not afford,” she explained. “It helped me overcome my fears of raising another child alone.”
Kyle Gibson and his fiancee, Tenille Winters, say they were scared when they found out they were going to be parents.
“I did not know if we could afford to raise a child,” said Gibson. “But along with learning about the baby, I’ve learned about myself. I want to thank everyone who donates to the PRC for helping me feel like a father.”
Winters told the crowd, “Without your support, I would not have gotten the essentials I need to raise this child.”
Board Chairman Rev. Jonathan Jones said he has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from the entire community.
“It’s all about letting babies live ... providing training and education for mothers and fathers and giving them what they need,” he said. “It’s about presenting an option to abortion.”
Mitch Lotz went to the banquet to find out about the Center’s work last year. This year, he is a member of its board.
“It’s been in existence for three years, but it’s still a secret to a lot of people,” said Lotz. “I think a center like this is needed in every area. There are needs we can meet.”
The Center is outgrowing its current facility on A Street as its landlord, Parkland Health Center, makes plans to sell the building by year’s end. So, among the ministry’s goals for the year to come is to acquire a new, larger facility in the Parkland area, to increase awareness of its programs and services and to upgrade office technology to better serve its clients.
“We are well on our way to exceeding last year’s numbers,” said Kim Nash, Executive Director.
Volunteers work teaching parenting classes, mentoring moms and dads, serving as counselors, child care workers, grant writers and teachers of the Center’s abstinence education program.
Jane Bates is a retired teacher who has become a counselor at the Center, working with a total of 21 clients.
“The thing that touches me the most are the miracles of God that can be seen in each child,” she said. “We try to reach our clients through Bible Study and show them if God has first place in their hearts and lives, then the second, third, fourth and fifth places will take care of themselves.”
Mike Ward teaches classes for dads and dads-to-be and said the Center is a “great opportunity for us to show how much we care.”
Volunteers Pat Boatright and Bonnie Skaggs were honored for their support of the center. Ward and Dr. John Grechus, outgoing board members, were honored for their contributions as founding members. New board members include Mary Crecelius and Tracy Stam, joining current members Lotz, Jones, Joan Govero and Clark Crawford.
The Center plans a fundraising walk in October.
Indeed, his mother tells the audience of 300 at a banquet to celebrate the Parkland Pregnancy Resource Center that she had scheduled an abortion for the very day she went to the Farmington facility.
“I was an alcoholic and taking drugs and I did not believe in abortion, but I did not know I had other options,” she said. “At the center, I saw my baby on an ultrasound and he became real to me.”
The pro-life movement must not underestimate the importance of these centers.
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“The pro-life movement must not underestimate the importance of these centers.”
Eliot Spitzer was trying to criminalize pregnancy centers in order to shut them all down in NY.
They must be very affective for them to be such a threat to the pro-deathers.
I think they are. My church sponsors its own center and promotes it aggressively, as it should.
I’ve seen these testimonials firsthand and they are incredibly moving. I am ashamed I was ever pro-abortion (I refuse to call it by the misnomer) and trust God has forgiven me.
Hillery and B Hussein are deeply saddened.
What was Jesus doing up on that cross, my friend? If you're truly repenant, you are forgiven.
The more difficult task is forgiving yourself. Don't let your shame overcome you, make it embolden you.
We do "Bottle boomerangs" as very quick fundraisers. You take three or four baby bottles to a gathering of folks who will be friendly to your cause (county Republican groups are nice sitting ducks, I find). We expalin who we are raising funds for and pass the bottles around. The bottles get stuffed with cash (checks, too) very quickly.
Lansing has been particularly hard hit, economically, the past three years and the local non-profits are suffering, so we have had to get creative in raising funds. If you know of any good fundraising ideas, please pass them along. I'll put them to good use, I promise!
BUMP! Thanks for the PING!
“I’ve seen these testimonials firsthand and they are incredibly moving. I am ashamed I was ever pro-abortion (I refuse to call it by the misnomer) and trust God has forgiven me.”
There was a time, when I was younger and thought I knew everything, that I used to say “if I get pregnant at this stage I would have an abortion”...
Luckily I didn’t - and I didn’t.
And then after witnessing what the reality of abortion did to fellow college students and co-workers I began to rethink the matter.
Seeing my daughter’s first ultra-sound cemented the deal - I became pro-life.
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