Because You're Worth It

What a wonderful article that beautifully explains why Pregnancy Care Centers and other pregnancy resource centers are working for their local communities. Read "Because You're Worth It" by Hannah Sapp of Heartbeat International here.

'The Secret Shame of Abortion in the Church'

Shame has a crippling effect on living an abundant life as God intended. One out of every three women up to age 45 has experienced abortion. Consider the many women and men that suffer silently in our churches! They understand forgiveness and salvation, but healing is necessary to restore their broken hearts. Recovery studies offered by our Hearts Restored: Healing After Abortion program can confidentially help men who regret lost fatherhood and women who still suffer from their "choice".  This is a wonderful article about that devastating shame and the church's challenge to encourage healing: The Secret Shame of Abortion in the Church.

Someone cares. Contact Sue or Don. 

Photographer Uses Talents to Serve Clients

Photographer Melissa Jacobs is using her talents to serve our Lord and recently our clients. Melissa and her husband Jeremy were young parents with little money when expecting their son, Evan. They could not afford photos at the hospital, or for taking their son to a studio. Five years later, after establishing her own photography business in the Columbus area and listening to the Lord's leading, Melissa brainstormed a way to give back for the blessing God has lavished on her. 
Melissa is now offering expecting mothers at our Bartholomew County Center a free photo shoot for their newborns. Information about the offer is placed in our layette bags, and the clients just need to contact her to schedule the shoot. 
Melissa served her first client this October, photographing Baby E. When asked "what is one thing you would like to say about your photo session experience", Baby E's mom replied: "I loved that the pictures were free! Having a new baby it's so hard to afford something like this. I think it's amazing that you give away your time. I love them!" 
We would love to offer this kind of service to clients in all the counties we serve. If you know of a photographer you might be interested in partnering with us, please contact your local center manager. 

One Father at a Time

As Father's Day approaches, Morris Nading, the Pregnancy Care Center's Men's Ministry Coordinator, shares a little bit about why reaching one father at a time is so important in the work that is done at the PCC.

Why is the Men’s Ministry a crucial part of the work we do at the Pregnancy Care Center?

“I believe the Men’s Ministry is crucial because the family values continue in a downward spiral. It has always been and will continue to be the man’s responsibility to lead the family. When the father is absent from the home, it has been proven statistically, children are more apt to fail in school, they are more prone to drug and alcohol use and are more likely to be incarcerated as a teenager.”

What do you see as the biggest need of the men that come into the center?

“In the Men’s Ministry at the PCC we have a wonderful opportunity to address these young men about their responsibilities of becoming a father. There has become a generational decay of fathering in the American society today. When these young men come into our center, we have learned that some do not know their father or if they do, their relationship has not been in their son’s best interest. This allows our male counselors the privilege to meet with them one on one and give them a beautiful picture of how fathers are to raise and love their children. We pray the information we share about fatherhood will help bridge the gap between these young men and their children.”

How do the male volunteer’s best meet the needs of the men that come into the center?

“The best way to meet the needs of these young men is to first set up a rapport with them. In has to be expressed through our character and attitude how much we care about them and to show we are interested in them. They need to see something different in us than they do in themselves. We also must be vulnerable and transparent with them. When they become comfortable with us they become relaxed and God will open doors of opportunity for the Gospel. We can teach and educate in the counseling room but ultimately the Gospel will meet their needs. We must be faithful men and God will bring the harvest.”

New Space Provides More Counseling

The Jennings County Center recently did some remodeling to make room for an additional counseling room. The new space, which is newly furnished by a generous donor, will primarily be used for the Men’s Ministry as Kim Bevers, Jennings County Men’s Ministry volunteer, needed a room that would be welcoming and comfortable for the male clients that come in, especially during ultrasounds.

Jane Bevers, Jennings County Center Manager, said “Kim has a poster framed of the Colts stadium that he put on the wall. He is a fan of former colts coach Tony Dungy and often uses quotes and stories from his book Uncommon as he talks with the men about how important the father is in a child’s life.” Last year, Jennings County served 640 client visits with 66 of those being male clients. Just think of the number the center can reach in 2012 with the extra space! The room will also be used anytime the other counselors need the space.

A Better Way

When talking with students, parents and clients our message is clear; there is a better way, God’s way. Recently one client summarized the ministry while giving us feedback. “(My counselor) was very kind and respectful. No one judged me in a negative way. Thank you all for helping me and showing me there was a better way.” What a privilege we have in the Pregnancy Care Center ministry to share with our community that God’s way is a better way!

True Love...Patience, Kindness, Truth and Hope

When clients come through the doors at the Pregnancy Care Center, we want them to sense what true love is while they are with us. We want them to see patience, kindness, truth and hope. And in the end we want them to see Jesus Christ and His love for them. As one client recently wrote on her feedback form, "No one has ever made me feel more cared about than the people working here. You guys are life savers. The help I received today meant the world to me, thank you." What a blessing to love others as Jesus Christ has loved us and called us to love.

Blessings Through Transportation

At the annual meeting in April, I shared about a working client that had been walking to her factory job every night ( 3rd shift). I was a little hesitant about sharing the story but I am so thankful I did. One of the people present was touched by the story and helped make plans for the girl to get a vehicle. That client was given a minivan from a lady in New Castle. Several wonderful Christian people were involved making arrangements and getting the van to the girl. She was absolutely thrilled, and she had enough money saved to pay the tax and insurance she needed to license the van. The client was able to drive to work in the rain instead of walking. She told a friend that the car was a gift from God. So we are praying that when she comes back in she will be ready to hear more about God's wonderful grace.



Jane Bevers, Jennings County Center Manager

What People are Saying

The Pregnancy Care Centers reaches thousands of people each year with the truth regarding sexual integrity and the value of human life. We do this through programs like Choose to Wait, My Best for You and Transformed. We also offer hope through our in–center services and healing through our post-abortion bible studies. We are constantly encouraged by the great feedback we get through participants and clients. Below is what people are saying:

“Thank you for everything. I am going to stay pure until marriage.” Transformed Teen Male Participant


“I’m 17 and a virgin. When I was in 7th or 8th grade I went through Transformed and since have always wanted to save myself for marriage.” Transformed Teen Female Participant

“Thank you for giving me the opportunity to become closer to my mom and God.” My Best for You Student Participant

“I might have had sex before, but me and my (boyfriend) talked and we want to wait. You will keep us going.” Choose to Wait Brown County Middle School Student


“As a single father our family needed these sessions.” Transformed Parent Participant


“What a blessing this Bible study has been for me. I have found the peace and forgiveness that I have been searching for for a very long time. It has taken me 32 years to be healed from my abortion and I praise God for this study!” Forgiven and Set Free Bible Study Participant

“Programs like this help me stay abstinent.” Choose to Wait Columbus North Student


“I have totally changed my mind about everything. I’ll never watch porn again because it was that informative to me.” Choose to Wait Seymour High School Student


“I believe if every parent took to heart the depth of this need to share these truths that will save them from deep scaring with their children—it will change our world!” Transformed
Grandmother Participant

“I am thankful for this retreat. You have made this subject so easy to talk about with my daughter.” My Best for You Parent Participant


What I like best about the Pregnancy Care center is “that people care enough to keep the center running and so many people volunteer to help. Thank you for helping.” Bartholomew County Male Client

“Tonight has been fabulous for me as a mother and follower of Christ. I’m so very glad I brought my daughter. I’m glad she has the truth!” My Best for You Parent Participant


“I’m not completely sure but it was possible that I may have lost my virginity tonight. It won’t happen now. Thanks.” Choose to Wait Shelby Central High School Student


“This is a great program. It gives you all you need to be healed, or if the wounds are very deep, how to continue the healing process with God by your side. It is wonderful to see everyone change and grow closer to God.” Forgiven and Set Free Bible Study Participant

The Pregnancy Care Center is “open and honest with questions, never judgmental. I love the one on one counseling. Thank you for all the information.” Bartholomew County Female Client
“As someone who is sexually active I can honestly say that I no longer will be.” Choose to Wait Jennings County High School Student

“This is a great program, solved many confusions and struggles which I had not realized as well as giving me support, hope and peace of mind.” Forgiven and Set Free Bible Study Participant

Handmade Gifts

Many people and various groups have recently walked through our doors with beautiful handmade items to give out to our clients. A lady by the name of Alice Ritchie stopped by to drop off 9 beautiful hand made baby aphgans and one of them has a matching hat. She said she prays over each aphgan and for the child who will receive it. She also said she prays for the center continually. She said years ago her children needed help and received help from us.

That prompted me to go through our donations record for the last 3 months and there have been lots of wonderful blanket donations. They are as follows: Mt. Pleasant Christian Union Church gave us 5 quilts; Columbus Alliance women's group gave 12 fleece blankets; Linda Lehto donated 6 aphgans; Alice Corya donated 3 aphgans; Peggy Koorn donated hats, outfits and blankets; Ellen Bowman donated 10 blankets for layettes; Beth Coffman brought in a large bag of new baby blankets.

We are so very grateful to have these beautiful, new items to give to our clients for their new babies. I remember how much something like that meant to me when my mother crocheted aphgans for my children. We kept them for many years until they were completely falling apart.

Judy Snow
Bartholomew County Center Director

Providing Free Bibles to Women in our Centers

Each day, 3,300 women wake up in America believing abortion is the only solution to an unplanned pregnancy. In the wake of this tragic decision, a human life is ended, and a women’s life is changed forever. Care Net has been supporting women, one at a time, sparing them and their unborn children the anguish of abortion. Now, we at Care Net are joining with local bookstores and churches to continue supporting these women on a spiritual level through the special distribution of the Beautiful Everyday Bible (December 2010, Tyndale House Publishers.)
The Beautiful Everyday Bible allows customers in Christian bookstores, as well as those in church ministries, to share compassion and faith with women in crisis by equipping counselors at Care net and other pregnancy resource centers across America with free Bibles for women to whom they minister. As part of the Inspire Life Bible campaign, individuals can purchase a Beautiful Everyday Bible and sign its dedication page. Our center will collect the signed Bibles and personalize them for the recipients as we minister compassion to those we serve. The compact size of New Living Translation Bible means it’s easy to carry along when you‘re on the go, and the vibrant images on its cover will continually remind women of life’s beauty. The Bible includes greeting from Rebecca St. James, Christian recording artist, author, and actress; and from Dana, a former Care Net client, along with other resources that offer encouragement and the hope of Jesus Christ.

To sign your own Beautiful Everyday Bible, visit [Ark Book and Gift, Eastbrook Plaza, Columbus, IN 47201]

About Care Net
Care net and their network of more than 1,100 affiliate centers offers hope to women facing unplanned pregnancies by providing practical help and emotional support. Care Net seeks to promote, prepare, and plant pregnancy centers across North America to expand access to life-saving services and support while reaching the hurting and broken with the hope of Jesus Christ. Visit www.care-net.org

Indian Creek Baby Shower

December 2nd will be a day to remember for 30 women who were overwhelmed by the generosity of families from Indiana Creek Christian Church. For the past four years ICCC has thrown a baby shower for clients of local pregnancy centers including the Pregnancy Care Center in Shelbyville. Nine clients from Shelbyville were blessed with new car seats, diapers, baby cloths and much more. Enola Joplin, Shelby County Center Director said, “It is truly like an Oprah Giveaway! They just kept pouring the gifts on each client.” Not only were there gifts but the church goes all out by providing food, cake and punch. They really aim to make the girls feel special and give them a real baby shower.

The Value of Fathers

It is a privilege and an honor to be a father. It is one of the great responsibilities that God has entrusted to us. Fathering is one-half of the equation of instilling family values.

Malachi 4:6 reveals to us; “He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers.
With Father's Day coming up, I feel it's a great time to share with you from the Fatherhood Initiative ways that can be very effective for us as fathers to reap the everlasting joy from Malachi 4:6.

One of the best things a father can do for his children is to respect their mother. If you are married, keep your marriage strong and vital. If you’re not married, it is still important to respect and support the mother of your children. A father and mother who respect each other, and let their children know it, provide a secure environment for them. When children see their parents respecting each other, they are more likely to feel they are also accepted and respected.

How a father spends his time tells his children what’s important to him. If you always seem too busy for your children, they will feel neglected no matter what you say. Treasuring children often means sacrificing other things, but it is essential to spend time with your children. Children grow up so quickly. Missed opportunities are forever lost.

All too often the only time a father speaks to his children is when they have done something wrong. That’s why so many children cringe when their mother says, “Your father wants to talk with you.” Begin talking with your children when they are very young so that difficult subjects will be easier to handle as they get older. Take time and listen to their ideas and problems.

All children need guidance and discipline, not as punishment, but to set reasonable limits. Remind your children of the consequences of their actions and provide meaningful rewards for desirable behavior. Fathers who discipline in a calm and fair manner show love for their children.

Fathers are role models to their children, whether they realize it or not. A girl who spends time with a loving father grows up knowing she deserves to be treated with respect by boys, and what to look for in a husband. Fathers can teach sons what is important in life by demonstrating honesty, humility and responsibility.

Too many fathers think teaching is something others do. But a father who teaches right and wrong, and encourages them to do their best, will see his children make good choices. Involved fathers use everyday examples to help their children learn the basic lessons of life.

Sharing a meal together (breakfast, lunch or dinner) can be an important part of healthy family life. In addition to providing some structure in a busy day, it gives children the chance to talk about what they are doing and want to do. It is also a good time for fathers to listen and give advice. Most importantly, it is a time for families to be together each day.

In a world where television and computers dominate the lives of children, it is important that fathers make the effort to read to their children. Children learn best by doing and reading, as well as seeing and hearing. Begin reading to your children when they are very young. When they are older, encourage them to read on their own. Instilling your children with a love for reading is one of the best ways to ensure they will have a lifetime of personal and career growth.

Children need the security that comes from knowing they are wanted, accepted and loved by their family. Parents, especially fathers, need to feel both comfortable and willing to hug their children. Showing affection every day is the best way to let your children know that you love them.

Even after children are grown and ready to leave home, they will still look to their father’s for wisdom and advice. Whether it is continued schooling, a new job or a wedding, fathers continue to play an essential part in the lives of their children as they grow and, perhaps, marry and build their own families.

On this Father’s Day, give your children a hug and tell them you love them.

Morris Nading, Men’s Ministry Coordinator

Privacy of Clients of Utmost Importance

We at the Bartholomew County Center are most appreciative to Ray Turner and his son, Richard, who recently installed a door between the waiting room and client service area at the Center. Ray is our volunteer handyman who comes in each week to do various jobs that help with the upkeep of the center.

Prior to the installation of the door, there was no barrier between the waiting room to the client services area where the counseling rooms, ultrasound room and office areas are located. Often, our receptionists’ jobs take them away from the window which overlooks the waiting room. Receptionists are not always able to intervene at times when parents or boyfriends would walk from the waiting room to look for the client in the counseling room. This diminishes the privacy and confidentiality of our clients. Now, those in the waiting room will not be able to enter the client services area or office areas unless the door is opened and they are invited to come by PCC staff or volunteers.

Many thanks to Ray and Richard for donating their time and expertise to install the door!

Judy Snow, Bartholomew County Center Director

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.