2009 Annual Meeting

The Pregnancy Care Centers of South Central Indiana recently gathered for our Annual Meeting. It was a truly special evening as our current board of directors and staff joined together with former staff and board members to recall God's blessings over the ministry over the years.

The very first center director, Sherri Yeaton, shared about the first client that ever came to the center. Sherri was in the middle of painting the office (they weren't open yet nor had they done any advertising) and a young woman came in and said, "Someone told me I could come here because you help pregnant girls." There was no furniture to sit on or paper to write on, but she ministered to that young woman and so began the PCC ministry.

Copies of the 2009 Annual Report are now available by calling the administrative office toll free at 866-510-5067. You can also download a copy on our website.

Be Aware of STD's

April is Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) awareness month.

Here’s the bad news. According to the United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sexually transmitted diseases and infections are at epidemic proportions. In the U.S. more than 65 million people are living with an incurable STD. It is estimated that 19 million new cases will be diagnosed this year. Overall, it is estimated that one in four Americans have an STD.

In the 1960’s there were only two recognizable STD's; Chlamydia and Gonorrhea. Today, there are over 25. Young people under the age of 25 account for nearly half of all cases. Many are unaware of the presence of an STD confirming that this epidemic deserves the coined phrase; "The Silent Epidemic."

Getting tested and undergoing treatment is vital to reducing the continued consequences of these diseases. Because many infections have no symptoms, those at risk (sexually active and/or have changed sexual partners) need to get tested and find out if they are infected.

Here’s the good news. One can live a healthy life without concern of this "Silent Epidemic." Clearly, those who are not sexually active are not at risk for contracting a sexually transmitted disease or infection. Living a life of faithfulness to one’s spouse by being sexually abstinent outside the boundary of marriage is the only way to fully eliminate the risk of exposure.

Not only is living a lifestyle of sexual integrity the healthiest lifestyle choice but it is an attainable goal as well. Knowing the facts and applying them to our lives is pivotal. Be informed and make healthy choices.

Tracey Pike, Director of Community Education

Choose Life Plates Raise $12 Million for Pregnancy Centers across the U.S.

In August of 2000, the first Choose Life license plates went on sale in Florida. Since then, 24 additional states approved the plate with 14 more currently working to get the plate approved.

On April 2, 2010, in less than 10 years, the total reported Choose Life license plate sales in the U.S. surpassed 12 million dollars!

Funds raised through the sale of these plates are distributed to life affirming Pregnancy Centers, Maternity Homes and non-profit adoption agencies in those states.

When you purchase an Indiana Choose Life license plate from the BMV, they collect a $25 organization fee which is sent to the Indiana Association of Pregnancy Centers (the sponsoring organization for the plates). The Indiana Association of Pregnancy Centers (IAPC) then forwards that $25 to the IAPC member pregnancy center in the county where the license plate was purchased or to member centers throughout the state through a grant program.

You can purchase your Choose Life specialty license place through the BMV. Learn more from the Indiana Association of Pregnancy Centers.

Impacting Lives for Eternity

Susie* is a client we have worked with for a long time. She first came into the center for a PT in 2004. The test was positive and she received material support through this pregnancy. She came in for help with diapers, formula, and a car seat in 2005. Three times volunteers/staff shared the gospel with her that year. Susie came in three times for material assistance in 2006 and two times volunteers/staff shared the gospel with her. The gospel was shared with her in 2007, 2008 and 2009. In reviewing her file, she had heard the gospel a total of 12 times through 9 different people.

In addition to this, she also participated in the Mom's REC program we had for a couple years and developed a strong connection with the PCC Volunteers who facilitated the group. God was working in Susie’s life! At one point she said to her peer counselor—she knows it is the right thing to do (giving her life to Christ and obeying Him), but she was not ready.

Then Susie started working at a day care center that was connected with a church. The woman she worked for took Susie under her wing and mentored her. Other ladies there reached out to her and showed her the love of Christ. Susie began attending the church sometimes with her children.

Unfortunately, Susie was arrested for assault shortly thereafter. She came into the Center very sad. She lost her job as a result of her arrest. However, her boss/mentor took her around many places to look for another job and continued to reach out and encourage Susie. Susie was very sad about this loss. What Susie felt the worst about was losing out on the opportunity to be with the women at the day care center who encouraged her so much. Her peer counselor encouraged her to keep attending the church, but Susie was very embarrassed by the arrest and wasn’t sure how people would respond to her. She did not return to the church. Her counselor prayed for her to find another good job which she did.

Fast forward a few months. Susie came in to the center with her long term boy friend last month. They came for diapers so Susie sent her boyfriend back with a male peer counselor to get the diapers, while Susie waited in the waiting room. A counselor went out to talk with Susie in the waiting room. Susie said she was “over” the “old life” and ready for change but she did not believe her boyfriend was ready. Susie said she was still young and needed to make something good of her life.

In the meanwhile, the male peer counselor was in the counseling room sharing with Susie's boyfriend, and he was very receptive and broken. He prayed to receive Christ as Savior! The boyfriend also wanted Susie to come back and hear the “good news” so the male peer counselor shared again. Susie listened as the gospel was presented and said “yes!” This was the 13th time we had presented it to her at the Center (plus any times she heard it at Mom’s REC).

Susie’s comment on the evaluation was--what she liked best about the Pregnancy Care Center was the “godly learnings” and “you can’t help but listen to [the peer counselor] he’s so spiritual and glows”. Susie’s boyfriend wrote about his counseling experience “so full of life and inspires me”. The male peer counselor strongly encouraged them to reconnect with the church where Susie had worked.

God was working all those many times Susie received love, encouragement and the truth about Jesus Christ!

* Susie is not client’s real name.

Making Giving Easy

Want to hit the "easy button" when it comes to your giving to the PCC? Why not consider electronic funds transfer? You name the amount and the date each month for the transfer and we do the rest.

With E-Giving, you don't have to worry about remembering to write that check and your investment in the ministry goes straight to work, changing hearts and saving lives.

Interested? Visit our website and sign up today. Or contact Abby at 812-378-4114 or toll free 866-510-5067.

Join the many who are supporting the Pregnancy Care Center every month through electronic funds transfer. Your support makes all the difference--without even writing a check!

Prom: An Opportunity to Talk

It is a surprise to many parents that they are the most powerful influence in their child's life — greater than peers, popular music, television, celebrities and the media. Research consistently makes clear, as a parent, the things we say and do have a tremendous influence on the decisions our children makes—especially in the area of sexual behavior. While there are many ways we can protect them from the dangers of poor sexual decisions, talking with them is one of the most effective. Starting the conversation with our kids about sexual integrity and keeping communication open throughout their teen years is never easy -- but it's also not as difficult as we may think.

We at the Pregnancy Care Center want to remind concerned adults that the upcoming prom season provides an excellent opportunity to dialogue about relationships and encourage our kids to make healthy choices and avoid risky behaviors. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy reports that while teens are under a lot of pressure to be sexually active, 88% of teens believe it would be easier to postpone sex if they had more open conversations with their parents about it.

They want to hear from us, but they also expect us to initiate the conversation. It is essential we as parents understand the negative impact of early sexual activity so we can clearly communicate our values and our expectations not to view sex carelessly. However, casual conversations that involve listening to their input are far more effective than lectures. Asking open ended questions can start the dialogue and gage their attitudes. What do our kids think about having sex outside of marriage? Do they know abstinence is in their best interest—even on prom night?

Studies show talking openly with our teen about sex and sharing our family values reduces the risk of premature sexual activity and teen pregnancy. Teens have earnest and honest questions and need open, caring connections to adults who can help them make thoughtful and wise decisions. They need to know that 2 out of 3 sexually active teens regret their decision and more than one-third of sexually active young adults report that alcohol or drug use has influenced them to do something sexual. (The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy)

As parents, we need to do more than just purchase corsages, dresses, tuxes and shoes. We need to equip our kids with the truth.

Lisa Newton

Second Chances

Recently a client approached the receptionist's window and asked if we provided birth control. Rather than simply returning an easy, "No, we don't" answer, we asked her the question, "Are you trying to prevent a pregnancy or Sexually Transmitted Diseases?" She replied, "Well, both!" I then asked her if she had a few minutes for us to talk, informing her we had lots of information about STD's and other helpful information related to her request.

She agreed, filled out our client intake form and we quickly settled into a comfortable setting where she began freely sharing her situation. As it turns out, she had been in a year long relationship before giving of herself sexually to her boyfriend. They had been in agreement to wait for eachother.

When I asked her why she decided to have sex, she replied, "because I thought I loved him." After they had sex, she later found out he had actually been sexually active with several other girls all the while she thought he was waiting for her. Needless to say, she was deeply hurt, feeling very used and empty.

We discussed the possibility of STD's since he had been with several other girls and the possibility of those girls each being with several partners. She quickly saw the effects of that and the importance of waiting until marriage. She got it!

She declared verbally that she would not be involved in a sexual relationship again until she married. She accepted the abstinence pledge card I gave her and agreed to fill it out at home. She left with a smile on her face, a new spring in her step and a brand new vision of renewed virginity.

Marge Miller